Horseback & Nomadic Life · Northern Taiga

Northern Taiga and Reindeer Herders

A remote journey toward the northern taiga, combining vehicle travel, horse-supported access and respectful time with reindeer-herding communities.

Duration12 days / 11 nights
Best seasonJune–September
GroupMaximum 8 guests
ActivityActive; remote horse-supported travel
PriceOn request

Beyond the last vehicle track, the route continues on horseback into forest, wet ground and the northern taiga.

The itinerary that follows is the structure. The expedition itself will be shaped by weather, people, wildlife, road conditions and the opportunities that appear along the way.

Journey overview

A remote journey toward the northern taiga, combining vehicle travel, horse-supported access and respectful time with reindeer-herding communities.

Why this journey

The taiga cannot be reached quickly or comfortably. The journey is designed around the access required, while keeping community time unhurried and respectful.

Accommodation

Hotel, guesthouse and supported field camp

Best suited to

Experienced travelers comfortable with basic facilities

Itinerary

Day1

Arrival and logistics briefing

Review equipment, riding expectations and the remote route.

Overnight: Shangri-La or Best Western Premier
More about this day
Position
Day 1 of 12
Where you sleep
Shangri-La or Best Western Premier
Today
You arrive and settle in at the Shangri-La or Best Western Premier.
Day2

Fly north

Fly to Mörön and continue toward the Darkhad Depression.

Overnight: Local guesthouse
More about this day
Position
Day 2 of 12
Where you sleep
Local guesthouse
Today
You move on to Local guesthouse.
Herder gers and homestays
Staying in a working household, sharing the family ger or a guest ger beside it. Simple, warm, and the reason most travellers remember a journey. Washing is basic and the space is shared.
Day3

Into the depression

Travel by 4x4 to the horse-trek base.

Based here nights 3–5 · Field camp
More about this day
Position
Day 3 of 12
Where you sleep
Field camp
Which night
First of 3 consecutive nights here
Today
You move on to Field camp.
Tented camp
Our own mobile camp where no fixed accommodation exists. Proper sleeping mats, a mess tent, a cook and a toilet tent. Carried in and carried out, leaving nothing.
Day4

Horse trek one

Begin the supported ride into taiga terrain.

Same base
More about this day
Position
Day 4 of 12
Where you sleep
Field camp
Which night
Second of 3 consecutive nights here
Today
You stay put; no bags to move.
Tented camp
Our own mobile camp where no fixed accommodation exists. Proper sleeping mats, a mess tent, a cook and a toilet tent. Carried in and carried out, leaving nothing.
Day5

Horse trek two

Continue through forest, wet ground and mountain passes.

Same base
More about this day
Position
Day 5 of 12
Where you sleep
Field camp
Which night
Third of 3 consecutive nights here
Today
You stay put; no bags to move.
Tented camp
Our own mobile camp where no fixed accommodation exists. Proper sleeping mats, a mess tent, a cook and a toilet tent. Carried in and carried out, leaving nothing.
Day6

Arrive in the taiga

Meet local hosts and settle into the community area.

Based here nights 6–8 · Community camp
More about this day
Position
Day 6 of 12
Where you sleep
Community camp
Which night
First of 3 consecutive nights here
Today
You move on to Community camp.
Tented camp
Our own mobile camp where no fixed accommodation exists. Proper sleeping mats, a mess tent, a cook and a toilet tent. Carried in and carried out, leaving nothing.
Day7

Reindeer culture

Learn about seasonal movement, reindeer care and forest knowledge.

Same base
More about this day
Position
Day 7 of 12
Where you sleep
Community camp
Which night
Second of 3 consecutive nights here
Today
You stay put; no bags to move.
Tented camp
Our own mobile camp where no fixed accommodation exists. Proper sleeping mats, a mess tent, a cook and a toilet tent. Carried in and carried out, leaving nothing.
Day8

A full day in the taiga

Walk, photograph and spend time with families without a fixed performance schedule.

Same base
More about this day
Position
Day 8 of 12
Where you sleep
Community camp
Which night
Third of 3 consecutive nights here
Today
You stay put; no bags to move.
Tented camp
Our own mobile camp where no fixed accommodation exists. Proper sleeping mats, a mess tent, a cook and a toilet tent. Carried in and carried out, leaving nothing.
Day9

Ride out one

Begin the return trek.

Overnight: Field camp
More about this day
Position
Day 9 of 12
Where you sleep
Field camp
Today
You move on to Field camp.
Tented camp
Our own mobile camp where no fixed accommodation exists. Proper sleeping mats, a mess tent, a cook and a toilet tent. Carried in and carried out, leaving nothing.
Day10

Ride out two

Reach the vehicle base and continue to local accommodation.

Overnight: Local guesthouse
More about this day
Position
Day 10 of 12
Where you sleep
Local guesthouse
Today
You move on to Local guesthouse.
Herder gers and homestays
Staying in a working household, sharing the family ger or a guest ger beside it. Simple, warm, and the reason most travellers remember a journey. Washing is basic and the space is shared.
Day11

Fly to Ulaanbaatar

Return to the capital and gather for a farewell dinner.

