Camels, Horses, And Khans: Live with Mongolia’s Nomadic Families During This Small Group Tour
Join me for 8-days while we live and immerse ourselves with one of the last nomadic cultures in the world. Ride camels, horses, and visit Genghis Khan’s ancient capital city during this small group adventure.
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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live and completely immerse yourself with one of the last nomadic cultures in the world?
To live without running water or electricity? To tend to a herd of animals? And to live life totally off-grid? Good. You’re in the right place.
This small group tour is an 8-day adventure that takes travelers deep into the heart of Central Mongolia to live with Mongolia’s nomadic families.
During this trip we’ll sleep in yurts and winter cabins, learn how to cook traditional Mongolian food, and we’ll ride horses and camels alongside our host families.
This trip starts and ends in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital city.
During this small group tour living with Mongolia’s nomadic families we’ll:
- Live with a camel herder and his family in one of the most picturesque spots in Central Mongolia. During this time our herder host will teach us how to saddle and take care of our camels before setting off on daily rides to herd in the goats and take in the unforgettable sunset views.
- This adventure includes living like a Mongolian nomad, which means sleeping in yurts and living without electricity or running water.
- Between families we’ll spend one night in Kharkhorin, Genghis Khan’s ancient capital city where we’ll have the chance to shower and find some boujee before heading back out to the wilds of the countryside.
- Saddle up and ride semi-wild Mongolian horses (yeehaw!).
- Travel with up to 8 like-minded badass travelers.
Plus, there will be plenty of surprises along the way.
The Itinerary for this Nomadic Family Small Group Trip
Landing in Ulaanbaatar, you’ll quickly realize Mongolia and it’s capital city are unlike anywhere else. I usually recommend landing in Ulaanbaatar at least one day earlier than the trip start date to help acclimate to jetlag and for a chance to explore the city by foot. There are plenty of things to do in Ulaanbaatar and this itinerary does not include any days in the city.
When it’s time to leave the city, say goodbye to hot showers and internet, two things you’ll be too busy to miss anyways.
Our transportation for this trip is a UAZ Bukhanka, or a furgon as we call them here, one of the most capable vehicles for navigating Mongolia there is. They don’t have air conditioning and you’re guaranteed to get dusty as we travel across the steppe. But that’s part of the experience.
Additionally, we’ll be accompanied by our most trusted translator, Dougie, for the entirety of this adventure.
So, let’s jump right into the trip itinerary for this nomadic family stay adventure. Below we’ve broken down the day-to-day itinerary for this immersive homestay experience. Please read through the details carefully and thoroughly.
Meals included in this tour are indicated as Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), and Dinner (D).
Day 1: Welcome to Ulaanbaatar
During the day you are free to explore Ulaanbaatar, get settled into Mongolian time, exchange cash, and visit the city’s museums. We’ll have a Welcome Dinner in the evening where you’ll meet your guide and fellow travelers for this adventure.
- Welcome Dinner
Meals: D; Overnight: Holiday Inn
Day 2: Look for Wild Horses in Hustai National Park Before Settling into Camel Camp
We’ll leave Ulaanbaatar early in the morning with our sights set on Hustai National Park, home to the country’s famous Przewalski’s horses. From here we’ll continue onto our nomadic family stay – our camel herder’s camp in the Mini Gobi where we’ll be exploring from for the next few days.
- Look for Wild Horses in Hustai National Park
- Meet our Camel Herder Family
Meals: B, L, D; Overnight: Nomadic Family Homestay
Day 3: Get to Know the Mini Gobi Locals
After your first night’s sleep in a yurt, it’s time to get your herder training underway – we’ve got work to do! Now’s the time when you’ll learn how to saddle a camel, shear a camel’s beard, and herd in the goats and sheep. We’ll make a special trip today to meet one of the neighboring families, where we’ll experience a Mongolian tea ceremony and buuz-making class.
- Ride Camels with our Camel Herder Host
- Learn how to Cook Mongolian Dumplings
- Sunset Herding Camel Ride
Meals: B, L, D; Overnight: Nomadic Family Homestay
Day 4: Walk in Genghis Khan's Footsteps in Kharkhorin Ancient City
After embracing your inner herder, it’s time for a bit of culture, and more importantly, a hot shower. Taking off after breakfast, we’ll drive to Kharkhorin where we’ll learn about Genghis Khan’s ancient capital by visiting the Erdene Zuu Monastery, Kharkhorin Museum, and the Mongolian Calligraphy & Art Center.
- Visit Kharkhorin, Mongolia’s Ancient Capital
- Erdene Zuu Monastery
- Kharkhorin Museum
Meals: B, L, D; Overnight: Anja Eco Camp
Day 5: Drive from Kharkhorin to Horse Camp
Loading ourselves back into the furgon, it’s off-we-go-again, this time to our friend’s horse camp where we’ll dive head first into Mongolia’s horse culture. After a few welcomed sips of vodka and sniffs from the snuff bottle, we’ll settled in until it’s time to help herd the family’s sheep and goats in for the night.
