The Taimen Camps
It feels a bit nostalgic… like something from a by-gone era
Wood burning stoves. Candle light. A canopy of stars. Attentive staff. New and old friends gathered around the table. The hot cup of coffee brought to your ger in the early morning.
Every year we set-up a string of “eco” camps along over three-hundred kilometers of river.
Anglers float between camps, exploring a new stretch of the taimen sanctuary daily. No shuttles. Just hop in the boat with your guide and head downstream. When you float into a new camp at day’s end, your bags are waiting, the shower water is hot, and dinner is on the way.
Each camp is designed as a place to unwind after a fun day on the river. The camps are rustic and very comfortable, much like an African tented safari.
In the evening, the guides and guests gather together around the table for a candle-lit meal. After dinner we typically relax, enjoying the warmth of the wood stove or sitting out under the stars. We drink tea, sip wine, share stories, and laugh a lot. The camp staff might sing some traditional Mongolian tunes. Someone might pull out the guitar or a backgammon board. A favorite passage from a book might get read out loud. There will definitely be talk of fish caught or fish lost. The guides might tie a few flies for the next day’s adventure. You’re welcome to join them.
Genghis Khan would still recognize his home if he rode over any hill today.
Genghis Khan was born and raised along this river. It’s pretty amazing to sleep along the same river that gave rise to one of the world’s greatest kingdoms. Incredibly, if the Khan rode into camp today, he would still recognize his home. Hundreds of years later and the valley remains remarkably undeveloped and pristine. We think that’s the way he would have liked it.
Local residents continue to follow a traditional nomadic lifestyle with deep, Tibetan Buddhist roots and a serious respect for nature.
And so we too strive to respect the culture, quiet, and natural beauty of this remarkable location. Each camp reflects Mongolian traditions and is well integrated into the surrounding countryside. Our camps have no permanent infrastructure. Almost everything is made of wood, canvas, wool or felt. The entire camps are dismantled at the end of the day or the end of the short season, leaving no permanent trace of our presence. There are no generators or stereos in camp, only the sounds of water over stones and wind in the trees, and only the lights of candles and stars.
Guests are accommodated in Nordic tipis or Mongolian gers (yurts) depending upon the trip or the season.
Mongolia’s traditional felt-covered dwellings are perfectly suited for the landscape. Gers are aesthetically pleasing, environmentally and socially appropriate, and extremely comfortable.
Sleeping gers are approximately 9 feet high (2.5 meters) and 20 feet (6 meters) in diameter, providing ample space for two anglers. Each ger is furnished with a wood-burning stove, small writing table, wash basin, camp chairs, and sleeping cots. Woolen carpets decorate the floors, and there are plenty of hooks for hanging jackets, waders, and other gear at day’s end. The ger camps each have a very large ger for dining.
At the tipi camps, guests are accommodates in large, canvas tipis designed for Nordic extremes. There are two cots and plenty of room to stand inside. Breakfast and dinner are served in a spacious, insulated wall-tent with a wood-burning stove.
All camps have simple toilet and shower facilities. The toilets are clean and private. The shower is in its own designated ger or wall-tent, with plenty of space for changing clothes. A wood stove provides warmth and hot water.
We typically fish very full days, generally not pulling into camp until sunset.
A dedicated “lunch boat” crew sets up the tables, chairs, and presents a great shore lunch. Most of our guests want to be out on the water all day long. However, if you want to pull into camp early, the guides will row and get you there. Or, if you get to camp and still have the urge to try a few more casts, each camp is situated along a uniquely beautiful stretch of river with great fishing.
Mongolian culture venerates hospitality and our camp staff is no exception.
Almost all of our camp staff come from the area and have been with us for years. They are wonderful, hard-working, and highly attentive folks. You’ll have a great time getting to know them and they will make your visit both fun and memorable.
We pride ourselves on the quality and variety of our menus.
All meals are professionally prepared by each trip’s private cooks. Portions are substantial with hearty breakfasts, stream-side lunches, and multi-course dinners. We source as much as possible from local communities, with fresh vegetables and fruit brought in each week. Each drift boat has a snack box filled with a variety of treats and plenty of drinks. The meals are a good mix of Asian and Western. We have many guests who are vegetarian and catering for a meat-free diet is no problem. Please just let us know in advance if you have any specific dietary requirements – our staff will do their best to accommodate you.
See you at camp!