Mongolia
3-4 weeks in
Highlights
- Spend a night with a nomadic family in a traditional Ger
- Try star gazing in the Gobi Desert
- Horse trek across the grassy steppe
- Experience the contrasts between ancient traditions and the dawn of the 21st century in Ulaanbaatar
- Experience a different life, living with a nomadic community
Teachers!
All of our expeditions are completely tailored to your needs – if you’re undecided about where to go, just call us, we love sharing ideas. The world really is your oyster!
Expedition
Experience a very different culture
Mongolians love horses, fire is sacred and commercialism has only recently been accepted. Mongolia’s love of the wild is embodied in every aspect of life here, from the ancient traditional costumes to the wind which whips through the country, unhindered by the few trees that grow here. Experience the battle between old and new first hand as you journey from 21st century Ulaanbaatar into the mountains, steppe or desert!
Explore a new landscape
Spend a remarkable 5 days travelling on horseback from camp to camp through the lush meadows of the Darkhan Valley. This beautiful landscape is riddled with hundreds of bodies of water and is famous for its variety of migratory birds. Continue the adventure with a 5 day trek passing through woodland and rolling hills and along the shoreline of Lake Khuvsgul, the second largest lake in Mongolia. Planning the supplies and adventure as a group will give students a huge sense of achievement.
Be part of a global community
Working with an organisation who support many nomadic communities to build school infrastructure, enables a real sense of community partnership. On arrival expect to be greeted with sights of cows, goats, sheep and horses surrounding family homes as well as a cup of fermented tea! Repair work could involve constructing or renovating school classrooms or repairing trails in a national park.
Appreciate something incredible
Mongolia is a country of stark contrasts. Visiting Khuvsgul Lake, which holds 2% of the world’s water, whilst in the same trip seeing the Gobi Desert, will challenge perceptions on geography for many students. Travelling through a landscape with more horses than people offers the unique sense of peace and isolation which really epitomises this incredible place.
What to expect
Terrain
Mongolia’s landscape is varied and breathtakingly beautiful. The mountains contrast sharply to the Gobi Desert and the grassy step where many nomadic communities still reside.
Weather
Known as the land of blue sky, Mongolia boasts 250 or more days of sunshine each a year. The weather can be variable though, so expect the unexpected! Visiting in June-August will give you the best chance of sunshine, but temperatures will drop considerably after the midday sun!
Culture
Mongolia is one of the most sparsely populated countries on the planet and a third of its people are nomadic; living with one of these communities is an unforgettable experience. The main languages are Mongolian and Chinese, whilst Buddhism, Islam and indigenous beliefs are the predominant religions.
