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Mongolia

Mongolia: Off the Map

22 days | Ages 15-18 | Summer 2026 | Fully Supervised | 4.9 on GoOverseas | International flights not included

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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

Program Tuition

$7,995

Excluding flights.
Financial aid and scholarships available.

Summer sessions typically fill by March

No departures scheduled

Scott Ingram

Scott Ingram

Director of Admissions

At Rustic since 2018

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 22-Day Program Include?

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

1

Depart for Mongolia!

Arrive at Los Angeles Airport (LAX) where you’ll meet your Rustic Pathways Flight Leader, who will help get you checked in and through security before traveling with your group to Mongolia. Get acquainted with fellow Rustic travelers before boarding your flight.
2

In Transit

This day is lost as you cross the International Date Line. But don’t worry – you’ll get it back when returning home!
3

Welcome to Mongolia!

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar early this afternoon. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture. The next 2 nights will be spent in a guesthouse in Ulaanbaatar. Students will stay in shared rooms of 4 - 6 students per room, separated by gender. Students will have access to showers and flush toilets.
4

Discover Mongolian History in Ulaanbaatar

Today, get to know Mongolia’s capital city, Ulaanbaatar, which is home to more than half of the country’s population. Visit the National History Museum of Mongolia, where you’ll learn all about the fascinating history of Chinggis Khaan, his daughters and grandsons who built the world’s largest contiguous empire in history and whose influence on the world’s culture and history is largely underemphasized in Western textbooks. A special highlight is the hall of traditional costumes, which shows the cultural dress of Mongolia’s various ethnic subgroups.
5

Hike in Terelj National Park

Wake up early for a short drive to Terelj National Park, the most well-known park in central Mongolia, famous for its unique rock formations and stunning views. Stop at the imposing statue of Chinggis Khaan astride the largest horse sculpture in the world. Finish your drive to our host family in the park, near the postcard-friendly Turtle Rock, and settle into this luscious valley for the evening. For the next 3 nights in Terelj, you will sleep in gers, or traditional Mongolian tents. There will be one female student ger and one male student ger. Inside the gers, there will be cots, but students will need to bring their own sleeping bags. Students will not have access to electricity, wifi, or showers and will use pit toilets.
6

Settle into Gers

Take a morning hike to a mountainside monastery nearby. You’ll quickly get used to your life in gers, as they’ll be our main form of accommodation throughout the trip. From there you have an unobstructed view of Turtle Rock valley. In the afternoon, we'll spend quality time with our host family and learn about the countryside and the lives of nomads.
7

Raft the River

This morning, embark on a river rafting adventure. This relaxed rafting trip winds through the park’s areas that are inaccessible on foot. Spend time after dinner chatting with your host family and learning to play traditional games like ankle bone games and archery.
8

Return to Ulaanbaatar

Take a short drive back to Ulaanbaatar for a hot shower and relaxing lunch. The rest of today will be spent preparing for your trip out to the wilds of Mongolia, starting tomorrow. Enjoy a last Western meal before diving into the local culture of our host village, Sogoog. This night will be spent in a guesthouse in Ulaanbaatar. Students will stay in shared rooms of 4 - 6 students per room, separated by gender. Students will have access to showers and flush toilets.
9

Travel to the Mongolian Wild

Take a short internal flight to Ulgii, the capital of Mongolia’s northwestern province Bayan-Ulgii. Considered by many to be Mongolia’s “Wild West,” this is the historic 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. Orient yourself to your service project for the upcoming days, but most importantly, come to understand the peerless formal hospitality of Kazakh culture. Join your group for a mid-trip discussion where you will begin to reflect on what you’ve experienced and learned so far. You will spend the next 5 nights in Ulgii sleeping in traditional gers. There will be one female student ger and one male student ger. Inside the gers, there will be cots, but students will need to bring their own sleeping bags. Students will not have access to electricity, wifi, or showers and will use pit toilets.
10-13

Begin Service in Sogoog

Engage with a locally run NGO to carry out service projects designed in consultation with herding families, village elders and small towns in the region. Though projects may vary based on current needs, you will likely help organize a summer camp for children of local nomadic families, for them to practice their English, improve summer knowledge retention, and possibly teach them about dental hygiene, a rarity in nomadic cultures until our partner NGO began an education program. You may also help provide nourishing vegetables by volunteering in the local town’s “Green Project” gardens, an effort to provide a more balanced diet to the typical meat-and-dairy heavy diet of the nomads. In the afternoons and evenings, you will be able to fully immerse 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 instrument. Play fun competitive games with our hosts and feel truly welcomed by this generous community.
14-18

