Yurt and nomadic lifestyle on the steppes of Mongolia

Extraordinary heritage of nomadic civilizations, the origins of the yurt go back to

some 3000 years, the oldest evidence relating yurts in Mongolia is dated in

13th century.

These first circular huts have developed and adapted over the years to the

lifestyle of each civilization, becoming square for sedentary civilizations and

moving towards the yurt for nomadic civilizations or to the tepee for

nomadic peoples which is more important, as the Lapps or American Indians.

Despite an almost constant evolution over the centuries, the basic principle of the yurt

remains the same, with a wooden frame covered with a totally removable felt or

other inolating materials and fabrics for newer models.

The yurt has become the typical habitat of peoples practicing pastoral nomadism,

as is the case in Uzbekistan, Mongolia and Khazakstan and it became the symbol

the country itself, as the Mongol civilization remains committed to this lifestyle which is very much

turned to

nature.

Emblem of a nomadic breeder people, the yurt is inseparable from the image of the green steppes.

There is no nomadic family without or two yurts for the shelter and they live there all

throughout the year.

The yurt changes even over theseasons, cozy and comfortable shelter in winter, although

sheltered from freezing winds by the palings winter camps, in the summertime the yurt becomes

a conditioned nomad tent .... One layer of felt lessand a particular way to move

the edges to favor the circulation of air, and

the yurt can be transformed in to a haven of freshness.

It is a holiday entirely focused on nomadism that we offer here, with the

discovery of nomadic civilization of the steppes, an introduction to the lifestyle of families

of breeders, but also the opportunity to slip into the skin of a nomadic steppe..... Every day

your yurt will be disassembled and reassembled in the evening

new site, after a day of trekking on horseback or on foot.

No night spent huddled under the tent, but the comfort of a very spacious yurt

or group can spend fun times with the local team. No wet tent

after a heavy rain, but a yurt with a central stove to cook or reheat

on an evening too fresh.

A true "nomadic" atmosphere and good times during daily tasks,

when the traveler must learn all traditional gestures of the assembling of a yurt.

Exchange of real experiences, meeting with the nomads and nomad lifestyle.

Our team of local guides will be up to the yurts and you will be free

participate in this daily task or to indulge in some nomadic dreaming ....

Day 1 Arrival in the capital - You will be greeted at the airport by our team.

Installation at the hotel or guest-house, according to your wishes - City tour

Concert of the traditional music.

Day 2 Departure to Arkhangay - In the afternoon, arrival at Khogno Khan, also known as

the "Little Gobi" - Installation with a nomadic family or ayurt camp.

Ride on a camelback across the dunes and surrounding mountains.

Day 3 Continuation of the route to Tsetserleg - Visit the monastery of Kharkhorim

Lunch at the village, arrival in Tsetserleg around 4 p.m., a little track to reach

Bulgan, where Ganzo plants his camp every summer - Installation in the yurt..

Day 4 Discovery of nomadic life and also preparing materials for the

start of the next day. Evening with your hosts.

The nomadic life is both peaceful and well filled the daily tasks that keep coming without

notion that time does not come to interfere.

No stress, but not the time to take a nap.

Take care to push away the herds that approach yurts in the evening, towards

better pastures, turn the milk of the milking of yesterday, making yogurt, cheese, airag

(famous mare's fermentedmilk) separating cream, etc. ....

Preparing meals, and the approach to end of the day, the time of milking.

Small fire is lit with dried cow dung to produce smoke,move away flies and mosquitoes.

Meanwhile, men are busy with horses and yaks there is all the time

something to do, gather the flock, select horses for riding and otherswho participate in the summer

course.Each member of the family has its place in the yurt and is assigned to work, youth,

children are often busy in collecting dung to dry, the largesttake care of lambs and calves.

And of course, last minute work, always find a place to fill the space

of the day, such as repair of the yurt felts, wash cloths and many others.

Unchanging rhythm in the Mongolian tradition.

Tasks in which you can participate, you just need to offer your help;

do not be afraid milking yaks, or go on a horseback to bring the herd near to the

camp.

Nothing is too much planned in this program, because we want our holidays to be the nearest

to the nomad life, not to disturb the rhythm of life and working families visited, but just

offer to share with them a portion of their life.

Day 5-9 Nomad itinerary along with our local team - The first quiet day,

so you can make your make your notes and adapt to horses.

.

