Reindeer people

Posted on 1. November 202118. January 2022 by Vait

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To the reindeer people

Tour 235

They are not easy to find. Tsaats, reindeer people, they are called by the Mongols, thoughtless habit only or political calculation to disguise their true identity. For the nomads belong to the ethnic minority of the Turkic tribes – Tuvins. Call themselves Tyva-Kish, or even more originally, Sojon-Uriangchaj. In the area around the Khuvsguul – Lake, up to the Russian border, live the last reindeer people in Mongolia, the "Tsaats" (Tsa = reindeer, ten = people). This, in its way of life still original people, is related to the Inuit and their life under these hard climatic conditions is not imaginable without the reindeer.

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Mongolia the classic

Posted on 1. November 202131. May 2022 by Vait

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Mongolia classic 14day

Tour 200

This tour by Steppenfuchs Reisen , combines many classic sights of Mongolia. It leads from Ulaanbaatar first to the north and then to the Gobi. This tour is the ideal introduction for anyone who does not yet know Mongolia and wants to experience as many interesting areas of the country as possible. Special highlights are the visits to the monasteries Amarbajasgant and Erdene zuu (Karakorum) as well as the area around the Vulture Gorge. These trips are offered by Steppenfuchs Reisen as individual or small group tours.

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Enduro Tour – The North

Posted on 1. November 202120. March 2022 by Vait

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Enduro Tour - The North

Tour 131

15 days motorcycle tour of the "extra class". Indescribable landscapes, tracks that are sometimes a challenge and a rough but warm country are waiting for you. The north of Mongolia is dominated by its magnificent lake landscape. Lake Khovsguul is the little brother of Lake Baikal and it is the largest freshwater lake in the country. Mongolians affectionately call it their sea. However, the area around Khovsguul is also one of the least developed regions in Mongolia. Some regions around the lake can only be reached by roads with little traffic, but the effort of getting there is rewarded by the beautiful landscape. Pine forests, larches and taiga indicate to the visitor that Siberia is not far away.

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Mongolia – the classic

Posted on 1. November 202127. January 2022 by Vait

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Mongolia - the classic (21 Day's)

Tour 201

You will have the opportunity to have a lot of contact with nomads during this Mongolia tour. Whenever the situation allows, we will stop at the nomads on the way. If only because the driver, on the way from the north to the south, has to inform himself again and again about the condition of the route. This is every time a nice opportunity to experience the hospitality of the nomads. Special highlights are the visits to the monasteries of Amarbayasgalant and Erdene Zuu (Karakorum) and the area around the Vulture Gorge.

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North – many lakes

Posted on 1. November 202118. January 2022 by Vait

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You are here: Steppenfuchs Reisen - Your Mongolia Specialist » The north of Mongolia

The north with its lakes

Tour 230

The north of Mongolia is dominated by its magnificent lake landscape. Lake Khovsguul is the little brother of Lake Baikal, it is the largest freshwater lake in the country and one of the oldest freshwater lakes on earth. Mongolians affectionately call it their sea. A nature reserve has been established around this lake in recent years to preserve this unique landscape for posterity.

The Tsaaten tribe lives in the region around Lake Khovsguul. They are the last reindeer nomads in Mongolia. The Tsaats have not changed their way of life for centuries. Nature religion and shamanism are still living tradition here.

