In the summer of 2010 while making a journey with friends through Mongolia, Belgian born art historian and painter Katrien Elsen met Baterdene Bayarmagnai, on the way back from Murun to Ulaanbaatar.
Since the creation of Harganat River Lodge, next to professional local workers, we opted to work with volunteers from all over the world, as an exchange between very different cultures. It enriched the building process a great deal, hearing different thoughts and ideas.
We engage in eco tourism, loving and protecting this pristine area of great natural beauty. Our sceptic tanks, still a rarity in Mongolia, clean 90 percent of the waste water.
Reviews
EXCELLENTBased on 5 reviewsVerifiedToon T2024-01-25Magical Eco-lodge in Mongolia One of the most stunning places I have ever laid eyes on. Truly a magical place, out in the wild, surrounded by beautifull nature. Waking up and seeing hundreds of horses running down to the river, followed by young Mongolian boys herding them is just a sight I will never forget. Truly off-the-beaten track. Mesmerizing experciene.VerifiedIsabelle C2023-10-20Heaven on earth We visited several ger camps but ViaVia Harganat was definitely the most breathtaking! What a view! Every day again we enjoyed the beautiful scenery and peaceful surroundings. The gers are nice and cosy, comfy beds, great showers in the dome. The dome is also a very nice place to relax, dance and spend time with friends in the evening. The staff is great and they did everything in their power to make our stay just perfect. The owner, Bat, knows everything about horses and fly fishing, it is a pleasure to hear him talk. He took us to the eagle's nest and the deer stones n the Holy Mountains. We enjoyed a horse race and archery game, really impressive. You feel one with nature here.VerifiedVikkivi2019-12-01Great location & facilities, but service can be made better We arrived in -20’s C weather. The gers were initially warm inside, but the staff were not consistent in replenishing the wood in the stove furnace in the Ger so it was not very pleasant to wake up in freezing temps. Had to run around looking for staff for heat! They did not leave much wood either so we could have replenished the stove ourselves. Space heaters were provided, but did not really work well. The Ger was freezing inside! Even my iPhone started acting up. Otherwise, the location & facilities were good (specially the sauna) & people friendly. I think it’s best to go during warmer months to fully appreciate what they offer.VerifiedEszter2019-11-29Unique experience We spent at Harganat River Lodge 1 magical night. It was a unique experience sleeping in a ger (yurt). The view is spectacular, the food is very nice, the get was comfortable. And never the less, the owner of the place is very friendly. We highly recommend this place!VerifiedTom V2019-09-15Unique Mongolian experience in style We visited Harganat in summertime, when the camp is bathing in sunlight and surrounded by the green, Edelweiss-covered steppe. Apart from the amazing, remote location that offers unique views over the river valley, their accomodation is top-class. Our spacious, comfortable ger was joined by the brand new, impressive washing block and swimming pool. The restaurant offered great meals all day. Make sure to combine your visit like we did with a swim in the river and a hike into the mountains to see the vulture's nest or Bronze age graves. As one does in Mongolia, we also joined Bat (the camp owner and horse expert by heart) in retreiving one of his horse herds - on horseback of course. One of our top experiences during our visit to Mongolia! Katrien and Bat are wonderful hosts. They and their team made us feel right at home, as far away from home as we were. If you can, book directly through their website and avoid booking through a travel agent: the camp owners will be happy to help!