SEARCH TOURS

Mongolian Yak Safari


Mongolia is one of the world's last unspoiled wilderness areas, blessed with mountains, lakes, deserts and steppes




Explore one steppe beyond – so far off the beaten track there's no track at all! We wander the countryside at a leisurely pace using yaks as our support vehicles in true nomadic style. There is time to relax in our eco-friendly ger camps, as well as a train trip to give you a taste of the Trans Mongolian Railway! You won't find a more authentic Mongolian experience anywhere – we guarantee it!



Gallery View map

Tour Highlights

  • Tuul River trek and rafting
  • Low-impact ger camping in Gobi's Ikh Nart Nature Reserve
  • Former Soviet Union-influenced Ulaanbaatar

Inclusions

  • Peregrine tour leader, local guides, arrival transfer, transport, sightseeing and entrance fees.

  • 4WD vehicle
  • Sleeper train
  • Trek
  • 13 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10 dinners

Mongolian Yak Safari

Day 1
Ulaanbaatar
Meals Privided:
On arrival in Ulaanbaatar, you are transferred to your hotel. As Ulaanbaatar hotels are subject to change, please check the itinerary your final documents to confirm your correct hotel. In the evening, you meet your tour leader and the other group members for a pre-tour briefing. This is generally followed by an optional group dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2
Ikh Nart
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast we transfer to the railway station for our train into the Gobi. We travel for 6½ hours by local train to the station of Shivee Gobi, where we step off the platform into the wilderness of the arid Dorngobi (East Gobi) steppe. Our rugged vehicle awaits us and transports us 60 kilometres to our camp. This is not a huge distance, but in terrain like this we must go slowly. In the late afternoon we arrive at our destination - Ikh Nart Nature Reserve. After dinner we can relax and get used to our accommodation, which is traditional gers (also known as 'yurts' in Central Asia). Gers are the nomadic Mongolian homes, yet they are as portable as any tent. Our gers are furnished - each with three or four beds complete with linen, blankets and pillows. There are small stools, a table and a fire stove. Three quarters of the Mongolian population still live in gers throughout the year, despite enduring sub-zero temperatures for many months.
Day 3-4
Ikh Nart Nature Reserve
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We have two full days to explore Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, a community reserve protected by the local authorities and a place remote enough that very few tourists have found their way there as yet. The Mongolian Academy of Science have established a partnership with overseas zoologists to study wildlife here and by visiting we are helping to support both these conservation efforts and provide a sustainable income for the local people during the summer months. We are guests of the local Dalanjargal community and for our visit a low-impact ger camp has been set up. The premise is simple – when the camps are dismantled at the end of the summer, there should be no signs of where we have been, or at least no more than would be left by a nomadic family living according to centuries-old traditions. During our stay we have the opportunity to explore the reserve on foot and discover that it is a unique mix of arid Gobi steppe and huge rock formations and crevasses. Our local hosts will also offer us activities – whether learning about traditional crafts or teaching us the basics of Mongolian wrestling! This is a beautiful place to relax and simply appreciate the solitude of the Gobi.
Day 5
Ulaanbaatar
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
Today we drive for four hours back to Ulaanbaatar, with the afternoon left free for us to explore the capital. Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia's largest city - the name means 'Red Hero' and it is indeed shaped by the influences of the former Soviet Union in that most of the city is full of Russian-style apartment buildings. Sukhbaatar Square is the central point in town and is dominated by the Parliament building and a statue of Damdin Sukhbaatar (on horseback), the man who confirmed Mongolian independence from China. There are also statues of Genghis Khan and his sons – in recent years acclaimed as heroes from an earlier age. One optional sight you may wish to check out is the Winter Palace of Bogd Khaan - a controversial figure and the last king of Mongolia. His death in 1924 ushered in over 65 years of communism for the country. The Museum of Natural History is also fascinating, particularly the Dinosaur Hall.
Day 6-8
Khan Khentii Protected Area
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Before leaving Ulaanbaatar we visit the magnificent Gandan Monastery - the largest and most important in the country (please note that no photography is permitted inside). From here we head back out to the countryside as we travel for about three hours (110 kilometres) into the Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area. The undeveloped nature of this diverse country is demonstrated for us as we travel for the first hour on tarmac roads and the second hour through a beautiful steppe valley and past many herdsmen, before finally making our way through forests to reach our second ger camp. Again, we are fortunate to stay here in a high protected environmental zone - our ger camp being the only one allowed within this area. We are located next to a river and use solar and wind power for our few electrical needs. The local herders will come to us to offer basic services - we can learn how to construct a ger, fish by traditional methods, ride mountain bikes or even read up on local history in a 'library ger'!
Day 9-12
Yak Trek
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is the start of our unique adventure! After breakfast we load our luggage on to yak carts and start our trek around the southern fringes of Khan Khentii, a wilderness area three times the size of the USA's famous Yellowstone National Park. Our equipment is loaded on traditional wooden carts, which are then pulled along by yaks. The carts carry not only our personal gear and camping supplies, but all the components of a ger. Each night we will work together to assemble it so there is a communal space to share - this can be done surprisingly quickly with a little practice and everyone helping! You need to bring your own sleeping bag, preferably a 'three seasons' bag, since even during summer the temperatures can drop close to freezing on the steppe at night. We travel without support vehicles - we don't need them for our trek (maximum of 20 kilometres per day), nor would they be practical in this terrain! Instead we are accompanied by local herdsmen who monitor our slow and steady progress from their horses. It is said that Mongolians are 'born on horseback' and after watching them work with their animals, you will quickly understand why! We are also accompanied by a cook who provides each day with a mix of western and Mongolian cuisine. We are in a scenic area where rivers flow down broad steppe valleys, and we are certain to feel as if we are on the very edge of human civilisation. We have no particular end destinations nor do we looking to complete a particular number of kilometres each day. Our trek is in the spirit of a nomad, unpressured by targets or deadlines, simply appreciating the natural environment and choosing an idyllic camp each night. We are so far off the beaten track that the only sounds around us are of the rivers flowing, the nearby animals and the traditional songs of our herder friends. This will be the experience of a lifetime.
Day 13
Ulaanbaatar
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
After breakfast we return to Ulaanbaatar, with the afternoon free to explore further or do some final shopping. As well as choosing from the international cuisines available in the capital, there is an opportunity to enjoy an optional folk music performance tonight. This is a fantastic opportunity to witness the traditional 'throat singing' that Mongolia is famous for - a performance that really does have to be seen to be believed!
Day 14
Ulaanbaatar
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
The tour ends after breakfast. A transfer to the airport is not included; however, your tour leader will be on hand to advise you as to the options available.

IN A NUTSHELL

14 days
$2,660
15

TOUR INFORMATION

Start End Price
12/05/201225/05/2012 $2,660
09/06/201222/06/2012 $2,660
21/07/201203/08/2012 $2,660
08/09/201221/09/2012 $2,660
Print Itinerary How To Book

FURTHER ENQUIRIES