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4-day trip from Ulaanbaatar visiting Scenic drive to Kharkhorin for 360 kms, Coffee break and Traditional Lunch. Operated by Nomad Essence Mongolia.
Highlights
- Meet a Mongolian calligraphy master and learn to write traditional characters
From Ulaanbaatar: 4-Day Mongolian Steppe & Nomadic Life Tour: Key Facts
| Price | From $2860 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 days |
| Languages | English |
| Tour type | Guided Tour |
| Booking | Direct with the local operator — no OTA markup |
Choose from 1 available option
From Ulaanbaatar: 4-Day Mongolian Steppe & Nomadic Life Tour
Full description
A 4-day trip out of Ulaanbaatar taking in Scenic drive to Kharkhorin for 360 kms, Coffee break, Traditional Lunch and Explore Erdenezuu Monastery. There are 16 stops in all.
The running order is Scenic drive to Kharkhorin for 360 kms., then Coffee break, then Traditional Lunch, then Explore Erdenezuu Monastery, then Discover Kharakhorum Museum, and on from there.
The price covers accommodation in hostel and homestay, Professional English-speaking local guide, Private transportation with an experienced driver and Pick-up and drop-off from centrally located hotels in Ulaanbaatar. It does not cover travel insurance, Personal expenses and Tips & gratitudes (optional), so budget for those separately. Two travellers pay $3822 together rather than $2860 each, because this is priced per party and not per head.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Scenic drive to Kharkhorin for 360 kms.
Your guide and driver will pick you up from your accommodation in Ulaanbaatar. Travel across the steppe towards Kharkhorin.
Coffee break
Stop for a light snack and coffee along the way.
Traditional Lunch
Lunch at local restaurant in Kharkhorin.
Explore Erdenezuu Monastery
After lunch, visit Erdene Zuu Monastery, Mongolia’s oldest surviving Buddhist monastery.
Discover Kharakhorum Museum
After exploring Erdenzuu monastery, discover the legacy of the 13th-century Mongol Empire at Kharakhorum Museum.
Meet a Mongolian Calligraphy Master
Later, meet a Mongolian calligraphy master. Watch traditional vertical script being created and try writing Mongolian characters yourself.
Traditional dinner
Dinner at local restaurant near your hostel.
Travel to Khugnu Khaan Nature Reserve for 100 kms.
Travel to Khugnu Khaan Nature Reserve and explore the Elsen Tasarkhai dunes, where sand, mountains and open steppe meet.
Experience authentic nomadic life
Visit a Bactrian camel-herding family to learn how Mongolia’s two-humped camels are raised. Depending on the season, interact with the camels and taste local dairy products. Optional camel riding is available at an additional cost.
Traditional Lunch
Lunch at your host family.
Learn how to make traditional cuisine
Join your hosts for a hands-on buuz-making experience, learning to prepare and shape Mongolia’s traditional steamed dumplings before enjoying your creation together.
Travel to Hustai National Park for 260 kms.
After breakfast, say goodbye to your host family members and drive to Hustai NP. Start at the park’s visitor information centre to learn about the remarkable Takhi reintroduction program.
Scenic drive through the park
Take a guided wildlife drive in search of wild Takhi and other native wildlife. A resident biologist can join the experience at an additional cost.
Visit next local nomads.
Continue to a local herder family for a different side of nomadic life. Taste homemade dairy products and learn about the family’s livestock, seasonal routines and traditions. Depending on daily conditions, try simple hands-on activities alongside your hosts. Optional horse riding across the surrounding steppe is also available.
Another cooking experience and homemade dinner
In the evening, take part in a hands-on khuushuur-making experience. Prepare the dough and filling, shape your own traditional fried dumplings with your hosts, then enjoy the meal you helped create.
Learn about traditional costume
Wake up to a peaceful morning on the Mongolian steppe and enjoy breakfast with your host family. Before leaving, spend some final time discovering traditions that remain part of everyday nomadic life. Try on a traditional Mongolian deel and take photos with your hosts against the surrounding steppe landscape.
Learn about the traditional process of spinning camel wool
Watch your host demonstrate the traditional process of spinning camel wool into yarn by hand. Learn how this handmade yarn is then used to create shirdeg, traditional felt rugs and coverings used in Mongolian households—a craft that reflects the practical use of locally available materials in nomadic life.
Return to Ulaanbaatar for 100 kms.
After sharing these final moments with your hosts, say goodbye and begin the journey back to Ulaanbaatar. Arrive around midday and transfer to your centrally located hotel, completing four days of Mongol Empire history, traditional arts, Bactrian camel culture, hands-on cooking, nomadic traditions and wild Takhi encounters.
Includes
- Accommodation in hostel and homestay
- Professional English-speaking local guide
- Private transportation with an experienced driver
- Pick-up and drop-off from centrally located hotels in Ulaanbaatar
- All meals specified in the itinerary
- All entrance and admission fees specified in the itinerary
- Authentic local and cultural experiences
- Complimentary bottled drinking water
- Hands-on cooking experiences
- Wildlife viewing drive
Excludes
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Tips & gratitudes (optional)
- Optional camel-riding experience
- Optional horseback-riding experience
- Resident biologist for wildlife excursion
Important information
Meeting point
The operator confirms the exact meeting point and time once your booking is confirmed, and you will have it well before the day. If you would rather know before you book, message us on WhatsApp and we will ask them for you.
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts