Otgoo’s Mongolia Winter Tour to Reindeer Tribes in the Northern Taiga

Your Mongolian adventure begins with a warm welcome in Ulaanbaatar. After picking you up from the airport, we’ll take you to a premium hotel in the city center. Get acquainted with Mongolia’s capital as our team helps you gather supplies and get familiar with your 4×4 TOYOTA Land Cruiser rental car. End your first day with a delicious dinner, featuring either traditional Mongolian dishes or international options, before heading out into the wild tomorrow.

Your Mongolia winter tour begins with the handover of your self-drive 4×4 vehicle in Ulaanbaatar. Drive west toward Khustai National Park, home to the reintroduced Przewalski’s wild horses. Enjoy a winter wildlife observation tour and soak in the serene beauty of snow-dusted steppe landscapes.

Continue your drive to Elsen Tasarkhai, a unique area where desert, steppe, and mountain ecosystems meet. Ride camels across the dunes and join a nomadic family for a warm meal, learning about their winter lifestyle. End the day in a cozy ger camp surrounded by frosted sands.

Travel west to Kharkhorin (Karakorum), the 13th-century capital of the Mongol Empire. Visit the historic Erdene Zuu Monastery, Mongolia’s first Buddhist monastery, explore the Kharkhorin Museum, and experience traditional arts at the local calligraphy center.

Drive to the tranquil Ugii Lake, a stunning freshwater lake that glistens under its winter ice. Spend the afternoon ice fishing, taking a short hike, or simply relaxing by the lakeshore. Enjoy the peace of Mongolia’s vast open spaces before your final day’s journey.

Conclude your journey with a scenic drive back to Ulaanbaatar, taking in the final views of Mongolia’s vast winter landscapes. Check into your premium hotel and enjoy a farewell dinner at one of the city’s top restaurants, where a selection of gourmet Mongolian and international dishes awaits. It’s the perfect way to celebrate and reflect on your epic off-road adventure across Mongolia before departure.

On your final day in Mongolia, relax as our team transfers you to the airport for your departure. Reflect on the unforgettable journey you’ve just completed—traversing vast steppes, rugged mountains, and silent winter deserts—and bid a warm farewell to this extraordinary land, until your next adventure.

Your Mongolian winter tour begins with a warm welcome in Ulaanbaatar. After meeting your guide at the airport, who will guide you on your arrival day and stay in touch with you during the tour, you’ll be transferred to your premium hotel in the city center. Depending on your arrival time, take a stroll through Sükhbaatar Square, visit a cashmere factory or boutique as well as the museum of history and enjoy a dinner introducing you to modern Mongolian flavors.

Leave the city behind and head north across open steppe and forested hills. Along the way, you may stop at Amarbayasgalant Monastery, one of Mongolia’s most beautiful and best-preserved Buddhist monasteries, set in a quiet valley surrounded by gentle mountains. Continue your journey through peaceful countryside dotted with herder camps and grazing horses before arriving at a tranquil lodge embraced by pine forests and rivers.

Today’s drive takes you through rolling meadows and quiet valleys toward the Eg River. Upon arrival riverside lodge, enjoy a leisurely afternoon walk or simply relax by the fire as the winter light fades over the frozen landscape — the perfect introduction to the calm rhythm of life at the lodge.

Spend a relaxing day in the quiet beauty of winter at the lodge, where the Eg River winds through snow-covered meadows. Take a peaceful stroll among the riverside bushes, where silence feels complete, or set out on a gentle horseback ride along the frozen banks. Later, warm up in the riverside sauna and watch the sunset fade into a starlit sky — a day of pure stillness and comfort in nature’s calm.

Continue west through alpine terrain, rivers, and remote hamlets surrounded by larch and cedar forests. Upon arrival in Ulaan Uul, visit the small local museum, which offers fascinating insights into the region’s history, reindeer culture, and wildlife. In the evening, settle into your guesthouse and enjoy a simple yet hearty dinner prepared with local ingredients.

The road leads deeper into the Taiga, tracing the course of the Jargant River, whose waters remarkably flow year-round, untouched by frost. The air grows cooler and the forests denser as you approach comfortable Camp, a peaceful hideaway nestled near the riverbank. Spend the evening by the fire, listening to the quiet flow of the river beneath the stars.

Cross into the East Taiga, where reindeer herders — the Tsaatan — live in harmony with the forest. Ride on horseback or by vehicle to reach their camp. Spend the night in a yurt, sharing stories and meals by the fire with your hosts.

Experience daily life in the Taiga — learn how reindeer are cared for, explore the surrounding forest, and listen to stories of shamanic traditions. The experiences that is timeless and genuine, along with one of the unique nomadic lifestyle.

Bid farewell to your hosts and retrace your path toward Khuvsgul Lake. Arrive at a peaceful camp on the lake’s edge, where a hot shower and hearty dinner await. The evening is yours to rest and reflect.

Travel to Murun, the provincial capital of Khuvsgul. Visit the local market or museum and enjoy one last evening surrounded by northern charm before your return flight.

Transfer to Murun Airport for your flight to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival, you’ll be met at the airport for your onward transfer — marking the end of your northern Mongolia adventure.

Take in the final impressions of Mongolia. Time has come — you’ll be transferred to Chinggis Khaan International Airport for your onward journey. As you leave Mongolia behind, carry with you memories of open landscapes, quiet rivers, and the warmth of its people — a journey that lingers long after you’ve returned home.