Mongolian horses are both peaceful and wild. they

are soft and manageable. However, you should follow the advice of

guide to maintain "good relations" with his mount.

The horse, Mongolian pride, is the symbol of a

civilization. The great Khan made famous the armies of

Mongol horsemen throughout the Asian continent. The

Mongolian horse looks like a double -pony, about 1.50 meters high. It is

both respected and used as a working animal. the Mongols

do not name the horses but Mongolian vocabulary

is incredibly rich in terms for the horse,

its color, character, size, etc. ...

Horses are usually mounted at the age of 2. The

stages of training of horses are surrounded with a whole

ritual which is very specific and often dramatic.

Throughout the year, there are organized races of

horses, the most famous being the Nadaam race at

July and those of Tsagaan Sar, Chinese New Year,

in February. Of Naadams can be organized throughout

the year to celebrate a particular event.

The Mongols ride them being very young it is not uncommon

to see young riders from 4 years to participate in a race.

The mare also has a very important role in the culture of

Mongolia and it is rarely used for breeding.

The famous fermented mare's milk, or airag, gives rise to

various rituals and medicinal virtues are attributed to that.

Trafficking mare's milk only takes place from spring and summer.

The rest of the year, the Mongols make another alcohol based on milk from cows or yak

called "Mongolian vodka" or "white vodka" obtained from the distillation of fermented milk.

During these six days, you will experience the nomadic lifestyle in the company of our team of local guides.

Morning, removing of the yurt will be loaded on the chariot yak.

Then hiking on a horseback, which will of course be adapted to your level of riding.

A picnic, meeting with other families in the nearby valleys .... And in the evening - assembling of a

yurt, always helped by our nomad friends.

A real "adventure", as nomads live during their change camps.

Nomads have several camps, depending on the regions and the richness of

pastures in Arkhangay, where will run your journey, families

usually have three camps and move only three times a year, once to

take refuge in their winter camp, then in the spring back to their site ...

of spring which is also very often the autumn camp and finally they join the vast

grazing when the grass is pretty fat.

Very often, families cut hay in the spring camp, and once

when they reach the fall camp, the hay will be used during the winter to help

animals to face the harsh cold weather.

The route you will take depends on your level of riding, but also on

the weather, the richness of the pastures and the location of other camps

of families.

It is therefore impossible to specify a circuit ...

It is just certain that our guides have what it takes to make you discover their country,

their culture ... their traditional dishes.

It will do as you let go, let yourself be guided by them, to live real

moments of sharing, exchange of culture, because they are often just as curious to

learn about you than you are of them.

Day 10 Last day of horse riding and return to the camp Ganzo in the afternoon.

Installation in the yurt. Festive evening, evening Khorkhog!

To celebrate the end of your nomadic "adventure"

The Khorkhog is certainly the most traditional dish and made by the most of the Mongols,

the origin of this dish goes back to the great invasions. The great Genghis himself would have thought of

this method of cooking with stones reddened in the fire ...

At this time, no big pot to feed an army of the Great Khan, because

simply put, the entire skin of the goat was used as a container, cut into small

pieces, the meat was then placed in the skin of the animal with rocks reddened

in the fire, with some vegetables and spices.

This method, called Bodog and still practiced, was born in Khorkhog , is prepared

with sheep and cooked in a metal container.

A dish that is intended for large parties or special events.

Day 11

Departure to IkhTamir, a beautiful green valley not far from home of

Ganzo ... but worth it to spend a little time, because many archaeological remains are hiding there.

Petroglyphs, carved stones, dating back to Khunnu, better known under the name of

"Deer stones" Great Tumulus time of Genghis Khan.

Evening and overnight stay in the yurt nomad family, except that there is not enough space,

forcing you to sleep in a tent.

Day 12

Ikhtamir/OgiiNuur.

Last real step of discovering of Mongolia. Long crossings of steppes,

seemingly endless valleys, leaving behind the green pastures and

arriving in the semi-desert and sandy of Ogii.

OgiiNuur is a beautiful lake in the middle of a deserted valley.

Installation in a yurt in a tourist camp.

Day 13

Road to Ulaanbaatar – Installation in a hotel

This program is provided only as a guided tour, but it can be changed.

The duration of the trip on the horseback can be extended , or shortened.

It can also be considered to use local transport to get to

Tsetserleg and to return to the capital, and of course, the same program can be

made by a trek or on a horseback.