Nomad Family OvernightKhentii Steppe Ger Stay

The Khentii region, east of Ulaanbaatar, is the homeland of Genghis Khan and a landscape of open steppe, river valleys and forested hills. Herding families here move their gers, the round felt tents of the steppe, several times a year, following the seasonal pastures for their horses, cattle, sheep and goats. This overnight stay is with a herding family rather than in a tourist camp, offering a chance to share a day in their lives.

Your guide and interpreter pick you up at your hotel in Ulaanbaatar at 9:00 AM for the drive east into Khentii, a journey of several hours on paved roads and then tracks across the steppe. Along the way, you may stop at the giant equestrian statue of Genghis Khan at Tsonjin Boldog, one of the largest statues in the world.

You arrive at the family's camp in the afternoon. Your hosts welcome you with milk tea, suutei tsai, and dried curds. Depending on the season, you may help with daily tasks, such as milking the mares, whose milk is fermented into airag, the mildly alcoholic drink that is the national beverage, or herding the animals back to camp in the evening.

Dinner is often khorkhog, a festive dish of lamb or mutton cooked in a sealed pot with vegetables and stones heated in the fire. The hot stones are passed from hand to hand afterwards, as they are believed to be good for health. Your guide translates as the family shares stories about their life, their animals and the changes that have come to the steppe.

The night is spent in a ger, either the family's own or a guest ger beside it, on a simple bed with blankets. Nights on the steppe can be cold, even in summer, so bring a warm sleeping bag. Toilets are basic, usually an outdoor pit latrine, and there is no running water.

At dawn, you can watch the family bring the horses in from the pasture before breakfast. After a morning with your hosts, you return to Ulaanbaatar in the afternoon.

Customs matter here. Step over, not on, the threshold of a ger, move clockwise inside, accept food and drink with your right hand, and do not whistle or point your feet at the stove. A gift for the family, such as food or practical items, and a gratuity are appreciated.

The best time for this stay is from June to September. Winter visits are possible but extremely cold.

The stay lasts around twenty-four hours. A private vehicle, one night in the family's ger, all meals, a licensed guide and interpreter are included. Bring your own sleeping bag.