Duration
8 days / 8 nights
Days of riding
3 days total
Difficulty
Moderate
Price
Per person – £1100
≥ 2 people £1000
≥ 4 people £900
Dates
17th to 25th August 2025
18th to 30th September 2025 (Eagle Festival extension)
Introduction
If you have never seen Central Mongolia you have never seen how beautiful open spaces can be. The Eurasian steppe of Central Mongolia is one of the most beautiful and impressive spaces in the world. Many of Mongolia’s traditional nomadic people live on this vast steppe and their connection to their surroundings and nature is a humbling experience in our modern world.
We will be exploring the beautiful Khangai mountain range on this trip. Visiting a local nomadic family and making the most of the beautiful scenery by horsetrekking and wild camping in the great outdoors.
Itinerary
Day 1. Airport transfer and city tour.
Day 2. Drive to Orkon vally and go camel riding in the Mini Gobi Desert.
Day 3-5. Nomadic experience with local herders and horse trekking in the vast Mongolian Steppe.
Day 6. Rest and relax after a busy few days in some revitalising hot springs.
Day 7. Drive to Kharakorum Ancient captial of Mongolia and visit the museum and Erdene Zuu Monestry.
Day 8. Return to Ulaanbaatar for final meal all together.
Per person – £1100
≥ 2 people £1000
≥ 4 people £900
Full Itinerary
Arrival and Mini Gobi
Day 1. Airport transfer to your hotel, and relax. Our UB Guest House is a 2-minute walk from the Gandan Monastery, 15 minutes to the state department store, and 30 minutes to the city centre and Government Buildings, which you can explore at your own leisure. That evening, once everyone has arrived, we will go over some information you will need for the trip and prepare for your adventure. We offer airport transfers 24 hours before and after the trip if you prefer to arrive earlier.
Day 2. Today we drive to the Orkon Valley where we will start our horse trekking adventure. To avoid morning traffic in UB we aim to leave at 7:00. The drive is 7/8hrs, 6hrs on paved roads, 1/2hrs on dirt tracks/offroad. The view of the vast landscapes on the way is mesmerising and we will break up the journey with stops to take photos and ride camels in the Mini Gobi en route. An offshoot of the Larger Gobi Desert 100km to our South the Mini Gobi is home to many of the flora and fauna of the larger Gobi desert, including the unique two-humped Bactrian camel we will be riding. These camels are unique to Mongolia and only a few other countries. With our guide, we will spend an hour exploring the dunes and taking pictures before enjoying lunch and continuing to the Orkon Valley and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Horse Trekking
Day 3. Mongolia is the land of the horse and there is no better way to explore this country than in the saddle. Today we will meet with local herders and their horses to start our adventure. Either at the start of the ride or during the first day we will visit the herder’s Ger camp, where they will welcome us in and show us their home. Depending on the family we may also be fed and there is a good chance you will get your first taste of a traditional Mongolia BBQ. After meeting the nomadic family we will start riding deeper into the Khangai mountain park. This area is known for its lush forest-steppe landscapes and is the source of many large rivers like the Orkon. At this time of year, many of the trees will be turning a vibrant goldy yellow which makes the woodland sections all the more beautiful. Over the next few days, we will be exploring this area, Wild Camping as we go and enjoying the beauty and freedoms this landscape offers.
Day 4. Experience Mongolia like a true nomad as you saddle up and ride across the vast steppe. We will be joined by our nomadic host who will take care of the horses and teach us how to ride like a true nomad on our journey. The Mongolian steppe is the land of horses and this landscape is absolute heaven to ride.
Day 5. Each night we will choose a suitable camp, prepare a fire and take in the beauty of this remote landscape. On our final day of riding, we will have our last meal with our nomadic hosts who will leave us in the morning to head back home. Mongolia has almost no light pollution so remember to do some stargazing as it is one of the best places in the Northern Hemisphere to see the night sky.
Hot Springs and Ancient Cities
Day 6. After a few days of riding, we start our journey to the Tsenkher natural hot springs. We are back in the vehicles for this and depending on where our riding adventure has taken us and local conditions the journey time may vary. The springs are part of the Khangai mountain park and once we arrive we will be able to rest our weary limbs in the healing waters and time permitting explore the surrounding valleys and woodland. We will stay at one of the local Ger camps here with fire attendants to keep our Ger nice and cosy.