- Meet our Horse Herder Family
- Ride Mongolian Horses
- Herd in Goats and Sheep
Meals: B, L, D; Overnight: Nomadic Family Homestay
Day 6: Khorkhog and Horses
Not only will we finally jump on those semi-wild horses you’ve been hearing so much about, today we’ll also learn how to make khorkhog, the traditional way of cooking a whole sheep. We’ll fill our time playing ankle bone games with our host and just enjoying a slow day on the steppe. Be sure to bring a book, download music and podcasts, and just prepare to spend the day unwinding Mongol-style.
- Horse Ride up the Mountain
- Traditional Mongolian Khorkhog Feast
- Afternoon at Leisure
Meals: B, L, D; Overnight: Nomadic Family Homestay
Day 7: Drive from Horse Camp to Ulaanbaatar
This will be our last morning with our host family and the last morning of our expedition through the Mini Gobi. We’ll enjoy one last breakfast with the steppe as our backdrop, taking in one last breath of fresh countryside air before we head back to Ulaanbaatar. We’ll drop you off at the hotel where you’ll have your last night in Ulaanbaatar at leisure.
- Say Goodbye to our Nomadic Family Hosts
- Drive back to Ulaanbaatar
- Evening at Leisure
Meals: B, L; Overnight: Holiday Inn
Day 8: Depart Ulaanbaatar
It’s time to head to the airport to begin your journey home.
Meals: B
Additional days and experiences can be added to this itinerary.
About Your Trip Hosts, Breanna and Erik
Hello! Myself (Breanna) and Erik Cooper will be your hosts for this trip.
We have both been living in Mongolia for several years and if there’s one thing we know how to do, it’s have an adventure. We spend most of our days living in the Mongolian countryside, and we love sharing these experiences with other curious, thoughtful, and open-minded travelers.
During this small group tour we’ll be taking you (and 8 other travelers) to meet our friends and the local families we work with and trust the most in this country. These relationships mean the world to us, and as a part of this trip, we’re inviting you to experience and be a part of this special bond with us.
Join us as we travel deep into Mongolia and Mongolian culture than you’d ever be able to experience on your own. This small group trip is the real deal and not another generic adventure.
If you don’t believe me, just watch these highlights from the past tours we’ve hosted.
What's Included
- All airport transfers.
- All transportation costs during the trip dates.
- Support crew that includes a local translator, along with Breanna and Erik as your local hosts.
- All accommodations during the trip dates.
- All activities listed on the itinerary including camel riding, horse riding, and more.
- Most meals* (breakfast, lunch, dinner) during the trip dates.
*Please let us know of any dietary restrictions before booking.
What's Not Included
- International flights.
- Visa costs and fees.
- Travel Insurance that covers medical evacuation and cost of participation (required).
- Personal expenses such as laundry, alcoholic beverages, telephone calls, optional activities, and meals which are not included in the trip itinerary.
- A sleeping bag and sleeping pad are required for this trip. These items will not be provided and should be brought from home. If you would like to rent a sleeping bag and sleeping pad for the trip, the cost is $40 USD.
- Tips and additional gratuities.
Read our tour cancellation policy here.
Is this trip right for me?
Do you consider yourself one of the following? (And, please be brutally honest with yourself.)
- Someone who considers themself to be adventurous and comfortable in nature.
- A solo traveler or traveler who doesn’t typically join group tours, but just isn’t sure where to start planning a trip to a place like Mongolia.
- A person who loves animals and is curious about Mongolian herder culture and everything that goes along with it.
- The type of traveler who is able to adapt and go with the flow – it’s an adventure, after all!
If you said yes to any of the above, than great! Mongolia, and this nomadic family immersive trip, is the right adventure for you.
A few more things to know, as shared by someone who lives here.
Mongolia isn’t a place that holds your hand. The roads are tough and the nomads who live here are even tougher.
It takes a person with an open mind and adventurous spirit to truly appreciate what Mongolia has to offer. Especially when old Mother Mongolia starts throwing everything she has your way.
On this adventure we’ll be sleep in shared yurts, there will not be access to running water or electricity, and cellular service and data will be limited.
There will also be free time during this trip to sit with your thoughts, read a book, play with the family’s kids, help mom cook, or help dad wrangle the horses. We’ll be jumping into whatever the family has going on that day, which could be a ton, or it could be nothing at all if it’s raining.
This is an authentic experience that isn’t for everyone. If you aren’t comfortable using outhouse or pit-style toilets, sleeping in shared accommodations, or you aren’t comfortable with the circle of life, this trip might not be for you.
Book Now
Join me as we live and immerse ourselves with nomadic families in Central Mongolia. This adventure of a lifetime takes place:
- May 26 – June 2, 2025
- August 17 – 24, 2025
To book your spot, please complete the Google form linked below. Once received, I will reach out with everything you’ll need to complete your booking.
Prepare for your Trip:
Join my Private Travel Group on Facebook
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If you love off-the-beaten-path adventures and experiencing life like a local, this trip is for you! Breanna’s small group tour through central Mongolia was truly immersive – we stayed with local families, participated in their daily lives, and gained deep cultural insights that typical tours can’t offer. This unique journey provided authentic connections and unforgettable memories. Highly recommended!