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Mongolia

Mongolia: Off the Map — Custom School Trips

Groups of 8+ | Custom Dates | 15 Service Hours | Fully Supported | 4.9 on GoOverseas

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Join an epic journey from the lush Mongolian steppes of the Tuul River Valley to the snow-capped mountains of Tavan Bogd. Explore untamed lands and trek through the remote countryside. Leave your modern contraptions at home and discover what life is like without electricity, running water, or paved roads as you travel from ger to ger. Join our host families as they milk the yaks in the morning, bring in the horses at dusk, and collect prairie chips for the fire at night. This is a rugged trip, so an adventurous spirit, a positive attitude, and physical fitness are necessities.

GoAbroad Top Rated Provider 2025 – Mongolia

In 2025, Rustic Pathways received GoAbroad’s Top Rated Provider recognition for high school travel in Mongolia.

Quote by: Anya Buyan-Erdene Mongolia Country Manager

Custom School Trip

Contact us for a custom quote

Custom dates & duration. Groups of 8+.

Response within 1 business day

Anna Beckerman

Anna Beckerman

Head of School Group Travel

Dartmouth · 15 years at Rustic

321+ school partners since 2010

Not sure yet?

Email Rustic Pathways

Talk to a personal travel advisor: +1 (440) 975-9691

Schedule a call

View program itinerary

What Does a 13-Day Program Include?

A typical program. Daily activities are subject to change based on group logistics and weather.

1

Welcome to Mongolia!

Arrive into Chinggis Khaan International Airport (ULN) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Settle in, relaxing after your long flight. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture.
2

Discover Ulaanbaatar History and City Life

Visit the National Museum to learn about the history of Mongolia, focusing on Chinggis Khaan and his daughters and grandsons who built the world’s largest contiguous empire in history. Explore Chinggis Square and the city’s downtown area. Relax in the evening at a local restaurant rest up for a big week ahead.
3

Journey to Mongolia’s Wild West

Catch a flight to Ulgii, the capital of Mongolia’s northwestern province Bayan-Ulgii, considered by many to be Mongolia’s “wild west.” This is the historical home of Mongolia’s Kazakh ethnic minority and has a landscape as stark as it is beautiful. Meet our service partners and important members of the small village of Sogoog, and get to know your host community. Experience the formal hospitality of Kazakh culture as you settle into your warm ger for the night.
4-5

Experience Nomadic Life

Immerse yourself in the local culture! Ride camels and hold a golden eagle from the world’s last remaining Eagle Hunters. Learn how to sew traditional Kazakh handicrafts and partake in nomadic dances to the tune of the dombor, a traditional Kazakh stringed instrument. Play fun competitive games with our hosts and feel truly welcomed by this generous community and way of living.
6-9

Camp in the Mountains

Say goodbye to your host village and drive to the Altai Tavan Bogd mountain range – Mongolia’s highest peaks in one of the most remote areas on the planet. On the way, visit the famous petroglyphs – rock drawings from the Bronze Age. Based at the park’s entrance, take day hikes through the area, famed for its stunningly green alpine lakes, a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, and the area’s milky river called the Tsaagan Gol, which aptly translates to “white river”. Set up camp at the figurative “end of the world” – the actual point on earth farthest from any ocean. On our hikes, expect stunning views as the mountains’ massive grey glacier melts into bright blue lakes which trickle into a mineral-rich river which feeds into fertile green valleys below.
10

Attend a Village Closing Ceremony

Reconvene in Sogoog to attend a closing ceremony hosted by your village hosts, and reflect on your service projects from the previous week. Say goodbye to the friends you have made here, and enjoy a celebratory final meal with our service partners. Join your group for a post-service debrief, discussing what you experienced and learned through hands-on work in the community.
11

Return to City Life

In the morning, make the two-hour return drive to Ulgii and hop back on the plane to Ulaanbaatar. The hustle and bustle of the city may surprise you after your time in the remote west, so relax, reflect, and enjoy the luxuries that city life affords like electricity, hot showers, and flushing toilets.
12

Explore Ulaanbaatar Fair Trade Crafts and Culture

Visit Ulaanbaatar’s souvenir shops to shop for your friends and family back home. Mongolia’s most famous export is cashmere, loomed from the wool of the copious amount of goats found in the region. Enjoy a rousing cultural show in the evening that features traditional dances, folk music from Mongolia’s various ethnic groups, and the one-of-a-kind khoomi throat singing. Take part in a ceremonial closing activity. At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.
13

Bayartai, Mongolia!

