This wilderness expedition explores the uppermost reaches of Mongolia’s first taimen sanctuary.
You’ll fish through a diverse, mountainous landscape targeting, taimen, lenok, Amur trout, Amur pike and grayling. Come prepared for a real adventure!

Mongolia – Buryat Expedition – Rivers

The Mongolia – Buryat Expedition 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.

Mongolia – Buryat Expedtion – Trip overview

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. Please see the itinerary below for specifics.
Over the next week, anglers float between streamside camps strategically placed along the river.
Your gear is transported separately, so when you arrive at the evening camp, the professional staff has your bags waiting, beds made, fires lit, and dinner prepared.
After a memorable week on the river, you’ll 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 4 anglers per Buryat Expedition.

Mongolia – Buryat Expedition – Accommodation

Camp Life Much like an African tented safari, the camps are rustic but
very comfortable. 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 extra blankets (Please bring a sleeping bag).
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!
Each campsite along the river is uniquely peaceful, designed to reflect
Mongolian traditions and integrate with the country’s natural surroundings.
Hot shower facilities are located in specially designed large tents as are the toilets. Both facilities are quite comfortable and private. 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.
The 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 either inside a central wall tent complete with tables, chairs, and wood stove.
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.

Mongolia – Buryat Expedition – Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Mongolia

Airport Arrival The 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 MRO/FM 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.
Support Your group will have full access to the support services of MRO/FM’s 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 MRO/FM 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 journey to the river. You may leave extra bags at the hotel.
The drive from UB into the headwaters is a unique opportunity to see a
remote part of Mongolia. Come prepared for a long drive.
Travel from the hotel to the upper camp is usually do-able in one long
day…but the uppermost camps are in a very remote area and the weather and road conditions can vary. To play it safe, make sure the ride is comfortable, and allow for ample time to get out and explore whatever you may encounter along the way, we sometimes will split the travel to the river into two days.
Not far from UB, you will pass 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.
The last leg of the journey will be a real 4X4 adventure, as you traverse
mountainous terrain to access the uppermost camp. Have your cameras at the ready, as this is some of the most beautiful country on the planet! It’s also the historical sacred home of Chinghis Khan and has changed very little since his childhood in this area over a thousand years ago.
Passengers will travel via comfortable 4×4’s (generally 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 upper camp either late in the afternoon (in time for a
leisurely dinner), or early the next day. Either way, you should have time to rig up and squeeze in a bit of fishing around camp before the main fishing part of the trip begins the next morning.
River Journey For the next six 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.

Day 10 Return to UB from the River

Return to Ulaanbaatar You will be traveling overland from the river to Ulaanbaatar via comfortable 4×4, generally Toyota Land Cruisers. We’ll have a picnic lunch en route and the vehicles are equipped with plenty of drinks and snacks. Anticipate arriving back at your hotel late in the afternoon with plenty of time to take a long, hot-shower before heading out for dinner.

Day 11 Departure from Mongolia

Your 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!