8-day Nomadic Family Homestay Tour
Experience real nomadic life in Mongolia. This isn’t your average travel experience, this is the trip of a lifetime. Spend your days alongside and get to know a hardworking nomadic herding family and help with chores, ride horses, learn how to cook traditional Mongolian food, and more during this small-group tour.
- Tour Type: Homestay
- Book Now (8 Spots Available)
- One Review
Dates: 8 Days, 7 Nights
April 19 – 26, 2026
June 21 – 28, 2026
July 19 – 26, 2026
August 9 – 16, 2026
Group Size: 8 Travelers Maximum
Stay: Homestay with a Nomadic Herding Family, Hotels, Ger Camp
Tour Type: Homestay, Cultural, Adventure
Included: English-Speaking Guide, Private Drivers, Meals, Accommodation, Airport Transfers
Price to Book: $2,300 USD
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. That’s exactly what this small group tour is all about!
This 8-day adventure takes travelers to the heart of Central Mongolia to sleep in gers (yurts), eat and learn how to cook traditional Mongolian food (like buuz and khorkhog), and live life like a nomad. The real kind.
Get to know (and love) your host family and his five children while sharing stories, laughs, and dance moves. This isn’t just a travel experience, it’s a memory that will last a lifetime.
Be sure to read what our other travelers have said about this experience in the comments below.
During this authentic 8-day homestay with a nomadic herding family:
- Understand the unique aspects of Mongolian culture from your host family and English-speaking guide.
- Learn to live off-grid, without running water, electricity, or cell phone service, just like these families have done their entire lives.
- Explore Arkhangai Province, one of the most picturesque areas of Central Mongolia, as well as Kharkhorin, Genghis Khan’s ancient capital city.
- During this time, our nomad herder hosts will teach us how to tie Mongolian knots as well as how to saddle and take care of his horses. Once we’re saddled up, we’ll set out on morning and evening horse rides to the local deer stones, to herd in the goats and sheep, venture to the famous Taikhar Rock, and take in the unforgettable sunset views. (Horse riding is optional.)
- Try your hand at milking the yaks every morning – it goes great with your morning coffee!
- Sleep in traditional Mongolian gers (what you would call a yurt) and marvel at the dark skies – you’ll be able to see the Milky Way on a clear night.
- Spend one day relaxing on the shores of the famous White Lake, Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur.
- In Kharkhorin, visit the oldest monastery in Mongolia, Erdene Zuu Hiid, and the Kharkhorin Museum.
- Spend your last night in Elsen Tsarkhai, next to the sand dunes of the Mini Gobi.
Table of Contents
Want to extend your trip? Add-on these Experiences
🏹 Train Like a Mongol Warrior: 3-Day Horseback Archery Tour (Jump right into the action and join this small group heading out July 1 – 3 and July 14 – 16, 2026.)
🐴 Day Trip to Terelj National Park and the Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue (Book for any day, it’s the perfect day trip to get into the spirit of Mongolia.)
🤝 Visit the Black Market with a Local (Book for any day except Tuesdays (closed), great for gear shopping, souvenir browsing, and feeling like a local.)
8-day Itinerary: Nomadic Family Homestay Tour
For this tour, we recommend landing in Ulaanbaatar at least one day early to help acclimate to jetlag. We also recommend adding at least one additional day to the end of your itinerary for souvenir shopping.
Read our Ulaanbaatar Travel Guide for the essential things to know when you land →
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.
What is a furgon, you ask?
On this adventure you will need to bring your own sleeping bag and sleeping pad. We will provide clean drinking water throughout the trip.
This camping and homestay packing list are a great starting point for preparing for this trip →
Horseback riding is included in this trip. If you would like to opt out of the horseback rides, you are welcome to do so. The furgon will be available during the entire trip for that reason.
If you plan to horseback ride, you will need to wear appropriate clothing and riding shoes.
