Mongolia
THE GATES OF ŚAMBHĀLA
August 12 - 26, 2026
With Dr. Nida and Ian Baker
THE GATES OF ŚAMBHĀLA
A VAJRA PATH PILGRIMAGE IN MONGOLIA
From the Gobi Desert to the Altai Mountain
August 12 – 26, 2026
‘Let your wisdom blaze brighter than the sun, and your insight be as boundless as the endless sky.’
–Noyon Khutuktu Dazan Ravjaa (1803–1857)
Join Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, Dr. Ian Baker, and other facilitators on an expedition across the Mongolian plateau, exploring the intricacies of the Kālacakra Tantra whereby cosmic and socio-historical events correspond to transformative processes in the bodymind, alterable by yogic techniques of inner alchemy leading to perfect Buddhahood—as encoded in accounts of Śambhāla. From Ulaanbaatar to the outer portal to Śambhāla in the Gobi Desert to the inner gates in the glacier-covered Altai Mountains, we will meet with indigenous wisdom holders, shamans, lamas, and practitioners of traditional Mongolian medicine, learning how to open the innermost gates of timeless awareness while exploring one of the last living nomadic cultures on earth and its vibrant spiritual heritage.
This pilgrimage across Mongolia’s vast landscapes and wisdom traditions is an invitation into the living mystery of Śambhāla — understood not as a mythical place, but as a state of awakening cultivated through relationship with land, lineage, and practice. Mongolia, home to just 3.5 million people spread across a territory the size of Western Europe, is a land of astonishing spatial scale, where nomadic culture and sacred landscapes endure in remarkable continuity. The journey encompasses Mongolia’s Buddhist heartlands and desert monasteries and continues to the primordial shamanic landscapes of the Altai, the ancient cradle of Tengrism, Mongolia’s cosmology rooted in sky, earth, water, and ancestral spirits.
The Vajra Path pilgrimage offers an immersion into one of the last living nomadic cultures on earth. Under the Eternal Blue Sky (Munkh Khökh Tenger), half of Mongolia’s population continues to live seasonally in gers (traditional yurts), guided by ecological intelligence, ritual reciprocity, and ancestral memory. This journey offers rare access to elemental wisdom and embodied spiritual practice, as revealed in the inner yogic tradition of the Kālacakra Tantra, which is said to have emerged from Śambhāla.
Across desert, steppe, forest, and high mountains, participants will explore how Tengrism, shamanism, Tantric Buddhism, and traditional medicine have shaped Mongolian philosophy, healing, art, and culture for centuries. Activities include meditation and yogic practices, mountain hiking and immersive nature exploration, horse and camel riding, and engagement with Buddhist masters, traditional tantric healers, shamans, and eagle hunters offering both contemplative and experiential approaches to understanding Mongolia’s living spiritual traditions. Core teachings from the Kālacakra Tantra and Śambhāla tradition will be integrated throughout the trip.
Consice Itinerary
Aug. 12 – Ulaanbaatar – Arrival and grounding in Mongolia’s spiritual landscape through Buddhist and shamanic traditions, opening the journey with intention and welcome.
Aug. 13 – Journey to the Gobi – Teachings on Buddhist healing traditions followed by a deep transition into the Gobi Desert, arriving at the sacred energy center of Khamriin Khiid.
Aug. 14 – Khamriin Khiid – Immersion in Kalachakra teachings, ritual practice, and sacred landscapes connected to Śambhāla and the visionary legacy of Danzanravjaa.
Aug. 15 – Gobi to Terelj – Return north through the steppe, meeting nomadic herders and entering the forested mountains of Terelj for rest and integration.
Aug. 16 – Terelj National Park - (Dakini Day) – Meditation at Aryabal Monastery, encounters with sacred rock formations, and an evening of shamanic ritual in nature.
Aug. 17 – Mini Gobi – Desert walking, camel riding, and meditation in the meeting place of dunes and grasslands, with insights into Mongolia’s ancient monastic heritage.
Aug. 18 – Kharkhorin – Exploration of traditional Mongolian tantric medicine and arrival at the historic crossroads of the Mongol Empire and Silk Road cultures.
Aug. 19 – Erdene Zuu & Steppe – Teachings on windhorse energy at Mongolia’s oldest monastery, followed by encounters with wild horses in Khustai National Park.
Aug. 20 – Ulaanbaatar – A day of rest and personal integration, offering space for reflection, healing, and preparation for the Altai journey.
Aug. 21 – Altai Tavan Bogd – Flight to western Mongolia and entry into the sacred Altai Mountains, encountering Kazakh shamanic traditions and protector rituals.
Aug. 22 – Altai Peaks & Glacier – Rituals at sacred ovoos and a journey toward Potanin Glacier, reflecting on the living relationship between land, spirits, and climate.
Aug. 23 – Altai Valleys – Connection with water spirits, ancient rock art, and nomadic life through time spent with an eagle hunter family.
Aug. 24 – Altai to Ulgii – Visits to high mountain lakes and Kazakh villages, deepening understanding of nomadic culture and ancestral traditions.
Aug. 25 – Return & Closing – Return to Ulaanbaatar for final integration, closing circle, and farewell celebration of the journey.
Aug. 26 - Departures – Transfer to Ulaanbaatar International Airport.
*Download the complete itinerary for a more detailed day by day in a PDF file:
Logistics
Travel Price 15-days Journey to Mongolia:
- Twin Occupancy: US$ 6,250
- Single Occupancy: US$ 6,950
To reserve a place, we ask for an advance payment of $2,500 or the full payment. The remaining amount should be fully paid by July 1st.
Included:
- All accommodations
- All meals
- All land transportation
- Local guides and translators
- Two domestic flights
- All teachings and related materials
Not Included:
- Optional travel insurance
- International airfare to Ulaan Baatar
- Customary gratuities to local guides and drivers
- Personal expenses, laundry, alcoholic beverages
To sign up or ask any question, please write to: thevajrapath@gmail.com
* Download the PDF for more details
on logistics and payment methods:
* If you choose to cancel your participation in the Gates of Śambhāla journey, you may receive a full refund up until July 1, 2026, minus a $300 processing fee. After July 1st, no refund will be possible.
Sign Up for the trip
To sign up or ask any question, please write to: thevajrapath@gmail.com
For most common questions, download the FAQ pdf, HERE.