Ulaanbaatar Walking Tour & Cooking Class in a Mongolian Home
Description
Come hungry. Spend a day seeing Ulaanbaatar through the places, food, and stories that make it home for me. We'll start at Sukhbaatar Square and walk through the everyday side of Ulaanbaatar, beyond the usual sightseeing route. You'll see local markets, schoolyards, the railway district, and places most visitors pass without knowing their stories. Along the way, I'll share what growing up here has taught me about the city and everyday Mongolian life. Then we'll come home to my tenth-floor apartment, with the city below. We'll slow down over herbal tea and learn Shagai, a traditional Mongolian ankle bone game, before heading into the kitchen. You'll roll the dough, cut the noodles, prepare the ingredients, and cook Tsuivan with your own hands, the way it's made in Mongolian homes. By the time we sit down, the meal is yours. You made it. This is a small-group experience with no script and no rush. Just a day of walking, cooking, stories, and everyday life in a Mongolian home.
Tour Options
Itinerary
MEET ME AT SUKHBAATAR SQUARE — I'll be at the Sukhbaatar statue with a Serey Travel sign. We'll meet here and begin our walk. SEE THE ULAANBAATAR I KNOW — Walk around 7 km through neighborhoods few visitors see. We'll pass markets, schoolyards, the railway district where I sold soda as a kid, and the park where my family gathered every Children's Day. I'll share the stories behind these places. COME HOME WITH ME — We'll arrive at my tenth-floor apartment overlooking the city. We'll slow down over herbal tea and learn Shagai, a traditional Mongolian ankle bone game. COOK TSUIVAN TOGETHER — Into the kitchen. You'll roll the dough, cut the noodles, prepare the ingredients, and cook Tsuivan yourself, just as I learned to make it at home. SHARE THE MEAL YOU CREATED — By the time we sit down, the meal is yours. You made it. We'll share it around the table. TAKE A PIECE OF MONGOLIA HOME — You'll leave full, with a Tsuivan recipe, a Shagai set, and memories of the day.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Approximately 7 km of walking on mostly flat, paved streets
- Suitable for anyone comfortable walking for a few hours
- Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather
- Children aged 10 and above are welcome
- Vegetarian Tsuivan is available for guests with dietary restrictions, please request at time of booking
Reviews(6)
Great experience - it was my first day in Ulaanbaatar and all the insights of the guide really helped me to gain a better understanding of city live in Mongolia! I could experience the non-touristic spots and the tour was enriched with several personal stories. We then went to cook Mongolia's national dish and ate together. In between I was also taught games and fortunetelling with goat knuckles!!! Overall a great start for my first trip to Mongolia - highly recommended!
Matthias, thank you for this. I’m glad we could make your first day in Mongolia a little more personal, from the neighborhoods and stories to cooking Tsuivan and discovering what Shagai had to say about your fortune. It was a pleasure having you, and I hope you took a little piece of Ulaanbaatar with you.
As someone who travels often, I’m always looking for unique and authentic experiences. This walking tour and cooking class combination was exactly what I hoped for. Ider is such a kind, gracious, and welcoming host. As we explored Ulaanbaatar, he shared fascinating insights into the city’s history, culture, and the lives of the Mongolian people. Once we arrived at his home, the experience became even more special. He shared traditional stories, family anecdotes, and personal recipes, making us feel truly welcomed and giving us a wonderful glimpse into Mongolian life and hospitality. The time passed far too quickly, and the entire day became a truly memorable experience.
Erlie, thank you for this. Traveling as often as you do, I know you have plenty of experiences to compare this to, so it means a lot that this one stood out. The stories and recipes are really at the center of what I want to share, so I'm glad you enjoyed that part of the day. It was a pleasure having you, and I hope Mongolia stays with you for a long time.
We had an enjoyable day with Ider, and loved hearing his family story and learning about Mongolian history and culture (and of course food)! Sharing the experience of cooking and eating with a local is one of the great joys of travel. Ider’s warm personality and generous spirit really made the day special.
Thank you, Karen. I really enjoyed spending the day with you and Linda, and our conversations about Mongolia, travel, and everyday life here. I’m so glad you enjoyed the stories, cooking, and sharing a meal together. It was a pleasure having you both in my home. I hope the rest of your journey through Mongolia is just as memorable.
My walk and cooking experience with Ider was perhaps my favorite thing I did in Mongolia! His tour of Ulaanbaatar is a beautiful, personal look at urban life in this country, and I enjoyed the opportunity to listen to his memories and perspective around the city. The second half of this experience, cooking a homemade meal, is wonderful. If you're someone who truly enjoys cooking for the love of ingredients, connections, and community, you'll love cooking Tsuivan with Ider. As a solo female traveller, I felt so comfortable conversing with Ider, and it quickly felt like hanging out with an old college friend. Learning about Mongolian culture through a game and about the local cuisine by cooking from scratch is the perfect way to add depth to your visit to this beautiful country. It's a relaxing, slower-paced day that lives up to Ider's company name (ask him about it)! Please support this small business by booking this lovely experience with Serey Travel!
Ellie, Reading this truly made my day. It was such a pleasure spending the day with you, walking through the neighborhoods, making Tsuivan together, and sharing stories over lunch. You brought so much curiosity and warmth to every part of the experience, and that made it memorable for me too. Thank you for taking the time to write such a thoughtful review and for sharing your beautiful photos. Looking through them brought back so many wonderful memories of our day together. I wish you all the best with your research and future travels. If your adventures ever bring you back to Mongolia, there will always be a place at our family table waiting for you. Warmly, Ider
My walk and cooking experience with Ider was perhaps my favorite thing I did in Mongolia! His tour of Ulaanbaatar is a beautiful, personal look at urban life in this country, and I enjoyed the opportunity to listen to his memories and perspective around the city. The second half of this experience, cooking a homemade meal, is wonderful. If you're someone who truly enjoys cooking for the love of ingredients, connections, and community, you'll love cooking Tsuivan with Ider. As a solo female traveller, I felt so comfortable conversing with Ider, and it quickly felt like hanging out with an old college friend. Learning about Mongolian culture through a game and about the local cuisine by cooking from scratch is the perfect way to add depth to your visit to this beautiful country. It's a relaxing, slower-paced day that lives up to Ider's company name (ask him about it)! Please support this small business by booking this lovely experience with Serey Travel!
Ellie, Reading this truly made my day. It was such a pleasure spending the day with you, walking through the neighborhoods, making Tsuivan together, and sharing stories over lunch. You brought so much curiosity and warmth to every part of the experience, and that made it memorable for me too. Thank you for taking the time to write such a thoughtful review and for sharing your beautiful photos. Looking through them brought back so many wonderful memories of our day together. I wish you all the best with your research and future travels. If your adventures ever bring you back to Mongolia, there will always be a place at our family table waiting for you. Warmly, Ider
Myself and a friend booked a personalised full day tour with Eider a round Ulaanbaatar and is easily exceeded our expectations. From the start when he confirmed what we wanted to do through to making and eating traditional dishes in his home everything was brilliant. I couldn’t recommend him enough and I’d be surprised if you don't have as good a time as we did. Thanks Eider from Russ and Sponge.
Russ and Sponge, thank you so much for this. It genuinely made my day reading it. Having you both was a real pleasure from start to finish. Your energy, curiosity, and the way you both threw yourselves into everything, especially the cooking, made that day one I will always remember. That Tsuivan we made together was something special. I am so glad the experience exceeded your expectations and I hope our paths cross again someday, whether in Ulaanbaatar or elsewhere in the world. Thank you for taking the time to share this. It means more than you know. Happy trails, Ider