Say goodbye to Mongolia and your new friends before heading home. Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.

Total: 13 calendar days / 12 nights. International flights are not included.

How Does Rustic Pathways Handle Safety?

24/7 Support

In-person staff + US emergency line

Trained Program Leaders

Background-checked, first-aid certified, deep local knowledge

Licensed & Insured Transport

Risk management plans for every program

Customizable Itinerary

Custom dates and duration

Learn more about Rustic Pathways safety protocols.

Mongolia

What Do School Organizers Ask?

Flights & Cost

How do flights work?

School groups can arrange their own flights, or Rustic Pathways can arrange them as an optional add-on. In either case, teachers fly with students, and Rustic Pathways coordinates airport pickup and handles all in-country logistics.

What's included in the price?

Included: Lodging, all meals, in-country transport, all activities, 24/7 staff.
Not included: International airfare, travel insurance, personal spending ($150–200).

Is travel insurance required?

Travel insurance is not included in the program fee. Rustic Pathways recommends that families purchase travel insurance. Get a quote from our recommended provider →

Supervision & Safety

Who supervises the students?

Rustic Pathways Program Leaders complete a four-month vetting process, and programs maintain a 7:1 student-to-staff ratio. All Program Leaders are first-aid certified, and most have led multiple Rustic Pathways programs. Leaders range from 25 to 35 years old.

Are rooms gender-separated?

Yes. Students room with same-gender peers. Staff stay in adjacent rooms.

What about medical emergencies?

All Program Leaders are first-aid certified. Nearest hospitals are mapped out in all locations. Our health & safety team reviews all medical forms before departure and works with families to plan medications, allergies, and dietary needs.

Communication

Can students contact home?

Yes. Rustic Pathways’ policy is that students can call, text, or WhatsApp anytime. Rustic Pathways is happy to defer to established school policies instead.

How do families stay informed?

Rustic Pathways sends daily photo updates throughout the program.

Group & Logistics

How big is the group?

Group size varies based on the school’s needs. Contact Rustic Pathways for a custom quote.

Can friends room together?

Yes. Rustic Pathways provides a room list prior to travel. Schools can assign rooming allocations or allow students to choose their roommates.

Program Details

Will students have unsupervised time?

Structured independence with staff nearby. No unsupervised time in public areas.

Can Rustic Pathways accommodate food allergies? 

Yes. Dietary needs are collected during enrollment and shared with all meal providers.

How much spending money should students have?

$150–200 recommended. Tipping is included, no extra cash needed.

Support

What if a student gets homesick?

Homesickness can be common during the first few days; Rustic Pathways is well-prepared. See how staff support students through homesickness

Does Rustic Pathways support neurodiverse students?

Rustic Pathways welcomes all students. Read how Rustic Pathways supports neurodiverse students.

What Should Teachers Know?

Which students thrive on this program?
Students who are curious, adaptable, and open to new experiences. No prior travel experience is required.
What will students do each day?
Each day includes a mix of structured activities, cultural experiences, and group time. See the itinerary above for a day-by-day overview.
Mongolia offers a unique combination of cultural richness, safety, and meaningful engagement opportunities for student groups. Rustic Pathways has operated programs here for years and maintains strong local partnerships.
How Do Flights Work?
School groups can arrange their own flights, or Rustic Pathways can arrange them as an optional add-on. In either case, teachers fly with students, and Rustic Pathways program leaders meet the group at the arrival airport and manage all in-country logistics from there.
What Meals Are Included?
All meals included. Dietary needs accommodated.
Included:
  • All lodging
  • All meals
  • In-country transport
  • All activities and excursions
  • 24/7 staff support
Not Included:
  • International airfare
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal spending money

What Other Program Types Are Available?

Mongolia Asia Adventure
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