Service and Exploration on the Steppe
Mongolia
Rustic Pathways Main Contact:​ Matija Paunovski
Contact Information:​ 440.678.1130 / [email protected]
Walking in the footsteps of the great Mongol empire, explore untamed lands in this
outdoor orienteering adventure into the land of steppe and sky.
Day 1
Welcome to Mongolia! Landing in Ulaanbaatar this evening, you will meet your Rustic Pathways leaders
and transfer directly to your first Mongolian meal. After dinner, head to the comfortable guesthouse for
showers and to settle in and prepare for the week ahead.
Flight Details:
Overnight:​ Lotus Guesthouse, Ulaanbaatar
Day 2
After breakfast, walk to visit the National History Museum of Mongolia, where you’ll learn all about
the fascinating history of Chinggis Khaan, his daughters and grandsons who built the world’s largest
contiguous empire in history and whose influence on the world’s culture and history is largely
underemphasized in Western textbooks. A special highlight is the hall of traditional costumes, which
shows the cultural dress of Mongolia’s various ethnic subgroups.
This afternoon, climb the 300 steps to reach the sweeping views of Ulaanbaatar (weather permitting) at
Zaisan Memorial, which honors fallen Russian soldiers and commemorates the relationship between
Mongolia and Russia throughout history.
This evening, take a short walk around central UB before returning to the guesthouses to complete an
orientation with your program leaders.
Overnight:​ Lotus Guesthouse, Ulaanbaatar
Day 3
Waking early today, you will depart Ulaanbaatar and head to Gaachurt, about 30 minutes from the city.
Gaachurt is the largest of Ulaanbaatar’s many ger districts. As Ulaanbaatar develops, herders are moving
into the city to take advantage of opportunities available there. A herder’s income doesn’t allow a move
into Ulaanbaatar’s apartment housing, so instead herders set up their gers, or traditional felt homes, on the
outskirts of the city, creating expansive ger districts which now house 62 percent of Ulaanbaatar’s
residents.
These ger districts are not connected to the city’s public water or sewage lines, making life here both
difficult and unsanitary. Rustic Pathways has partnered with two different organizations working in this area
that you’ll be contributing to. You’ll work on ongoing service projects in Gaachurt supporting Public School
85 and important water, agriculture, health, and sanitation projects in the area.
Wrapping up your projects here, continue driving out to Terelj National Park, ​famous for its incredible rock
formations. Arrive to the park early in the evening, where you will find our cozy gers waiting to welcome
you. Spend the last few hours of daylight exploring the natural beauty that surrounds you and getting
accustomed to life on the steppes. This evening, we’ll break into smaller groups for some activities with
your program leaders and take some time to reflect on your experiences this far in Mongolia.
Overnight:​ Guru Ger Camp, Ulaanbaatar
Day 4
This morning, after breakfast​, you will depart on a hike to visit the park’s mountainside Buddhist monastery,
Aryabal Temple. Take in the sweeping views of the park and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
Returning to the ger camp for lunch, your afternoon will continue with a visit to a local herding family to
sample various different types of dairy products and a lesson in one of Mongolia’s traditional “three manly
sports” -- archery.
Overnight: ​Guru​ ​Ger Camp, Terelj National Park
Day 5
This morning, after breakfast​, return to Gaachurt to continue working on your service projects. You’re
arriving at the best time to witness this project as the greenhouse you’ll be working on is beginning to near
completion.
This evening, head back to Terelj National Park for your last night of ger life. For dinner, you’ll enjoy a
traditional Mongolian barbecue, or ​khorkhog, cooked in the same way as was preferred by Chinngis Khan,
under rocks heated by a long-burning fire.
Overnight: ​Guru Ger Camp, Terelj National Park
Day 6
An early morning drive will get you to the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar and the site of our first day of hiking.
Take in sweeping views over the expansive city as your trek further and further out into Mongolia’s wilds.
We may hit snowy and icy patches, cross a camel in our path, and perhaps stop for tea in a hospitable
family’s ger.
In the evening, enjoy a rousing cultural show that features traditional dances, folk music of Mongolia’s
various ethnic groups, and the one-of-a-kind ​khoomi throat singing​.
Overnight: ​Lotus Guesthouse, Ulaanbaatar
Day 7
Today you’ll head to Manzushir Temple, about an hour from the city. These ruins of a Buddhist temple are
an exceptional example of what happened to nearly all of Mongolia’s centers of worship during the Soviet
invasion. Here, we’ll practice orienteering in teams, before breaking into groups to begin your hike. Your
program leaders will be close behind, but it’s up to you to follow the course, keep time, and navigate the
route. Take in the beauty of Mongolia’s sparse landscape, stunning rock formations, and it’s famous great
blue sky as you hike through open steppe and covered forest.
After the hike, we’ll hit the town for souvenir shopping and a spin around some of the world’s finest
cashmere emporiums. This evening, we’ll participate in a closing ceremony to commemorate your time in
Mongolia. Take this opportunity to appreciate the scope of what you’ve achieved, the new friends you’ve
made, and experiences you’ll never forget.
Overnight: ​Lotus​ ​Guesthouse, Ulaanbaatar
Day 8
Say your final goodbyes to Mongolia and your Rustic Pathways leaders, and then depart on your plane
back home. We hope you’ve enjoyed your Mongolian adventure. Remember, the greatest steppe is just
outside your door!
Flight Details:
Program Includes
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7 nights of accommodation
All meals all days
All transportation
Rustic Pathways fulltime international and local guides
All activities as detailed in your itinerary
Single point of contact from Rustic Pathways for support leading up to the program
Rustic Pathways 24-hour emergency support throughout program
International SOS emergency evacuation insurance
All airport taxes and departure fees
All fees, community service donations, and guide tips
An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time.
Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the
schedules of various external operators or partner organizations, changes due to weather or safety
concerns, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of a new activity for an old activity. The
itinerary shown here provides our best projection of the daily schedule for this program. As with any travel
program, some changes may occur.