A true adventure between Siberian forests, central steppes
and the sands of the Gobi.
You'll enjoy unique experiences on horseback, on camelback
on horseback, on camelback and with your dog sled.
Dates 2024/25
From 7th to 20th December
From 14 to 27 December - Christmas Special
From 28 December to 10 January, for a New Year Special
Number of people - 4 maximum
All-inclusive price in Mongolia: €2,690/person
An intense winter journey during which you will discover Mongolia's diverse landscapes, the central steppes of the Ovorkhanagy, the central Gobi of Bulgan and the Siberian forests of Terelj, bordering the Khenty National Park wildlife sanctuary.
Mongolia offers an incredible diversity of landscapes, ecosystems and nomadic culture, at the heart of which we invite you to immerse yourself, meeting nomadic families who take refuge in their winter camps, sheltered from the rigours of the Mongolian winter. Horse trekking in the valleys overlooking the remains of the country's former capital, Kharkhorin, now the site of the great Erdenezuu monastery, followed by a camel ride through the Bayan Gobi dunes, and ending your stay with a dog-sledding adventure in Terelj, at the foot of the Khan Khenty mountain range and national park.
This park boasts areas of steppe and magnificent rock formations, the most famous of which is the Mekhii Khad, an erratic boulder reminiscent of a turtle, which is one of the most visited natural monuments by Mongolians.
Winter in Mongolia is harsh, between -20°C and -30°C, but the air is very dry and with the right equipment, this adventure is within everyone's reach.
The cold and the purity of the air create an incredible atmosphere, the ice sublimated by the cold goes up in smoke and frosts at the slightest touch, and the incredibly pure light gives this trip a unique taste of adventure.
An intense and unforgettable experience ......
Day 1: Arrival in Mongolia - Ulaanbaatar
You will be met at the airport by our team, before settling into your hotel.
Ulan Bator was built on the banks of the river Tuul, formerly Urga, in honour of the son of a great Mongol lord. The name Ulan Bator was given to the capital of Mongolia during the revolution of 1921. The name means ‘red hero’. The streets of the capital are much less hectic in winter than in summer, but there's a constant hustle and bustle.
but the streets are always bustling, even late at night. The city is divided into a number of very different districts.
in the city centre. Ulan Bator is growing at an astonishing rate, and you'll find all the comforts of home in the capital.
all the conveniences of modern life...
After a quick city tour, you can sample some local specialities before returning to your hotel.
your hotel.
D2 - Ulaanbaatar - Sands of the Bayan Gobi and a warm welcome at Onii
This morning, drive to Khogno-Khan National Park, famous for its astonishing sand formations. Here, the ancient granite massif and the 80km-long Elsen Tasarkhay sand dunes form a splendid landscape. Along the way, we'll stop for a walk on the slopes of the Khogno-Khan mountain, a revered local mountain on the edge of the 3 regions, to take in the superb views. We'll visit the ruins of the Erden-Khamba monastery before continuing on to the camp of our hosts, camel breeders in Khogno-Khan, where we'll stay with the Onii family, who always give us the warmest of welcomes. In the middle of nowhere, in the most cheerful of surroundings, you'll spend your first evening in Mongolia with your hosts.
Overnight in Onii's yurt in Khogno-Khaan.
Day 3 - Trekking in the dunes of the Bayan Gobi
All the nomadic herding families in this region of Mongolia have their own herds of Bactrian camels, whose thick coats make them perfectly suited to the country's harsh climate. Today, we'll take a camel ride to explore the spectacular dunes of Khogno-Khan. Here, the sea of sand is surrounded by steppes and mountains, and you can also make the most of these stunning landscapes on foot.The late afternoon and evening are reserved for traditional activities and socialising with your hosts. Life in a yurt has its own set of codes, which are often difficult to respect, but every ‘breach of the rules’ is more of a joke than an offence. Night in Khogno-Khan.
D4 - Kharkhorim, the ancient Mongol capital
Here we are on our way to Kharkhorim, the former capital of Mongolia under the empire of Genghis Khaan. Visit Erdenezuu, probably the oldest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, which was the most important religious sanctuary for centuries. The guide will explain the symbols on the three
The guide will explain the symbols on the three small temples and the outer wall with its stupas before continuing on to Jaya's winter camp, which has been built in the heart of a wooded mountain area. Sheltered from the prevailing winds, this valley is ideal for spending the winter in warmth while protecting the livestock from the cold and wolf attacks. We'll spend the evening with Jaya and his wife Altai, sharing a traditional dish and chatting with our hosts about Mongolian traditions and way of life, past and present.
D5 - Nomadic life at the Jaya winter camp. Horse riding in the Ovorkhangay hills
A day to live nomadically, to get more involved in the day-to-day tasks of the cattle breeders: looking after the animals in the pens, giving them fodder or salt, milking the cows and goats, fetching water or chopping wood. In winter, the families keep very few horses close to the camp; the herd stays in the mountains under the watchful eye of the stallion. The horses are brought back down from time to time to give them salt, check on the condition of the herd, possibly take one or 2 geldings for riding, cut the manes to make ropes, etc. Today we'll have a lovely ride on horseback along the crest of the mountain range, to keep an eye on the cattle and admire the panoramic view of Mongolia's vast snow-covered spaces, the surrounding mountains and the ever-present steppes.
