Summah2023年8月

Firstly the location is the most beautiful place I have ever seen and experienced in my life. Unfortunately my costs for the Airbnb did not cover everything. The extra costs that were added such as guesthouse and hotel payments. I had to pay for his food at restaurants at the festival he insisted on going to. I was reluctant to go there as I wanted to go to the teepee in Taiga. I was put in a car with a very drunk driver who almost crashed into a hole. I was asked to buy alcohol and I do not drink, and it was advertised that this place was alcohol and drug free. I was asked for money to give to his son. Upon migration from Summer camp to Autumn camp the food supplies I purchased were put into a truck and taken away from me. This was not what had been explained to me. I was often approached with comments that he was lonely that I was staying in a teepee by myself. He also made other comments. I am upset that I have to write this. It is important for others to be aware however.

Valentin2022年8月

More than an accommodation on AirBnB, it’s a unique all-inclusive experience. Do you want to discover the remote provinces of Mongolia and the life of the nomads? Enkhbayar is the right person for you. I spent a month alone with him, here is my feedback: 1- Why do you need a guide? Impossible to travel very far from the capital without a guide: chaotic roads (huge holes, mud, rivers...), extremely difficult driving (expect breakdown, puncture), no signs (even the locals get lost), complicated communication (no English speakers). Enkhbayar speaks quite good English, knows the north-west of Mongolia perfectly, and is an outstanding driver! Note: I wanted to go to the summer camp to document the nomadic life of reindeer herders, but if the journey is too long for you, Enkhbayar is very flexible and can take you wherever you want. He has different offers (1 day, 3 days, one week, etc.) and knows a lot of herders if you need (cows, horses, sheep, and even camels). 2- My stay in Mongolia with Enkhbayar Arrival in Ulan-Bator on 12/07, Enkhbayar came to pick me up at the airport at 6am. Departure for the reindeers camp the next morning. 5 days of travel (40h to 50h depending on the weather) to Tsagaannuur, magnificent landscapes, then horseback riding for 10 hours to reach the camp which is a few kilometres from the Russian border. I had never ridden a horse before (it went quite well despite some aches and pains; note that this last stage is psychologically/physically difficult - you can do it in 2 days by sleeping in a tent). Note: for the reindeers camp, it’s also possible to get a flight for Hovsgol, in order to avoid 2 or 3 days in car. Life in the camp Travelling alone, I slept in Enkhbayar's tipi with his wife and son. I was offered a private tipi but we were already getting on very well so we tipi-shared. They cooked every morning, lunchtime, evening. A few years ago they had a restaurant so they make very good food! Meat, noodles, soups, ravioli, bread, reindeer butter, reindeer milk... Staying several weeks I was able to sympathize with some nomads of the camp. To have a real discussion with them, I had to go through the translation of Enkhbayar. I can't describe in a few lines all the richness of this culture. Their hospitality and generosity is incredible; all the people in the camp are extremely kind. Tsattan and shamanism These people are called Tsattan because they are reindeer herders. Most of them are Buddhists and also follow the principles of shamanism. Enkhbayar's wife is a shaman. Respect their traditions and the rules that follow and you will have very good memories. The shamans in this camp do not use drugs or alcohol, so don't worry. Just make sure you don't take photos, videos or record sounds during the rituals (which are very occasional). The return The return journey also went very well. It is still a very long trip (count 6 days from the camp to Ulaanbaatar in order to have the possibility to have some breaks). If these few lines have made you want to visit Mongolia, I invite you to contact Enkhbayar. You can also contact me through him.