About this trip
Five days out of Ulaanbaatar to Amarbayasgalant monastery, one of Mongolia's most significant religious sites, followed by time with a nomadic family living along the Iven river valley.
The monastery was built between 1727 and 1737 in memory of the Bogd lama Zanabazar, with the temple buildings constructed without a single nail. Of the original 50 temples, 28 survive today after the communist-era purges.
Beyond the history, this is a chance to see how nomadic families still live and move through the Iven valley, and to get out on horseback in the surrounding countryside.
What you'll do
- Visit Amarbayasgalant monastery in Selenge province
- Learn the history of Zanabazar and the monastery's nail-free construction
- See the 28 surviving temples of the original 50
- Ride horseback through the Iven river valley
- Meet a young nomadic family living along the riverbank
- Partially guided, so some sections run with more independence than others
- Shared rooms throughout
- This is a slower, culture-and-countryside trip rather than a packed sightseeing schedule
Worth it if you want genuine cultural immersion and don't mind a slow pace. Think twice if you expect polished tourist experiences or have dietary restrictions around meat and dairy.
- Your translator and guides genuinely shape the trip—Amarbat and Doljin elevate what could be standard into real cultural connection.
- Staying with host families and being taken to locals' gers beats any standard tourist ger camp for authentic Mongolian hospitality.
- Monastery visits can be disappointing; monk engagement varies wildly, so don't bank on that as a highlight.
- May is doable but summer is better for weather; prepare for meat and dairy-heavy meals regardless of season.
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Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in Ulaanbaatar · 21 Jul – 22 Jul
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