Evening with Jaya's family.D5 - Nomadic life at Jaya's winter camp. Horse riding in the Ovorkhangay hills
A day to live nomadically, to get more involved in the day-to-day tasks of the cattle breeders: looking after the animals in the enclosures, giving them fodder or salt, milking the cows and goats, fetching water or chopping wood. In winter, the families keep very few horses close to the camp; the herd stays in the mountains under the watchful eye of the stallion. The horses are brought back down from time to time to give them salt, check on the condition of the herd, possibly take one or 2 geldings for riding, cut the manes to make ropes, etc. Today we'll have a lovely ride on horseback along the crest of the mountain range, to keep an eye on the cattle and admire the panoramic view of Mongolia's vast snow-covered spaces, the surrounding mountains and the ever-present steppes.
Evening with Jaya's family.
Day 6 - Route to Ulan Bator and stopover at Khustay Nature Park
Morning with our welcoming hosts. The help is most welcome. We then take the long road back to Khustay Nature Park, home to the Prjevalski horses.
You'll have plenty of time to wander around and find typical souvenirs and cashmeres made in Mongolia. Night in the yurt camp
D7 - Return to Ulaanbaatar
In the morning you will have the chance to meet the Prjevalski horses once again, before heading back to the capital in time for lunch. Afternoon at your leisure.
Overnight at the hotel in Ulaanbaatar.
D8 - Ulan Bator & Reception at Terelj base camp
Departure by car for our Terelj base camp.
Free time to explore the surrounding area.
Wild nature and nomads....... before heading back to the warmth of the yurt.
At sunset, the temperature drops quickly and after 4pm, the comfort of a yurt is always welcome.
is always welcome.
Day 9 - Khentii - Departure for the sledging adventure. Route along the Tuul River.
Departure for 5 days of sledging. Don't forget anything at the base camp....think of everything...
and off we go!
For the first few kilometres, we'll follow the Terelj river by vehicle, before reaching the starting point, at the junction of the Terelj and Tuul rivers.
We then follow the Tuul up the valley towards Khagiin Khuul Nuur.
Several nomadic families live in this valley. Wildlife is never far away and the silence, reinforced by the cold, creates a most unreal atmosphere.
The ice on the Tuul River is surprisingly changeable: blue one day, it can darken to black the next; you can feel it cracking under your skates, making strange noises...
Sometimes river water seeps through the cracks, forming little lagoons of open water above the ice.
In winter, nature is king here.
For the night, we reach Bosgiin Guur, a small hamlet inhabited by Enkhtaïvan and Mungoo.
We spend the night in a yurt.
The nomads stay put throughout the winter, building wooden shelters on their winter camp to protect the batail from the wind and cold. In spring, they move closer to the rivers, and return to the same spot the following winter. It's a cyclical transhumance.
Sharing time in a yurt with the nomads is an unforgettable experience.
Discover another culture, one that harmoniously combines tradition and modernity.
Day 10: Bosgiin Guur - Khar Us (last nomad camp in the valley)
Departure for Khar Us.
On this route, the Tuul River becomes calmer, splits into several arms and meanders endlessly. After a picnic break, we reach the Khar Us (black water) camp in the middle of the afternoon.
Four or five families live here, grouped together to better cope with the rigours of winter.
Tsodoo and his family welcome us and we spend the night in their yurt.
This camp is one of the last in the valley, as only one family has built its winter camp a few kilometres further upstream and then.... wildlife is the only thing left to haunt these magnificent surroundings.
The comfort of a guest yurt, set up right next to Tsodoo's family's yurt.
Day 11: Khar Us - Tuul-Khagiin river junction - Khar Us
Today's stage takes us into a more mineral part of the mountains, ever closer to the black lake of Khagiin.
The landscape becomes increasingly wild, reminiscent of Alaska.
There are no longer any nomads in these areas, but it is not uncommon to come across horse riders cutting through these mountains to move from one valley to another.
A looping stage of around 50 kilometres up the Tuul river to discover some of the wilderness of the Khagiin river, then back down to Kha Us.
Overnight in a yurt at Tsodoo's and a final evening with our hosts.
Festive evening in the yurt!
Day 12: Khar Us - Bosgiin Guur
35 kilometres to the Enkhtayvan camp, further down the valley. The dogs
are still eager to run on the ice, without any apprehension, sniffing out wolf tracks here and there.
wolf tracks.
To reach the camp, we take the same route as on the outward journey, along the river. This gives us the opportunity to get a better look at our surroundings, the tracks, the landscape...
We set up camp in Enkhtaiven and Mungo's log house or in the yurt next door.
At Mungono, as they say, the atmosphere is always upbeat, and as soon as we arrive, our hosts get down to work preparing a hearty meal, enough to recharge the batteries....
Day 13: Bosgiin Guur - Uliin Bulan - Terelj
Departure from Bosgiin Guur.
Once again, we glide down the Tuul to its junction with the Terelj. More
few kilometres to go to our arrival point, where vehicles and trailers
and trailers.
Last moments of sledging and last exchanges with the nomads.
Arrival at the Terelj base camp in the middle of the afternoon and drive to Ulaanbaatar.
Check-in at the hotel.
Day 14: International flight.
Early in the morning, transfer to the airport for your international flight.
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