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Mongolia

Program Overview

Under the endless blue sky of central Asia, Mongolia greets you with windswept grasslands, rolling dunes of the Gobi Desert, and some of the most hospitable people you will ever meet. During your rugged journey, take part in the magnificent Naadam festival, live with a nomadic family in a traditional ger (yurt), ride horseback through the open steppe, and embrace one of the last truly unspoiled lands on earth.

Orientation in Ulaanbaatar
Your Mongolian Experiment begins in the busy capital city of Ulaanbaatar. Working with local experts and your group leader, visit ancient monasteries, practice basic Mongolian language skills, explore bustling markets, and learn to cook traditional steamed dumplings known as buuz.

Ancient Traditions and Festivals
Mongolian musicians, wrestlers, riders, throatsingers, and artists become your teachers as you learn how to play the morin khuur—the horse-head fiddle, live in a thirteenth-century camp and witness Mongolian cavalry in action. You and your group will also take part in the world-renowned Naadam festival. A nomadic Olympics, the festival is a celebration of archery, horseback riding, and wrestling.

Community Service and Nomadic Homestay
From Ulaanbaatar, voyage to a frontier town deep in the Mongolian grasslands. Spend five days working side by side with Mongolian students to paint the local school, teach English, and assist with small-scale construction projects. When the paint is dry and project complete, head to the open steppe outside of town to become part of a unique and fascinating community. You will live in a ger with a herder family, learn to cook traditional Mongolian meals, ride horseback, care for domesticated animals, and experience firsthand the simple, but challenging, ways of nomadic life.

Sample host community: Delgerkhaan

Travel and Exploration
Spend your final days in Mongolia taking in the alpine vistas, deep blue lakes, and pristine forests of the north. You will horse-trek and camp through some of the most beautiful areas of the country.

"Stepping out of my comfort zone and immersing myself in life with the locals was truly an awesome experience, and it has had a lasting effect on the way I approach each day. I gained a great respect for the place and for the people I met in Mongolia. My trip feels unfinished, not for lack of excitement while I was there, but only because I can’t wait to go back and pick up where I left off."

-- Ashley St. Clair, Austin, Texas