Overnight: Shangri-La or Best Western Premier
More about this day
Position
Day 11 of 12
Where you sleep
Shangri-La or Best Western Premier
Today
You move on to the Shangri-La or Best Western Premier.
Day12

Departure

Private airport transfer.

Overnight: —
More about this day
Position
Day 12 of 12
Tonight
You travel home; no accommodation is booked.

Where you stay

Where you sleep is chosen for the route. Some nights are the best room for hundreds of kilometres; some are a tent beneath a sky with nothing else under it, which is its own kind of luxury.

  • Shangri-La or Best Western Premier2 nights
  • Local guesthouse2 nights
  • Field camp4 nights
  • Community camp3 nights
The places we have named

Where this journey stays somewhere we book by name, here it is. The nights not listed here are ger camps, herder households or our own tents, described below.

Ger camps

Permanent seasonal camps with beds, bedding and a wood or dung stove. Facilities vary by region: the better camps have private shower blocks and reliable hot water, remote ones have neither. We will tell you which is which before you book.

Herder gers and homestays

Staying in a working household, sharing the family ger or a guest ger beside it. Simple, warm, and the reason most travellers remember a journey. Washing is basic and the space is shared.

Tented camp

Our own mobile camp where no fixed accommodation exists. Proper sleeping mats, a mess tent, a cook and a toilet tent. Carried in and carried out, leaving nothing.

Hotels

In Ulaanbaatar and provincial centres. City nights are booked at the standard you ask for, and we will tell you what to expect where a provincial hotel is a simpler place.

Price and inclusions

Pricing

Every journey is priced for your dates, party size and choice of accommodation, and confirmed in writing in your proposal. This is a private journey, so the vehicle, driver, guide and camp staff are the same whether two of you travel or six, and the per-person price falls as your party grows.

The price also moves with season, domestic airfares and any specialist staff your route calls for. Single travellers and anyone wanting sole occupancy should ask about the supplement.

Request a proposal →

What the price covers

Included

  • Private vehicle, driver and fuel throughout, with a support vehicle on remote routes
  • English-speaking expedition guide, and specialist guides where the journey calls for them
  • All accommodation as described in the itinerary
  • All meals shown in the itinerary, including camp catering where the route is self-supported
  • Domestic flights where the itinerary shows them
  • National park, protected area and site entrance fees
  • Community, homestay and herder household contributions
  • Drinking water, camping and cooking equipment on self-supported sections
  • Satellite communication and 24-hour operational support from Ulaanbaatar
  • Airport transfers on arrival and departure days

Not included

  • International flights to and from Ulaanbaatar
  • Visa fees and any entry requirements
  • Travel insurance, which must include emergency evacuation and repatriation and is a condition of travel
  • Personal clothing and equipment, including cold-weather gear
  • Alcoholic drinks and personal expenses
  • Optional activities and additional riding days not shown in the itinerary
  • Single occupancy supplement, where requested
  • Gratuities, which are entirely at your discretion
  • Costs arising from weather, road conditions or flight delays outside our control

Confirmed in writing at proposal stage. Anything not listed here is not assumed to be included. Booking terms →

What to pack

Warm days and cold nights, with the year’s heaviest rain falling as short afternoon storms in July. Pack for a wide daily range rather than for one temperature, and for sun on open steppe.

Conditions to pack forJune–September
Activity gradeActive; remote horse-supported travel
Hire in UlaanbaatarFitted the afternoon before departure

We provide

  • Drinking water, camping and cooking equipment on self-supported sections
  • Satellite communication and 24-hour operational support from Ulaanbaatar
  • Accommodation, meals and transport as shown in the itinerary

You bring

  • Travel insurance, which must include emergency evacuation and repatriation and is a condition of travel
  • Personal clothing and equipment, including cold-weather gear
  • Personal medication, and a copy of your insurance policy

What this journey asks of your kit

  • This journey includes nights in a working household. There is no private space and washing is basic, so pack light and bring what you need to be self-sufficient.
  • On camped sections we carry the mats, mess tent, cook and toilet tent. You bring your sleeping bag, or hire one in Ulaanbaatar.
  • Domestic flights carry strict baggage limits. We confirm the current allowance with your booking and plan luggage around it.

Hire the bulky, expensive items rather than buying them for one trip; bring your own base layers. Equipment hire → · What the month is like →

Before you go

Activity gradeActive; remote horse-supported travel
Best seasonJune–September
Group sizeMaximum 8 guests

Planning notes

  • The route involves wet ground, uneven trails and basic facilities.
  • Community visits depend on current seasonal location.
  • Small groups reduce pressure on hosts and the environment.

A private journey can usually be moved a grade in either direction by adjusting pace and distance. How we grade a journey → · Choosing your month →

Tailor this journey.

Adjust the pace, accommodation, specialist access and regional extensions around your interests.

Plan a private itinerary

Expedition moments.

The experiences that give the route its character.

Leaving the final road

A defining moment of the expedition.

Reindeer among the trees

A defining moment of the expedition.

Smoke rising from camp at dawn

A defining moment of the expedition.