On this Mongolia Lower River Expedition we give you seven full days fishing through a very beautiful and remote stretch of the world’s first Taimen Sanctuary… casting for taimen, Amur trout, lenok, grayling, and Amur pike.

These trips are designed for those of us who don’t mind just a bit of “roughing it” in order to pass day after day floating down a glorious stream casting to large trout and taimen. The entire angling experience – remote location, incredible fishing, world-class guides, a unique culture, and outstanding wilderness accommodation – makes this trip feel like an absolute privilege.

We have explored every major taimen river in Mongolia and personally selected what we believe to be the finest rivers for fly fishing.

Rivers

Mongolia Lower River Expedition – is part of the Amur system, eventually flowing into the Pacific.

Each river presents a unique and different fishing experience with waters exceptionally well suited to the fly angler.

We use non-motorized drift boats to reach a string of isolated, environmentally progressive, and very comfortable camps.  The scenery and fishing are world class.

The government has worked with us to designate both locations as Taimen Sanctuaries.

The river is a taimen habitat conserved in partnership with local communities.  No international angler may legally access these rivers without a permit secured as part of the trip. This allows us to provide a limited number of guests each year with access to the world’s finest taimen fishing while making certain communities benefit from their protected resources.

The Mongolia River is majestic. 

This is a highly productive river with endless opportunities to encounter enthusiastic fish.  This may be the best taimen river in the world in terms of fish numbers.  The landscape is pastoral, sparsely populated, and varied. Rolling hills are punctuated by tall cliffs, forests of birch, larch, and Siberian pine, and healthy grasslands. The stream is dynamic with a mix of shallow runs, wide pools, quick riffles, and long braids. It is very common for us to sight-fish for both taimen and trout. The lower river is more rugged and isolated than the upper section. 

The entire stream is perfect for fly fishing and drift boats.

Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (UBN), an English-speaking guide and driver transfer guests to a comfortable hotel in the vibrant capital’s center. After a relaxing evening in town, guests depart the city the following morning to head to the river.
Over the next week, anglers float in Clackacraft Drift Boats between unique ger and tent camps strategically placed along the river. The gear is transported in separate boats so that when you float into camp, the stoves are lit, dinner is served, and your bags and beds are waiting in a completely new location.

After a week of exploring the Mongolian outback, anglers return to UB for a final overnight in a comfortable hotel before the next day’s airport transfer and departure from Mongolia.
There is a limit of 6 anglers on each adventure.

Mongolia – Lower River Expedition – Itinerary

Day 1

Mongolia airport is small and easy to navigate. The airport code for Chinghis Khan International Airport is: UBN.

There are direct flights from Seoul, Istanbul, Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Beijing. Most guests fly via Seoul, Istanbul, or Tokyo.
Airport Transfer After clearing immigration/customs, you’ll be met by an Mongolia Lower River Expedition driver and English speaking guide who will transfer you to the hotel.

It’s an approximately 60 minute drive from the airport to the hotel in the city center.

Your group will have full access to the support services of Mongolia Lower River Expeditions professional staff and international office located in downtown UB. They will be able to direct you to the capital’s interesting restaurants, monasteries, museums, performances, and shops. We highly recommend that you make full use of this complimentary service. The office staff are wonderful folks and will help you make the most of your time in Mongolia’s very unique capital city.

Dining You will be responsible for dining while in Ulaanbaatar. There are now many good restaurants in the city. The Mongolia Lower River Expedition team will be more than happy to provide suggestions and help make arrangements.

Days 2 – 9

Eight Nights on the River Travel to the River We check out of the hotel after an early breakfast and begin the overland trek to the river. You may leave extra bags at the hotel.

The drive from UB into the river is a unique opportunity to see a remote
part of Mongolia. Come prepared for a long drive. It’s about 300 miles
(500 km) from the hotel to the first camp. In the morning you will drive
past the famous Chinghis Khan complex which features the giant, 130 ft tall statue of the Great Khan on horseback. Many guests opt to get out and spend some time exploring the site before continuing on.

Passengers will be traveling via comfortable 4×4’s (generally very kitted out Toyota Land Cruisers), with no more than two guests per vehicle. There will be plenty of drinks and snacks, picnic lunches, and lots to see along the way.

You’ll arrive to the first camp late in the afternoon, where you’ll have time to settle in and rig up your gear before a tasty streamside dinner.
There are sometimes commercial flights from UB to the small town of
Dadal, near our first Lower River Camp. The flights don’t operate every
day, but whenever possible we will coordinate these domestic flights for
your travel to/from the river.

River Journey For the next seven days, you will explore a new stretch of river every day. In the morning, you float with your guide directly from camp to fish fresh water and in the evening you arrive at the next downstream camp.
The gear is transported in separate boats. When we float into camp, the
stoves are lit, dinner is served, and our bags and beds are waiting in a
completely new location.

The pace is relaxed and you’ll have plenty of time to get out and wade
interesting stretches with your guide. We’ve found it’s best to cover an
average of twelve kilometers (eight – ten miles) of river each day. A hearty lunch is served streamside each day and there are plenty of drinks and snacks on the boats.

