The Tsaatans, "those who live with reindeer" inhabit wooden tipis covered in reindeer hides, not yurts. They possess a social and material tradition unchanged since time immemorial. Shamanism and totemic rituals lie at the heart of their social organization.

Their means of subsistence center on hunting game (bears, wolves, marmots, foxes, otters) and reindeer herding. Reindeer herds are their sole resource—both a source of food and clothing, and a medium of exchange. They are frequently on the move, searching for fresh pastures to sustain their herds as seasons change. Today, only 600 animals remain, compared to an estimated 2,000 in the 1970s. Since Mongolia's democratization, no government program has been established to help the Tsaatans rebuild their herds by importing reindeer from Siberia, placing their way of life in jeopardy.

A significant portion of Tsaatan income now comes from tourism, with visitors purchasing their handicrafts and staying in their camps.

During your stay with the Tsaatans, you will be welcomed into an extended family—a small community of roughly twenty people—and invited to share their daily life: milking reindeer, preparing meals, riding reindeer, and more. Above all, it will be a unique opportunity to connect with your hosts and ask them about their way of life and their distinctive worldview. You may have the chance to meet the shaman, the group's spiritual leader, and inquire about his practices.

Bear in mind that comfort among the Tsaatans is extremely basic. There are no proper beds (you will sleep on ground mats), no washing facilities, and certainly no showers. By traveling to this remote corner of the world, you accept journeying under particularly challenging conditions. The reward of such an extraordinary encounter is well worth these sacrifices.

Today, only 44 Tsaatan families still inhabit the taiga, totaling just over 220 individuals.