MONGOLIA
In Mongolia, one of the least densely populated countries on Earth, the sky and silence are main characters. Three million people share the country with four million horses, across a landscape that runs from the Gobi Desert (where dinosaur fossils are still working their way out of the sand) to the alpine lakes of the north. A night in a ger out on the steppe, with a herder family pouring you fermented mare's milk, will reshape your sense of distance forever. This is Genghis Khan's country, and the nomadic life he came from is still very much alive. Ulaanbaatar is energetic and modernizing fast. Travel beyond it and Mongolia changes character: the eagle hunters of the Altai, the famed throat singers, the wrestlers at Naadam, the simple shock of arriving somewhere with no fences and no horizon-line of buildings.
A Taste of What's Possible
Visit a nomadic reindeer herding family to see their ancient way of life
Explore isolated isles and remote shores in the deep blue water of Khuvsgul Lake
Learn about the art of eagle-hunting from an experienced master
Where You'll Stay
We spend a lot of time obsessing over the perfect accommodations. Our favorites tend to be smaller, boutique properties with a unique sense of style and fantastic service.
Here are just a few of our favorites...
Three of Our Favorite Spots
Khuvsgul
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Breathtaking stillness in northernmost Mongolia, where the steppe gives way to the towering forests of the Siberian taiga. One of the oldest lakes on earth, Lake Khuvsgul is 85 miles long, over 800 feet deep, and roughly two million years old. In winter, it freezes hard enough to drive on; in summer the shores fill with wildflowers and the mountains pull anyone with a horse into the trees. The reindeer-herding Tsaatan people have roamed these forests since prehistory, their canvas tepees scattered in remote valleys beyond the lake's shores.
GOBI DESERT
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The Gobi isn't all sand: mostly rock, gravel, and scrubbed grassland, with the dunes concentrated at Khongoryn Els, where the sand actually sings when the wind catches it right. Bayanzag's red cliffs are where dinosaur eggs were first pulled out of the ground in 1923, and fossils are still surfacing.
ALTAI MOUNTAINS
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Mongolia's far western edge, where the Altai rise in glaciated peaks above wide valleys scattered with burial mounds, deer stones, and petroglyphs older than writing. Khoton and Khurgan, the twin glacier-fed lakes in Altai Tavan Bogd, sit between the ridgelines like spilled glass. The province is mostly Kazakh. For centuries local hunters here have trained golden eagles to hunt fox and hare from horseback, and each October the Golden Eagle Festival in Olgii brings them together in full regalia.
Sample Itinerary
Mongolia From the Majestic Altai to the Enchanting Gobi
Day 1: Arrive in Ulaanbaatar where you’ll meet your dedicated guide for your trip and together have a private transfer from the airport to your accommodations.
Days 2-3: Spend two full days based in Mongolia’s capital city to explore Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. During the day you’ll explore the expansive park riding a sturdy Mongolian horse through rolling hills and wildflower-filled meadows, and exploring a remote hilltop temple for a serene meditation break. Enjoy your evenings back in vibrant Ulaanbaatar, a city of striking contrast between tradition and modernity.
Day 4: Today you will fly to Ulgii in the windswept reaches of western Mongolia. Begin immersing in the distinct Altai Mountain culture with visits to a nomadic Kazakh ger-maker and a Kazakh dombra (traditional lute) master. Settle into your comfortable ger camp this evening.
Days 5-7: From your remote ger camp as your base, enjoy three full days to delve deeper into Western Mongolia’s fascinating history, people and landscapes. Cultural highlights include learning about local archery and unique dairy dishes from a Uriankhai family, and about Kazakh eagle hunting traditions with a master. Natural highlights include exploring the majestic Altai Mountains, scenic Tolbo Lake, rugged Red Salaa Gorge, and hiking on sacred Tsambagarav Mountain in search of ancient petroglyphs.
Day 8: Fly back to Ulaanbaatar today for a night back in the city before your next remote adventure tomorrow.
Day 9: Today you will fly from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad, the gateway to the Gobi Desert. Transfer to your comfortable lodge where at night, the darkest of skies emerges offering an otherworldly view of the stars.
Days 10-11: Enjoy two full days to explore the mystical Gobi, a jaw-dropping expanse offering a medley of ecosystems. Highlights include a Mongolian camel ride in the golden Moltsog Sand Dunes, sharing a traditional meal with a herder family, sunset at the The Flaming Cliffs, and more.
Day 12: Morning explorations of the stunning Yol Valley, home to a surprising diversity of flora and fauna, before flying back to Ulaanbaatar this evening for a final night.
Day 13: Private transfer back to the Ulaanbaatar airport for your journey home.