1.Day	Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, airport transfer, check-in at hotel, program briefing. After that we will visit Ulaanbaatar. You will visit the famous Gandan Monastery with the 27 mtr high Buddha statue. The monastery museum of the Tschojdshjin – Lama, the important Lama in the history of Mongolian Buddhism and a small city tour are also on the program. In the evening you will visit a folklore performance with traditional musical instruments, snake girls and the famous throat singing.
2.Day	Early in the morning, we will take a domestic flight to Murun. There we arrive after about 1 ½ hours. Here we are already expected by our drivers with their vehicles. Loading the vehicles, shopping in the city and then we will drive about 100 km through the terrain in the northern direction to the Khovsguul – Lake, which we will reach in the afternoon.
3.Day	You will spend a whole day at Khovsgul Lake. There is time for hiking, fishing, or just relaxing on the lake shore.
4.Day	On difficult mountain roads, we will cross the "Bayangiinnuruu" mountain range to the village of Renchinlhumbe. Renchinlhumbe is a small administrative center in the north of Mongolia and our starting point for the expedition to the Tsaatan. Visit to one of our Mongolian nomad families.
5.Day	In the morning we will pack the horses before heading north to the reindeer people. The trip to the Tsaatan can only be done in a few weeks in summer due to the harsh climate. Our small expedition will be led by a local Tsaatan.
6.Day	On the way with the reindeer people. The next days we will use to get more familiar with the way of life of the Tsaats. We will spend the whole day with a family who live with and from the reindeer.
7.Day	We will move with the reindeer to the high pastures of the Tsaaten. There we will have lunch in the unique landscape. In the evening we will go back to our camp.
8.Day	The highlight of the trip will certainly be the ride on the reindeer. Traditionally, the tsaats ride only on the reindeer. The ride on one of these big animals into the indescribable taiga will surely become an unforgettable experience for every participant.
9.Day	Today we say goodbye in the morning to the family that has welcomed us warmly during the last days and we start the ride back to Renchinlhumbe
10.Day	Ride back with the horses to the settlement of Renchinlhumbe. Around afternoon we will arrive at the settlement and we will pitch our tents on the edge of Lake Tsaaganuur.
11.Day	By jeep, we drive to the region of Tsaaganuur (White Lake). This lake is very rich in fish and many nomadic families still live on the shore. Continue to Ulaan Uul.
12.Day	From Ulaan Uul we go back to Murun. Murun, after the time of solitude, will already seem to us as a big city. Today we spend the night in a yurt camp.
13.Day	Return flight to Ulaanbaatar. Arrival in Ulaanbaatar at noon. Afternoon: at leisure
14.Day	Early: Return flight
*) Program and route may be subject to change. Binding is the itinerary as it is sent in the booking confirmation

Service specification overview
		Category
Travel time and overnight stay		A	B	C	D	Transport
	Travel time in the country	14 Days					Int. flights	–
	Hotel twin	–	–	–	3		Int. Rail journey	–
	Guesthouse	–	–	3	–		Domestic flight	✔
	Sleeping car 4 or 2 bed comp.	–	–	–	–		Domestic bus trip	✔
	Gercamp Twin	–	–	–	2		Off-road vehicle	✔
	Guest ger b.Nomads	–	2	2	–		Motorcycles BMW 650	–
	Tent	10	8	8	8		Mountainbike	–
	Self-organized	3	3	–	–		Support vehicle	–
							Horses	–
Food service		A	B	C	D		Camel	–
	Restaurant Ulaanbaatar	–	–	–	1		Yack trolley	–
	Breakfast	11	11	11	13			–
	Lunch	12	12	12	12
	Dinner	11	11	11	11	Optional Prices on request
	Self-organized	5	5	5	2		Int. flights	–
							Business Class	–
Service		A	B	C	D		Single room	–
	Breakfast b. Arrival	–	–	–	✔		Single ger	–
	Citytour Ulaanbaatar	–	–	✔	✔		Single ger	–
	Airp.-/Train station transfer	–	✔	✔	✔		LUX ger	–
	Guide	✔					Off-road vehicle westl.	–
	Entrance fees museums	✔					Veg. Food flight	–
	Entries Nat.parks	✔					Veg. Food on the way	–
	Entrance Nadaam festival	–					Cancellation insurance	–
	Photo/film fees	–
	Alcoholic drinks	–
	2 l drinking water p. day	✔

