MONGOLIA CAR TOUR – Become A Desert Nomad

Learn the Ways TO BECOME A DESERT NOMAD

Stay with a nomadic family, make dumplings and hike in the Mongolian desert

Immerse yourself in the nomadic cultures of Mongolia and learn the ways in which they’ve survived in the country’s harsh landscapes on this community-based trip. We’ll head into Khogno Khan National Park to meet with our host family and trek in the desert. Over the next two days, we’ll milk animals, make dumplings, herd livestock, and learn the ancient art of nomadic felt making.

GER to GER offers include: 3 meals a day (in accordance with the itinerary), private vehicle, English speaking guide, your own nomadic Ger, personalized experiences with nomadic families and more!

Day One – Pre-Trip Desert Nomad Travel Workshop: Prior to arrival in Mongolia you will need to confirm the date and time of your training with our Ulaanbaatar Office Staff — all trainings will be conducted in the afternoon one day before trip commencement; duration is roughly 2 to 3 hours.

The training will be a ‘meet and greet’ opportunity as well as a professional training that will be covering Mongolian culture, some history, nomadism’s DOs and DONTs, some health and safety, language, etc., as well as covering all logistical Q&As, “double confirm” departure time from GER to GER Office to the National Park by private vehicle as we know some flexibility within Ulaanbaatar City is required owing to the city’s massive traffic issues (example: 9:00am is just a goal but sometimes we’ll need to wait for one another till 10:30am), and more.

Day Two – Khogno Khan National Park – Enjoy a trek around the golden dune oasis followed by an evening of great nomadic foods and traditional games (L, D – Mongolia Desert Experience – Overnight in own Ger): Depart from GER to GER Office around 0900-1030 and drive by car for approx 4 1/2 to 5 hours to your first nomadic family at Khogon Khan National Park. Upon arrival in the National Park, our local nomadic family welcome you with traditional Mongolian milk tea and begin to prepare a wholesome nomadic meal for you. During this time – you must quickly adapt and learn how to “relax” by their local lifestyle…enjoy the tea, enjoy the easy going nature of your nomadic family and once served your meal – enjoy the wholesomeness of Mongolia’s traditional foods. After you meal, you will start to learn how Mongolian appreciate the complexities of Nature and how it influenced their livelihood, culture and how they interpret life. You will start your afternoon desert trek towards a locally renown desert oasis which is a testament to the harmonizes found in the extremes… a seasonally vibrant migratory resting place for swans and other wildlife – hence its named “Swan Lake” by the locals.

Enjoy the “slower pace”, an evening of good food, even card games.

Day Three – Nomadic lifestyle immersion – Time to immerse yourself into the ancient daily nomadic routines (survival) followed by and an evening of learning the art of making meaty Mongolian dumplings – as well as eating them! (B, L, D – Mongolia Desert Experience and Overnight in own Ger): Today you will start your day by learning how the nomadic families maintain their sustainable lifestyles* in the desert regions with sand dunes as your backdrop! You will get up early and help the family to make the morning fire, afterwards you will assist the wife to milk the animals and prepare the morning milk tea and foods… after that you will assist the collecting of water – which isn’t an easy task like walking to the kitchen, etc.

In the early afternoon you’ll have some rest, lunch and then it’s out to the field to gather livestock dung that is used to fuel the family’s fire for cooking and heat, tidy up the animal pins, etc. By late afternoon, it’s time to wash up and help the wife to prepare for the evening dinner – you are going to learn how to make the famed Mongolian Dumplings. Later that evening you will assist the family to herd the livestock into their pins and afterwards you will all greatly enjoy the benefits of your labors!

Day Four – Felt-making workshop – Learn the process of making authentic nomadic felt via ancient methodologies used for clothing to warming Mongols’ Gers; (B,L, D – Mongolia Desert Experience and Overnight in own Ger):  After breakfast you will journey to Mr. Byambatogtoh’s family, upon arrival you’ll be welcomed a warm nomadic lunch and traditional milk tea.

Afterwards, you’ll start learning the process (via sample size – not via traditional large rug size); traditionally, they will roll out the “mother” felt onto the field. This is an old felt that is used as a base for the new felt – the beaten wool is now placed on the mother-felt in such a way as to have the fibers paralleling one another. The best wool is laid out first and lesser quality is placed to the right side of the new felt. After the layers are laid out warm water is sprinkled across the wool and a large pole is then placed across one end of the new felt. Both the new wool and the mother felt are then rolled up tightly around the pole to which wet hides are wrapped around the felt with strong ropes that binds the roll together; loops are attached to each end of the pole. The ropes are attached to these loops/tied to horses or camels to which they pull across the Steppe

Day Five – Return to Ulaanbaatar City – Sleep in and take it easy! Return to Ulaanbaatar (B, L – Mongolia Desert Experience): Enjoy your breakfast and yes – you don’t have to cook today 😉 Afterwards, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to simply rest, enjoy some serious napping and take it easy or do some photography and enjoy the location. After your farewell lunch you’ll begin packing up and start your return drive back to Ulaanbaatar.

Mongolia Desert Nomad Car Tour – Included services:

• All breakfast, lunch and dinner which are stated on itinerary
• Herder guide service on route
• Horse riding, trekking according to itinerary
• Sightseeing as stated in itinerary
• Bottled water on route
• Private vehicle which stated on itinerary (1-2 persons small car, 3 people jeep and larger groups mini-buses)
• 3 nights in extra ger of nomadic families
• English speaking guide on route
• National park fees

Mongolia Desert Nomad Car Tour – Not included:

• International airfare
• Travel insurance
• Gratuity to guide and driver
• Alcoholic beverages