Time travel in the yurts of nomadic Mongolian families

When planning a trip, we try to keep in mind the importance of both comfort and having a unique experience. On our trip to Mongolia, we alternate between hotels, yurts, and one of the nights we even sleep under the open sky, wild camping.

Although many people are initially apprehensive about such adventures, feedback afterwards always confirms that these are the most memorable experiences, even if one would never embrace this kind of lifestyle for good.

We usually choose destinations where we can experience unique cultures different from our own. Mongolia is an extreme example. To this day, families there lead a nomadic lifestyle, moving three times a year and spending their daily lives caring for their approximately 300 animals.

They live in modest, simple homes and take only their most basic, mobile necessities with them. A family of six, for example, can make do with a few beds, an iron stove and a small painted box with their most important possessions. 

I might add that it is a unique experience from a tourism point of view, as groups are rarely brought here, so the locals welcome everyone with great hospitality. Evenings with them are always intimate, they serve their home-cooked food with pride and they are happy to let us in on the smallest details of their lives.