Mongolia – Classic Canyon Adventure is seven full days and eight nights floating and fly fishing in an incredibly beautiful and remote Taimen
Sanctuary…

The Mongolia – Classic Canyon Adventure is designed for those of us who like a bit more comfort. We pass day after day floating down a glorious mountain stream casting to hungry grayling, very large trout and massive taimen. In the evening, we stay at a string of lovely ger camps.
This trip is a great mix of remote location, incredible fishing, world-class guides, unique culture, and outstanding wilderness accommodation.

Upon arrival in Mongolia, an English-speaking guide and driver transfer guests to a comfortable hotel in the center of Ulaanbaatar. Early the next morning, a ninety-minute commercial flight delivers anglers to the small town of Muron. From here, you’ll drive approximately 5 – 6 hours
across the Mongolian countryside. This will be your first chance to see “real” Mongolia, complete with horse riding nomads living in traditional gers. You should reach the upper river camp in time
for an early dinner with plenty of time to rig up and prepare for the next seven days of fishing.

Mongolia – Classic Canyon Adventure – River

The Mongolia – Classic Canyon Adventure operates on what we believe to be one of 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. The river has loads of structure. There are several small pool/drop rapids and plenty of bumpy sections with large boulders and loads of interesting features, including riffles and pools.

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 frequently spot cast for big fish, much like chasing tarpon on the flats. This requires very stealthy and technical fishing. Over the period of the week, we generally hook progressively more and larger fish as everyone learns the secrets of Taimen.

Taimen are widely dispersed top-tier predators. We’ve found it’s best to
cover at least twelve kilometers (ten miles) of river each day. The pace is relaxed and you’ll have ample time to get out and wade interesting stretches with your guide. A hearty lunch is served streamside each day and there are drinks and snacks on the boats. Most guests – and guides – like to fish hard all day. However, if you want to quit early, it’s easy to float on into camp. There is wonderful fishing right in front of each camp.

Wildlife Besides the incredible fishing (of course) the healthy riparian habitat is good for wildlife. Birds are generally the highlight, including numerous raptors 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 moose, elk and bear on the upper stretches. In the early autumn, you may hear elk bugling on the upper river. 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 an 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 – Classic Canyon Adventure – Accommodation

Over the course of the trip, anglers and their guide float between unique ger camps strategically placed along the river. The “no shuttle” policy allows anglers to experience a new stretch of river daily. This is a boat supported trip with gear boats moving all equipment downstream. When we arrive at each evening’s camp, the professional staff has your bags waiting, beds made, fires lit, and dinner prepared. At the end of the river journey, you’ll drive back to the airstrip and board a commercial flight to UB. After a relaxing overnight at a comfortable hotel in Ulaanbaatar, you’ll be ready for your flight home.

Camp Life Much like an African tented safari, the ger 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 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.
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 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!

Hot shower facilities are located in specially designed gers. 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.
There is a limit of 4 or 6 anglers depending upon departure date.

Mongolia – Classic Canyon Adventure – 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 our 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 our professional staff and international office located in downtown Ulaanbaatar. 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 uniqu capital city.
Dining You will be responsible for dining while in Ulaanbaatar. There are now many good restaurants in the city. The 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 drive to the airport.
You may leave extra bags at the hotel. You’ll be taking a commercial flight to the small town of Muron. The flight takes 90 minutes. The Muron airport is tiny. Staff will meet you there,
help you with your bags, and accompany you to the upper camp. The drive from the airport to the upper camp is approximately 5-6 hours in a comfortable 4×4.

It’s a great opportunity to see rural Mongolia. You’ll be on the river in time for an early dinner and very good night’s sleep.
Canyon Journey We have exclusive access agreements for hundreds of miles of river. On all Mongolia trips, you explore a new stream section every day without having to shuttle between camps. You will float with your guide directly from camp to fish fresh water and in the evening you arrive at the next downstream camp. Every boat will have two guests and one guide.

Day 10 Return to UB from the River

Back to Ulaanbaatar Your last morning at the river means rising early, eating breakfast, and preparing for the flight back to the capital city. We’ll need to drive just over
two hours across the hills to reach the commercial strip. You’re usually in Ulaanbaatar by early afternoon. Upon arrival, a driver and English speaking guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel.

Day 11 Departure from Mongolia

Departure 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 Mongolia – Classic Canyon Adventure trip, unforeseen circumstances such as weather, flat tires etc. can force trips adjustments. Traveling through the remote corners of Mongolia is a unique adventure: so kick back, enjoy the ride and this amazing opportunity to soak up an exotic landscape and culture!