Day 7. After perhaps another dip in the healing waters we drive to Kharakorum (the site of Mongolia’s Ancient Capital). It is a 2hr/3hr drive on a mix of dirt and paved roads. Once we arrive we will visit the museum on local history. It is a fantastic museum with artefacts dating as far back as the Stone Age and a model of what the Ancient capital used to look like in its heyday. Unfortunately, most of the city was destroyed, partially rebuilt as a monastery and destroyed again but today a few buildings do remain and it is still an active monastery with roughly 100 monks at the Erdene Zuu Monastery complex inside.
Day 8. Return drive to Ulaanbaatar 5/6hrs on paved roads. Rest and relax before we meet for a final meal together and prepare for our onward journeys. We offer airport transfers 24 hours before and after the trip so let us know if you need a lift to the airport. We thank you for joining us and hope to see you again.
Tour Details
Ger camping: The traditional Mongolian yurt is called a Ger. When near towns or settlements we will be staying in Ger camps which often provide running water and on occasion clothes washing services although this is not a guarantee. The Ger is the perfect home for a nomad because it can be taken down and erected extreamly quickly. They provide enough space for a family and are well insulated. A single wood burner can make one feel like a sauna if the logs are piled on enough and provide a family with a place to cook.
Wild camping: We will be spending a lot of time in remote areas during this tour and for most of the trekking sections we will be wild camping. Wild camping is one of the top reasons to visit Mongolia as it is completely free to roam meaning we can pitch our tents anywhere and pick only the best places to stay. There is also almost no light pollution, very little cloud cover and most of the country is at over 1500m which makes Mongolia one of the best locations on earth for stargazing. While wild camping food will be cooked for you by our chef on the campfire. The campfire will be kept lit into the night for you to stay up and see the stars or tell stories with your fellow travellers. Tents are provided but please bring your own sleeping bags or roll mats.
Washing and water: Modern washing facilities in the Mongolian countryside can be limited therefore we opt for a more traditional style. In most cases, water is available from rivers and lakes for washing. This water can be heated up on the fire for basic body and clothes washing or you can go for a swim. If you do swim we ask that you don’t use any products as they can change the chemical make-up of the waterway. If you are using water collected from rivers please check the label and bring soaps and detergents that are natural and biodegradable. Many of Mongolia’s rivers and lakes are so clean they are considered safe to drink by UK standards without treatment, so we would like to keep it that way. For travellers, we supply bottled water and despite the access to mostly clean water we recommend filtering or boiling any water you drink from waterways for at least 1 minute before you drink it. We cannot guarantee it is safe without testing and we don’t want anyone to get sick.
Temperatures and Weather: Mongolia is known as “The Land of Blue Sky” due to its low annual rainfall and its affinity for beautifully blue cloudless skies. The weather can change quickly however and the summer months of June, July and August do see more rainfall so we still recommend waterproofs as we will be spending a lot of time outdoors. More often than not the weather is glorious but best be prepared. Daytime temperatures during the summer range between 20℃ and 30℃ but the nights can get cold and they can range as much as 5℃ to 20℃. The lower temperatures tend to occur early (May-June) and late in the season (August-September) and altitude is a factor. We recommend bringing a four-seasons sleeping bag and roll mat with you in case the nights do get chilly. We often bring extra bedding for anyone who does get cold but please do not rely on this.
Horse Riding: Riding experience is not necessary. A sense of adventure and a can-do attitude is all you need. Our local nomadic guides are expert horse handlers and have a wealth of knowledge to keep you safe during the ride and instruct you on your riding style. If you tire of riding we have a support vehicle on hand which will carry all our equipment and pick you up should you require it. We aim to ride for about 6 hours a day and cover about 20-30km which may sound like a lot but is easily achievable even for beginners at a horses walking pace. For more experienced riders there is plenty of opportunity to explore the surrounding wilderness and we always hire some extra local guides so you can break off and feel the wind in your hair if you choose.
If you would like to know more about this tour please give us a call. We are always happy to answer your questions.
Info on Extras
Eagle Hunters Festival – 18th to 30th September 2025. Fly to Ulgii the capital of the Kazak eagle hunters and witness the annual competition for greatest Eagle Hunter. Click here to find out more about this tour.
Nature ♦♦♦♦◊
Culture and people ♦♦♦♦◊
Adventure ♦♦♦♦◊
Includes:
Hotel guest house in Ulaanbaatar (optional)
Overnights in Gers and tents
Three meal a day
English speaking guide
Support staff
Permits
All activities
Excludes:
International flight
Travel insurance
Personal sleeping bag and role mat (for the trek and family visit)
Per person – £1100
≥ 2 people £1000
≥ 4 people £900