Fair tourism : Ger-to-ger horse journey to locals.
The offered journey aims at make you discover and experience the nomadic life. This journey is the true reflection of the Mongolian herders : comfort is very basic but emotions take your heart down.
Horse riding tour at the East coast of the Khovsgol lake
“Homestay”, from ger to ger
This tour of “authentic adventure” aims to introduce tourists to the real lifestyle of nomadic herders living near the Khovsgol lake. As for their everyday lives, the comfort is spartan but you will feel strong emotions. This tour also allows the Mongolian nomads to diversify their income and possibly to finance some of their community projects.
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The Khövsgöl province is one of the wettest aimag of Mongolia, and the herds of sheep count into the country’s largest.
The cereal agriculture is also developed in the southeast. It contains three large lakes, including beautiful Khövsgöl lake, called “the Blue Pearl of Mongolia”, small fresh-water sea of 136 km long and 262m deep in crystal clear waters. The region is a paradise for fishermen and horsemen.
The Khövsgöl is the second largest lake in Mongolia. This lake is sacred to local people, including ethnic Tsaatan (“reindeer herders”) and Darkhad (this ethnic group has a rich oral and musical heritage, and was formed by the Government of Zanabazar in the seventeenth century. It represents the culmination of a political unification of the “forest people”). Both ethnic groups have a rich cultural heritage and are particularly characterized by their shamanistic beliefs and practices still very much alive, making it a “tourist attraction” of the first place. Unfortunately, this enthusiasm has a tendency today to lock them in pictures and turn them into cultural commodity, transforming their lives and making them more dependent to an economic system based on the sale of their products (and their image), which encroaches on their pastoral economy. That’s how in the north part, into depression of Darkhad, some Tsaatan families hold a summer camp in order to make themselves available to visitors and to be able to sell their crafts. They flock in July and August, making of course all the authenticity of the “game” obsolete.
You will cross in this region different landscapes ranging from evergreen forests to taiga, mountain scenery and the endless steppe. In summer, on mountain tops, you may have the opportunity to cross areas still covered by snow!
The western shore is unpracticable by car in summer, and thus becomes perfect for hiking and riding trails. However, this area is increasingly touristic, so do not be surprised to meet other groups of hikers… Conversely, the eastern side has less tourist infrastructures and activity is not yet well developed, partly due to the mobility afforded by the reduced area (important hydrography, wetlands, mountains and rocky outcrops…) The surroundings are therefore more “wild”! Your eyes and your senses will enjoy both vegetation and flowers that will offer pastoral and sweet smells throughout your adventure.
At Murun, if you have a time, you can visit the province’s museum and make you a good idea of the flora and fauna of the area. In addition, ritual Buddhist and shamanistic costumes are exposed.
-Dates: Every day from June to mid-September, local buses at 2pm and 5pm in the direction of the city of Murun, leaving from “Dragon Center” bus station (15 hour trip!).
-Comfort: Comfort is just as the life of Mongolian nomads: spartan and rustic. And local bus rides can be long and difficult.
-Difficulty: This tour must be difficult for untrained horse riders and is more dedicated to confirmed riders or at least experienced.
-Prices 2012:
1 person – $ 1.160
2 persons – $ 840 per person
3 persons – $ 800 per person
4 persons – $ 700 per person
5 persons – $ 690 per person
6 persons – $ 660 per person
This price includes:
-The local bus ride (go/back)
-Lunch at Murun city
-Drive between the first family and Murun city
-The homestay and horses
-The local mongolian local guide
This price does not include:
-picnic meals during bus transportation
-The taxi to drive you (and back) to the bus station and “Dragon Centre” in Ulaanbaatar
-Translator
-Program:
Day 1: Bus drive from Ulaanbaatar (UB) to Murun (predict 14 to 16 hours of drive).
Day 2: Arrival at Murun city in the morning, our driver Battushig will pick you up at bus station of Murun. Murun is the third biggest city of Mongolia, with about 36,000 inhabitants. We’ll sit for a while at Battushig’s home, and have a light lunch at his home or in a small restaurant/canteen. Then we go to meet the first nomadic family : at Sacha’s. He lives with his son and daughter, the two are married. This family lives in the beautiful valley of the river Altagana, northeast from Murun. Sacha and his children rear different animals: sheep, goats, cows and horses. His eldest son, Nyam Osor lives with his wife and two children. Nyam Osor is your local guide. You prepare for the tour, and will get acquainted with your horses.
Day 3: Drive about 30 km to the lake Erkhel. We arrive at Chuluukhai’s, he lives with his wife, two children and mother. He is an horse breeder and also has cows and camels. It will be possible to see his camels if they are not too far away, because particularly in summer time the camels graze far from the camp! That is why in the classification system of animals, Mongolians call them “long legs” (like horses, in contrast to “short legs”, sheep, goats…).
Day 4: Drive 30 km into the valley of Aizam. Bridge crossing the river Eg, which is the only river coming out from Khuvsgul lake. We meet Lhagva who lives with his wife. He is a horse trainer, and his wife produces dairy products under the rules of Mongolian traditional art of cooking, you can see the making techniques and taste several of their dairy products.
Day 5: Drive about 30 km to Donshigo, a beautiful wooded area. Today we will reach Lake Khuvsgul, the “Blue Pearl of Mongolia,” sacred lake for local people. Night at Lhagva’s, who has the same name as the master of family we met earlier. We will climb the big hill Khundii. On the road, it is sometimes possible to see herds of reins in June, July and early August. Lhagva lives with his wife and little daughter.
Day 6: Horse riding short trip near the lake, arrival at Altanbayaraa’s yurt. He lives with his wife and children. He is a yak and horses herder. Altanbayaraa is Battushig’s good friend.
Days 7 and 8: Horse riding to Khatgal, a small village on the bank of Khuvsgul lake. You will certainly have the opportunity to taste the smoked fish, specialty of fishermen in this area! Walk tour on the west coast of the lake. Nights at Ariunbold’s, Battushig’s brother. He lives with his wife and two daughters. His eldest girl cooks very well since she is employed as a cooker in a tourist camp during the summer. Ariunbold is a yak herder, he has 120 yaks.
Day 9: Back to the valley of Altgana river, then we continue along the Eg river. We arrive at Jamts’s, who is also a horse trainer. He lives with his wife and four children. If desired, it is possible to fish.
Day 10: Back at Sasha’s, the first family who welcomed you at the start of the tour.
Day 11: Return to Murun city to take the bus back to UB.
Day 12: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar in the morning between 9am and noon.
