Mongolia Nomad Homestay – Experience Lunar New Years with Nomadic Families
This Mongolia Homestay grants you in-depth Live Like a Local access into Mongolia’s famed Lunar New Years Celebrations as a Local via our Live Like a Local Nomad Experiences
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
Difficulty of trip: Moderate
Group Prices: (2-6) $297 p.p.
Availability: Typically February or March
Celebrate Lunar Festival (homestay) with nomadic herder families, White Month is Mongolia’s biggest nationally celebrated festival! It is customary to celebrate the first day of the new spring – when old and new years change according to lunar calendar. The festival celebrates the passing of the harsh winter and the welcoming spring. Preparation for this day means to have everything cleaned, tables set with traditional dishes – lots of meat dumplings, and families wears their best traditional garments before visiting relatives to exchange greetings and gifts.
[ ZONE 1 – First Time Outbackers and Family Friendly ]
(Notes: 1. Distance may indeed vary, shorter on some days and longer on others 2. Travelers will pay directly on bus 3. Travelers will pay for local park fees when required)
Mongolia Nomad Homestay Day One
Eve “Bituun” (L, D – Overnight in Ger): Herder guide will take you to a family which you will celebrate White Month, herder Battsetseg`s family. After welcomed with lunch, you will join in preparation for Tsagaan Sar (White Month).On this day, you will make a buuz and cook some dishes with the herder family for coming visitors. On this day, Mongolians get up early in the morning, clean everything and prepare traditional dishes to be abundant in the coming year. After cleaned home, they boil meat for a last day of the year- Bituun. Within this period, you can set table for Tsagaan Sar with family members. (an abundant table sets the mood that next year will be prosperous – so everybody tries to set big table).
Mongolia Nomad Homestay Day Two
First day of the New year (B, L, D – Overnight in Ger): Getting up at 0700 in the morning, everybody will take their first steps of the year in order to have good health and happiness in the new year. After the first steps are taken, all family member re-enter their home. At this point, the traditional Tsagaan Sar greetings will begin. Then, they will go to nearest Ovoo worship to offer the best for the heaven and entrust their lives to God. You will have buuz for lunch, and learn how Mongolians greet with each other – on this day, younger people will visit. After a long day, enjoy a good nights rest.
Mongolia Nomad Homestay Day Three
Second day of the New year (B, L, D – Overnight in Ger): Today, the family will greet their visitors and they will start visiting their neighbors, in the evening you will have a dinner with the family.
Mongolia Nomad Homestay Day Four
Third day of the New Year (B, L): Feel free to sleep in today if you desire – after your farewell lunch, the family will give you a present of the New Year and take you to the bus stop.
Note for Winter Travel and Mongolia Homestay: These are “non-touristic” cultural adventures with nomadic families – please do refer to the ‘terms and conditions’ for further clarifications. Winter itineraries are provided for “reference” there will always be changes in activities, methods of travel, etc., to maintain the ‘health/safety’ of travelers and nomadic families. This is exceptionally true for locations that are both summer/winter routes – please double confirm itineraries via email and/or upon arrival at our office during the “training workshop”. ONLINE Itineraries are ONLY meant to provide you a “general” comprehension of the prices (subject to slight changes), terrain, lifestyles, etc., distances will change in accordance with Nomadic winter pastures and other factors.