Tourism has the potential to transform lives and communities when approached with intention and equity. In Mongolia, we saw an opportunity to harness this power for meaningful change—creating pathways for women to lead, prosper, and share their stories with the world.
Chandmana Erdene is a pioneering project we’re proud to call our own—a low-impact, community-based training centre offering an aspirational tourism programme for Mongolian women. It’s designed to create tangible and lasting change.
We believe that equitable, inclusive tourism is a powerful tool for long-term transformation. Through formal training, hands-on experience, and a supportive environment, we aim to empower Mongolian women—particularly those currently excluded from the benefits of tourism—to build meaningful careers. In doing so, we help boost incomes, strengthen communities, and offer travellers richer, more diverse perspectives of Mongolia.
Chandmana Erdene exists to uplift and empower Mongolian women—particularly those from marginalized urban areas and remote rural communities—by equipping them with the tools to build sustainable careers in tourism. We aim to bridge the gender gap in the workforce by providing the skills, confidence, and opportunities for women to thrive as leaders in tourism and in life—supporting their families, strengthening their communities, and safeguarding Mongolia’s cultural and natural heritage. Through collaboration and our circular approach to tourism, we are committed to building a shared future rooted in equity, sustainability, and lasting, meaningful change.
Chandmana Erdene is based in Bayanchandmani, a rural district in Töv Aimag, located 60 km northeast of Ulaanbaatar.
Situated close to public transport links and surrounded by small informal holiday camps used by Mongolian families, Chandmana Erdene is well-suited to its surroundings. We already own the land and have existing ties to the local community, including relatives of Eternal Landscapes who live in the area year-round.
A welcoming, single-story modular building—based on the Madrid design by local company forms the heart of our centre. Thoughtfully adapted to Mongolia’s climate and local context, it includes a kitchen, a flexible dining and lounge area that can also function as a classroom, staff accommodation, and a dedicated children’s zone to support women with childcare responsibilities.Thanks to the adaptable IsoHaus modular system, the building can be easily expanded in the future by adding a second floor should more space be required.
The sanitation facilities, also constructed by IsoHaus, are built on a non-sewered system, ensuring the safe and sustainable reuse or disposal of both solid and liquid waste.
Three self-contained guest pods—each with a private bathroom and shaded terrace—offer comfortable, private accommodation for our international visitors.Based on the Torino design by local company IsoHaus, these units are both functional and well-suited to the available land. Each includes integrated sanitation facilities, also constructed by IsoHaus, using a non-sewered system that ensures the safe and sustainable reuse or disposal of both solid and liquid waste.
A handmade, traditional Mongolian ger serves as our cultural centre and library, decorated in the traditional style with items sourced from local businesses and partner NGOs.
Open to both guests and the local community, the ger hosts free events, ceremonies, and gatherings—providing a welcoming space for cultural exchange and connection.It also offers a valuable learning opportunity for our female trainees who have grown up in urban environments, allowing them to explore the history, traditions, and cultural significance of the Mongolian ger.
The site features a 20x6m greenhouse, a hot composter, a root cellar, and small garden plots—all designed to support both food production and hands-on learning opportunities.
Rain barrels will be used throughout the camp to collect and reuse water, reinforcing our commitment to sustainable resource use.
This area will include recycling facilities for on-site waste sorting, following the principles of the 5Rs (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle) and aligned with waste management guidelines developed by EcoSoum Mongolia.
Outdoor amenities will include bike-friendly parking with free mountain bikes available for guests, walkways, a shaded patio with a fire pit, and solar-powered outdoor lighting.
Indoor features will reflect our commitment to local sourcing: carpets and rugs made by Mongolian producers, refillable dispensers with certified organic shampoo, soap, and shower gel from one of Mongolia’s few eco-certified brands, and waste bins with separate compartments for paper, glass, cans, and general waste. Each guest will also receive a complimentary filtered water bottle from our long-term partner, Water-to-Go, helping to reduce single-use plastic.
At Chandmana Erdene, sustainability isn’t an add-on—it’s the foundation of everything we do: socially, environmentally, and economically. We believe in building better.
We live and work in Mongolia, and we’ve operated as a registered, tax-paying company since 2010. That brings with it a responsibility—to the people, the land, and the future of the country we call home.
Chandmana Erdene exists to address inequality. Our training programme supports women from underrepresented urban and rural communities—offering skills, income, and a stronger voice.We are committed to fair wages, safe working conditions, and long-term empowerment. Women are not just participants—they shape and lead the project.
