The Responsible Trekker's Rules

Since Hovsgol National Park was established, industrial activities, initiated in the area by Russia before 1993, were stopped. The population had to search for new sources of income. Some turned out to poaching and illegal logging or fishing, which is a real threat to the National Park's existence!

Bringing income into the National Park is a necessity for its sustainability. As long as it does not change much of the nomad's way of life, eco-tourism is a long-term solution.

With our projects, we intend to support and to contribute to the preservation of the National Park and its inhabitants. It is also our aim to keep and reinforce the cultural identity of the nomadic population.

Ancient skills and traditions shall last. This ranges from making gers (felt tents), horse-riding equipment and everyday utensils of local materials.

Share the TrekMongolia travel philosophy:

Take Nothing but Pictures, Leave Nothing but Footprints.

 

  In order to fulfil our aim, we are asking you to keep to the rules below. We welcome any suggestion you may have to achieve our aim in ever better ways.

Rule:

Respect local people and culture, flora and fauna.

 
 

1.	National Park
	1.1	Keep to the trails.
	1.2	Caution with fire!
	1.3	Do not disturb wildlife.
	1.4	On the trek, you will come to ancient Ovoos. An Ovoo is a standing stone or wood to gods and ancestors and a shamanistic traditional offering place. Ovoos are sacred! When you come to an Ovoo, you normally walk around it clockwise up to three times and make a wish. You can also make an offering of anything.

 

 

2.	Garbage and Hygiene
	2.1	Do not litter.  Carry a small garbage bag and take your litter back to camp Toilogt or give it to the staff.
	2.2	Keep your cigarette buts and/or burn them in camp fires only. (1 cigarette but pollutes about 100 litres of water!)
	2.3	For the use of soap, a special water bucket will be set-up at the camp sites.
	2.4	Please go to toilet of the camp sites. Never go to toilet next to water sources. Keep at least 50 m of water sources. For hygiene reasons, we are asking you to wash below the camp sites when camping on a river.

 

3.	Cultural Identity
	3.1	Do not give sweets to children.
	3.2	Do not offer gifts to locals that generate garbage.
	3.3	Consider to buy and eat as many local products as possible. For example Mongolian tea instead of Coca-Cola or local draft beer instead of canned, imported one.
	3.4	Consider to support local projects and handicrafts.