Reindeer and Rangers: Visit the Reindeer Tribe While Traveling with Park Rangers
A 12-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 winter tour are February 3 – 14, 2026.
Table of Contents
Highlights of this Khuvsgul Wild Winter Tour include:
- Join Mongolia’s National Special Protected Area Agency and work side by side with local park rangers to learn about wildlife conservation in one of the country’s most protected regions.
- Experience the thrill of a polar plunge and learn to track animal footprints in the snow.
- Visit the mystical Duut River, where locals sing to the water and it’s said to sing back.
- Stay overnight at ranger cabins and share home-cooked meals with their families.
- Journey deep into the taiga to meet the Tsaatan reindeer herders, the only tribe in the world that herds and rides reindeer.
- Ride reindeer through the forest and learn the Tuvan way of life in the far north.
- Cross the frozen surface of Khuvsgul Lake, Mongolia’s largest and most sacred body of water.
- Relax at Ar Davkhar Camp, complete with a lakeside sauna and horse-drawn sled rides.
- Place mineral supplements for wildlife to help them survive the harsh winter.
- Visit the sacred Wish Rock, where locals make offerings and whisper their wishes to the lake.
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.
By booking this trip, you are supporting the local conservation efforts of the Special protected area agency of Khuvsgul.
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.
Want to extend your trip? Add-on these Experiences
🐴 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.)
The Itinerary for this 12-day Reindeer and Rangers 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 3, 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 below. Vegetarian options are available and we are able to accommodate dietary restrictions.
Day 1 / February 3, 2026: 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 share your first toast to Mongolia’s winter wilderness.
Stay: Best Western Premier Tuushin or similar (Double Occupancy)
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 / February 4: Drive to Amarbaysgalant Monastery
After breakfast, begin your journey north toward the stunning Amarbaysgalant Monastery, one of Mongolia’s most revered Buddhist sites. Explore its peaceful grounds, where golden rooftops and chanting monks set the tone for your adventure.
Enjoy a warm dinner and stay overnight in a simple but cozy hostel nearby.
Stay: Hotel near Amarbaysgalant Monastery
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 / February 5: Drive to Murun
Continue your long drive toward Murun, gateway to the Khuvsgul region. The journey unfolds through rolling winter landscapes, with stops for lunch and coffee along the way.
Arrive in Murun by evening, check into your hotel, and enjoy dinner before a good night’s rest.
Stay: Hotel in Murun
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 / February 6: Drive to Ranger Headquarters
Today’s journey takes you to Ulaan-Uul Soum, home of the National Special Protected Area Agency (SPAA). This is the heart of Mongolia’s northern conservation work.
Upon arrival, visit the Guest Conservationist Center to learn about the park’s efforts to protect endangered wildlife and fragile taiga ecosystems. In the evening, settle into a remote ranger cabin, enjoy dinner by the fire, and engrave your own wooden ranger bowl — a personal keepsake of your time here.
Stay: Ranger Cabin, Ulaan-Uul Headquarters
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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-existent. You will need a warm, winter sleeping bag and sleeping pad for this journey.
Day 5 / February 7: Polar Plunge & Wildlife Tracking
Start the morning with a polar plunge in the icy river — a refreshing test of spirit and resilience. After breakfast, meet with your designated park ranger and join them in the field to learn about their daily work.
Today, continue your journey deeper into the taiga, one of Mongolia’s most remote and enchanting regions. Along the way, stop at the mystical Duut River, where locals come to sing songs to their mothers — and the river, they say, sings back.
You’ll also pass a secluded winter lake where swans sometimes stay through the cold months, a quiet reminder of how climate change is reshaping nature’s rhythms.
By afternoon, arrive at your park ranger’s winter camp, where you’ll meet his family and share in their way of life — helping with small daily chores, preparing meals, and tending the fire that keeps the cabin warm through the night.
Stay: Remote Ranger Cabin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 / February 8: Journey to the Reindeer Herders
After breakfast, we’ll set off toward the Tsaatan (Tuvan) reindeer herders, journeying deeper into the taiga where roads fade into snow and pine forests. Along the way, stop for a ranger-style field lunch, cooked over an open fire using local ingredients we’ve brought from the ranger’s home.