Hike the Altai Tavan Bogd Mountain Range

Say goodbye to your host village as we drive to the entrance to the Altai Tavan Bogd mountain range – Mongolia’s highest peaks, in one of the most remote areas on the planet. Along the drive, visit the famous petroglyphs – rock drawings from the Bronze Age that evoke a sense of wonder and timelessness. Basing ourselves at the park’s entrance, take day hikes through the area that is famed for its stunningly green alpine lakes, a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, and the area’s milky river, called the Tsaagan Gol, or “White River”. We’ll be camping at the figurative “end of the world” – the actual point on earth farthest from any ocean. Along our hikes, expect to be faced with some of the most stunning views you may ever see 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. The next 5 nights will be spent camping in Tavan Bogd Park. Students will be sleeping in tents while camping. Two to three students of the same gender will share a tent. Students will not have access to electricity, wifi, or showers and will use pit toilets.
19

Closing Ceremony and Reflection

Reconvene in Sogoog to attend a closing ceremony hosted by your village hosts. Join your group for a post-service debrief in the evening, discussing what you experienced and learned through hands-on work in the community. Say goodbye to the friends you’ll undoubtedly have made here, and enjoy a celebratory final meal with our service partners. Tonight you will be sleeping in a traditional ger in Sogoog. There will be one female student ger and one male student ger. Inside the gers, there will be cots, but students will need to bring their own sleeping bags. Students will not have access to electricity, wifi, or showers and will use pit toilets.
20

Return to Ulaanbaatar

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. The last 2 nights of time in Mongolia will be spent in a guesthouse in Ulaanbaatar. Students will stay in shared rooms of 4 - 6 students per room, separated by gender. Students will have access to showers and flush toilets.
21

Souvenir Shopping

Today is your last full day in Mongolia! Today is your day to visit Ulaanbaatar’s best souvenir shops to take care of 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. Find a nice scarf for mom or gloves for dad or just enjoy learning the process that brings cashmere from the goat to the coat. In the evening, visit a rousing cultural show that features traditional dances and the one-of-a-kind khoomi throat-singing. Enjoy a sumptuous final dinner, and take part in a ceremonial closing activity that will change the way you look at yourself, your journey, and your newfound friends.
22

Bayartai, Mongolia!

Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your flight home or to your next Rustic program as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure. If you’re staying in Asia, your Program Leaders will take you to your next accommodation to meet your new group. If you're continuing on to another Rustic Pathways destination, you’ll board a connecting flight to that country.

Total: 22 calendar days / 21 nights. International flights are not included.

How Does Rustic Pathways Handle Safety?

24/7 Support

In-person staff + US emergency line

7:1 Student-to-Leader Ratio

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

Licensed & Insured Transport

Risk management plans for every program

Gender-Separated

Rooms with staff on site

Learn more about Rustic Pathways safety protocols.

Mongolia

What Do Parents Ask?

Flights & Cost

How do flights work?

Students join a chaperoned group flight from a U.S. gateway airport. A Rustic Pathways Flight Leader travels with the group. International students arrange independent flights and Rustic Pathways coordinates airport pickup.

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).

Do you offer financial aid or scholarships?

Yes. Monthly payment plans are available for all families, and Rustic Pathways offers both need-based financial aid and merit scholarships. Explore scholarships and financial aid

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's supervising my child?

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 I reach my child?

Yes. Students can call, text, or WhatsApp during free time. Parents can reach Rustic Pathways’ 24/7 emergency line at any time.

How will I know they're okay?

Parents receive daily photo updates throughout the program from staff on the ground.

What is the phone/device policy?

Students may bring phones but cannot use them during group activities or meals. Wi-Fi is available at most accommodations.

Group & Logistics

How big is the group and how old are the participants?

Groups are typically 12-20 students per session. Students are ages 14-18, with most being 15-17.

Can international (non-U.S.) students join this program?

Yes. Students from 50+ countries join Rustic Pathways programs each year. International students book their own flights and Rustic Pathways coordinates airport pickup.

Do students come with friends, or on their own?

Most students travel solo without knowing anyone. Program Leaders run ice-breakers on day one, and friendships form quickly. Friends are welcome to enroll together.

What is the accommodation like?

Students stay in locally operated lodging with shared rooms accommodating 2-4 students. Accommodations include private bathrooms and common areas.

Can friends room together?

Yes. Roommate requests are accepted during enrollment.

Program Details

Will my child have unsupervised time?

Students have structured independence during free-time blocks with staff always nearby. There is no unsupervised time in public areas.

Can you accommodate dietary needs & food allergies?

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and common food allergies are accommodated with advance notice. Dietary needs are collected during enrollment.

How much spending money?

$150-200 recommended for souvenirs and incidentals. Tipping is included in the program fee.

Do we need a visa?

Visa requirements vary by passport and destination. Contact a Rustic Pathways travel advisor for guidance specific to your student’s nationality.

Support

What if my child gets homesick?

Homesickness is common in the first few days. Rustic Pathways staff are trained to support students through it. Read more about managing homesickness

Do you support neurodiverse students?

Rustic Pathways welcomes all students and works with families to provide appropriate support. Learn about Rustic Pathways’ approach to inclusion

What Should Parents 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.

Meals: All meals are included. Local cuisine is featured throughout the program. Dietary needs are accommodated with advance notice.

What is the refund policy?
View terms & conditions

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 2026
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