On the Mongolia Lower River Expedition guests will stay in two types of accommodation. The first night we stay in traditional Mongolian ger camps; most of the rest of the trip we stay in tent-tipi camps. Much like an African tented safari, the camps are rustic but very comfortable. Each campsite along the river is uniquely peaceful, designed to reflect Mongolian traditions and integrate with the country’s natural surroundings. They are completed with cook tent, hot showers, toilet facilities, and gers, wall tents or tipis for eating and sleeping. There are no generators or stereos, only the sounds of the trees and the river, the lights of candles and stoves, and the sparkling night stars.

Our Mongolia Lower River Expedition cooks are veterans. The food is fresh, diverse and very well suited to
Western tastes. The coffee is hot, the beer cold and the wine very palatable!
Breakfast and dinner are served inside a dedicated dining ger (yurt)
complete with tables, chairs, and wood stove.

With their wooden lattice frames, wood burning stoves and insulating felt walls, sleeping in a cozy Mongolian ger is a great experience. It’s much like having a spacious streamside hotel room. Each accommodates two guests and is outfitted with simple table and chairs, wool carpets, two beds with linens, and extra blankets. On cool mornings, one of the camp staff will enter at your request and light the stove before sunrise… a great way to start the day!

The tents (tipis) are also very comfortable. The tipis are over ten feet tall and nearly eighteen feet wide. Both the gers and the tipis accommodate two guests and are outfitted with simple table and chairs, wool carpets, two cots with pads, and extra blankets. Nights can be cold this time of year in Mongolia so you will want to bring a sleeping bag on this trip.

Hot shower facilities are located in specially designed gers or large tents.
Toilets facilities are set up in spacious tents privately situated a short walk from the camps. Both facilities are quite comfortable and private.
Mongolian culture venerates hospitality and the camp staff is no exception.
They are wonderful, hard-working, fun, and highly attentive folks. You’ll
have a great time getting to know them and they will make your visit
remarkable.

The Water MRO/FM operates on what we believe to be the two best taimen rivers in the world. These rivers have incredibly healthy taimen populations and we work hard to protect these special fish. However, taimen fishing is not always easy. Come prepared for a super fun challenge.
These streams are amazingly well suited for fly-fishing. This is a low
gradient but very featured river with an abundance of holding water. We
fish only the prime season when the water is generally clear. However, gin clear water is not guaranteed. Wild taimen only survive in true wilderness.

There are no dams and river flow may fluctuate substantially with the weather. When the water is clear, we sometimes spot cast for big fish, much like chasing tarpon on the flats. This requires very stealthy and technical fishing. If storms do color up the river, don’t worry! Taimen are aggressive predators and feed regardless of water clarity. Over the period of the week, we generally hook progressively more and larger fish as everyone learns the secrets of Taimen.

Wildlife Besides the incredible fishing (of course) the healthy riparian habitat is good for wildlife. Birds are generally the highlight, including numerous raptors and waterfowl spotted along the forested river bottom. The watershed hosts many mammals, but these creatures are generally shy. There are roe deer along the banks and you may hear elk bugling in the autumn months.

Occasionally we even hear wolves in the evenings. Mink, sable and beaver are spotted from time to time. There are fantastically large Siberian marmots cheerily whistling along the banks.
The Nomads Along the river journey, and particularly on the drives to/from the river, we will encounter Mongolian nomads. Watching the nomads dressed in their traditional costumes while they gallop across the wide open spaces to their brilliant white gers sometimes feels like we have had a chance to step back in time. It’s a marvelous event, getting to see and interact with these amazing people and their ancient ways.

Day 10-11

On your return to UB the adventure continuse as you explore the traditional Mongolian Steppe over the course of two days on your return to civilization. The drive is easily do-able in one very long day…but we stretch it into two days to make it more comfortable and allow for ample time to enjoy whatever you may encounter along the way.

The first day you will cover half the distance as you leave the mountains
and emerge onto the great Mongolian Steppe. Have your camera ready, as you will pass through the Toson-Khulstai Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to herds of Mongolian gazelle, endangered white naped crane, steppe eagles, and Siberian marmot.
We will typically overnight in a hotel in the small town of Unduurkhan.
The next day will be a similar length journey, almost all on paved roads, so you will reach the hotel in UB early in the afternoon.
Accommodation Ger camp or hotel in Unduurkhan, and hotel in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Day 12 Departure from Mongolia lower river expedition

Your Mongolia Lower River Expedition guide will meet you at the hotel to give you a ride to the airport and make certain all goes smoothly with check-in and departure.
Note: All times are approximate and due to the remote nature of these trips, unforeseen circumstances such as weather, flat tires etc. can force trips adjustments. Traveling through the remote corners of Mongolia is a unique adventure and a big part of these expedition trips: so kick back, enjoy the ride and this amazing opportunity to soak up an exotic landscape and culture!