Packing tips, horse riding equipment:
Bring good quality riding boots, rain jackets, riding gloves, and windproof jackets among others. No need to bring a saddle or bridles. Because we provide comfortable western-type saddles, and horses are taken good care of by our horse guide.
You can also bring the following for your own comfort and usage:
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Your own helmet (we do offer them in case our travelers do not bring theirs).
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Small-sized saddle bag for a water bottle and other accessories.
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Saddle pads
There are mosquitoes near rivers or lakes in the evenings in the Northern parts of Mongolia. Therefore, a mosquito spray, which is very effective, is highly advised.
Horse riding and riding time for this Reindeer Tour Mongolia:
We have successfully organized our horse riding to the Taiga with travelers who have never ridden a horse before. Don’t worry, you will have full detailed instructions from your Tour Leader on how to ride a horse, how to sit on the saddle, hold the reins, and more.
All of our team members are trained in First aid, so we are capable of giving you first aid and taking you to the nearest hospital as quickly as possible. But as the ground is mossy and soft and you follow the instructions from your horse guide, there is a very small chance of you getting injured.
There are of course horse-riding time limits per day. Each day will be a bit different from another, depending on the local weather. A broad estimate for your expectation would be anything from 2-8 hours including breaks and meal stops. There will be activities where we stop at local herdsmen or sightseeing that still counted in as riding hours.
Don’t want to ride a horse but still wish to travel with your group?
A wide variety of choices will be open to you should you choose to pass on horse-riding while your friends or group-mates go horse riding. For example, our destinations allow activities such as fishing, photo shooting, and hiking through the mountains. You only need to contact us. We will tailor the Tsaatan Reindeer Herders Tour Mongolia specifically to you and your group.
Want to travel with your children?
If you are confident that you can ride a horse well, you can ride with your child. Even if you are cannot, we can hire an extra local horse guide to lead your child safely to our destination at the Taiga reindeer people.
Trip accommodation:
We will be staying two nights in the Taiga where we will be sleeping in tee-pees. For days before departing to the Reindeer people, we will stay near the local family in gers, which is a traditional Mongolian dwelling. For the rest of our trip, we will be camping in 2-person tents which are designed for 3 seasons. We will sort out the rooming to men/women, we will not mix two genders unless the tent mates are partners. If you would like to room alone in a tent, please note that you will be charged a tent-single supplement.
Even during summer, mornings and evenings are quite chilly in the Taiga and mountainous regions, therefore, we will be providing you with warm blankets made of camel wool and waterproof mattress. We highly recommend you bring a warm sleeping bag with you.
For all our days except at the Taiga where we will share the Reindeer Herder’s toilets, we will be setting up our shower tent and toilet tents. In Kharganat, you will be staying in a ger camp.
Tented trip food:
Our professional expedition chef will be preparing both Mongolian and European cuisine for you. Depending on the itinerary of the day for example with lengthy driving, we will also be eating a packed lunch. Please don’t forget to write in our passenger list about your dietary requirements and allergies.
We will be providing you with mineral water, tea, and brewed coffee, but soda and juice will not be provided.
Reindeer related information:
Reindeer produce very little milk, so you cannot purchase it. But not to worry, you can still drink reindeer milk tea made by a local reindeer family. Some families with many reindeer sell cheese, so when you meet such families you can ask them to buy some.
After we ask the owner first, we can also ride a reindeer for a short amount of time.
Domestic local flight:
The baggage allowance for a domestic flight in Mongolia is 15kgs in total: 10kg for check-in luggage and 5kg for hand luggage. For extra luggage, you pay 3000-5000 Tugriks (local currency) per extra kilogram.
Tour guide and Leader:
Certified English-speaking experienced Tour Leaders and Tour guides will be your friend and close partner for the duration of the trip and even after your departure. All Nomadic Trails team members have been trained personally by Nomadic Trails experts and the Mongolian Professional Tour Guide Association.
Extra tips:
In the mornings, if you get up early, you can go on a walk, meditate, do some yoga or even read books.
During our drives, you will see stunning landscapes and visit hospitable nomadic families who are happy to share their dairy products such as fermented milk with guests. You will get to taste extraordinary cheese made from reindeer milk at the Taiga as well as meeting the reindeer families. You will witness the stunning view of mountains of unique formation, serene lakes, and lively rivers. Sipping wine near a bonfire in the evenings, sharing memorable moments from our trip, observing the starry sky is indeed a moment one can simply enjoy.
