Khuvsgul Wild Winter Tour: Travel with Local Rangers and Visit the Reindeer Tribe
A 10-day winter tour into the heart of beautiful northern Mongolia. This trip isn’t just an adventure, it’s an expedition! Follow local rangers as they lead you on a journey through this unique and wild ecosystem, becoming a guest conservationist along the way. Plus, stay with the reindeer herders of the Dukha tribe. Dates for this tour are February 5 – 14, 2026.
Highlights of this Khuvsgul Wild Winter Tour include:
- Join the National Special Protected Area Agency team and assist the park rangers with conservation efforts throughout the trip. Get to know them by working together side by side.
- Stay overnight at the ranger station in Ulaan-Uul soum (village).
- Collect litter throughout the trip to help others enjoy the peace and beauty of these wild landscapes even more.
- Assist the rangers in relocating cameras that track wildlife in these remote areas.
- Prepare and enjoy field tea and meals, made by the rangers using local and natural ingredients.
- Attend a dance in the local soum and see how the countryside Mongolians get down! You may even be asked for a dance and courted!
- Learn to identify different animal tracks in the snow.
- See if you have what it takes to do a polar plunge.
- Stay with the Dukha tribe, the only tribe in the world that herds and rides reindeer. Experience what it’s like to ride reindeer in the taiga.
- Spend a night at an eco-camp in Ar Davkhar and place mineral supplements for the local wildlife by riding on horse sleds in the forest.
- Visit a local elder to learn about plants and ancient plant knowledge.
- Eat the foods of the taiga.
- Sing to the Duut River and magically bring it to life.
By signing up for this trip you are helping to support the Mongolian Women’s Employment Supporting Federation, which has helped us design this completely unique and local experience.
Table of Contents
Take on a challenging journey during this unique and exclusive Mongolia winter tour. As a Guest Conservationist, you’ll join rangers in their fight to protect one of the planet’s most remote and untamed landscapes. This trip isn’t just about experiencing nature, it’s about helping to preserve it.
Push your limits as you camp in the snow, take a polar plunge, stay in rugged eco-camps, and live alongside the Dukha (also known as the Tsaatan) reindeer herders.
This trip is hosted in conjunction with the Mongolian Women’s Employment Supporting Federation. By booking this winter tour you are supporting local women. You will also have a chance to purchase hand-made crafts directly from the women who made them.
This is more than a trip, it’s a test of resilience, a lesson in conversation, and a rare chance to connect with a disappearing way of life.
The Itinerary for this 10-day Khuvsgul Wild Winter Tour
This winter trip happens during the coldest months in Mongolia. Handling the cold and seeing the country covered in snow is part of the experience!
If you plan to join this trip you need to arrive in Ulaanbaatar on or before February 5, 2026. The only thing on the schedule for this day is a Welcome Dinner at night (7 pm).
Many travelers choose to arrive in Ulaanbaatar at least 1 – 2 days early to adjust to Mongolian time and shop for warm clothes. If you’d like to arrive a few days early, we are happy to help you make arrangements at the hotel. We can also arrange special experiences around the city so that you can make the most of your time in Ulaanbaatar.
Below you’ll find a day-by-day breakdown of this winter itinerary and what it includes.
Meals included in this tour are indicated as Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), and Dinner (D).
Day 1 / Thursday, February 5, 2026: Arrive in 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.
Overnight: Best Western or Similar (Double Occupancy)
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 / Friday, February 6: Domestic Flight to Murun and Drive to Ranger’s Camp
Fly from Ulaanbaatar to Murun* and begin your adventure with a drive in a UAZ Furgon to Ulaan-Uul soum. This soum is the home to the Khuvsgul Province’s National Special Protected Area Agency headquarters.
Visit the museum to learn about the region’s wildlife and conservation efforts. Then, take part in a special ceremony and take your Guest Conservationist oath, marking the start of your journey to protect this wild and beautiful land.
*Domestic flights to and from Murun are often cancelled or rescheduled. Please know that we have backup plans in place in these instances.
