Megan Hine will lead a women-only expedition across Mongolia in fall 2026, providing an exclusive opportunity for participants to explore three of the country’s most isolated areas without requiring prior experience. The $14,000-per-leg adventure, organized by Kensington Expeditions, divides into three separate journeys through the Northern Taiga, Altai Mountains, and Gobi Desert, each crafted to challenge participants while teaching essential survival skills. The expedition is designed specifically for women seeking to push beyond conventional comfort zones, emphasizing self-discovery through immersion in some of Mongolia’s most remote and culturally rich environments. Unlike traditional guided tours, participants will engage directly with the environment and its communities, rather than observing from a distance.
The expedition abandons the conventional guided tour format. Instead, women will function as full team members, relying on navigation by 4×4, horseback, and on foot. No prior expedition experience is necessary—only determination and adaptability. The trip runs from September 30 to November 4, 2026, spanning 35 days, with participants able to book one, two, or all three segments. Each segment is structured as a standalone adventure, allowing flexibility for those with varying time commitments.
Three distinct adventures
The first segment ventures into the Northern Taiga, where travelers will cross remote tracks, mountain passes, and river crossings before continuing on horseback into the wilderness. There, they will interact with the Tsaatan (also known as the Dukha), a reindeer-herding group whose traditions remain deeply connected to the taiga. Participants will learn from them while moving through terrain most outsiders never encounter. The Tsaatan’s semi-nomadic lifestyle, centered around reindeer herding and seasonal migrations, offers a rare glimpse into a culture that has thrived in these remote conditions for centuries. Their knowledge of survival in the taiga—including navigation, fire-making, and sustainable food sourcing—will be a key part of the expedition’s skill-building focus.
The second leg moves to the Altai Mountains, a rugged overland route in Central Asia. The group will attempt a climb of Friendship Peak and meet Kazakh eagle hunters, whose practices persist in these high-altitude valleys. The environment includes glaciers, steep ascents, and vast open spaces, demanding both physical and mental endurance. The Kazakh eagle hunters, known as berkutchis (a Kazakh term for eagle hunters), have maintained their centuries-old tradition of training golden eagles for hunting, a practice deeply tied to their nomadic heritage. Their presence in the Altai reflects the region’s role as a crossroads of cultures, where traditions blend with the harsh demands of survival in extreme environments.
The final phase takes the expedition into the Gobi Desert, where participants will traverse sand dunes, canyons, and open plains by 4×4. Key activities include scaling the Khongoryn Els Singing Dunes—where shifting sands create eerie, resonant sounds that only appear under specific conditions—and staying with nomadic Bactrian camel herders. The journey concludes at a well-known lodge, bringing this three-part adventure to an end. The Bactrian camel herders, who rely on these two-humped camels for transportation and survival, offer insights into desert adaptation, including water conservation, route-finding, and the use of traditional tools for navigation.
Mental resilience over physical limits
Unlike traditional tours, this expedition treats participants as equals. They will share responsibility for decisions, from route planning to vehicle recovery, under the leadership of Megan Hine, a well-known expert in remote travel. The focus is not on arriving as skilled adventurers, it is on adjusting, learning, and uncovering hidden abilities in unfamiliar environments. Participants will receive hands-on training in off-road driving, vehicle recovery, navigation, expedition planning, campcraft, teamwork, decision-making, and problem-solving in remote environments.
Kensington Expeditions stresses that the trip is not about physical fitness but about mental preparation. Neal Bateman, the company’s director, said that this expedition is about creating the space for women to discover what they can do when they step into an environment that is unfamiliar, challenging, and completely real. The focus is on developing skills in navigation, campcraft, and teamwork alongside the physical journey. Bateman further noted that the expedition is designed to challenge participants’ perceptions of their own capabilities, particularly in environments where traditional support systems are absent. The goal is to support confidence through mastery of new challenges, rather than relying on preexisting expertise.
Accommodations range from stays at the Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar to traditional gers and expedition camps under Mongolia’s night skies. All necessary arrangements, vehicles, guides, permits, and safety planning, are included. Participants must cover international flights, travel insurance, personal gear, and visas separately. Domestic flights between segments are included, allowing for transitions between adventures. Safety measures include satellite communication devices, emergency medical planning, and trained guides experienced in remote rescue operations.
Hands-on skills replace passive observation
The expedition’s interactive approach distinguishes it from standard guided trips. Rather than following a predetermined schedule, women will engage in hands-on activities, including off-road driving instruction, navigation, and teamwork. This participatory model reflects real-world expedition work, where adaptability and collaboration are essential. Each woman becomes part of the expedition team, contributing to day-to-day decisions and tasks required to keep the journey moving.
While the Mongolia trip is exclusive to women, Hine will also lead a Peru expedition in spring 2027 and an Argentina journey later that year, open to all participants. Each follows the same approach: immersive travel focused on skill development rather than mere observation. The Peru expedition will likely explore the Amazon rainforest and Andean highlands, while the Argentina journey may include Patagonia’s wilderness and the deserts of the northwest. Both trips will maintain the same participatory model, with an emphasis on learning practical expedition techniques in diverse environments.
Limited spots for transformative adventure
The Mongolia Women’s Expedition with Megan Hine has limited availability. Interested participants can apply through Kensington Expeditions’ website, where pricing and further details are provided. The expedition’s small group size, intentionally limited to ensure an intimate and collaborative experience, means early application is advised. Additional information, including gear lists, training recommendations, and cultural preparation materials, will be provided to accepted participants in advance.