Duration

8 days / 8 nights

Days of riding

3 days total

Difficulty

Moderate

Price

Per person – £1000

≥ 2 people £950

 ≥ 4 people £850

Start planning your adventure!

Dates

10th to 19th July 2024 (Naadam Festival extension)

26th Sep to 7th Oct 2024 (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 makes visiting nomadic families both a humbling and freeing experience.

This tour is perfect for those that want to get a taste of Mongolian’s unique modern culture as well as learning about its fascinating ancient history. This tour takes you riding with nomads on the vast Mongolian steppe, walking amongst volcanic landscapes and visits some of Mongolia’s most important historic sites.

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Itinerary 

Day 1. Airport transfer and city tour.

Day 2. Explore the Mini Gobi and The Ancient City of Khar Khorum.

Day 3-5. Meet local herders and ride across the vast steppe.

Day 6. Sit back and relax in some revitalising hot springs.

Day 7. Visit Khorgiin Togoo’s volcanic terrains and beautiful white lake.

Day 8. Return to Ulaanbaatar and say your farewells.

Per person – £1000

≥ 2 people £950

 ≥ 4 people £850

Start planning your adventure!

Learn more +44 (0) 7955285720

Full Itinerary

Deserts and Ancient Cities

Day 1. Your guide for the tour will pick you from Ulaanbaatar airport or train station and transfer to your hotel so you can drop your bags and relax. Today we have planned a leisurely city tour starting with Gandan Monastery that is just round the corner from your hotel.

Day 2. Little deserts and a fascinating history.  As we leave Ulaanbaaar behind it is a short drive to the Mini Gobi an off shoot of the greater Gobi Desert. Much of the wildlife here is typical of the Gobi Desert and its a great stop to see two humped Bactrian camels and explore the sand dunes on our way to Khar Korum. Full of history Khar Korum was the location of the “Kuriltai” the meeting of clans that elected Chinggis (Genghis) to supreme Khan. It is also the location of the colourful Erdene Zuu one of Mongolia’s most important Buddihist monasteries. 

Multi-day Horse Trekking

Day 3. Green as far as the eye can see, as we leave all paved roads behind on the way to meet our nomadic family you will start to get a sense of just how sparsly populated Mongolia is. Upon arrival you will be invited into the families Ger for a meet and greet as well as tea and snacks. After taking your fill we will head outside to be introduced to the horses. Giving them a bit of time to get used to us and us a feel for which might be our trusted steed tomorrow mourning. 

Day 4. Setting out early the next mouring you will experience Mongolia like a true nomad as you saddle up and ride out into the vast steppe. We will be joined by our nomadic host who will take care of the horses and teaching us how to ride like a true nomad. We will also be followed by our support team and vehicle who will look after and carry our stuff for us during the ride, leaving us to focus on enjoying the ride. 

Day 5. Open steppe and green woodland. Today we ride through changing scenery to a secluded monestary on a remote mountain.  The varied terrain makes for a fantastic day of riding while you explore with your travel companions. 

Hot Springs and Extinct Volcanos

Day 6. A bit of rest and relaxation. After a couple of days of riding and saying your farewells to your nomadic hosts we set out across the steppe seek natural hot springs. Its a half day drive but we will be stopping off to take some amazing photos of the landscape and climb rocky outcrops. 

Day 7. A shimmering lake and an extinct volcano. Not far from the hot springs we will be staying a Ger camp on the shores of the shimmering ‘White Lake’. The lake is surrounded by a volcanic landscape and area is perfect for walking and trekking. The extinct volcano of Khorgiin Togoo is not far away and there are some great walks around the lake. 

Day 8. Return to Ulaanbaatar where your guide will treat you to dinner in one of the capitals bustling restaurants. 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

 Naadam festival – 11th July to 12th July. The whole country comes alive with dancing and music for Mongolia’s most significant cultural event. Naadam is a celebration of Mongolia’s three traditional sports; horse riding, archery and wrestling. Click here to find out more about Naadam.

Eagle Hunters Festival – 4th September to 6th October. 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 – £1000

≥ 2 people £950

 ≥ 4 people £850