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Mongolian Yak Safari

Trip Length

Trip Code
14 days PCYS

Countries Visited
Mongolia

Start City

End City
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Mongolian Yak Safari

Explore one steppe beyond – so far off the beaten track there's no track at all! We wander the countryside at a leisurely pace using yaks as our support vehicles in true nomadic style. There is time to relax in our eco-friendly ger camps, as well as a train trip to give you a taste of the Trans Mongolian Railway! You won't find a more authentic Mongolian experience anywhere – we guarantee it!
Mongolian Yak Safari

Day to Day Itinerary

Day 1: Ulaanbaatar

Accommodation: Puma Imperial Hotel or similar, Ulaanbaatar

On arrival in Ulaanbaatar, you are transferred to your hotel. As Ulaanbaatar hotels are subject to change, please check the itinerary your final documents to confirm your correct hotel. In the evening, you meet your tour leader and the other group members for a pre-tour briefing. This is generally followed by an optional group dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2: Ikh Nart

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Accommodation: Ger camp, Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

After breakfast we transfer to the railway station for our train into the Gobi. We travel for 6½ hours by local train to the station of Shivee Gobi, where we step off the platform into the wilderness of the arid Dorngobi (East Gobi) steppe. Our rugged vehicle awaits us and transports us 60 kilometres to our camp. This is not a huge distance, but in terrain like this we must go slowly. In the late afternoon we arrive at our destination - Ikh Nart Nature Reserve. After dinner we can relax and get used to our accommodation, which is traditional gers (also known as 'yurts' in Central Asia). Gers are the nomadic Mongolian homes, yet they are as portable as any tent. Our gers are furnished - each with three or four beds complete with linen, blankets and pillows. There are small stools, a table and a fire stove. Three quarters of the Mongolian population still live in gers throughout the year, despite enduring sub-zero temperatures for many months.

Day 3-4: Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Accommodation: Ger camp, Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

We have two full days to explore Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, a community reserve protected by the local authorities and a place remote enough that very few tourists have found their way there as yet. The Mongolian Academy of Science have established a partnership with overseas zoologists to study wildlife here and by visiting we are helping to support both these conservation efforts and provide a sustainable income for the local people during the summer months. We are guests of the local Dalanjargal community and for our visit a low-impact ger camp has been set up. The premise is simple – when the camps are dismantled at the end of the summer, there should be no signs of where we have been, or at least no more than would be left by a nomadic family living according to centuries-old traditions. During our stay we have the opportunity to explore the reserve on foot and discover that it is a unique mix of arid Gobi steppe and huge rock formations and crevasses. Our local hosts will also offer us activities – whether learning about traditional crafts or teaching us the basics of Mongolian wrestling! This is a beautiful place to relax and simply appreciate the solitude of the Gobi.

Day 5: Ulaanbaatar

Meals included: 1 breakfast

Accommodation: Narantuul Hotel or similar, Ulaanbaatar

Today we drive for four hours back to Ulaanbaatar, with the afternoon left free for us to explore the capital. Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia's largest city - the name means 'Red Hero' and it is indeed shaped by the influences of the former Soviet Union in that most of the city is full of Russian-style apartment buildings. Sukhbaatar Square is the central point in town and is dominated by the Parliament building and a statue of Damdin Sukhbaatar (on horseback), the man who confirmed Mongolian independence from China. There are also statues of Genghis Khan and his sons – in recent years acclaimed as heroes from an earlier age. One optional sight you may wish to check out is the Winter Palace of Bogd Khaan - a controversial figure and the last king of Mongolia. His death in 1924 ushered in over 65 years of communism for the country. The Museum of Natural History is also fascinating, particularly the Dinosaur Hall.

Day 6-8: Khan Khentii Protected Area

Meals included: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners

Accommodation: Ger camp, Khan Khentii

Before leaving Ulaanbaatar we visit the magnificent Gandan Monastery - the largest and most important in the country (please note that no photography is permitted inside). From here we head back out to the countryside as we travel for about three hours (110 kilometres) into the Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area. The undeveloped nature of this diverse country is demonstrated for us as we travel for the first hour on tarmac roads and the second hour through a beautiful steppe valley and past many herdsmen, before finally making our way through forests to reach our second ger camp. Again, we are fortunate to stay here in a high protected environmental zone - our ger camp being the only one allowed within this area. We are located next to a river and use solar and wind power for our few electrical needs. The local herders will come to us to offer basic services - we can learn how to construct a ger, fish by traditional methods, ride mountain bikes or even read up on local history in a 'library ger'!

Day 9-12: Yak Trek

Meals included: 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners

Accommodation: Camping, Khan Khentii

Today is the start of our unique adventure! After breakfast we load our luggage on to yak carts and start our trek around the southern fringes of Khan Khentii, a wilderness area three times the size of the USA's famous Yellowstone National Park. Our equipment is loaded on traditional wooden carts, which are then pulled along by yaks. The carts carry not only our personal gear and camping supplies, but all the components of a ger. Each night we will work together to assemble it so there is a communal space to share - this can be done surprisingly quickly with a little practice and everyone helping! You need to bring your own sleeping bag, preferably a 'three seasons' bag, since even during summer the temperatures can drop close to freezing on the steppe at night. We travel without support vehicles - we don't need them for our trek (maximum of 20 kilometres per day), nor would they be practical in this terrain! Instead we are accompanied by local herdsmen who monitor our slow and steady progress from their horses. It is said that Mongolians are 'born on horseback' and after watching them work with their animals, you will quickly understand why! We are also accompanied by a cook who provides each day with a mix of western and Mongolian cuisine. We are in a scenic area where rivers flow down broad steppe valleys, and we are certain to feel as if we are on the very edge of human civilisation. We have no particular end destinations nor do we looking to complete a particular number of kilometres each day. Our trek is in the spirit of a nomad, unpressured by targets or deadlines, simply appreciating the natural environment and choosing an idyllic camp each night. We are so far off the beaten track that the only sounds around us are of the rivers flowing, the nearby animals and the traditional songs of our herder friends. This will be the experience of a lifetime.

