Immersing yourself in the life of a Mongolian nomadic family is the best way to discover the country's culture and understand nomadism. By staying with a local family during a trip to Mongolia, you'll discover the daily life of this people with ancestral traditions. Discover all our tips for living this extraordinary experience.

Hiring an English-speaking guide and knowing the rules of conduct

The Mongolian way of life is completely different from our Western habits. That's why it's best to be well-informed and prepared before embarking on an immersion with a nomadic Mongolian family. During a stay in a ger, you'll need to respect all Mongolian rituals and ancestral customs. For example, you can only enter a ger when invited, and once inside, it's forbidden to pass between the two central pillars of the ger, which are considered sacred space.

To avoid any misstep and ensure a Mongolian immersion conducted properly, we can only recommend you hire an English-speaking guide. Not only will he explain everything you need to know about the Mongolian nomads' way of life and customs, but he'll also be best positioned to facilitate introductions with your host family and help you build a stronger rapport with your hosts.

Discover 5 rules to know for staying in a ger

Learning a few words of Mongolian

Mongolia is a destination to be experienced, where the relationships you'll have with locals will be at the heart of your journey. That's why, to make the most of these extraordinary moments of warmth and to build connections with your hosts, we strongly advise you to learn a few Mongolian vocabulary words. Especially since most Mongolians don't speak English (except for English-speaking guides). Here are some basic terms to remember:

Participating in daily tasks

During your stay with a Mongolian family, you'll discover the nomadic way of life and be invited to participate in many daily tasks. Among the activities you'll be offered, you can work with the animals alongside the herders. This can range from herding livestock (on foot or horseback) to milking animals. You'll also discover how Mongolians eat by participating in meal preparation, particularly in the creation of traditional dairy products (cheese-making, airag and milk-based vodka production, etc.).

You may also help with wool work or assist in making the deel, the traditional Mongolian costume. Finally, you may help some families prepare for their migration (setting up and taking down gers, preparing bags and livestock, etc.). During your free time, you can enjoy chatting with family members, playing with children, or going on a horseback ride.

Bringing food in case of specific dietary needs

Mongolian nomadic families are self-sufficient. In other words, they feed themselves from the livestock they care for, mainly sheep, goats, horses, cattle, and camels. Their diet is thus based primarily on meat and dairy products. They also use flour to make noodles, dumplings, and other typical preparations such as khuushuur or buuz.

If the Mongolian diet isn't to your liking and/or if you have a specific dietary requirement (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.), it's best to bring some food supplies. Generally speaking, it's very poor form to refuse food prepared by the family. Again, having an English-speaking guide could help you, as he'll be best positioned to explain your dietary requirements to your host family without offending them. In any case, let us know in advance of your trip to Mongolia so we can arrange appropriate meals.

How to find a Mongolian host family?

It's strongly recommended to travel to Mongolia with a guide and driver. To ensure you stay with a Mongolian nomadic family and fully immerse yourself in nomadic life, turn to Horseback Mongolia. Present on the ground for over 15 years, Horseback Mongolia is in contact with numerous nomadic families throughout the country. The agency will prepare your arrival with the family and inform you about the conditions. Once there, you'll be independent or simply accompanied by your Mongolian guide throughout your stay.

Travel to Mongolia on an immersive journey by choosing one of our Nomadic Transhumance or Nomadic Immersion in Arkhangai itineraries.

Florine Dergelet