Accommodation: Park Rangers’ Cabin at the headquarters of Khuvsgul Province’s National Special Protected Area Agency
Accommodation Notes: Accommodations along this journey will be basic in nature. Rooms will be shared and bathrooms may be located outside. Outlets and electricity may be limited or non-existant. You will need a warm, winter sleeping bag and sleeping pad for this journey.
Meals: B/L/D
Day 3 / Saturday, February 7: Polar Plunge & Wildlife Tracking
Start the day with a polar plunge to acclimate to the cold and awaken your senses. Then, head to the Ar Bosgot Rocks to assist in relocating wildlife tracking cameras alongside the rangers.
In the evening, return to the headquarters to claim your handcrafted wooden ranger bowl. Personalize it by engraving your name, a special keepsake to commemorate your journey.
Accomodation: Park Rangers’ Cabin at the headquarters of Khuvsgul Province’s National Special Protected Area Agency
Meals: B/L/D
Day 4 / Sunday, February 8: Into the Remote Wild
Today, we hit the road and travel deeper into the wilderness toward a remote park ranger’s cabin. Along the way, we’ll stop at the mystical Duut River, a sacred place where locals sing songs to honor their mothers believing it brings the river to life.
We’ll pack ingredients for dinner and cook together once we arrive at the cabin. We will take turns throughout the night to feed wood into the fire to keep us warm.
Accommodation: Ranger Cabin
Meals: B/L/D
Day 5 / Monday, February 9: Into the Taiga and the Land of Reindeer
Travel deep into the taiga to meet the Dukha tribe, the reindeer herders who live in harmony with the forest. Also known as the Tsaatan Tribe, only 44 families are left who live this traditional way.
Along the way, we’ll stop by a peaceful river where swans now stay year-round instead of migrating, a quiet sign of the warming climate and changing seasons.
Lunch will be at the home of a local elder and medicinal herb expert. He’ll brew a special tea for us and share some of his plant knowledge passed down through generations.
In the evening, we’ll arrive at the Dukha’s winter camp. You’ll meet the elders, learn a few Tuvan words, the tribe’s native language that’s slowly disappearing, and get a glimpse into their traditional way of life in one of the world’s most remote communities.
Accommodation: Traditional Dukha Ortz (Teepee)
Accommodation Notes: You will share an ortz with the other travelers in your group. Space is limited inside these structures.
Meals: B/L/D
Day 6 / Tuesday, February 10: Riding Through the Taiga and Village Traditions
After an early breakfast, we’ll saddle up and ride reindeer into the heart of the taiga, a way to experience the forest like the Dukha do.
Once we return, we’ll say our goodbyes to our reindeer herder hosts and begin the journey toward a nearby village, stopping for a break at the well-known Jargant River.
Upon arrival, we’ll check into a cozy village hostel where hot showers and warm beds await after days in the wild.
In the evening, we’ll take part in a village dance, a tradition kept alive since the 20th century. Local women will showcase their handmade crafts for dance-goers.
Accommodation: Hostel in Renchinlhumbe soum
Meals: B/L/D
Day 7 / Wednesday, February 11: Crossing the Frozen Lake
Drive across the frozen surface of Lake Khuvsgul, one of the clearest and deepest lakes in the world, on our way to a nature preservationist camp along its shore.
It’s a long travel day, but the scenery is stunning and surreal. Once we arrive, we’ll unwind with a warm meal, relax in a lakeside sauna, and enjoy a peaceful evening.
Accommodation: Ar Davhar Camp
Meals: B/L/D
Day 8 / Thursday, February 12: A Mission by Horse-Sled
Ride horse-sleds deep into the forest, far beyond where cars can reach, to place mineral blocks for the local wildlife. These minerals are essential for helping animals stay strong through the winter, especially the animals rescued and released by rangers.
With this important task comes responsibility. These minerals can also attract illegal hunters, so we must move carefully, watch for tracks, and place them in safe, strategic spots.
