Airport | Ulaanbaatar City | 50 km transfer

Arrive at Chinggis Khaan International Airport and meet your local female guide and driver. Transfer by road into Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital.

After check-in, there’s time to settle in before a welcome dinner — your first taste of Mongolian cuisine and a chance to properly meet the group.

Overnight: Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
Meals: Dinner

Ulaanbaatar | Gorkhi-Terelj National Park | 80 km

We leave the city and drive into the open steppe of Terelj National Park.

Today is a full-day dog-sledding adventure. Learn to handle your own team of huskies before heading out across frozen rivers and forest trails. Snowmobile and horse-sled options are available for those who want to try something different.

Later, we visit Turtle Rock and hike up to Ariyabal Meditation Temple for sweeping valley views.

Overnight: Traditional ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Terelj National Park | Approx. 25 km

After breakfast, we head out on a full-day fat-bike adventure. Wide tyres, frozen ground, open landscapes, this is winter riding, Mongolia style.

Ride through snow-covered valleys and along quiet steppe tracks, supported by your guide throughout. It’s active, remote and properly memorable.

Overnight: Traditional ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ulaanbaatar | Murun | Khuvsgul Lake

Early transfer to the airport for our domestic flight north to Murun.

On arrival, we drive towards Khuvsgul Lake, crossing frozen landscapes and remote mountain passes. If conditions allow, we drive directly across the ice of Lake Khuvsgul, vast, silent and completely frozen.

We break the journey with a traditional Mongolian lunch stop, hot tea, local dishes and a chance to stretch before continuing north through the Jilleg mountain pass before arriving at our wooden guesthouse for the night.

Overnight: Guesthouse near Khuvsgul Lake
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Renchinlkhumbe | Jargant River | Approx. 15 km

After breakfast, we travel to the Maanar winter gathering near the Jargant River. Today is centred around traditional ceremonies and spiritual rituals led by local shamans. Witness offerings to the water spirits, prayer rituals and cultural performances that form part of Darkhad shamanic traditions.

There will be time to share tea, learn about local customs and experience the atmosphere of this rare winter gathering.

Overnight: Wooden guesthouse / tourist camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Renchinlkhumbe | Tsagaannuur | Taiga | Approx. 100 km

After breakfast, we drive towards Tsagaannuur and continue into the taiga region to meet Tsaatan reindeer herding families.

Today is about cultural exchange and observation. We spend time learning about reindeer herding traditions, daily life in the taiga and the realities of winter living in this remote region.

There may be the opportunity to observe reindeer milking and, where appropriate and agreed locally, experience riding reindeer in the traditional way.

Tonight, we stay in simple local accommodation in or near the community.

Overnight: Traditional ger / wooden house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

East Taiga | Renchinlkhumbe | Approx. 200 km

After breakfast, we travel to Ar Bosgot Gorge, a dramatic canyon landscape of frozen water, forest and rock.

Later, we visit a local family in the Tsagaannuur region for a simple shared meal and insight into daily life in northern Mongolia. In the afternoon, we return to Renchinlkhumbe.

Overnight: Wooden guesthouse / tourist camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Renchinlkhumbe | Murun | Approx. 280 km

After breakfast, we begin the journey south.

We follow the Jargant River, one of the few rivers that continues to flow through winter, before stopping at the Duüt “Singing” Spring. The landscape here shifts between frozen forest, open valley and mountain terrain.

After lunch in Ulaan-Uul, we continue by 4WD to Murun, arriving late afternoon.

Overnight: Guesthouse in Murun
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Murun | Arkhangai Province | Approx. 440 km

After breakfast, we drive south into Central Mongolia, where the landscape opens into wide valleys, steppe and mountain terrain.

We spend time with a local yak herding family, learning about daily life on the steppe. There may be the opportunity to observe yak milking and traditional food preparation, depending on the season and family schedule.

Overnight: Traditional ger
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Arkhangai |Ulaanbaatar | Approx. 570 km

After breakfast, we head out for a half-day horseback ride across the winter steppe.

Mongolian horses are small, strong and deeply woven into daily life here. Riding offers a different perspective on the landscape before we begin the drive back to Ulaanbaatar.

We arrive in the city late afternoon and check into our hotel.

Overnight: Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ulaanbaatar

After breakfast, we explore key highlights of the city including Gandantegchinlen Monastery and Sukhbaatar Square.

In the afternoon, we visit a local craftswoman to learn about traditional Mongolian craftsmanship before returning to the hotel.

Later, enjoy a well-earned spa visit, sauna, steam or massage, a chance to properly unwind after days in the winter wilderness.

Evening at leisure before our final dinner together.

Overnight: Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ulaanbaatar | Chinggis Khaan International Airport | 50 km

After breakfast, transfer to Chinggis Khaan International Airport for onward flights.

Meals: Breakfast

Single supplement for Accommodation in guest house and ger
camp | 500 USD |Per person

This trip includes a mix of hotel stays, ger camps and locally run guesthouses.

3 nights | Ulaanbaatar
Centrally located hotel (Ramada or similar), twin-share rooms with private en-suite facilities.

2 nights | Terelj National Park
Traditional ger camp. Twin-share gers. Heating provided. Bathroom facilities may be shared.

