Jalman Meadows - Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area
Surprisingly near the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar, is the southernmost reach of the boreal forest of Siberia, which extends uninterrupted all the way to Europe and across the circumpolar north. These southern reaches are in fact the world’s southernmost distribution of wolverine habitat. The Tuul River originates upstream from Jalman Meadows. The Khan Khentii wilderness is an area—three times the size of Yellowstone—devoid of people. On its fringes, the Upper Tuul River accommodates a lot of wintering herdsmen. Within surprisingly short distances, we will experience some of the diverse winter landscapes of Mongolia and meet the nomadic people that call it their home.
Brief Outline Itinerary
On this short journey we will leave for the Khan Khentii wilderness, near Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, yet remotely located in the Upper Tuul River Valley with its alluvial wooded meadows. The locals have horses, cows, sheep, goats and yaks. On this journey you will stay at a low impact ger (yurt) camp. Gers in the nomadic style are fully collapsible. We use low-impact indigenous, thus appropriate technology to offer lodging and sometimes also transportation with the assistance of yak carts or riding horses. Essentially, it means that we can be hosted by the services of the local people living in the area where we travel.
Day 1: To Jalman Meadows
In the morning or latest midday we leave Ulaanbaatar for the Upper Tuul River Valley in the Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area, some 120 km out of town, an 3 hour drive by bus or jeep. We drive one hour on tarmac road out of town, one hour through a beautiful steppe valley, seeing many herdsmen with their livestock. The last hour crossing the ridge at Zamtiin Dava and driving up through forests, we reach the Upper Tuul River Valley. These are the winter grazing lands of the local herdsmen, which is why most of them are not in the area in the middle of the summer. Met by yak carts, we will load luggage onto them and walk to Jalman Meadows Ger Camp by the Upper Tuul River.
Day 2-3: Khan Khentii
Two full days of exploring the area. You choose the pace of your journey here, and also the modes of transport you would like to use.
The Hentii Mountains are covered with larch and birch forests. This protected area was established in December 1993 and covers most of the Hentii wilderness, stretching all the way up to the Russian-Siberian frontier. Herdsmen keep their livestock in the southern areas, following a lifestyle that is essentially unchanged since the time of Chinggis Khan. To the north is uninhabited wilderness. Although rarely seen, wolves are numerous in the area. There are also wild boar, moose, red deer (Cervus elaphus), marmots and gazelle. Rivers flow during summertime down broad steppe valleys, past wooded and alluvial meadows with broad leaf forests. In the winter they are frozen and easy to cross.
Day 4: To Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast transfer to your hotel in Ulaanbaatar (3-3½ hrs).
Staff: A Mongolian guide will accompany you at all times. The service will be in English. In addition, the services of the local herdsmen will be hired along with their animals.
Riding skills: Complete horse riding novices should not attempt to ride individually on horses. However, the Mongols historically have been the most equestrian people on Earth, and remain so to this day. Anyone at ease with horses will enjoy riding. The use of riding horses is excluded in the cost of the tour. If you wish to ride while on this trip, please request it at the time of booking.
Meals: Our cooks will prepare the meals. We pride ourselves in having cooks adept at both western and Mongolian cooking on our trips. There are always vegetables available and we have no problem accommodating vegetarians. For breakfast we can usually buy fresh yogurt from the herdsmen in the local area.
Includes: Guide and all meals outside Ulaanbaatar. All overnights in Gers (3n.) and all local transport.
Excludes: Imported drinks, laundry. Air or train tickets in and out of Mongolia. Visa fee. Airport transfers and hotels in Ulaanbaatar, they may be added to your costs if needed.
Children: 1-4 years free. 5-12 years 50%.
DATES ex Ulaanbaatar 2010-2011:
Daily Mid September through October and April and May. Not available Novem– ber through March.
GerScapes: We offer a number of true Ger Escapes in selected scenic places around Mongolia. It is one or two Gers for your private use, supported by a cook and local guide. It is a kind of five star camping off the beaten track in Great Landscapes. The selection of each GerScape location has a purpose. This is at scenic Jalman Meadows, where we support local livelihoods, where you in privacy of the whole valley, may hike around the ridges and befriend with the locals.
