6-Day Real Nomadic Lifestyle Experience in Mongolia — Self-Launched
6 days · Mongolia
TTRMongolia charges £1,065
No-markup version: ~£390 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Experience the raw beauty of Mongolia's nomadic culture independently — from the sacred Amarbayasgalant Monastery to living alongside a real nomadic family in a traditional ger (yurt). This self-launched version replaces the packaged tour with direct bookings through local guesthouses, independent local guides hired on arrival, and shared transport — delivering the same unforgettable steppe adventure at a fraction of the cost. Expect basic but authentic conditions: pit toilets, no showers, wood-burning stoves, and some of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth. All cost estimates are approximate.
Day-by-day
Ulaanbaatar to Amarbayasgalant Monastery
Ulaanbaatar → Selenge Province
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar at Chinggis Khan International Airport. Spend your pre-tour night at a budget guesthouse in the city centre. The next morning, take a shared minivan (marshrutka) from Ulaanbaatar's Dragon Bus Centre heading north towards Erdenet or Darkhan — ask to be dropped at the Amarbayasgalant junction (approx. 300km, ~£10–15). Alternatively, pre-book a shared jeep transfer through your guesthouse. Arrive in the Iven Gol River Valley by late afternoon and check into a local ger camp near the monastery. Dinner is typically included by ger camp hosts.
🚌Shared minivan/marshrutka from Dragon Bus Centre, Ulaanbaatar, ~£10–15 per person one way
🛏Local ger camp near Amarbayasgalant Monastery (~£15–20/night including meals)
- →Travel from Ulaanbaatar to Amarbayasgalant by shared minivan or pre-booked jeep (~£10–15 per person)
- →Arrive at Iven Gol River Valley and settle into a local ger camp
- →Evening walk along the riverbanks beneath the Burenkhaan Mountains
Amarbayasgalant Monastery — Horseback, Trekking & Mineral Springs
Amarbayasgalant, Selenge Province
Spend a full day exploring one of Mongolia's finest Buddhist monasteries. Hire a local horse through your ger camp host for a morning ride to the monastery (~£10–15 for a half-day). Many local monks speak basic English and are happy to show visitors around — a small donation to the monastery (£2–5) is appreciated. In the afternoon, trek on foot to the Jaran Khashir Stupa on the hillside above the monastery. Finish the day with a visit to the Naranbulag mineral springs, a short walk or ride from the main complex. Meals are provided by your ger camp.
🚌Horse hire from ger camp (~£10–15 half day); walking
🛏Local ger camp near Amarbayasgalant Monastery (~£15–20/night including meals)
- →Horseback ride to Amarbayasgalant Monastery (~£10–15 for half-day hire)
- →Self-guided exploration of monastery grounds with optional monk-led tour (donation ~£3)
- →Trek to Jaran Khashir Stupa on the hillside above the monastery
- →Visit to Naranbulag mineral springs
Nomadic Family Immersion — Arrival & First Day
Rural Selenge / Khangai Steppe
Your ger camp host or a locally hired guide (arranged through the camp or Ulaanbaatar guesthouses like Idre's or Golden Gobi) can connect you with a local nomadic family willing to host independent travellers. This is best arranged in advance via email or through reputable Ulaanbaatar hostels that have family connections. Travel to the family's seasonal camp by horse or on foot. Settle into your own guest ger next to the family's and begin participating in daily nomadic life: herding sheep and goats, milking animals, and helping with dairy production. Pack wet wipes, a filter water bottle, toilet paper, and mosquito repellent — sanitation is basic (pit toilet, no shower).
🚌Horse or on foot from ger camp
🛏Guest ger (yurt) at nomadic family camp (~£20–25/night including all meals, negotiated directly with family or via local fixer)
- →Transfer to nomadic family camp by horse or on foot
- →Horseback riding with family across the steppe
- →Herding sheep and goats
- →Milking cows and horses (airag/fermented mare's milk)
- →Helping make traditional dairy products (aaruul, tarag)
Nomadic Family Immersion — Deep Steppe Life
Rural Selenge / Khangai Steppe
A full second day living the nomadic lifestyle. Join the family for their morning routines — lighting the stove, preparing fermented milk, fetching water. Take a longer horseback ride across the open steppe in the morning, and spend the afternoon helping herd sheep back to camp. If the family is occupied, use the time to explore nearby hills on foot or simply absorb the silence of the landscape. Evenings are spent around the stove inside the ger, eating traditional mutton stew and sharing stories. Note: horses here can be spirited — beginners should ask for a calmer horse and stay close to the guide.
🚌Horse or on foot
🛏Guest ger (yurt) at nomadic family camp (~£20–25/night including all meals)
- →Morning steppe horseback ride
- →Herding sheep back to camp
- →Participating in ger household tasks
- →Self-guided hiking in surrounding hills
- →Evening meal and conversation with nomadic family
Horseback Ride to Suvraga Valley
Suvraga Valley, Central Mongolia
Ride on horseback to the scenic Suvraga Valley — a dramatic landscape of open grassland, rocky outcrops, and wide skies. This is a longer ride (several hours return), so set off early in the morning with your local guide or family member. Explore the valley on foot once you arrive, taking in the panoramic steppe views. Return to camp by late afternoon for your final night with the nomadic family. Spend the evening helping prepare dinner and reflecting on the week's experiences.
🚌Horseback (included in family stay or hired separately ~£15–20)
🛏Guest ger (yurt) at nomadic family camp (~£20–25/night including all meals)
- →Full-day horseback ride to Suvraga Valley (~£15–20 for horse hire or included in family stay negotiation)
- →Exploration of Suvraga Valley on foot
- →Panoramic steppe photography
- →Final evening with nomadic family
Return to Ulaanbaatar
Steppe → Ulaanbaatar
Say farewell to your host family and make your way back to the road. Your ger camp host or the family may arrange a jeep transfer back to Ulaanbaatar, or you can flag down a passing vehicle near the main track (common in rural Mongolia — offer a fair fuel contribution). The drive is approximately 5–6 hours. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar by early afternoon with time to clean up at your guesthouse, grab a meal, and explore the city before your onward flight. Consider flying out the following day rather than the same evening given the travel time. Budget tip: debrief at the Grand Khaan Irish Pub or Millie's Espresso Café — both popular with travellers.
🚌Shared jeep or passing vehicle back to Ulaanbaatar ~£15–25 per person
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Ulaanbaatar (~£12–18/night) — e.g. Ulaanbaatar Guesthouse or Idre's Guesthouse
- →Farewell to nomadic host family
- →Jeep or shared vehicle return to Ulaanbaatar (~£15–25 per person)
- →Lunch stop en route
- →Optional: visit Gandantegchinlen Monastery or Sukhbaatar Square on arrival in Ulaanbaatar (free entry or ~£2)
Self-launched vs. TTRMongolia
| This itinerary (self-launched) | TTRMongolia | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£390 | £1,065 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £675 per person (63%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more TTRMongolia-style trips? Check them out here.~£390
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does 6-Day Real Nomadic Lifestyle Experience in Mongolia — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £390 per person for 6 days in Mongolia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with TTRMongolia?+
Yes — TTRMongolia charges around £1,065 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £390 — a saving of roughly £675 (63%) per person.
How long is the Mongolia trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Mongolia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Mongolia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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