Mongolia – Upper River Adventure is the classic Mongolia River journey… beautiful landscape, fascinating culture, professional staff, exceptional camps, and world-class fishing. A small group of anglers explore nearly 100 miles of pristine river, floating through the world’s first Taimen Sanctuary. Cast for taimen, lenok, Amur trout, Amur pike and grayling on a fresh stretch of river every day. Stay in a well-appointed ger camp every evening.
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.
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.
These are believed to be the two best taimen rivers in the world. They have incredibly healthy taimen populations and we work hard to protect these special fish. Taimen fishing is not always easy. Come prepared for a super fun challenge. The river has a low gradient, but very featured with an abundance water.
We fish in prime season when the water is clear. Wild taimen only survive in true wilderness. There are no dams and river flow fluctuates substantially with the weather. We sometimes spot cast for big fish, much like chasing tarpon on the flats. This requires very stealthy & technical fishing. If storms do color up the river, don’t worry! Taimen are aggressive predators and feed regardless of water clarity. We hook progressively 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.
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.
Mongolia – Upper River Adventure – 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.
Over the next week, anglers float in Clackacraft Drift Boats between seven unique ger camps strategically placed along the river. The “no shuttle” policy means that anglers experience a new stretch of river daily. 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 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 – Upper River Adventure – Accommodation
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 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.
Mongolia – Upper River Adventure – Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Mongolia
The airport is small and easy to navigate. Chinghis Khan International Airport code is UBN. There are direct flights from Seoul, Istanbul, Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Beijing. Most guests fly via Seoul, Istanbul, or Tokyo.
After clearing immigration/customs, you’ll be met by an Mongolia Upper River Adventure 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 The Mongolia Upper River Adventure professional guides and staff. The 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 unique capital city.
Dining You will be responsible for dining while in Ulaanbaatar. There are now many good restaurants in the city. The Mongolia Upper River Adventure team will be more than happy to provide suggestions and help make arrangements.
Days 2 – 8 Seven Nights on the River
We check out of the hotel after an early breakfast and begin the full day overland trek to the river. You may leave extra bags at the hotel.
The drive from Ulaanbaatar to the upper river is a unique opportunity to see a remote part of Mongolia. It’s about 250 miles (400 km) from the hotel to the upper camp, located on the river near the small community of Binder.
In the morning you will also 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.
Passengers will travel via comfortable 4×4’s (generally 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 camp in time to get settled in, rig up for your week’s fishing, and possibly even make a few casts before dinner.
River Journey On all Mongolia trips, you explore a new stream section every day without having to shuttle between camps. 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 9 Return to Ulaanbaatar from the River
We typically plan on traveling overland from the river to Ulaanbaatar via comfortable 4×4, generally Toyota Land Cruisers. It’s a full day drive across the Mongolian steppe. We’ll have a picnic lunch en route and the vehicles are equipped with plenty of drinks and snacks.
There are sometimes commercial flights from the small town of Dadal to Ulaanbaatar. The flights don’t operate every day, but whenever possible we will coordinate these domestic flights for your return to the capital. Either driving or flying, 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 10 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!
