Reindeer Festival Mongolia Tour

Discover the Enchanting Reindeer Festival in Taiga-Tsagaan Nuur, Mongolia

Nestled in the picturesque Khuvsgul province of Northern Mongolia, the Reindeer Festival in Taiga-Tsagaan Nuur town is a mesmerizing winter celebration that weaves ancient traditions with vibrant festivities. This unique event unfolds against the backdrop of a snowy landscape, bringing to life the age-old customs of the reindeer tribes.

Embracing Tradition: The Melancholy Echo of the Reindeer Horn

During the winter months, the oldest man of the reindeer tribe serenades the serene Taiga with the haunting tones of a long wooden horn. This enigmatic tradition, rooted in practicality and mystery, is believed to ward off evil spirits during the dark winter days. Yet, it also serves as a form of communication, echoing across the snow-covered landscape between the reindeer people.

A Kaleidoscope of Culture: The Reindeer Festival in Action

The Reindeer Festival is a lively spectacle that transforms the tranquil alpine village of Tsagaannuur into a vibrant canvas of dance, music, and reindeer marvels. This annual extravaganza, typically held in March, signifies the transition from winter to spring, infusing the village with renewed energy and spirit.

Winter Festivals Across Mongolia: Celebrating Culture and Seasons

Mongolia, a land of diverse landscapes and rich traditions, hosts a series of winter festivals during this enchanting time. Explore the cultural tapestry with events such as:

  1. “Silver Reed of Western Mongolia – The Khovd Ice Festival”

    • Date: January 21-22
  2. “Mungulug Shagshuurga”

    • Date: January 21-22
  3. “Ice Festival” in Khuvsgul province

    • Date: March 1-4 to (be confirmed due to Lunar New Year 2025)
  4. “Camel Festival” in South Gobi

    • Date: March 4-5 (be confirmed due to Lunar New Year 2025)
  5. “Reindeer Festival” in Khuvsgul Province

    • Date: March 5-6 (be confirmed due to Lunar New Year 2025)
  6. “Eagle Festival” near Ulaanbaatar city

    • Date: March (be confirmed due to Lunar New Year 2025)

These festivals are a captivating journey into the heart of Mongolia’s unique culture, offering a rare opportunity to witness age-old traditions and celebrate the changing seasons.

Explore the Magic: Reindeer Snow Festival Details

For those eager to be part of the enchantment, delve into the Reindeer Snow Festival details. Join us on this cultural odyssey, where ancient traditions meet the vibrancy of a changing season.

Book your spot now and be part of a cultural celebration that brings you closer to the heart of the Golden Eagle Festival at tulga@nomadictrails.com or What’sApp: +976 99040894

For more details about the festival: Reindeer Snow Festival 

 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Enjoy the Colorful Mongolian traditional costume-wearing locals

  • Reindeer-related traditional customs

  • Ice festival at the Khatgal town

  • Experience the Mongolian Winter

  • Epic scenery of the southern edge of Siberia

  • Witness the everyday life of a nomad tribe, Tsaachin Mongolia

  • Enjoy the hospitality of a local family

  • Meet face-to-face with the reindeer tribe shaman

  • Relax with the stunning view of Khuvsgul Lake, the Blue Pearl of Mongolia and many more

     

Day1. UB/ Murun- Toilogt

Day2. Ice Festival

Day3. Renchinlhumbe

Day4. Reindeer Snow Festival -Taiga

Day5. Snow Festival -Ulaan Uul Town

Day6. Murun

Day7. UB

Day1. Ulaanbaatar/ Murun- Toilogt

We meet you at the airport and take a 1.5-hour flight to Murun, the provincial capital town of Khuvsgul province. We drive out of Murun town to Khatgal town, located on the shore of the frozen lake, getting ready for tomorrow’s big event “Ice Festival”. Overnight comfortable Ger camp.

Day2. Ice Festival

Full day to enjoy the Ice Festival near Khatgal town.  There are many exciting opportunities to see and experience numerous activities including Ice archery, skiing competitions, ice colliding games, horse sledging and many more today. We have lunch at a local place and continue to enjoy the Ice festival. Overnight ger camp and warm gers.

Day3. Renchinlhumbe town

After breakfast, we drive to Renchinlkhumbe town, located in the beautiful Darkhad Depression, surrounded by tall mountain ranges. This is really beautiful and scenic road through mountains with pine trees. We arrive at one of the Darkhad Tribe’s towns and transfer to a local hotel with a wooden cabin with stove-heated rooms to stay warm. Dinner and overnight wooden cabin rooms. 

Day4. Reindeer Festival Mongolia -Taiga

After breakfast, we drive to Jarganat Gol River, where the river flows all year round. Underground thermos activity helps this river flows over the cold winter and it creates mysterious steam which covers all the pine trees nearby. As a result of such activities, we will see such a white tree in this spot. 

Then we head to the Reindeer festival, which will start at 11:00 am with 1000 reindeer gathering in the same place. Enjoy the festival and transfer to the local Teepee and wooden cabins inside the Taiga with Reindeer herders.  

Day5. Snow Festival -Ulaan Uul Town

After breakfast, we enjoy the second day of the Reindeer festival with games and competitions of East and West Taiga reindeer herders. After lunch, we drive out of Taiga and head to Ulaan Uul town for a local hotel. Dinner and overnight at a local hotel.

Day6. Murun

This beautiful morning, we drive out of Darkhad Depression heading south to Murun, the provincial capital town of Khuvsgul province.  We transfer to a local hotel for a nice hot shower and have a farewell dinner. 

Day7. Ulaanbaatar

After breakfast, we transfer to the local airport and take a flight to Ulaanbaatar city. 

end of the tour

click on the picture to see the bigger size of the Reindeer Festival Daily Program: 

 

Reindeer festival map
Reindeer festival map

 

Reindeer Tribe at snow
Reindeer Festival Mongolia
reindeer Festival
Reindeer Festival
Reindeer girl Telme
Reindeer Girl

Reindeer with boy
With Reindeer
reindeer Herder
Reindeer herder
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Reindeer Selfie
Reindeer on the run
Reindeer Herders in the wood
Reindeer Festival tour551
Reindeer herder

what's included

inclusions

Reindeer caravan

exclusions

Reindeer caravan

Tour reviews and testimonials

Angie N
5/5
Custom Reindeer Tsaatan and Eagle Festival Tour
Tulga is such a hard worker and is committed to bringing the best possible experience to his guests and no request is too big. His knowledge of his country is as vast as the country itself

and he was able to provide a varied, personal, unique experience. I wanted to create my own personal itinerary and Tulga had the knowledge, contacts, experience and sense of adventure to make that happen.
I’ll be returning in 2020 to travel with Nomadic Trails again. Can’t wait!

Elaine
5/5
Private Reindeer Herders Tour
Tulga led our week-long trip with friends to visit the Tsaatan people. It was a fantastically well organised trip, with Tulga and his team looking after us perfectly throughout. We stayed in some beautiful spots

on our way to and from the reindeer people and Tulga ensured that our time with the Tsaatan was respectful and he clearly had an excellent relationship with them built over a number of years. We were always consulted over decisions about activities and where to stay.

The chef who accompanied us throughout the trip was really good (meals included freshly baked bread, pancakes, pizza…). And we were lucky with the weather too.

Eszter Tandel
5/5
Custom Reindeer Herders Photography Tour
Looking for a travel agency in Mongolia? Nomadic Trails is definitely the best choice! I just arrived home from a photography tour organised by Nomadic Trails.

It was a very memorable trip ful of actions, and funny happenings.
Our guide, Tulga was very professional and never the less very patient. Tsetsgee, our cook made an excellent job as well, she was able to cook perfect dishes even in the middle of nowhere.
See you soon guys! … because every great journey needs to be continued!

Fiona
5/5
Custom Horse Trekking Tour
I love the ethos of nomadic trails and how they support local families. It really adds to the experience. Especially as the horses and horseman were locally sourced. My advice to you? Keep a journal!!

We spent 10 days camping with the horses in western Mongolia with a couple of days in Bayan-Ulgii and Ulanbataar. I have so many amazing memories of this trip.

Tulga, our guide, and our support crew were outstanding and we always felt very safe and well looked after. Our cook was very good. I became especially fond of Tulga and Bolat (our horseman) Tulga is friendly and funny, and Bolat was shy, but oh so cheeky once I got to know him!

We had two novice riders, with myself and another being experienced riders. Our horses were supplied by the first family we met in the Bayan-Ulgii countryside. They were exceptionally well cared for and very well behaved. These mongol horses are incredible and temperaments outstanding. They were very well picked in nature for our traveling members.

I nicknamed my horse Constable Care (Aussie joke) and he definitely lived up to his name. He was very careful and did a great job looking after me. He was so tolerant of me plaiting him up like a show pony, and not a bite or kick in him. The support crew played a joke and did his mane up in the traditional manner the next day we rode out!

