Ulaanbaatar Experience: Local Life & Tsuivan Cooking

Experience Ulaanbaatar like a local: cook Tsuivan, explore hidden streets, and enjoy traditional games in an authentic Mongolian home.

Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Genghis Khan Square - MEET AT SUKHBAATAR SQUARE —
    Join at the Sukhbaatar statue, holding a Serey Travel sign. This is where the journey begins.
    DISCOVER THE ULAANBAATAR I LOVE —
    Embark on a 7 km walk through neighborhoods rarely explored by tourists. Pass by markets, schoolyards, the railway district where soda was sold in childhood, and the park…
What's Included
  • Hands-on Tsuivan cooking experience in a Mongolian home
  • English-speaking local host throughout the experience
  • Personal stories and local insights shared throughout the experience
  • Guided walk through everyday Ulaanbaatar (approximately 7 km)
  • Introduction to Shagai, a traditional Mongolian ankle bone game
  • Vegetarian Tsuivan available on request…
What's Not Included
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Personal purchases
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Come with an appetite. Spend a day discovering Ulaanbaatar through the places, food, and stories that make it feel like home.
The day begins at Sukhbaatar Square, then moves through the everyday side of Ulaanbaatar beyond the typical sightseeing route. Visitors will see local markets, schoolyards, the railway district, and spots most people pass by…

Location
Sukhbaatar Square
Meet your host at the base of the Sukhbaatar statue at the center of Sükhbaatar Square, central Ulaanbaatar. Your host will be holding a "SEREY TRAVEL" sign and wearing a Serey Travel t-shirt. Reachable by bus, taxi or on foot from most central hotels.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(25 Ratings)
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Katherine_t
Oct 18, 2026
Excellent Experience - Having done a walking and/or cooking excursion in a majority of the 86 world capitals I have visited, the Ulaanbaatar experience was by far the best. The owner of Serey Travel, Ider, was our excursion guide. He not only proudly opened his heart about his country, but also proudly open opened his home for a glimpse of local life and an excellent cooking lesson. The recipe was a traditional delicious noodle dish, ‘tsuivan.’ He also shared homemade ‘airag’ (fermented mare’s milk,) which was more pleasant than anticipated. Additionally, Ider introduced the fortune-telling and games played with ‘shagai’ (ankle bones) that have been used throughout the history of Mongolia. With all the historical facts, anecdotal stories, and personal tales imparted by Ider, I learned more about Mongolia in the few hours spent with him than in the preparatory reading done. I would highly recommend this combined tour to anyone visiting Ulaanbaatar for the first time or returning to the city. It was an extremely memorable experience.
Review provided by Viator
Katherinet948
Oct 18, 2026
Excellent Experience - Having done a walking and/or cooking excursion in a majority of the 86 world capitals I have visited, the Ulaanbaatar experience was by far the best. The owner of Serey Travel, Ider, was our excursion guide. He not only opened his heart, with pride, about his country, but opened his home for a wonderful glimpse into local life and an excellent cooking lesson. The recipe Ider taught was a traditional delicious noodle dish, ‘tsuivan.’ He also shared homemade ‘airag’ (fermented mare’s milk,) which was more pleasant than anticipated. Additionally, Ider introduced the fortune-telling and games played with ‘shagai’ (ankle bones) that have been used throughout the history of Mongolia. With all the historical facts, anecdotal stories, and personal tales imparted by Ider, I learned more about Mongolia the few spent with him than in the preparatory reading done. I would highly recommend this combined tour to anyone visiting Ulaanbaatar for the first or returning to the city. It was an extremely memorable experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tinasf9938db
Oct 10, 2026
Ider Batbayar , Chef, Historian. Authentic Mongolian experience. - Excellent city tour. Cooking Class was FABULOUS. Ider is a chef, a teacher, and an all around great person. So glad we found this class and tour for our last day in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tina_s
Oct 9, 2026
MONGOLIAN Cooking Class with Ider Batbayar - We thoroughly enjoyed our day with Ider Batbayar. He is a delightful, enthusiastic young man. Excellent English, and bursting with knowledge of his home town. The cooking class was FABULOUS!!! Ider was well prepared, has a disciplined eye for teaching, and knows his way around a kitchen. He taught us tips and tricks for vegetable preparation, making pasta , and then pulling meat, veges and pasta all together in one extraordinary meal. We left his family's home feeling we'd gotten more than our monies worth!!!
Review provided by Viator
Erroll804
Sep 27, 2026
A great way to spend a day - to learn, to eat, to experience - What a wonderful experience. A perfect way to learn more about Ulaanbaatar and Mongolia. Iger is a great host, very knowledgeable but his true talent is making you feel welcome. He does his tours by the principle of the "5 senses" taking in a place utilizing all your senses - through the walk, the shopping , the cooking and the feasting. If you want to get a chance to see the people of Ulaanbaatar - take this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kyle_p
Sep 22, 2026
Unbelievably Warm and Informative Tour! - We had such a wonderful day with Ider. He’s warm, knowledgeable, and clearly loves sharing the Ulaanbaatar he calls home. His remarkable life story made the walk especially interesting, giving us a personal glimpse into both old and new Mongolia. Visiting his apartment was another highlight. Ider made us feel welcome right away. We learned to play Shagai, prepared Tsuivan from scratch, and then enjoyed the delicious meal we’d made together. The food was excellent, but the conversation and Ider’s hospitality made the day truly memorable. It was excellent value and one of the best experiences of our trip. If you’re visiting Ulaanbaatar, I can’t recommend spending a day with Ider highly enough. Six out of five stars!
Review provided by Viator
Q184bwkylep
Sep 22, 2026
Highlight of our trip to Mongolia - We had an excellent day with Ider. He’s friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic to share the Ulaanbaatar he knows. Hearing his remarkable life story added so much to the walk; it gave us a personal perspective on how Mongolia has changed and how its past remains part of everyday life. The visit to his apartment was just as memorable. Ider made us feel at home from the moment we arrived. We learned to play Shagai, made Tsuivan together from scratch, and sat down to a delicious meal we’d helped prepare. The food was fantastic, but Ider’s warmth and the conversations were what made the experience special. This was excellent value and one of the highlights of our trip. If you want to get to know Ulaanbaatar through someone who calls it home, spend a day with Ider. 6 out of 5 stars!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
240randy
Sep 22, 2026
Fun way to learn about UB - This walking tour and cooking class was very enjoyable. We learned about the city and locations to visit on our way to the host’s home. Ider was an excellent story teller and cooking instructor. We had a very fun day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dominique79
Sep 18, 2026
Highlight - My personal highlight of the short vacation! Ider, the tour guide, answers all questions in detail and provides deep insight into the everyday life and history of the Mongols.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karampot
Sep 16, 2026
Everyday life in Ulaanbaatar and history of Mongolian people - The tour was very educational in terms of the everyday life of people in Ulaanbaatar as well as the history of the country. We were able to visit the local markets for goods, including cashmere items. The cooking class was great with conversation on the culture and customs of Mongolian people. The Tsuivan was delicious and interesting to make. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor