Join the Tsaatan people in Mongolia’s northernmost village – Tsagaan Nuur – when you travel through a program established by The Itgel Foundation in conjunction with the Tsaatan community in 2008.  Created as part of their Reindeer Life Project, which was set up to revitalize and protect the Tsaatan reindeer-herding community of Northern Mongolia, visitors will enjoy learning and participating in nomadic life while supporting the program’s important work.  The Tsaatan are Mongolia’s smallest ethnic minority, a nomadic people who depend on reindeer for nearly all aspects of survival.

We learned about Itgel and its cofounders, Morgan Keay and Liliana Goldman through our colleagues and friends at PEPY.  Itgel (which means hope in Mongolian) was founded in 2003 and since then has launched a number of projects aimed at protecting and educating people about Mongolia’s rich cultural heritage.  For the first time ever in 2008, Itgel is coordinating with tour operators and independent travelers for limited number of bookings through the Tsaatan Community & Visitors Center. 

Itgel also has a range of volunteer opportunities available for short and long-term adventurers.  Try your hand working as part of their U.S.-based team or venture to Mongolia where opportunities to support work in the field and their administrative offices both exist.  

Learn more about Itgel and ways to adventure with a purpose at www.itgel.org.  Email Morgan directly at morgan@itgel.org or call their Boulder, CO office: (303) 241-4411 or their Ulaanbaatar office: (976) 99-722-667.

Ride the horses of the legendary Gauchos when you travel to Los Dos Hermanos Estancia, a charming family ranch located an hour out of Buenos Aires in Argentina. A few days on the Estancia offer a glimpse of Argentine rural living in a beautiful traditional setting - a wonderful juxtaposition to the elegance and bustle of Buenos Aires. The Estancia is home to over 60 horses mostly of the sturdy and reliable Criollo breed native to the Argentine pampa. The vast pampa, which means “plain” in the Quecha language, offers up fantastic riding for both seasoned and beginning riders. Better known among local Argentineans than foreign visitors, you might find Los Dos Hermanos Estancia crowded with Buenos Aires expats during the weekends but largely quiet during the week.

Stay in one of the Estancia’s several comfortable cottages and if riding’s not your thing, enjoy trekking, bird watching, or relaxing by the pool. Guides lead guests on two outings a day through the neighboring countryside and around their lagoon, where you're likely to see examples of the unique regional birdlife. Estancia owner Pancho and his wife Ana serve delicious, hearty Argentinean asadas which you'll share with the family - well deserved after a day of long rides. If you’re still keen to go out after dinner, you can saddle up and help round up the horses from across the farm into their stables. End the day chatting with the resident Gaucho, Don Juan and sipping the national drink, mate.
– Natasha Martin

For more information: Ana or Pancho Peña (0054) (11) 4765-4320 or by email: cabalgatas@estancialosdoshermanos.com