Packrafting to the Northern Rivers - Nomadays

Mongolia

Packrafting to the Northern Rivers

This exciting, scenic and incredibly relaxing 10-Day tour is all about water.

An off-the-beaten-path journey to Khovsgol province to explore the Delger-Mörön river by packraft. The river flows through a variety of gorgeous terrains and keeps things interesting with Class I-III rapids. This tour is a fully supported adventure, but at the same time you’ll feel like you’re out on your own. After our time on the river we’ll finish the tour with a visit to Lake Khövsgöl, where there will be opportunities for hiking, horse riding

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Day 1Arrival in Ulan Bator and visit of the city

Day 1Arrival in Ulan Bator and visit of the city

  • Arrival at the airport, meeting with our driver. Transfer to your hotel, settling in, and rest.

  • Appointment at 12 o'clock at your hotel with your guide. He will take you to the restaurant of your choice.

  • Let's immerse ourselves in the heart of the Mongolian history, in the wonderful National History Museum. Three floors of a rich, glorious, violent and noble past, from prehistory to Soviet period, including the creation of the great Mongolian Empire by Genghis Khan.

  • Walk in the centre of Ulan-Bator. Discovery of Gengis Khan Square and the House of Parliament.

  • Meet in the evening for dinner and drinks.

Meal and accommodations
Dinner: Restaurant
Accommodation: Hotel Nine
3h 30m-250km
Khar Bukh ruins

Day 2First discoveries and camping around the volcanos

Day 2First discoveries and camping around the volcanos

  • Morning departure, drive toward Murun.

  • Let's explore the ancient site of the Qidan ruins on the way to the North.

  • Journey to the Uran Togoo National Park. Uran Togoo is known the most beautiful volcanos sites of Mongolia. A dormant volcano today, it was very active 25 to 20 million years ago. At this exact location we can find an abundant flora and fauna made for an exceptional site for nature's lovers. The lava that was present here thousands of years ago left a very rich soil that allows growth for a wide variety of plants.

    Today we will have the chance to hike around this great area.

  • Camping for the night under the stars in this incredible landscape.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Hotel Nine
Lunch: Local restaurant
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: tent camping
3h 30m-290km
3h-170km
Bayanzurkh sum

Day 3Getting close to the waters edge

Day 3Getting close to the waters edge

  • Lunch in Murun and finalize border permissions.

  • Drive to Bayanzurkh sum. We will then arrive to our first spot close to the waters.

  • Camp overnight on the banks of the Beltis river.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Local restaurant
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: tent camping
Bayanzurkh sum
6h-70km
Packrafting - basecamp Delger river
1h-3km
Packrafting day 1 - drop point 1
2h-6km
Packrafting day 1 - drop point 2

Day 4Let's hike and start our adventure packrafting!

Day 4Let's hike and start our adventure packrafting!

  • Let’s get to the river!
    We’ll have at least half a day of rough off roading to get to our starting point on the river.

    After lunch, we’ll cross the river and have the option of hiking with our rafts 3-6km upstream towards the Russian border. We’ll take you to a point farther upstream than we’ve ever gone before, because life is about exploration!

    We will start packrafting this first section of river to give everyone some practice, and we’ll finish the day in a beautiful spot where we still have our vehicle for support if needed. Dinner and camping by the side of the river.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: tent camping
Packrafting day 1 - drop point 2

Day 5-6Paddling down the Upper Delger River

Day 5-6Paddling down the Upper Delger River

Day 5

  • These days we will raft the Upper Delger-Moron river. During this time of the year, we expect the river to average a fairly good speed because of the snow melt upstream. We’ll encounter Class 1-2 rapids and possibly a few Class 3 sets as well. We will plan to meet our drivers each night, but be prepared to be on our own, depending on conditions of the river and the paths through the mountains. There will be opportunities to stop and take short hikes for those interested.

Day 6

  • On the afternoon of Day 6 we expect to arrive at the confluence of the Delger and Beltis rivers. Hiking opportunities abound and if the weather cooperates, stunning sunset photography this evening. This is a great place to go for a swim as well.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: tent camping
Packrafting day 1 - drop point 2

Day 7The middle Delger River

Day 7The middle Delger River

  • Today we begin our raft down the Middle Delger-Murun. We expect to make several stops today, to hike the remains of some winter ice and possibly explore a cave or two during lunch.

  • Today we’ll raft through a stunning set of boulder gardens, which always provide a changing and unique set of challenges, depending on the water level.

  • We’ll plan to meet our vehicles in a beautiful riverside spot for a well earned dinner and camping under the stars.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: tent camping
Packrafting day 1 - drop point 2
Packrafting - Fast running water exit point
Packrafting day 1 - drop point 2

Day 8Down the Delger River - last rapids

Day 8Down the Delger River - last rapids

  • Final planned day of packrafting on the Delger. The distance we will cover today will depend upon the speed of the river.

  • If river levels are up, we will encounter some amazing Class II to mild Class III rapid sets and technical boulder gardens. By this time in our journey, you’ll have enough experience to navigate these and have great fun in the process. Of course, you can always portage around any spots you feel are too difficult. Today the scenery will change a number of times, from forested, to cliffs, to rolling hillsides and from rocky to sandy banks.

  • You’ll have earned the hearty dinner we will prepare for you and we’ll definitely sleep well, camped out near the riverbank under the stars. We’re looking forward to hearing about your favorite moments on the river around the campfire.

  • If the river is running a bit more slowly, we may exit a bit earlier in the day and begin our journey to Lake Khovsgol.

    We’ll clean up and pack away all of our river gear before departing and pick a scenic spot for the night in this case.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: Made by your team
Accommodation: tent camping
Packrafting - Fast running water exit point

Day 9On our way to the Khovsgol lake!

Day 9On our way to the Khovsgol lake!

  • This morning we will travel in our vehicles to the Lake Khovsgol, which is one of the largest lakes in Asia and holds 70% of Mongolia’s fresh water. Its water is so pure that it is said we can drink it ! It's surrounded with many peaks culminating at more than 2000 metres and covered with forests of pines and lush meadows where yaks and horses graze.

  • We will spend the afternoon and evening at a very relaxing ger camp, where we can arrange hiking, horseback riding and boating (weather permitting) which really gives a great perspective of just how large this lake is. Go ahead and take a drink if we can get you out to the middle of the lake; the water is fresh and delicious! Having a swim in the cold water is said to add 3 years to your life!

  • Evening accommodations will be in gers.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Made by your team
Lunch: Made by your team
Dinner: camp
Accommodation: camp
2h 20m-130km
1h 15m-750km

Day 10Going back to Ulan Bator city

Day 10Going back to Ulan Bator city

  • We reach Mörön, the capital of province, and embark for our back flight to Ulan-Bator.

    Depending upon domestic flight schedules, we may fly you back to Ulaanbaatar this day and have you met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. In this case your luggage will arrive the next day with our drivers.

  • Alternatively, you will get one more night of camping in a scenic spot along the way back to UB. An extra night with a campfire, good conversation and stars overhead is always a bonus.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: camp
Lunch: Picnic from the camp
Dinner: Restaurant
Accommodation: Hotel Nine

Day 11Our luggages are back to the hotel

Day 11Our luggages are back to the hotel

  • Our drivers will arrive back to UB. We’ll offload your luggage and look forward to meeting you for a farewell dinner.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Hotel Nine
Dinner: Restaurant