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.

This trek is manageable by anyone with a reasonable amount of fitness, capable of walking for a whole day. There are no big ascent days or summit days, though there will be steady inclines and some alpine areas to trek through. You'll be in a remote region with basic facilities at times, and no 3G or 4G coverage (bliss!) so a big part of the adventure is visiting a place out of your comfort zone, learning local rural customs and spending time seeing how modern-day nomadic herders live life in rural Mongolia.

Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

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.

Mongolia is one of the highest countries in the world, with an average altitude of 1580m above sea level. Known as the ‘Land of the Blue Sky’ it is blessed with an average of 260 days of blue sky per year - but these do not all occur in the summer months! Mongolian weather is known for its sharp fluctuations. And, yes, it may well rain. See it as a blessing. Mongolian herders celebrate the rain since without it, fresh pasture cannot grow and they lose their livelihoods.

May and early June are prone to large temperature fluctuations with typical daytime temperatures of 10-20°C and cold nights ranging from 0-10°C. Temperatures usually start to rise and fluctuate less from mid-June but there's often more cloud cover and some rain - days range from 15-25°C and nights from 10-15°C. In July and early August, you can expect a mixed bag - very changeable weather with sunshine most days but also some cloud and rain and sometimes even snow (days 15-40°C; nights 10-20°C) - on hot days you'll want to throw yourself in a lake or river! Late August and September are pleasant times to travel as it often becomes drier and sunnier yet colder at night (August: days 15-30°C; nights 0-15°C / September: days 0-20°C; nights -5 to +5°C).

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.

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

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

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All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.