Important things to know about horse riding in Mongolia →
After you sign up for this trip and make your deposit, a Welcome Packet will be sent with a complete packing list, including specific gear recommendations.
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 on this tour are indicated below. We are able to accommodate vegetarian and other dietary restrictions on this tour.
Day 1: Welcome to Ulaanbaatar
Arrive in Mongolia’s capital city, Ulaanbaatar, where your driver will be waiting to greet you at the airport for your private transfer to the hotel.
Spend the afternoon settling in — exchange currency, explore local cafés, or visit one of the city’s fascinating museums to get your first glimpse into Mongolian culture.
In the evening, gather with your guide and fellow travelers for a Welcome Dinner, where you’ll review the journey ahead and learn a few essential Mongolian words to get you through this homestay experience.
- Stay: Best Western Premier Tuushin or similar (Double Occupancy)
- Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Drive to Arkhangai and Meet our Nomad Family
Today’s the day, it’s time to leave the city behind and head to the countryside. Loading into the furgon early in the morning, it will take the full day to drive the 500 kilometers to our nomad family.
When we arrive in the early evening, we’ll meet the family in their ger and share a cup of milk tea together. Afterwards, it’s up to us to build our own ger for the next four nights – with the instruction of our host, of course.
Once the ger is set up and the group is moved in, it’s time to herd in the goats and sheep, share a buuz dinner, and call it a night.
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- Early Morning Departure from Ulaanbaatar (8:00 am)
- Lunch Break at a Local Restaurant
- Arrive to the Nomad Family Early Evening
- Milk Tea Greeting + Snuff Bottle Ritual
- Learn How to Build a Ger, and Make Yourself at Home
- Stay: Ger (Shared as a Group)*
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Important Things to Know About Sleeping in a Ger: There are a few important things to know about these accommodations. First, beds may or may not be available for every guest. Please pack a sleeping pad and be prepared to sleep on the ger floor. Second, toilets are outhouse, long-drop style. Showers are also not available. And third, electricity for charging your phone and other devices will not be available. Please pack portable power banks and solar charges for all of your personal charging needs.
Day 3: Learn How to Horse Ride & Highlights of Each Tour (by Month)
The daily life of a nomad herder begins with the rising sun. Around 6 am you’ll be given your first task of the day, milking the yaks.
After milking the yaks it’s time for breakfast, and then the first horse riding adventure of the day. This will be a short ride to the local Deer Stones to get used to riding Mongolian style, and to bond with your horse.
Horseback riding is optional during this day, the furgon is able to accommodate any guest who doesn’t want to ride.
Lunch will be picnic-style, next to the Tamir River, which is also a great place for a refreshing swim.
The afternoon’s chores will depend on the month, as well as what the family has going on. It could include anything from berry picking in the forest with the family to helping milk the horses.
Because this is a truly authentic experience, it’s hard to say exactly what the family will be up to during the time of each trip. However, some of the experiences below may be possible during the group’s visit. This is meant to help you choose your trip dates, this is not part of the official itinerary.
- April: Baby Animals Everywhere! (It’s our favorite time of the year because of this!)
- June: Learn How to Make Airag and Shimiin Arikh (Homemade Milk Vodka) and Local Naadam Festivals
- July: Strawberry Picking, Horse Races, and Local Naadam Festivals
- August: Lingonberry Picking and Searching for Pine Nuts, Help the Family Prepare for their Fall Move
In the evening, ride or drive to Taikhar Rock, a legendary natural wonder in this area.
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- Milk the Yaks in the Early Morning
- Morning Horseback Ride to Nearby Deer Stones
- Picnic Lunch by the Tamir River
- Evening Ride to Taikhar Rock
- Stay: Ger (Shared as a Group)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Visit Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur (the White Lake)
For a change of scenery, we’ll load back in the furgon and drive 150 kilometers to Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur, the White Lake. The lake is famous for its beautiful shoreline, pristine water, and the nearby Khorgo Mountain Volcanic Crater. We’ll invite the family to join us for the day, and depending on their chores and workload, some of the kids and adults will hopefully join us on this excursion!