Day 13: Ulaanbaatar

Meals included: 1 breakfast

Accommodation: Puma Imperial Hotel or similar, Ulaanbaatar

After breakfast we return to Ulaanbaatar, with the afternoon free to explore further or do some final shopping. As well as choosing from the international cuisines available in the capital, there is an opportunity to enjoy an optional folk music performance tonight. This is a fantastic opportunity to witness the traditional 'throat singing' that Mongolia is famous for - a performance that really does have to be seen to be believed!

Day 14: Ulaanbaatar

Meals included: 1 breakfast

The tour ends after breakfast. A transfer to the airport is not included; however, your tour leader will be on hand to advise you as to the options available.

Your Trip

What to know

A good level of fitness is required for the trek. You will be walking on hilly terrain, generally on well-defined paths. Venturing well away from cities and remote areas, this trip takes you right off the beaten track. Accommodation and facilities may be basic but the rewards are immeasurable.

What's Included

Peregrine tour leader, local guides, arrival transfer, transport, sightseeing and entrance fees.

Summary of accommodation, transport & meals

Transport

Accommodation

Meals

Not Included

Departure taxes, visas, insurance, other meals, drinks, departure transfer, optional additional tours or activities during free time, tips and items of a personal nature. Please bring your own 'three-seasons' sleeping bag for the trek nights.

Optional Extras

We have chosen some great optional activities to enhance your travel experience. You will need to cover any additional costs yourself. For group trips, speak to your leader if you are interested in any of the following:

What to know

Fitness

Trekking is over easy terrain, with a maximum of 20 kilmetres per day. The pace of the group will be set by the yak herders according to the fitness of the group. Please note that there are no set trails to follow so the trek is over uneven surfaces and without a specific destination. Our intention is to offer a taste of the ancient nomadic lifestyle still lived by the Mongolian people - not to cover any particular number of kilometers or reach particular locations. The yak trek nights are in tented camps to give maximum flexibility.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations may be required for this trip. Talk to your doctor about the up-to-date information for this region.

Visas and Permits

It is your responsibility to ensure you have all required visas for your trip. Rules and regulations governing the issuance of visas are constantly changing, and vary for different nationalities and you should check visa requirements with your travel agent or relevant consular authority well before travel.

Mongolia
Australians, Americans, Canadians, British and New Zealanders do currently require a visa for Mongolia. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your travel agent.

Insurance

You are required to have travel insurance before heading off on a Peregrine trip. Insurance can be organised by your Peregrine representative or your travel agent.

Responsible Travel

Our Responsible Travel ethos is at the heart of everything we do, from getting the basics right like respecting local cultures and the environment, to initiating projects that make positive contributions to communities, to our staff’s fundraising efforts and offsetting our carbon emissions.
Please visit our Responsible Travel (http://www.peregrineadventures.com/rt) page for more information.

Customs and Culture

Our Pre Departure Information or Travel Dossier (provided upon booking a trip) provides tips on how you can show respect for the local customs and culture in the country you are travelling in.

The information listed above is a brief description of some things you may need to consider when booking a trip. Once a tour is booked you will be provided with a link to your Travel Dossier which will contain detailed Pre Departure information.

Further Reading

Mongolia

There are a number of books which make interesting reading and provide an insight in the culture of Mongolia. Suggestions are:
The Lost Country:
Mongolia Revealed-Jasper Becker
The Last Disco in
Outer Mongolia-Nick Middleton
In Search of Genghis Khan-Tim Severin
Nomads and Commissars:
Mongolia Revisited-Owen Lattimore
In the Empire of Genghis Khan-Stanley Stewart
Mongolia-Lonely Planet
Mongolian Phrase Book-Lonely Planet

Important Information

 

Please note that you are required to bring your own sleeping bag for the nights you will be tent-camping. Although our Yak Safari operates only during the warmer months of the year it is important to note that temperatures can still be very low at night. We strongly recommend that you bring a sleeping bag of 'three seasons' quality - and some lightweight thermal clothing. A set of thermal underwear will pack very small and can be invaluable for cooler evenings/mornings and at nights. Temperatures can drop close to freezing at night, although this is less likely in July/August. In all likelihood you will not meet temperatures this cold, but we would prefer you to be prepared!

About this Information

The information provided here is given in good faith and has been compiled with all reasonable care. However, things change and some of the information may become out of date. Please keep this in mind when you read it and check with us if you want to be sure about something. The document was correct at time of printing, but you can check online for the most up to date version.  If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent or our staff in Australia. We are here to help you!

Last Updated

7 April 2013