This will be our final mission. Afterward, we’ll make our way back to Murun. As we leave the taiga behind, Khuvsgul’s spirits will thank you for your efforts and bless you with a safe journey.
In Murun, we’ll check into a comfortable hotel for a well-deserved rest.
Overnight: 50’100 Hotel (Double Occupancy)
Meals: B/L/D
Day 9 / Friday, February 13: Back to Ulaanbaatar
After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we’ll head to the airport and catch our flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Arriving back in Ulaanbaatar, you have the rest of the day to relax and reflect on the meaningful adventure you just had.
Accommodation: Best Western or Similar (Double Occupancy)
Meals: B/L
Day 10 / Saturday, February 14: Depart Ulaanbaatar
Airport transfers will be arranged for you to Chinggis Khan International Airport.
Meals: B
What's Included
- A custom Flames winter deel to keep you warm throughout this expedition.
- An English-speaking licensed guide.
- All airport transfers.
- Transportation during the trip dates.
- All accommodation during the trip dates, including a hotel in Ulaanbaatar (Best Western or similar), special eco-camps, and one night with the reindeer herding Dukha people.
- All activities listed on the itinerary.
- Meals* (breakfast, lunch, dinner) as outlined on the trip itinerary.
*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 winter-rated sleeping bag and sleeping pad are required for this trip. These items will not be provided and should be brought from home. These should be rated for -20 to -30 C degree weather.
- Tips and additional gratuities.
Visit our tour cancellation policy page if you have any additional questions.
Book Now
The price to book this Khuvsgul Wild Winter Tour is $3,500 USD per person.
Highlights of this trip include:
- Join the National Special Protected Area Agency team and assist the park rangers with conservation efforts throughout the trip. Get to know them by working together side by side.
- Assist the rangers in relocating cameras that track wildlife in these remote areas. Learn how to identify different animal tracks in the snow.
- See if you have what it takes to do a polar plunge.
- Stay with the Dukha tribe, the only tribe in the world that herds and rides reindeer. Experience what it’s like to ride reindeer in the taiga.
- Spend a night at an eco-camp in Ar Davkhar and place mineral supplements for the local wildlife by riding on horse sleds in the forest.
This once in a lifetime experience happens February 5 – 14, 2026. Book now – spots are limited!
To book your spot, please complete the Google form linked below. Once received, we will reach out with everything you’ll need to complete your booking.
About Aagie, Your Local Mongolian Guide & Trip Leader
My name is Aagie (short for Agarmaa) and I am a professional certified tour guide and the head of tours at Meanwhile in Mongolia.
Born into a second-generation city life, I rediscovered my roots through travel and guiding. After three years and 30+ tours across the country, I’ve connected deeply with my heritage, from the Gobi to Mongolia’s diverse ethnic groups like the Kazakhs.
Along the way, I’ve encountered snow leopards, hunted with eagles, and explored Mongolia’s vast landscapes. I’m proud to share the beauty and traditions of my country while continuing to learn from it every day.
I will do everything I can to guide you on your adventures with what I’ve learned so far, but there’s also a good chance we’ll discover new things together along the way.
Is this trip right for me?
There are a few important things to know about this trip.
- Accommodations will be shared. This is typical in Mongolia and is part of the experience. No single supplements are available once we leave Ulaanbaatar.
- The temperature in February in northern Mongolia can reach -40 C. We will do our best to keep you as warm and comfortable as possible, but please keep in mind that we will be spending a lot of time outside. If you need help deciding what to pack, shop some of my favorite winter clothing and gear.
- You will be living off-grid. That means running water, regular electricity, hot showers, and reliable data and cellular service will not be available. This is your chance to disconnect from the outside world!
- We will be driving off-road. It’s not easy to get to these remote corners of Mongolia, but the journey is always worth it. I promise! Please let me know in advance if you get car sick. If you do, I recommend purchasing these motion sickness glasses.
Join my Private Travel Group on Facebook
Proudly Based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
© 2024 Meanwhile in Mongolia