My favourite memory of Constable Care was on our last day with the horses. Our novice riders walked behind with Bolat, while Tulga, myself and our other experienced rider galloped back to our first family. After riding to our slowest members, it was great to stretch our legs. Constable Care was amazingly fast.

What a way for a character building adventure! We went after peak tourist season, so the weather was a little more unpredictable, but still quite tolerable. So many fond memories, from 17 sleeping in a family Ger, tasting mares milk in the street of Bayan-ulgii, admiring Bronze Age rock art, watching a late season small town nadaam festival, our horseman singing for us, ice cream and beer on a dry day, museums, haggling for art in chiggis khan square and shopping in UB. All in the increiable landscape of Mongolia and the Altai mountains.

My wind horse was definitely reinvigorated and Mongolia is calling to me. When the time is right I will be contacting Tulga and Nomadic Trails again.

John
5/5
Group Reindeer Herders tour
Tulga designed our itinerary to cover as much quality experiences as we can in 7 days. We had a wonderful time boating at Khovsgol, tent camping in 5* spots – all with superb sunset view, before

hopping on our horses to go to the Tsaatan reindeer tribe, then finally staying at one of the best camps in Murun.
Everything was so well-organized. Noteworthy is Tulga’s relationship with the tribe, which is an important consideration when we were planning this trip as we want to be as respectful as possible to the tribe for them not to feel uneasy during our stay.
Our group was delighted to have raw and authentic Mongolian experience without having to sacrifice comfort – we had delicious food, great accommodation and comfortable transportation all throughout our trip – thanks to the incredible team of Nomadic Trails!

Kimberley H
5/5
Private Reindeer Herders Tour
I was very pleased with my trip with Nomadic Trails. Our guide Tulga was knowledgeable and experienced. The staff was friendly and accommodating and we were served great food.

The experience staying with the reindeer tribe was incredible and something not to miss in northern Mongolia.
Overall the whole tour was well organized and I would have another tour in the future.

Matthew K
5/5
Custom Reindeer & Golden Eagle Festival Tour
We travelled with a large group and everything from the second we landed was perfectly organized. We had the opportunity to see the beauty of Mongolia and interact with incredible locals

thanks to Nomadic Trails. Tulga and everyone on his team were so accommodating to any of our requests and even helped us navigate our way through the local market and barter for souvenirs. Truly delicious food as well at every stop. Phenomenal all around. Thank y’all for everything! Unbelievable experience in Mongolia!

Meridith
5/5
Private Reindeer Herders & Horse riding Tour
Excellent! Nomadic Trails is a top rate outfit. We thoroughly enjoyed our horse trip with Tulga and Naraa. They met our highest

expectations and we went back for another trip the next year. The culture, food, horses and especially the country were wonderful. We highly recommend Nomadic Trails if you want to see real Mongolia.

Viktoria Varga
5/5
Reindeer Tsaatan Custom Photography Tour
We had a wonderful trip in Mongolia organized by Nomadic Trails. I highly recommend them to anyone considering coming to this wonderful country.

Tulga, our tour guide is very knowledgeable and helpful, his driving skills also worth a praise and believe me, on these roads, it is a big advantage for someone like me with a motion sickness.
They provided a cook for us, who exceeded all of our expectations.
If you want a truly amazing experience just go with them!

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS TOUR?

Ulaanbaatar winter Snowing scenery
Ulaanbaatar
Ulaan Uul village - town North of Mongolia
Ulaan Uul Town
Baby reindeer at Reindeer Tribe spring camp
Dukha Reindeer Tribe Spring Camp
Dukha Reindeer Herders Tour Autumn view with Tee-pee
Dukha Reindeer Tribe Autumn Camp
Murun town of Northern Mongolia
Murun town
frozen Khuvsgul Lake 2022
Khuvsgul Lake
Stunning scenery of Darkhad Depression
Darkhad Depression

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.

Accommodation:

We will be staying two nights in the Taiga where we will be sleeping in a tee-pee but stove-heated Huts are available, for local hotels, in Murun town for 2 nights, and in Ulaan Uul town for 1 night in a log cabin.

Food and drinks:

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.

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 for this Nomadic Reindeer Herders Tour:

In the mornings, if you get up early, you can go on a walk, meditate or even read books.
During our drives, you will see stunning landscapes. You will witness the stunning view of mountains of unique formation, serene lakes, and frozen rivers. Sipping wine near a bonfire in the evenings, sharing memorable moments from our trip, and observing the starry sky is indeed a moment one can simply enjoy.

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