Mongolia Nomad Homestay – Trek & Live Like a Mountain Lake Nomad in Arkhangai

This Mongolia Nomad Homestay grants you Live Like a Local access to nomadic families in Arkhangai’s Blue Mountain Lake Trek for some amazing trekking with nomads!

Community fee: $274 for 9 days / 8 nights;

Additional In-Country Travel Expenses:
UB to Tsetserleg Bus Fee (one way): $10 USD;
Rural jeep (two way) (approx.): $93 USD;
Note: Jeep cost can be divided by number of persons;
Booking, briefing, handbook, healthy/safety coordination: $25 USD 

Along this fantastic budget trip, you will trek to the beautiful Khukh Nuur (Blue Lake) located at the top of the Arhangai Mountains. This is a challenging route and you will be trekking up to 20KM a day through the amazingly picturesque green valleys in Arhangai Province commonly referred to as the “Horse Breeders Paradise”. This trek from Ger to Ger to the mountain lake is a great way to experience the unspoiled local nature and warm hospitality of the nomadic families along the trekking route.

(Note: distances may change depending on quality of seasonal pastures)

Mongolia Nomad Homestay and Arkhangai Mountain Lake Trekking Day One

Overland by rural bus and jeep/vehicle to Mr. Batdelger’s Son “Buhbaatar” Nomadic Family (D – Overnight in a Genuine Nomadic Ger): You will travel from UB to Tsetserleg by the public bus at 0800, along the way you will see many scenic locations from the bus as it drives by vast nomadic pastures, the Ancient Capital City of the Mongol Empire “Karakorum”, etc. Once you arrive in Tsetserleg town around at 1800, our local facilitator will arrange a local driver for you at bus stop that will take you to the first family Mr. Batdelger’s son (57km). Upon arrival his family will serve you dinner and tea before your retire for the night in your tent nearby the nomadic family.

Mongolia Nomad Homestay and Arkhangai Mountain Lake Trekking Day Two

Trekking to the base of Sumtiin Mountain (B, L, D – Overnight Camping in Tent): After breakfast the family will show you how to cut Mongolian curds before you and the herders will pack up Yaks to start your trek along the beautiful Tamir Valley to the base of Sumtiin Mountain. In the early days, five famous monks planted five memorial trees at the base of Sumtiin Mountain before they left their native land which became today’s beautiful scenery of Mountain. Along the way you will have a picnic lunch and absorb much of the local cultural site that includes ancient graves, burial sites; many Khirgesuur (piles of stones marking the burial site of an ancient warrior) and many tombstones. After 15km of trekking you will reach the camping site and Mr. Buhbaatar’s family will prepare and serve you a dinner before retiring for the night.

Mongolia Nomad Homestay and Arkhangai Mountain Lake Trekking Day Three

Trekking to Mr. Battulga nomadic family (B, L, D – Overnight in a Genuine Nomadic Ger): After having breakfast, you will trek for 12km to Mr. Battulga’s family – along the way you will have a picnic lunch. Upon arrival at Mr.Battulga’s Ger, the family will prepare and serve you dinner and hot tea to which you will retire for the night.

Mongolia Nomad Homestay and Arkhangai Mountain Lake Trekking Day Four

Trekking to Gangiin Bulan (B, L, D – Overnight Camping in Tent): After breakfast with Battulga’s family, you will have an opportunity to learn how to make the well-known Ih Tamir White Curds or nomadic cheese before you and the nomads start packing the luggage on yak cart. Today you will trek for 25km to Gangiin Bulan, where you will be outdoor camping away from families for one night. Along the way you will be served a picnic before reaching the overnight camping site where Mr. Battulga will serve you dinner and tea.

Mongolia Nomad Homestay and Arkhangai Mountain Lake Trekking Day Five

Trekking Trip to Mr. Byambaochir nomadic family (B, L, D – Overnight in a Genuine Nomadic Ger): After having a breakfast you will trek for 25km to Mr. Byambaochir’s family, from this point onwards the terrain becomes more challenging with small rivers to cross and some hills to pass over. As you trek to Byamba-Ochir’s home, you will be served a picnic lunch. Upon arrival Mr. Byambaochir and his family will serve you dinner and hot tea before retiring for the evening.

Mongolia Nomad Homestay and Arkhangai Mountain Lake Trekking Day Six

Trekking to Blue Sapphire Mountain Lake (B, L, D – Overnight in a Genuine Nomadic Ger): After breakfast, you will start the trek to ‘Blue Sapphire Lake’ with the nomadic guide – today you don’t need to pack the all the luggage, a day-pack is sufficient for the day as the trek will be about 26km round trip. You will be served a picnic lunch at the top of the Mountain along the edge of Blue Lake where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of this mountain lake. By evening you you return to Mr. Byambaochir’s nomadic family’s ger where they will welcome you with dinner before you overnight in your ger.

Mongolia Nomad Homestay and Arkhangai Mountain Lake Trekking Day Seven

Trekking to Nomadic Family (B, L, D – Overnight in a Genuine Nomadic Ger): After breakfast, Mr. Byambaochir and you will start packing the yak for your journey – today the terrain becomes more challenging as you have to trek over a mountain. You will served a picnic lunch as you are trekking for 27 kilometers through Jargalant Valley – upon arrival at Batbayar’s family, they will welcome you with a nomadic dinner before retiring for the evening.

Mongolia Nomad Homestay and Arkhangai Mountain Lake Trekking Day Eight

Trekking to Shivertiin Mountain (B, L, D – Overnight Camping in Tent): After breakfast, Mr. Batbayar will teach you how to make homemade ropes out of yak hair before you continue your 22km trek up Shivertiin Mountain. Once we leave Batbayar’s home there will be no families along the way to our meeting point with the vehicle – on the way you will be served with a picnic lunch and tea. Upon arrival at the outdoor campsite, Mr. Batbayar will prepare and serve you with a outdoor dinner and hot tea before you overnight in your tent.

Mongolia Nomad Homestay and Arkhangai Mountain Lake Trekking Day Nine

Short Trek to meet the rural driver nearby the base of Khujiriin Mountain (B): After breakfast we will pack up all the tents and luggage and continue our trek for around 7 kilometers with the yaks to the mount of Khujiriin Mountain where the vehicle is waiting for us. You will say farewell to the herders and humble yaks and will continue your overland travel for 80km back to Tsetserleg where you will overnight at a guesthouse. This morning you will get up early in preparation for your bus back to Ulaanbaatar city that will depart at 0800.

Important Notes for Mongolian Homestay 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. 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 day to day experiences and prices (subject to changes), terrain, lifestyles, etc., distances will change in accordance with Nomadic pastures, weather, culture, lifestyles and other factors.