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Routes

Reindeer Herders of the Taiga

A trip to the Dukha or Tsaatan reindeer herders in the taiga above the Darkhad depression, in the far north near the Russian border. The standard shape flies to Murun, drives a full day to Tsagaan Nuur, then rides horses for two days into the forest to reach a herding camp, stays a day, and rides back out. The forest leg cannot be driven, so horses and tents are not optional extras — they are the route. Most operators pair it with two or three days at Khuvsgul Lake on the way back, and a border-area permit is required.

Typical length
7–11 days (Read more: 8)
Difficulty
demanding
Driving per day
a full day between Murun and Tsagaan Nuur; horseback for the taiga legs
Total distance
Roughly 1,100 km of flying each way plus several hundred km of driving in the north; the horseback legs are two riding days in each direction
Best months
Jun–Sep
  • Jan: not a best month
  • Feb: not a best month
  • Mar: not a best month
  • Apr: not a best month
  • May: not a best month
  • Jun: a best month
  • Jul: a best month
  • Aug: a best month
  • Sep: a best month
  • Oct: not a best month
  • Nov: not a best month
  • Dec: not a best month
Reindeer Herders of the Taiga — StopsUlaanbaatar → Tsaatan (Dukha) reindeer herders of the Khuvsgul taiga → Lake Khuvsgul (Khovsgol Nuur)UlaanbaatarTsaatan (Dukha) reindeer herders of the Khuvsgul taigaLake Khuvsgul (Khovsgol Nuur)

Stops: Ulaanbaatar → Tsaatan (Dukha) reindeer herders of the Khuvsgul taiga → Lake Khuvsgul (Khovsgol Nuur)

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Ulaanbaatar to Murun

    Gandan monastery and the morning chanting, then the domestic flight north, about an hour. Hotel in Murun.

  2. Day 2

    Murun to Tsagaan Nuur

    A full driving day through the Darkhad depression via Ulaan-Uul. Guest house.

  3. Day 3

    Ride into the taiga

    The first of two days on horseback into the forest toward the herding camp. Tent.

  4. Day 4

    Day with the herders

    Time with Dukha families: herding, dairy work, crafts and daily routine. Tent.

  5. Day 5

    Ride back out

    Horseback return toward Ulaan-Uul. Tent.

  6. Day 6

    To Khuvsgul Lake

    Drive to the lakeshore. Ger camp.

  7. Day 7

    Lake day

    Optional hiking, boating or kayaking. Ger camp.

  8. Day 8

    Back to Ulaanbaatar

    Drive to Murun with a stop at the Uushgiin Uvur deer stones, then the flight south, about an hour.

Price bands

budget join-in

275-300 USD

Prices as published for 2026

Group size assumed: 5-8 travellers

Includes: Selena Travel's 8-day Mongolia Reindeer Herders Tour is US$2,200 pp at 7-8 people and US$2,400 at 5-6: full-time English-speaking guide, sightseeing and entrance fees, private transfers, 1 hotel plus 1 guesthouse plus 2 ger plus 3 tent nights, two days of horse hire and wranglers, return domestic flights, all meals, bottled water, the border-area permit and a visa support letter.

standard private

350-435 USD

Prices as published for 2026

Group size assumed: 2-4 travellers

Includes: Same 8-day trip: US$2,800 pp at 3-4 people and US$3,480 pp for two. Single supplement US$280.

premium

227-713 USD

Prices as published for 2026-2027

Group size assumed: solo in summer, or a winter expedition

Includes: Solo occupancy on the 8-day summer trip is US$5,700. The 11-day winter version reaching the herders' winter camps is US$2,500 pp at 7-8 people up to US$7,050 solo, graded Hard and driven rather than flown.

Accommodation

On the 8-day summer version: 1 hotel night, 1 basic guesthouse night, 3 tent nights in the taiga and 2 ger camp nights at the lake. Tent nights have outdoor squat toilets and no running water. Ulaanbaatar hotel nights are typically excluded from the price.

Vehicle

Round-trip Ulaanbaatar-Murun flights are included, with 15 kg checked and 5 kg cabin baggage; a van covers the northern driving; small Mongolian horses with local wranglers cover the two-day taiga leg in each direction. A border-area entrance permit is part of the package because the herders live in a restricted zone.

Not for

first-time visitors on a short trip
anyone who cannot ride for two consecutive days
travellers who need daily washing facilities
people expecting a guaranteed, scheduled encounter — the herders move

Ask before you book

  • Is the border-area permit included and already applied for?
  • How many hours per day on horseback, and what happens if you cannot ride?
  • Where are the herders camped this season, and how does that change the riding distance?
  • Are the Ulaanbaatar-Murun flights included, and what is the plan if one is cancelled?
  • What is the tent and toilet arrangement, and is a sleeping bag supplied?
  • What is the operator's policy on photographing families and on payments or gifts to the community?
  • Is the guide experienced with the Dukha specifically, and does anyone speak the local language?
Sources (4)