Bring your book, go for a swim, and soak up the beauty of this natural wonder. Lunch will again be picnic style, enjoyed on the bank of the lake.
In the afternoon, go for a hike up Khorgo Mountain before returning to the family to share stories about the day.
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- Day of Leisure at Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur (the White Lake)
- Packed Lunch at the Lake
- Afternoon Hike up Khorgo Mountain Volcanic Crater
- Stay: Ger (Shared as a Group)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Khorkhog and Bonfire Celebration
Back at nomad camp, today is a special day. The family will honor the group by butchering a sheep and preparing it all day for a khorkhog feast in the evening. This is a huge honor that the group is lucky to be a part of!
Throughout the day, be as or as little involved in butchering and preparing the sheep for tonight’s dinner.
There will be more chances for horse riding today, including visiting a local Shaman Ovoo (sacred site).
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- Butcher a Sheep the Traditional Mongolian Way
- Spend the Day Preparing the Sheep
- Horseback Ride to Visit the Nearby Shaman Ovoo
- Khorkhog Feast Shared with the Family
- Bonfire Celebration
- Stay: Ger (Shared as a Group)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Drive to Kharkhorin and Elsen Tsarkhai
After so many days getting to really know the family, it’s time to say goodbye. This part is never easy. Say your tearfilled goodbyes with the family before setting off to Kharkhorin, the ancient capital of Genghis Khan.
While Mongolia is a gift giving culture, you are welcome to bring or not bring gifts for our host family (2 adults) and their children (5 children ages 3 to 14). If you would like to bring gifts for our hosts, here are a few ideas on great gifts for nomad families →
In Kharkhorin, visit Mongolia’s oldest monastery, Erdene Zuu Hiid, and the Kharkhorin Museum. Lunch will be at one of our favorite local restaurants.
In the early evening, check into Khogno Khan Mountain Camp for one last night together as a group. We love this mountain camp because of its location, it’s right next to Elsen Tsarkhai, the sand dunes we call the Mini Gobi.
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- Say Goodbye to the Nomad Family
- Lunch at Kharkhorin Restaurant
- Erdene Zuu Monastery
- Kharkhorin Museum
- Check into a Local Ger Camp
- Stay: Khogno Khan Mountain Camp (Double Occupancy)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Return to Ulaanbaatar
This morning, enjoy one last breakfast together as a group before loading back into the furgon and heading towards Ulaanbaatar. You’ll arrive into Ulaanbaatar in the afternoon and have the rest of the day and evening at leisure.
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- Return to Ulaanbaatar in the Afternoon
- Afternoon and Evening at Leisure
- Stay: Best Western Premier Tuushin or Similar (Double Occupancy)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8: Depart Mongolia
Book your flight to depart Mongolia today. We will arrange your private transfer to Chinggis Khaan International Airport to catch your international flight.
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- Private Airport Transfer from Chinggis Khaan International Airport
- Meals: Breakfast
Book Now
The price to book this Authentic Nomad Herder small group tour is $2,300 USD per person.
Experience real nomadic life in Mongolia – this isn’t your average travel experience, this is the trip of a lifetime.
2026 Summer Tour Dates are:
- April 19 – 26, 2026
- June 21 – 28, 2026
- July 19 – 26, 2026
- August 9 – 16, 2026
To book your spot, please complete the Google form linked below. Once received, we will reach out with details on how to complete your booking.
What's Included
- All airport transfers.
- All transportation costs during the trip dates.
- Support crew that includes an English-speaking guide and driver.
- All accommodations during the trip dates.
- All activities listed on the itinerary, including horse riding.
- 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 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.
Read our Tour Reviews
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© 2026 Meanwhile in Mongolia
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!