Surprisingly near the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar, is the southernmost reach of the boreal forest of Siberia, which extends uninterrupted all the way to Europe and across the circumpolar north. These southern reaches are in fact the world’s southernmost distribution of wolverine habitat. The Tuul River originates upstream from Jalman Meadows. The Khan Khentii wilderness is an area—three times the size of Yellowstone—devoid of people. On its fringes, the Upper Tuul River accommodates a lot of wintering herdsmen. Within surprisingly short distances, we will experience some of the diverse winter landscapes of Mongolia and meet the nomadic people that call it their home.
Brief Outline Itinerary
On this short journey we will leave for the Khan Khentii wilderness, near Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, yet remotely located in the Upper Tuul River Valley with its alluvial wooded meadows. The locals have horses, cows, sheep, goats and yaks. On this journey you will stay at a low impact ger (yurt) camp. Gers in the nomadic style are fully collapsible. We use low-impact indigenous, thus appropriate technology to offer lodging and sometimes also transportation with the assistance of yak carts or riding horses. Essentially, it means that we can be hosted by the services of the local people living in the area where we travel.
Day 1: To Jalman Meadows
In the morning or latest midday we leave Ulaanbaatar for the Upper Tuul River Valley in the Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area, some 120 km out of town, an 3 hour drive by bus or jeep. We drive one hour on tarmac road out of town, one hour through a beautiful steppe valley, seeing many herdsmen with their livestock. The last hour crossing the ridge at Zamtiin Dava and driving up through forests, we reach the Upper Tuul River Valley. These are the winter grazing lands of the local herdsmen, which is why most of them are not in the area in the middle of the summer. Met by yak carts, we will load luggage onto them and walk to Jalman Meadows Ger Camp by the Upper Tuul River.
Day 2-3: Khan Khentii
Two full days of exploring the area. You choose the pace of your journey here, and also the modes of transport you would like to use. The Hentii Mountains are covered with larch and birch forests. This protected area was established in December 1993 and covers most of the Hentii wilderness, stretching all the way up to the Russian-Siberian frontier. Herdsmen keep their livestock in the southern areas, following a lifestyle that is essentially unchanged since the time of Chinggis Khan. To the north is uninhabited wilderness. Although rarely seen, wolves are numerous in the area. There are also wild boar, moose, red deer (Cervus elaphus), marmots and gazelle. Rivers flow during summertime down broad steppe valleys, past wooded and alluvial meadows with broad leaf forests. In the winter they are frozen and easy to cross.
Day 4: To Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast transfer to your hotel in Ulaanbaatar (3-3½ hrs).
Staff: A Mongolian guide will accompany you at all times. The service will be in English. In addition, the services of the local herdsmen will be hired along with their animals.
Riding skills: Complete horse riding novices should not attempt to ride individually on horses. However, the Mongols historically have been the most equestrian people on Earth, and remain so to this day. Anyone at ease with horses will enjoy riding. The use of riding horses is excluded in the cost of the tour. If you wish to ride while on this trip, please request it at the time of booking.
Meals: Our cooks will prepare the meals. We pride ourselves in having cooks adept at both western and Mongolian cooking on our trips. There are always vegetables available and we have no problem accommodating vegetarians. For breakfast we can usually buy fresh yogurt from the herdsmen in the local area.
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PRICES ex Ulaanbaatar:
USD 700 per person
Single Supplement: USD 30 per night
Additional night: USD 100 per night
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Includes: Guide and all meals outside Ulaanbaatar. All overnights in Gers (3n.) and all local transport.
Excludes: Imported drinks, laundry. Air or train tickets in and out of Mongolia. Visa fee. Airport transfers and hotels in Ulaanbaatar, they may be added to your costs if needed.
Children: 1-4 years free. 5-12 years 50%.
Dates ex Ulaanbaatar: Daily Mid September through October and April and May. Not available November through March.
GerScapes: We offer a number of true Ger Escapes in selected scenic places around Mongolia. It is one or two Gers for your private use, supported by a cook and local guide. It is a kind of five star camping off the beaten track in Great Landscapes. The selection of each GerScape location has a purpose. This is at scenic Jalman Meadows, where we support local livelihoods, where you in privacy of the whole valley, may hike around the ridges and befriend with the locals.
