Visiting remote reindeer herders proves to be a once in a lifetime trip

By Stephen Tucker

I was once given a book outlining the “top” travel journeys that should be taken in a lifetime. The book failed to list the journey to the Tsaatan (reindeer people), which must be one of the world’s greatest journeys. And I’m glad. Hopefully it will remain as untouched as possible.  Located in one of the harshest and most inaccessible regions of the world, the Tsaatan are reindeer herders who seemingly live on the edge of civilization.  Our purpose was not to intrude, and not to stay for long, but to travel and appreciate the Tsaatan and Mongolia in general.  What I, and the seven friends I traveled with, wanted was a truly Mongolian experience; a journey through the magnificent landscapes bestowed upon this country on the way to a unique cultural highlight.  In essence, we were searching for a jinhene (authentically Mongolian) journey.

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