3 nights | Northern Mongolia (Renchinlkhumbe / Taiga region)
Simple wooden guesthouse or locally run tourist camp. Twin-share rooms. Basic facilities suitable for remote winter conditions.

1 night | Tsaatan | Taiga region
Traditional ger, wooden house or local accommodation depending on conditions. Shared facilities.

1 night | Arkhangai Province
Stay with a nomadic family in a traditional ger. Simple conditions. Shared facilities.

All accommodation is selected for suitability for winter travel. Standards outside Ulaanbaatar are basic and reflect the remote regions visited.

What’s included

What’s not included

Passport & Entry Requirments

A valid passport is required with at least six months’ validity beyond your departure date from Mongolia.

UK and most EU passport holders can enter visa-free for short stays. However, entry requirements may  vary, so we strongly recommend before you book your flights checking with www.visahq.com

Arrival & Departure

Fly into Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN) on Day 1.

You will be met on arrival by your ShePeaks host and our professional local female guide. A private transfer (approximately one hour) will take you into Ulaanbaatar.

A return domestic flight between Ulaanbaatar and Murun (for the Khuvsgul region) is included in the trip cost.

International Transport

During the expedition we travel by private 4×4 vehicles and Russian vans in rural regions, domestic flight between Ulaanbaatar and Murun, snow vehicles where required, and by dog sled, horse and reindeer during activity days.

Road infrastructure outside the capital is basic and journey times can be long. Flexibility and patience are part of travelling in this remote environment.

Travel & health insurance is mandatory

Comprehensive travel insurance is required for this trip.

Your policy must include emergency medical treatment and evacuation, trip cancellation and delays, cover for hiking up to 3,000m, winter activities such as dog sledding, fat biking and horse riding, and travel in remote locations.

Proof of insurance will be requested prior to departure. Please refer to our Insurance section for further details and recommended providers.

Currency & Money

The local currency is the Mongolian Tögrög (MNT).

Credit cards are widely accepted in Ulaanbaatar hotels and larger restaurants. Outside the capital, particularly in the Khuvsgul and Taiga regions, cash is essential.

ATMs are available in Ulaanbaatar and Murun but not in remote areas. We recommend withdrawing sufficient currency before leaving the city.

Climate & Conditions

Winter temperatures typically range between –10°C and –30°C, especially in northern Mongolia and the Taiga.

Expect snow, ice, dry air and sustained sub-zero conditions. Proper winter clothing is essential, contact our support team if you’d like to discuss this further.

Support Crew

You will be accompanied by our ShePeaks local guide, experienced drivers and specialist activity handlers including dog sled guides and reindeer herders.

This is a fully supported expedition with luggage transported between locations.

Dietary Requirements and Allergies

We can accommodate most dietary requirements, including vegetarian and gluten-free diets. However, Mongolia is traditionally meat-based and options in remote regions can be limited.

All dietary requirements and allergies must be declared at the time of booking.

While we make every reasonable effort to accommodate needs, we cannot guarantee allergen-free environments in rural or nomadic settings and cannot accept liability for accidental exposure.

If you have strict dietary requirements, we recommend bringing personal snacks or specialist items.

How cold does Mongolia get in winter?
Winter temperatures in Mongolia can range from –10°C to –30°C, particularly in the northern Taiga region. With proper layering and expedition-grade clothing, it is entirely manageable, but preparation is essential.

Is dog sledding physically demanding?
Driving a husky sled requires balance and moderate physical effort, but it is accessible to active participants. Full instruction is provided.

Are the domestic flights included?
Yes. The return domestic flight between Ulaanbaatar and Murun is included in your trip cost.

What standard of accommodation should I expect?
In Ulaanbaatar, you will stay in a comfortable hotel. In rural areas, accommodation includes traditional gers (yurts), teepees and guesthouses. Facilities are basic but authentic.

Are there showers during the expedition?
Showers are available in Ulaanbaatar. In remote areas, washing facilities are limited and often basic.

Is Mongolia safe for female travellers?
Yes. Mongolia is generally considered very safe, and you will be accompanied throughout by your ShePeaks host, local female guide and experienced support crew.

How remote is the Taiga region?
Very remote. Once we leave the city, infrastructure is minimal and medical facilities are distant. This is a genuine expedition environment.

Will I have phone signal or internet access?
Mobile signal is available in Ulaanbaatar and some larger towns. Once we travel into the Khuvsgul and Taiga regions, connectivity becomes very limited or unavailable. This trip offers a genuine digital switch-off experience. We recommend informing family in advance that you may be offline for several days.

How physically demanding is the trip overall?
This is an active winter expedition rather than a technical endurance challenge. Days include time outdoors in sub-zero temperatures, dog sledding, optional fat biking and cultural visits. You do not need extreme fitness, but you should be comfortable being active in cold conditions and spending extended periods outside.

Is English widely spoken in Mongolia?
The official language is Mongolian. English is spoken in Ulaanbaatar and by many younger people and those working in hospitality or guiding roles. In rural regions, English is less common, which is why you will be accompanied by an English-speaking local guide throughout the trip. Learning a few Mongolian phrases is always appreciated:
Hello – Sain baina uu
Thank you – Bayarlalaa
Please – Guij baina
Yes / No – Tiim / Ugui