1.Day	Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, airport transfer, check-in at hotel, program briefing. After that we will visit Ulaanbaatar. You will visit the famous Gandan Monastery with the 27 mtr high Buddha statue. The monastery museum of the Tschojdshjin – Lama, the important Lama in the history of Mongolian Buddhism and a small city tour are also on the program. In the evening you will visit a folklore performance with traditional musical instruments, snake girls and the famous throat singing.
2.Day	Departure in the direction of Amarbayasgalant Monastery. On the way we will cross the Orkhon River. Overnight stay near the monastery.
3.Day	The monastery Amarbajasgalant is after Erdene zuu one of the largest sanctuaries in the country and was rebuilt in 1996. Visit of the monastery, conversations with the monks and afterwards continuation of the journey towards Uran Togo via Erdenet and the village Bulgan. In Erdenet, the copper metropolis, we will do some shopping for the rest of the journey. Arrival at the Uran Togoo volcano. The volcano rises in the middle of the Mongolian steppe. "Uran" in Mongolian means as much as – perfect, good -. And indeed, the volcano cone rises very clearly from the flat surrounding land. The volcano crater has a diameter of 600 mtr and is 50 mtr deep. A small hiking trail leads directly to the crater rim.
4.Day	Arrive at Ögij Nuur and spend the night at the lake. With a little luck we will have fresh fish for dinner. At this lake we have a horse breeder family and if you want you can have a ride.
5.Day	Early in the morning we will be woken up by the different songs of the many bird species that live at Ogij Nuur. After a hearty breakfast, the journey continues to Karakorum. On the way we will visit some historical excavation sites (Khöschöö Tsaidam). Here, under Turkish supervision, a former palace from the ancient Turkish Empire is being excavated. The Turks suppose their origin in this region. Later they were expelled by the Mongolian tribes. Detailed sightseeing of Karakorum, the former capital. In Karakorum is also the monastery Erdene zuu. This monastery is one of the most important monasteries in Mongolia and has been partially restored. We will take enough time to visit this unique historical site.
6.Day	Through very beautiful Orkhon valley today we will go to Ulaangoll waterfall. The waterfall is located in the middle of a lava field and the landscape around the waterfall is uniquely pretty. We will have our lunch break on the banks of the Orkhon River. We can buy fresh yogurt and yak cheese from the nomads who live in this valley. The yak is very common in this mountainous region. Afterwards we will continue our journey towards the Ulaangoll waterfall, which we will reach in the late afternoon. We will visit the waterfall and then have time for a hike in the beautiful landscape of the Orkhon Valley.
7.Day	Today we will reach the northern edge of the Gobi Desert. First we will drive along the Orkhon valley for a while until we reach the village of Khujirt. After that we will drive in the direction of the Gobi Desert. We drive the first part of the route always along the Ongii River. The landscape becomes flatter and more desert-like. Here we will see the first camels on our trip.
8.Day	Visit to the ruins of the monastery. This monastery was once one of the largest. Today, only ruins can be visited and one can only imagine the former size. With a lot of commitment monks are slowly rebuilding this monastery. We have enough time to talk with the monks about their situation and Buddhism. Then today we will go to Bajandsag, or the "red Cliffs". This is where the first major dinosaur finds were made in the Gobi. For this reason, this place is often called the "dinosaur cemetery". In Bajandsag there are also extensive saxaul forests. The saxaul tree is a very slow growing desert tree. We spend the night in the uniquely shaped rocks of Bajandsag. At sunset, the rock shines in a unique red.
9.Day	Today we will go a little deeper into the Gobi. From Bajandsag we drive along the "Gurvan Saihkan" mountains to the sand dune "Chongoriin Els, or singing dune. Whenever the wind blows over the sharp grade of the dune, a more or less plaintive sound is produced. The "exciting" thing about this dune is the fact that the wind deposits the gobi sand behind a mountain range and a river keeps shifting this sand. Through this "fight" between water and sand, new terrain formations are created again and again. In the evening there is the possibility to climb the up to 400 mtr. high sand dune and enjoy a wonderful sunset.
10.Day	Along the southern foothills of the Altai Mountains, we drive to Shivet Am (Am = gorge). This gorge is off the beaten track. There is a possibility to visit nomadic families on the way. Continue through the Gurvan Saihkan mountains to the Vulture Gorge. The gorge starts in a very narrow valley and there are large ice masses in it until well into the summer. We can also see the bearded vulture here, which is still abundant in the mountains. There are interesting legends and stories about this vulture. After we have explored the gorge extensively, we continue our journey to spend the night in a yurt camp.
11.Day	Drive from Dalandzagad, where we will shop again, towards Tsagaan Suwarga Canyon. Now we are slowly leaving the Gobi. The landscape becomes noticeably greener. The canyon itself was formed by wind and water erosion. Not only that dinosaur bones can be found here in large quantities, but also the play of colors is very impressive. We will also visit the "petroglyphs", a kilometer long band of rock drawings. The rock drawings are the oldest drawings in Mongolia.
12.Day	Now we are heading back to Ulaanbaatar. The last day in the Mongolian grass steppe has begun. At the end of the drive we come to one of the most interesting rock formations in Mongolia, the big "Earth Mother Stones". The rocks are scattered in the middle of the grass steppe and again and again the most amazing views and valleys open up to us. The last night under the open sky we will spend in one of these valleys.
13.Day	Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, check-in at hotel and free time in Ulaanbaatar.
14.Day	Early airport transfer and return flight home
*) Program and route may be subject to change. Binding is the itinerary as it is sent in the booking confirmation