The final stretch of the drive winds through thick forest and frozen rivers before reaching the reindeer people’s winter camp. Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed into a family’s ortz (reindeer-hide tent) — warm, smoky, and full of life.
Spend the evening getting to know your hosts, meeting their reindeer, and hearing stories of how this small nomadic tribe has lived in harmony with nature for centuries.
Stay: Reindeer Herder Family Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 / February 9: Life Among the Reindeer People
Today is all about living the Tuvan way of life. After breakfast, join your hosts as they care for their reindeer — milking, feeding, and preparing them for herding. Learn to craft simple tools, gather wood, and keep the fire burning, just as the herders do to survive the long winters.
Later, ride reindeer through the taiga, guided by your hosts. It’s a slow, surreal experience — moving silently across snow, surrounded by endless trees. Locals say the Tuvan people are forever enchanted by the Taiga, bound to it by spirit rather than choice.
In the evening, share stories over tea and dinner by the fire, reflecting on a day that feels timeless.
Stay: Reindeer Herder Family Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 / February 10: Farewell to the Taiga & Drive to Jargant River
After breakfast, say goodbye to your reindeer family. Before leaving, there’s time for one last photo and a heartfelt farewell — these bonds are hard to put into words.
We’ll then start driving back toward Jargant River, one of the most picturesque spots in the region. Along the way, stop for tea or snacks with local nomads who may be out herding their yaks or horses.
By evening, arrive at your cozy wooden cabin near the river. Enjoy a hot shower, a hearty dinner, and a peaceful night’s rest surrounded by snow-covered wilderness.
Stay: Cabin near Jargant River
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 / February 11: Crossing the Frozen Khuvsgul Lake & Evening Sauna
Today, take on one of Mongolia’s most breathtaking winter experiences — driving across the frozen Khuvsgul Lake, known locally as the Khuvsgul Sea. The lake stretches for over 130 kilometers and holds nearly 70% of Mongolia’s freshwater reserves.
With your experienced guide leading the way, drive carefully across the thick ice, stopping for photos and to listen to the soft, echoing cracks beneath the surface — a sound that’s both eerie and mesmerizing.
Arrive at Eco Camp by evening. Enjoy a hearty dinner before spending a relaxing night unwinding in the lakeside sauna, surrounded by snow and silence — a perfect finale to your days in Mongolia’s wild north.
Stay: Eco Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 / February 12: Horse-Sledding, Wildlife & The Road Back to Civilization
After breakfast, take a horse-drawn sled ride across the frozen lake to help place mineral blocks for local wildlife — a small but meaningful act that supports deer, elk, and other animals through the harsh winter.
Once the activity is complete, begin your long drive back toward Murun, retracing your journey through the snow-covered valleys. Along the way, stop at locally made craft shops to pick up handmade wool goods, carvings, and small souvenirs that tell the story of northern life.
Arrive in Murun by evening, enjoy a warm dinner, and settle into your comfortable hotel for your final night in the north.
Stay: Hotel in Murun
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 / February 13: Fly Back to Ulaanbaatar
Take a morning flight to Ulaanbaatar, where your adventure officially comes to an end. Enjoy a free afternoon for shopping or relaxation before your arranged airport transfer.
Stay: Best Western Premier Tuushin or similar (Double Occupancy)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 12 / February 14: Departure Day
Today marks the end of your adventure through northern Mongolia. Airport transfers will be arranged for your departure. Leave with full hearts, unforgettable memories, and stories that will stay with you for a lifetime.
Meals: B
What's Included
- A custom Flames winter deel to keep you warm throughout this expedition.
- An English-speaking licensed guide.
- All domestic flights.
- 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 Reindeer and Rangers Winter Tour is $4,500 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 3 – 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.
- Two nights on this itinerary include sleeping in an urtz, the traditional home of the Dukha reindeer tribe. These structures offer little to no insulation and nights in the taiga are extremely cold. You will need to bring a very cold-rated sleeping bag (-25 C comfort temperature rating, minimum) and insulated sleeping pad with you.
- 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.
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I can not come in February 2026… I think I might be moving out of the US.
But, oh! Maybe I can do 2027?!