Adventure Hiking with Nomadic Herders in Mongolia

There isn’t a network of clearly defined trails on this trek. You have to be prepared for a mixture of terrain including some mountainous alpine routes with some river crossings. You'll only need to hike with a daypack carrying your water bottle, camera and an extra layer; your main luggage will be transported by the tour vehicle which will meet you at the end of each day. The approximate distance per day is 10-20km, some days will be shorter or longer depending on the conditions. Although your host sets the location in advance, the route is not set in stone as this allows flexibility around the weather and ground conditions as well as at the location of the herding families. The gradients will vary depending on the final route but expect to be hiking on some short sharp and longer steadier hillside inclines. You will be hiking at an average elevation of between 1500-1800 metres.

Your host in Mongolia always uses female tour leaders on their adventures. Doing so provides employment opportunities to Mongolian women and inspires younger girls within the rural communities of Mongolia to look to sustainable tourism as a way to earn money in the future while preserving rural lifestyles. The female tour leaders work alongside a male driver as a team of two for the full duration of the trip.

From day 3 to day 7, you'll be trekking on a route that differs each year depending on where the various nomadic families have set their ger camps up each summer. The hiking route is dependant on knowledge of the locations of the ger camps each season - knowledge that only a nomadic herder can have. Enter Tumee - a male nomadic herder who will co-guide the hiking section of the trip alongside your female tour leader. Tumee's knowledge ensures that the group can stop at ger camps along the route for a unique insight into rural Mongolian life while trekking through these incredible landscapes.

You can read more about how tourism is empowering local women in modern Mongolia by reading our article on this very topic.

A ger is a type of Mongolian yurt. The ger accommodations on this trip are provided by local rural families who use small scale tourism to supplement their income. This gives them extra financial security which means they are one step further away from having to consider urban migration. These are families that your host works with in a long-term local community partnership. Your host will NEVER turn up unannounced or show up at a herding family demanding accommodation.

The type of ger accommodation will change from family to family. Consider them as small rural businesses, not as rustic luxury homestays and be prepared for a variety of standards. Please remember that this is someone’s way of life and home and that they provide what they can in relation to their circumstances. You will have your own private ger to share as a group of 2-4 adventurers which may at times need to be mixed-sex. However, if you prefer privacy, your host can pitch a tent for you next to the family ger. Each ger typically has a number of beds, a central stove, a central table and a few stools. Beds will vary in comfort – most rural family members still traditionally sleep on the floor, so they don’t really understand the concept of double memory foam mattresses!

A majority of Mongolia’s population do not have access to running water so below are the details for showers and toilets at the ger accommodation:

Toilets: Some will be better than expected. Some will be worse than expected. Most will be outside long (or short) drop Asian style and if it is at a family home then the toilet will be shared by you and the family.

Showers: Most Mongolians visit the local town shower house. So this is what you do as well! It gives you an introduction to real daily life for a majority of Mongolians in both urban and rural areas as well as a hot shower. You get your own private cubicle with plenty of hot water. Queue with the locals and enjoy experiencing a little of their daily way of life. On other occasions where a local shower house is not available, you'll be provided with large buckets of hot water to shower with at the ger camp.

Tips are not included in the trip cost. Each member of your host's team receives a fair salary and none have to rely on receiving gratuities to supplement their income. Of course, you are free to tip if you wish, and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality - a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service. Your guide will help with advice on how much to tip if you wish to do so.

Mongolia has limited infrastructure including access to drinking water. Because of this, Mongolia has a countrywide network of water supply stations that the locals use to access water. Your host uses these same water supply stations. Your expedition vehicle has two 20-litre water containers that are refilled en-route. Your host provides a Steripen Adventurer filter pen so that all guests can filter their drinking water. In rural areas in Mongolia, there is no running water. You will need to bring a reusable water bottle with you.

Yes. Excess luggage can be stored at your host's office in Ulaanbaatar at the start of the trip, collected at the end when you return to the capital.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

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Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

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