1.Day	Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, airport transfer, check-in at hotel, program briefing. After that we will visit Ulaanbaatar. You will visit the famous Gandan Monastery with the 27 mtr high Buddha statue. The monastery museum of the Tschojdshjin – Lama, the important Lama in the history of Mongolian Buddhism and a small city tour are also on the program. In the evening you will visit a folklore performance with traditional musical instruments, snake girls and the famous throat singing.
2.Day	Departure in the direction of Amarbayasgalant Monastery . On the way we will cross the Orkhon. Overnight stay near the monastery.
3.Day	Amarbayasgalant Monastery is one of the largest sanctuaries in the country after Erdene zuu and was rebuilt in 1996. Visiting the monastery, talking with the monks. Buddhism is the main religion in Mongolia. Banned in the times of communism, nevertheless practiced, today it is again widespread. We will experience the ceremonies in the temple and for a short time immerse ourselves in this strange world of the gods. Then we will continue over rolling hills towards Bulgan via Erdenet. From Bulgan we will drive to the extinct volcano “Uran Togo”.
4.Day	Relax and hike in the region around the Uran Togo. You can also climb the volcano. This volcano is an over clear witness about the tectonic activity in the underground of Mongolia. The whole Mongolia is crisscrossed with rifts and faults. Today is free for us to experience the landscape. We will take a hike from our camp into the surrounding area. It goes through endless grasslands and over rolling hills.
5.Day	Continue towards Ögij Nuur, a very beautifully located lake. Arrive at Ögij Nuur and spend the night at the lake. With a little luck we will have fresh fish for dinner. At this lake we have a horse breeder family and if you want you can ride a little bit.
6.Day	You will spend a whole day at Ögij Nuur. You have the possibility to exchange the vehicle for a horse back at our horse breeder family, or you relax at the lake.
7.Day	Early in the morning we will be woken up by the different songs of the many bird species that live at Ogij Nuur. After a hearty breakfast, the journey continues to Karakorum. On the way we will visit some historical excavation sites (Khöschöö Tsaidam). Here, under Turkish supervision, a former palace from the ancient Turkish Empire is being excavated. The Turks suppose their origin in this region. Later they were expelled by the Mongolian tribes. Detailed sightseeing of Karakorum, the former capital. In Karakorum is also the monastery “Erdene zuu”. This monastery is one of the most important monasteries in Mongolia and has been partially restored. We will take enough time to visit this unique historical site.
8.Day	Along the Orkhon, we will go to the hermitage “Tuushruulen” in the middle of the Archangai Mountains. This hermitage still belongs to the Erdene Zuu monastery. Uniquely located, rebuilt, it belongs to the UNESCO cultural heritage. If you wish, you can also make the ascent to the hermitage on horseback. In the afternoon we will drive through the mountains to the hot springs of Tsenker, where we will rest in the evening.
