Steppe and Soul: A Journey to Mongolia

Gather in the vibrant capital of Ulaanbaatar, allowing the spirit of Mongolia to awaken within you. After checking into our hotel in the center of the city, enjoy a traditional dinner, followed by an opening circle to set intentions for the journey ahead.

Visit a Buddhist Center in the morning for meditation and a dharma talk with a senior lama, followed by time at Gandan Monastery—a jewel of Vajrayana Buddhism (Tibetan lineage). In the afternoon, expand your cultural context with a traditional performance, which reflects the deep relationship between Mongolian creative expression and the natural world. For dinner, meet with local activists at the forefront of Mongolian social justice movements.

Meet with esteemed poet, Mend-Ooyo, at a ger on the outskirts of the city, who will share narratives that explore Mongolia’s changing cultural and natural landscapes. In 2015, he received the Order of Chinggis Khaan, the highest honor in Mongolia for his contribution to poetry, and is an important voice in the conservation movement. Mend-Ooyo’s writing expresses the richness of the Mongolian language and nomadic worldview through gentle melodies, mystical themes and exquisite imagery. 

In the evening, meet with musicians for a private musical journey that weaves together traditional and contemporary soundscapes.

Fly to Murun, the capital of Khuvsgul Aimag, where lakes and forests lead to endless wilderness. Meet our local guides and drive to a ger camp near Ulaan-Uul—a small settlement in the Darhad Valley. We will spend the afternoon visiting a local healer and herbalist. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Mongolian feast with a local family.

Continue deeper into the Darkhad Valley, the gateway to the forests of Siberia. Have lunch with a nomadic Darkhad family in Soyo Bogd—a nomadic community. Continue onward to the village of Tsagaanuur, where we will meet our horse guides and report to the border office before getting an early night’s rest.

Set out on a horseback ride into the mountainous Taiga Forest. Our team will consist of forty horses, ten guides, three cooks, a gifted, local Shaman and his ceremony team. In the afternoon, we’ll set up camp, eat a delicious dinner and participate in activities to connect deeper to the land.

We’ll continue our horse trek until we reach the Tsataan community—guardians of the reindeer herding tradition in Mongolia. After dinner, we will settle into teepees and have a night at leisure to settle in and rest. 

Spend the morning with our Tsataan hosts, engaging in traditional activities like herding reindeer on horseback, gathering wood, and learning traditional, local recipes. Spend the afternoon on a solo retreat, reflecting and journaling in preparation for the evening. After dinner, participate in a powerful Shamanic healing ceremony under the full moon.

Spend the morning choosing your own adventure. There will be options to go on a guided horse trek to a nearby waterfall, to immerse yourself deeper in Tsataan culture, or to participate in a creative workshop. In the evening, we will have a full program of festivities with our hosts and team, including traditional games and a story and song circle around the fire.

Today, we’ll ride horses for half the day to return to Tsagaanuur, upon which we’ll drive to a ger camp in the Darkhad Valley. Spend the evening resting after our time in the Taiga.

Drive over a spectacular mountain pass to Khuvsgul Lake, known as the Blue Pearl of Mongolia. After settling into Double Lake Camp along the lake's shore, we will spend the afternoon integrating our journey and harvesting inspiration. Activities will include lake cold plunging and transformative breathwork. In the evening, our group will share around the fire to commemorate our final night in the countryside.

Drive to Murun and catch our flight to Ulaanbaatar. In the evening, we’ll gather for one last meal together as a group before saying our goodbyes to each other and the land.