- Our 2008 schedule is coming soon
- Join RNK for June, July or August 2008
- Take a look at the new 2007 Photo Gallery
- Multilingual website is under development

Reforestation

of Northern

Khentii

a mongolian community project supported by volunteer tourism

TOURISM WITH RNK:

At RNK, we offer a non-traditional type of tourism, which combines visiting places not seen by most tourists with actually living and working with Mongolians on a rewarding reforestation project.

Our tours let you experience Mongolian life up close and get to know the community you're visiting. Our program discourages the kind of cultural segregation between local people and visitors that is common to most tourist operations.

PLACES YOU WILL VISIT IN KHENTII:

Baldan Baraivun monastery, which was once one of the greatest Buddhist learning centers in Mongolia, housing 3000-5000 monks at its height. It was destroyed by the Communist government in the 1930s. Although recent attempts to restore the monastery have met with controversy, RNK has a unique relationship with the community and with the monastery groundskeeper, and tour participants are welcome to visit this serene site.

Baldan Baraivun monastery.

Baraivun is located in a gorgeous valley surrounded by mountains that resemble a lion, a tiger, a dragon, and a bird, the four auspicious animals of Mongolian Buddhism. A meditation walk through this peaceful area is perfect for calming your mind. Baraivun is about 2 hours' drive from our camp.

Hangal Nuur (Lake) with its beautiful landscape and beach, 10km from Baldan Baraivun monastery.

Turkic deer statues.

Deer Statues to the east of the Monastery, which date back to the Turkic Empire (552-745CE). A new stone was dedicated by the President of Mongolia in 2005 to commemorate the site where Chinggis Khaan and his closest friend Jamukh had a dispute that made them lifelong enemies. This story is told in the epic The Secret History of the Mongols.

Uglugchiin Kherem, a beautiful site housing ruins, which scholars believe to be the remains of one of Chinggis Khaan's palaces. It is 50km northeast of our camp.

Avid ovoo (cairn), a traditional hilltop shamanist mound in Khentii Bag. The Ovoo Ceremony shamanist ritual was revived in the 1990s, and it is performed to plead for rain or to prevent natural disasters.

Curative lake at Delgerkhaan.

Town of Delgerkhaan, the site of Chinggis Khaan's army settlement and also the place where The Secret History of the Mongols was written in the 13th century. Delgerkhaan boasts several curative salt lakes, where people come to use the lake mud for its therapeutic effects. The town also has a commemorative statue of Chinggis, and it was the site of the 800th Anniversary Naadam festival in August, 2006.

PLACES YOU WILL VISIT IN ULAAN BAATAR:

Sukhbaatar Square.

The spacious Sukhbaatar Square is located in central downtown Ulaan Baatar. In the middle of the square, a statue of the revolutionary hero D. Sukhbaatar features him riding astride a leaping horse. Sukhbaatar declared Mongolia's independence from China in 1921.

The Ulsin Ikh Khuural (State Parliament) building and Mausoleum of Sukhbaatar, both north of the Square. For the 800th Anniversary of Mongolia, a new facade has been built, featuring an impressive seated statue of Chinggis Khaan.

Mount Zaisan.

Mount Zaisan, which features a tall, circular memorial built by the Russians to commemorate soldiers and heroes of the people. It sits at the foot of the Bogd Khaan mountains, and offers a splendid view of the city.

The central Gandan Monastery, which was named after the famous holy monastery in Lhasa, Tibet, and meaning, "The Great Place of Complete Joy." It is the largest and most important Yellow Hat Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. The key attraction at Gandan is the spectacular 25 meter (80ft.) and 20 ton statue of the Buddha as "The Lord Who Looks in Every Direction," which is made of gilded copper and dressed in precious stones and 500 meters of silk.

WORKING AT UMNDUDELGER REFORESTATION CAMP:

Help to build camp facilities.

Grow vegetables and saplings in our greenhouse.

Plant and care for saplings near the Hangal riverbed.

Work in partners with schoolchildren, who are learning about ecology.

CULTURAL ENRICHMENT:

Learn to put up a traditional ger in about an hour!

Visit a Mongolian herder family and experience traditional life in a welcoming atmosphere.

Watch a folk music concert prepared by the students of our school.

Get lessons in Mongolian history, language, traditional script, painting or dance from qualified teachers.

Try horseback riding, watch someone catch a horse, see some camels.

Relax with your Mongolian friends and enjoy some Mongolian past-times, such as ankle-bone games.

Try traditional Mongolian foods, such as barbecued sheep or goat and the famous airag (fermented mare's milk).

OUR CAMP LIFE:

Inside of a ger.

You will be staying in a traditional ger (yurt), a very comfortable countryside home; accommodation is shared with 2-3 other tourists and includes beds with pillows, sheets and blankets as well as shelving, a stove and a wash basin.

This year (2006), we will be building a kitchen house, which will also include a lounge area, a mini-library and a shower facility. As part of our commitment to living sustainably, we will also be building a composting toilet facility. Our water comes from the village well and will be boiled before use. Thanks for visiting with us in our opening season!