We acknowledge the contradiction of promoting international tourism during a climate emergency. Mongolia’s remoteness often makes flying unavoidable—but we take that responsibility seriously.
Mongolia also faces its own environmental challenges, particularly around waste management, sanitation, and limited recycling infrastructure—all of which are impacted by tourism.
As signatories of the Glasgow Declaration and Get Nature Positive, and with an annually updated Climate Action Plan, we are committed to real, measurable action:
Eco-construction using prefabricated and locally sourced materials to reduce waste
- Low-impact systems including water-saving technologies and greywater reuse
- Waste sorting and composting guided by the 5R principles and the guidelines of Ecosoum, a Mongolian organisation
- Education and training that frame sustainability and responsible tourism not as theory—but as lived, everyday practice
We aim to generate income for women while strengthening the local economy. Chandmana Erdene partners with local suppliers, entrepreneurs, and artisans—ensuring every interaction creates value for the community.The centre will offer services for both travellers and locals, generating self-sustaining income that supports future trainees and long-term impact.
There is a significant gender gap in labor force participation and leadership in the Mongolian economy, with women’s participation in the labor market actually decreasing by ten percent over the past 20 years” (The Asia Foundation, 2021). Tourism, when developed responsibly, can help reverse this trend by offering flexible, locally based opportunities that value women’s knowledge and skills. By prioritising inclusive hiring and long-term training, tourism can empower women, support livelihoods, and challenge traditional gender roles in Mongolia’s economy.
By working within and for the local community, Chandmana Erdene is dedicated to enhancing positive socio-economic outcomes through responsible tourism. We’re committed to supporting local livelihoods and creating meaningful opportunities—particularly for women of all ages (including experienced guides who no longer wish to spend weeks on the road), unemployed older men, and youth. Our approach ensures they are not only active participants in our tourism model but also direct beneficiaries of it. In doing so, we foster inclusive economic growth while strengthening both cultural identity and community resilience.
Since founding Eternal Landscapes in 2010, we’ve built inter-generational teams—pairing experienced male drivers with younger female trip assistants. This exchange of knowledge passes valuable skills across generations while also providing meaningful employment for those often overlooked in Mongolia’s rapidly changing tourism industry.
Meet Sodoo, one of our experienced drivers and a vital part of our team.
Tourism can serve as a powerful tool to support SDG 11. Through Chandmana Erdene, we aim to contribute to making the local community a better place to live, while also creating meaningful experiences for visitors that enhance—not erode—local value.
In Mongolia, waste is generally collected as commingled and the majority is buried—posing long-term environmental challenges. We will implement a community-based recycling system through Chandmana Erdene. Our aim is to not only reduce waste but also to inspire wider community participation—encouraging local families and businesses to become part of a more sustainable solution.
Tourism is a major contributor to global carbon emissions and must play a role in addressing the climate crisis. Mongolia has already been heavily impacted, with average temperatures rising by 2.07°C since 1940 and the ten warmest years on record occurring since 1997. As a tourism business in a country where most visitors must fly, we have a responsibility to minimise our impact. That’s why we’ve created a Climate Action Plan, signed the Glasgow Declaration, and are working to measure and balance our carbon footprint. At Chandmana Erdene, climate awareness and responsible tourism will be central to our training and education efforts.
Water stress is a growing global concern—and Mongolia is no exception. Tourism can place added pressure on limited water resources, especially in regions where local communities are already adapted to living within the natural constraints of their environment. At Chandmana Erdene, we aim to reduce our impact by limiting guest capacity, using a non-sewered sanitation system, and ensuring the safe and sustainable reuse or disposal of both solid and liquid waste.
Tourism can be a powerful tool in promoting economic integration, diversification, and more inclusive opportunities. Through Chandmana Erdene, we aim to create an environment that fosters greater understanding and connection between our Mongolian team (including trainees), our guests, and the local community, helping to bridge cultural gaps and support more equitable outcomes for all involved
Biodiversity is in crisis in Mongolia, as it is globally, and is closely tied to the climate emergency. In response, governments have committed to becoming nature-positive by 2030, taking urgent action to halt and reverse nature loss. Although we’re a small organisation, we’re a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration and a proud member of the Get Nature Positive movement—placing nature at the heart of how Chandmana Erdene will operate, including through its training programme.
