Our story
Our story begins with a documentary. In 2019, Arthur watched Hamid Sardar’s Le Cavalier Mongol (The Bounty Hunter of Mongolia). The film follows Shukhert, a horseman and tracker from the Darkhad Valley in northern Mongolia, known for his exceptional skill with horses.
The documentary brought Arthur to Mongolia, eager to learn what he had seen. He spent the following year living and working with Shukhert and his family in the countryside, learning from him and sharing their nomadic way of life. After that year, and after meeting Daria, Arthur decided to stay in Mongolia.
Artus Expeditions grew from that experience and what Arthur and Daria wanted to share with others. Accompanying travellers to discover Mongolia’s vast steppes, forests, mountains. Travelling through them and experiencing the freedom that they inspire.
From there came years spent travelling across the country: long drives through the steppe, time with local families and trackers, and days spent working in the field. Before there were itineraries, there were reserves, research centres, local guides, rangers, families and long days spent looking for wildlife.
Over time, these journeys helped us discover new places, build friendships with people we trust and understand what travelling through Mongolia could be. We wanted to offer something different from the usual way the country is travelled: smaller journeys where wildlife, landscapes and local communities are not separate parts of an itinerary, but part of the same place.
Wildlife is at the centre of what we do, but a good expedition depends on much more than finding an animal. We test our itineraries ourselves, spend time in the places where we work and adjust each journey based on our own experience in the field.
We keep our groups small so that we can remain flexible and give each traveller the time and attention they need. We use reliable vehicles and good-quality field and camping equipment suited to Mongolia’s conditions. Before departure, we are available to answer questions and make sure every traveller is properly prepared and knows what to expect.
We work with local guides, trackers, rangers, researchers and families who know these places well. Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, so our expeditions are built around patience, time in the field and the wider experience of travelling through Mongolia.
