Mongolia

Under the endless blue sky of central Asia, Mongolia greets you with windswept grasslands, the rolling dunes of the Gobi Desert, and some of the friendliest people you will ever meet.

A digital story from the Experiment in Mongolia

Orientation in Ulaanbaatar

Your Mongolian Experiment begins in the busy capital city of Ulaanbaatar. Working with local experts, visit ancient monasteries, practice basic Mongolian language skills, explore bustling markets, and learn to cook traditional steamed dumplings known as buuz.

Nomadic Homestay in Delgerkhaan

Voyage to a frontier town once home to Genghis Khan deep in the Mongolian grasslands of Hentii province. After a final homestay orientation, horseback riding lessons, and activities with Mongolian high school students, head to the open steppe. You will live in a ger with a herder family, learn to cook traditional meals, care for domesticated animals, and experience firsthand the simple, but challenging, ways of nomadic life.

Ancient Traditions and Festivals

Mongolian musicians, wrestlers, riders, throat singers, and artists become your teachers as you learn how to play the morin khuur—the horsehead fiddle, live in a 13th-century camp and witness Mongolian cavalry in action. You also take part in the Naadam festival, a nomadic Olympics which celebrates archery, horseback riding, and wrestling.

Community Service in the Gobi

Travel by overnight train to Sainshand on the edge of the Gobi Desert. Work with local students to repair and refurbish important cultural and community sites. Sample projects: Paint school rooms; clean the area around the sacred Hamriin Hiid meditation caves; teach local students computer skills; work with students at an English camp in Terelj National Park.

Travel and Exploration

Spend your final days in the mountains near Lake Hovsgol taking in the alpine vistas, deep blue lakes, and pristine forests of the north. You will horse-trek and camp through some of the most beautiful areas of the country.