Expedition leader Megan Hine (Source: Kensington)
WHY IT RATES: Kensington Expeditions’ new women-only Mongolia expedition ticks off all the boxes when it comes to immersive travel experiences tailored to female travelers. Led by veteran expedition leader Megan Hine, the trip will take travelers through Mongolia’s most remote and intriguing landscapes, offering a one-of-a-kind vacation experience. — Claudette Covey, Executive Retail Editor
Kensington Expeditions, part of Kensington’s Ultraluxe division, has announced an exclusive new women-only expedition across Mongolia led by internationally recognized expedition leader Megan Hine. Designed for women ready to step beyond their comfort zones and discover what they are capable of, the expedition will take place in fall 2026 with three distinct adventures through Northern Taiga, Altai Mountains and Gobi Desert, each priced from $14,000 per person.
Far removed from a traditional tour, the journey invites a small group of women to become active members of an expedition team as they travel through some of Mongolia’s most remote and extraordinary landscapes. Participants will cross vast wilderness by 4x4, horseback and on foot, learning practical expedition skills along the way while experiencing Mongolia through encounters with the people and cultures that have called these landscapes home for generations.
The expedition is divided into three distinct adventures spanning September 30 through November 4, 2026, with participants able to join one, two or all three phases.
The first leg ventures into the Northern Taiga, traveling from Ulaanbaatar across remote tracks, mountain passes and river crossings before continuing by horseback into the taiga to spend time alongside the Tsaatan, or Dukha, reindeer-herding community, whose traditional way of life remains closely connected to their herds and the taiga landscape.
The second leg crosses the Altai Mountains on one of Central Asia’s great overland journeys. Participants will travel deep into a landscape of glaciers, rugged peaks and immense wilderness, attempt an ascent of Friendship Peak and spend time with Kazakh eagle hunters whose traditions remain an integral part of life in the region.
The final segment heads into the Gobi Desert, where the expedition crosses vast plains, dramatic canyons and towering sand dunes by 4x4. Along the way, participants will meet nomadic Bactrian camel-herding families, climb the Khongoryn Els Singing Dunes and celebrate the completion of the journey at an iconic lodge.
“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,” said Neal Bateman, Head of Kensington Expeditions. “Mongolia provides an extraordinary setting for that kind of experience, and Megan is an exceptional leader. This is not about arriving as an experienced adventurer. It is about arriving with curiosity, resilience and a willingness to take on something new.”
Participants do not need previous expedition experience, 4x4 driving skills or a high level of athletic ability. Instead, the experience is designed to teach them along the way. Expedition members will develop skills including off-road driving, vehicle recovery, navigation, expedition planning, campcraft, teamwork, decision-making and problem-solving in remote environments.
At the heart of the project is a desire to widen the idea of who adventure and expedition are for. The aim is not to create an easier version of expedition for women, but to create an environment in which women from different backgrounds and levels of experience are given the opportunity, skills and support to take on the real thing.
This is a participatory expedition rather than a conventional guided tour, with each woman becoming part of the expedition team and contributing to the day-to-day decisions and tasks required to keep the journey moving.
Leading the journey is Megan Hine, who brings more than 20 years of experience leading complex expeditions and remote film productions around the world. An internationally recognized expedition leader and strategic risk specialist, Hine has worked with broadcasters including National Geographic, Netflix, Amazon and the BBC. Her approach combines expedition leadership, human behavior, risk management and storytelling to create ambitious but carefully planned adventures where the challenge is real but never manufactured.
“Mongolia is the kind of place that asks something of you,” said Hine. “This expedition is about bringing together women who are curious enough to say yes to something they may never have imagined themselves doing. They don’t need to arrive knowing how to drive off-road, navigate wilderness or live on expedition. We’ll teach them. What matters is their willingness to learn, support one another and see what becomes possible when they move beyond the familiar.”
Adding another dimension to the experience, the expedition will be professionally filmed as part of a documentary series focused on real women undertaking a real expedition. Rather than scripted scenarios or manufactured drama, the series will capture the challenges, humor, relationships and personal discoveries that unfold naturally along the journey.
Accommodations will range from the Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar to traditional gers and expedition camps beneath Mongolia’s famously dark skies. The experience includes professional expedition leadership, local guides, 4x4 expedition vehicles, accommodations and meals, camping equipment where required, domestic flights between changeovers, permits, safety and medical planning, off-road driving instruction and cultural immersion experiences.
The new expedition builds on Kensington’s growing collection of journeys to Mongolia, offering additional ways for travelers to experience the country’s vast landscapes and rich nomadic traditions. Essential Mongolia combines Ulaanbaatar with Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, with experiences ranging from exploring the capital’s monasteries and museums to staying in a remote ger lodge, learning traditional archery and cooking Mongolian specialties. Vast Skies of Mongolia ventures farther into the country, pairing Ulaanbaatar and Gorkhi-Terelj with the Gobi Desert, where travelers can ride horseback along the Tuul River, explore the Gobi’s famed “singing” dunes and experience Mongolia’s nomadic heritage through privately guided cultural encounters.
Kensington also offers an itinerary combining Seoul and the Mongolian Steppe for travelers looking to experience Mongolia as part of a broader journey through Asia.
The Mongolia Women’s Expedition with Megan Hine is priced from $14,000 per person, per expedition leg, with limited places available. International airfare, travel insurance, personal clothing and spending, and visas where applicable are not included.
Travelers will have additional opportunities to explore alongside Hine when she leads a Kensington Expeditions journey through Peru in Spring 2027 as well as a journey to Argentina, open to both men and women.
SOURCE: Kensington Expeditions press release
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