9.Day	Drive to the Orkhon waterfall. The track goes through a lonely mountain valley. Shortly before the Orkhon waterfall, the Orkhon river has to be crossed. The difficulty of the crossing depends on the water level in the river
10.Day	Continue from Orkhon waterfall to the southern Archangai Mountains to the “Naimanuur Lakes” (eight lakes). The lakes are located at about 2600 mtr. altitude and are situated in a beautiful landscape.
11.Day	You will spend a day at the Namainuur lake. The landscape invites you to walk around the lake, if the water is not too cold, you can also enjoy swimming or fishing. The eight interconnected lakes, are located in a high valley, which was formed by the eruption of the Khanbayan volcano.
12.Day	Arrival in Arwajcheer, shopping for the tour part in the Gobi. Continue to the monastery ruins of Ongij.
13.Day	Visit the monastery ruins and continue towards Bajandsag, or the “Red Cliffs”. Here the first major dinosaur finds were made in the Gobi. For this reason, this place is often called the “dinosaur cemetery”. In Bajandsag there are also extensive saxaul forests. The saxaul tree is a very slow growing desert tree. We spend the night in the uniquely shaped rocks of Bajandsag.
14.Day	Drive to the southern Gobi, to the sand dune “Chongoriin Els”. The route leads us over the eastern foothills of the “Gurvan Sayhan” mountains, the southernmost part of the Altai. Crossing this small mountain range, we are now in the middle of the Gobi. We meet herds of camels and the settlement becomes much less. Overnight stay at the edge of the dune. In the evening, climbing the dune up to 400 mtrs high and you will experience an unforgettable sunset in the Gobi.
15.Day	One day at the sand dunes. We will use this day to learn more about the life of nomads in the Gobi. In the morning you will have the opportunity to visit a nomadic family that breeds camels. Of course, we will also be on the road with the number one means of transportation in the Gobi. Also here we will be invited to a tea during our visit.
16.Day	Today we will go on the southern side of the “Gurvan Sayhan” mountains to the Vulture Gorge. There are many mysterious stories about this gorge, on the bottom of which ice is still present until far into the summer. The ice in the gorge is created by a small river. If you like, you can also cover this part on horseback. At the entrance to the gorge, nomads are usually already waiting with their horses.
17.Day	Drive from Dalandzagad towards Tsagaan Suwarga Canyon. Overnight stay in a very beautifully situated valley.
18.Day	Drive towards Ulaanbaatar; en route visit to the large “Earth Mother Stones” in the Mongolian steppe.
19.Day	Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, check-in at hotel and free time in Ulaanbaatar.
20.Day	We will use the morning (Tuesday and after Nadaamfest, closed) to visit the black market. Here is traded with everything imaginable. A lively hustle and bustle awaits us. Clothes, endless stands with clothing, shoes, household articles, simply everything is to be found here. After the extensive sightseeing, everyone has the opportunity to explore the city itself, to buy some souvenirs, or high quality cashmere products.
21.Day	Airport transfer and return flight
*) Program and route may be subject to change. Binding is the itinerary as it is sent in the booking confirmation

1.Day	Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, airport transfer, check-in at hotel, program briefing. After that we will visit Ulaanbaatar. You will visit the famous Gandan Monastery with the 27 mtr high Buddha statue. The monastery museum of the Tschojdshjin – Lama, the important Lama in the history of Mongolian Buddhism and a small city tour are also on the program. In the evening you will visit a folklore performance with traditional musical instruments, snake girls and the famous throat singing.
2.Day	Departure in the direction of Bulgan. But first we will stop at Hustain Nuruu National Park. Here we will be able to observe the reintroduced Przewalskij horses. The Przewalskij horses are considered to be the living primeval horses and they have survived only because of the efforts of the Hagenbeck Zoo in Bremen. After that we will drive through the Mongolian steppe towards the village of Orkhon, on the river of the same name. The drive takes us through an incomparable landscape. In other words, pure steppe. You will spend the night on the banks of the Orkhon.
3.Day	From Orkhon we drive to the district capital Bulgan. Here we have the opportunity to replenish our supplies before continuing to the extinct volcano “Uran Togo”, which can be translated as “Perfect”. We will climb the volcano, from which there is a beautiful view over the mountainous landscape. We will then drive to the longest river in Mongolia and also the main tributary of Lake Baikal, the “Selenge”, where we will also spend the night.
4.Day	Crossing of the river. Continuation of the journey to Murun. The landscape through which we are now driving is completely different from the rest of Mongolia. Forested mountainsides and large clear rivers, are the distinctive mark of this region. On the way we will pass the remains of past cultures. Continuing north, we will reach Khovsguul Lake, the sea of the Mongols.
5.Day	Rest and relax at the Khovsguul Lake. You have the opportunity to go for long walks on the shores of the lake, to swim in the crystal clear water, or to explore the landscape with the omnipresent horses. This lake, also called the “blue pearl of Mongolia” is majestically located in the northern mountains. The lake is the “little brother” of Lake Baikal. Originally both lakes were connected with each other. This is also the home of the “reindeer people” (tender). Shamanism, a nature religion, is also very widespread in this region. We will have the opportunity to participate in one of these shamanistic rituals.
6.Day	Today we will leave Lake Khovsguul and drive back to Murun. Here we will replenish our supplies and then we will continue south to Terchjin Zagaan Nuur (Wise Lake). It will take us a good two days to reach the lake. Right next to the village of Murun, we will make a short detour to the tombs of “Uushigiin”. The tombs date back to the Bronze Age and there are many deer stones in the area. After that we will drive to the central part of Mongolia.
7.Day	From the village of Shine Ider, where we spent the night, today we will go to Terchjin Zagaan Nuur. We will reach the lake in the afternoon. The lake was formed by a volcanic eruption and there are a lot of lava fields in its surroundings. The landscape around the lake is one of the highlights of Mongolia. We will spend the afternoon hiking in the surroundings of the lake.
8.Day	The day is reserved for excursions to the surroundings of Terchjin Zagaan Nuur. You will climb Khorgo volcano, visit an ice cave and in the afternoon, water permitting, go swimming in Terchjin Zagaan Nuur. We will climb Khorongo volcano, which was a sanctuary until well into the 19th century.
9.Day	Departure from Terchjin Zagaan Nuur towards Tsetserleg, visiting the tree with 100 branches (sacred site in Mongolia) and a canyon of the Chuluut River. Evening: arrival to Tsetserleg. Continue to the warm springs of Tsenker
10.Day	In the morning we drive through rolling hills to Ogii Nuur. This lake is a special biotope, because many migratory birds rest here. There is an extra bird watching station, which interested people are welcome to visit. The afternoon can be spent at leisure on the shore of the lake, or you can go on a short horseback ride.
11.Day	A whole day at Ogii nuur. Ogii Nuur is the largest lake in this region. The lake is fed by underground freshwater springs and is picturesquely situated in a mountain landscape. Hute you have the opportunity to relax a bit. You can take hikes along the shore, go horseback riding, or go to bird watching station and observe the magnificent variety of bird life at the lake. The lake is an important resting place for many species of birds, on their way across the Gobi. Of course, you can also just relax on the lakeshore.
12.Day	Drive towards Karakorum, visit Erdene zuu monastery and the excavation site of the former capital of Mongolia. In the afternoon continue to the Hognoo Han mountains and overnight in the unique mountain world.
13.Day	Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, check in at the hotel and have the afternoon at leisure in Ulaanbaatar.
14.Day	Early departure
*) Program and route may be subject to change. Binding is the itinerary as it is sent in the booking confirmation

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Tour 200

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The north with its lakes

The Tsaaten tribe lives in the region around Lake Khovsguul. They are the last reindeer nomads in Mongolia. The Tsaats have not changed their way of life for centuries. Nature religion and shamanism are still living tradition here.

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-- Approved by the Mongolian Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection and the Mongolian Tourism Association --.