Itinerary

Feb 28, Day 1: Start the countryside tour to Elsentasarkhai semi-desert

Your guide and driver will meet you at your accommodation and launch the countryside tour to Elsentasarkhai, which represents high mountains, mountain steppes, and the Gobi Desert in a single area. At Elsentasarkahi, you will experience authentic nomadic life and celebrate the national holiday Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year) with nomads. Today is Lunar New Year's Eve. You will see how nomads prepare for their holiday, including how to make traditional dishes. Before the sunset, the hosts ceremonially put up a table full of traditional cookies and whole sheep rump. Next, the New Year's Eve celebration starts.

Accommodation: Extra ger of a nomad family
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

March 1, Day 2: Celebrate the first day of the Mongolian Lunar New Year

Early in the morning, people climb the nearest hill or mountain to see the first sun of the upcoming year. For most Mongolians, the first day of the New Year starts with stepping in their auspicious direction to have a wealthy, healthy, and prosperous coming year. Hostesses boil traditional milk tea and offer the best of it first to the earth, then to their shrine, next to the oldest person in the family or host of the household, and then serve family members, including guests. It is a day when Mongolians wear their most beautiful traditional dresses, visit parents, relatives, and friends, and travel as far as possible. People greet each other by age category (younger people come to elders) in the traditional way of greeting. The celebration goes on when families visit and greet each other. Today, you mount a horse and visit neighbors.

Accommodation: Extra ger of a nomad family
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

March 2, Day 3: See wild horses at Hustai National Park and return to Ulaanbaatar

On the way to Ulaanbaatar, you will visit Hustai National Park to see the last survival of the earth’s wild horses roaming free in the wild. You will also see some other wild creatures. A project to reintroduce wild horses to their native land has been implemented successfully since the beginning of 1990 in Hustai National Park. There are more than 300 Takhi or Przewalski horses roaming in nature. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar late afternoon and transfer to your accommodation.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Price & Date

Background

The Tsaagan Sar tour is a moderate experience for cultural and adventure travelers. You will mingle with the nomads and experience their unique culture while staying with a nomad family and celebrating the national holiday. The Tsagaan Sar tour does not include any physical activities. Fire heating traditional ger stay without WC, shower, or electricity could be an exotic experience. A local equestrian will help you with horse and camel riding.

The Mongolian Lunar New Year celebration date differentiates due to the lunar calendar. Please check the yearly Tsagaan Sar dates. It usually takes place at the end of January or February. The average daylight temperature fluctuates between -15°C and -25°C and the night temperature fluctuates between -20°C and -35°C at its coldest (this weather regards central Mongolia only). For your experience preparations, please check the winter tour packing list

You will stay with a nomad family for 2 nights, eating traditional Mongolian meals. There will be an extra ger to secure your privacy and comfort.

The majority of our company's guides are English-speaking. German, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese-speaking guides are available upon request. All of our guides are friendly and helpful. The majority of them were born and raised in the Mongolian countryside. Therefore, they have good knowledge about every aspect of Mongolia. During horse and camel riding, local equestrians will support you.

Japanese/Korean vans or jeeps serve you, depending on the group size. Besides the vehicles, our experienced, friendly, and good mechanic drivers will help you enjoy the tour.

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