12 jours Steppe Rider : randonnée équestre en Mongolie

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Ulaanbaatar

Your driver meets you at the airport and transfers you to a centrally located hotel. Have a free day to relax and discover the city on your own while staying in a hotel in a good location.

• Accommodation: three-star hotel

Day 2: Leave Ulaanbaatar, meet horse-herding nomads, and get accustomed to your horses

The countryside tour will begin with a trip to Elsentasarhai. This unique location showcases the diverse features of the Gobi Desert, mountain steppes, and grasslands all in one area. You will arrive at Elsentasarkhai by lunchtime, where you can enjoy an authentic Mongolian barbecue. Next, you will see how the equestrians catch the horses, get instruction about local riding techniques, the best way to treat Mongol horses, their character, and have a two- or three-hour custom riding in the semi-desert area of Elsentasarkhai. Continue the journey to Kharkhorin and stay overnight in a ger camp.

• Accommodation: Ger camp
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 3: Visit Erdenezuu Monastery and the riding starts heading to Naiman Nuur or Eight Lakes

The stunning Erdenezuu monastery coexists with Kharkhorin town in the Orkhon River Valley. The monastery was built on the ruins of the ancient Mongolian capital, Kharkhorum, using old materials from the destroyed city. Erdenezuu is the first and the largest monastery in Mongolia and has a history of over 400 years. See some valuable religious items in the temple museum and its stunning architecture. Seeing some ancient city remains and visiting the Kharkhorin Museum is part of today’s tour. After lunch, you mount the horses and ride along the Orkhon River Valley.

• Accommodation: Camping
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 4: The landscape changes into a mountainous area, and riding along the Orkhon River Valley

You will observe that the landscapes are turning more grassy, mountainous, and tree-covered, with countless herds of animals. The riding continues along the Orkhon River. You will notice that the landscapes are becoming more grassy, mountainous, and covered with trees, along with countless herds of animals. The journey continues alongside the Orkhon River. You can choose to visit as many nomadic families as you wish. You will spend the night in a tent in the Orkhon River Valley. Embrace the magic of a night spent in a tent, surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Orkhon River Valley.

• Accommodation: Camping
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 5: Riding to Ulaantsutgalan waterfall

Ulaantsutgalan is the largest waterfall in central Mongolia, dropping 24 meters from a lava cliff. Today, you will see more yaks than sheep, goats, and horses than in the past few days. The ride takes place along basalt-covered valleys that cross some rivers and streams. Arrive at Ulaantsutgalan in the late afternoon and discover the beautiful area and lava cliffs. If you can swim well, consider challenging yourself by swimming near the waterfall. You will spend the night in a tent close to the waterfall.

• Accommodation: Camping
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 6: Reach the main destination, Eight Lakes or Naiman Nuur

The riding becomes more challenging as you ride through more obstacle areas and forested mountain trails into more remoteness. Even though nature will be pristine and untouched. You will reach your leading destination, Eight Lakes. Overnight in the tent on the shore of Khuis Lake.

• Accommodation: Camping
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 7: Ride between the lakes and relax

It is a day to relax or do optional activities such as riding or walking between the beautiful lakes, walking around, watching birds and flowers, etc.

• Accommodation: Camping
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 8: Ride back from the mountain

Today, you will ride back into the Buureg Valley to meet the support vehicle. After that, continue riding to a ger located 5 km beyond the Ulaantsutgalan waterfall and refresh from the mountain adventures.

• Accommodation: Ger camp
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 9: Riding to Shiveet Ulaan Mountain

The scenic ride continues through the beautiful Orkhon Valley. Arrive at the base of the forested Shiveet Ulaan Mountain. Stay overnight in a tent.

• Accommodation: Camping
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 10: Hiking to Tovkhon Monastery, drive to Ugii Lake

In the morning, you will hike or ride to the summit of Shiveet Ulaan Mountain to visit Tovkhon Monastery. This monastery is located at the 2,312-meter rocky peak of the forest-covered Shiveet Ulaan Mountain. Visit the monastery and the meditation caves. Vistas are fascinating from the top of the mountain. Return to the campsite, lunch, and time to say goodbye to the horses and equestrian staff. The journey continues with a drive to Ugii Lake, where you will stay overnight at a ger camp, enjoying the picturesque view of the lake and the surrounding mountain steppe.

• Accommodation: Ger Camp
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 11: Drive back to Ulaanbaatar

You will arrive in Ulaanbaatar around lunchtime. After you have checked into your hotel, the afternoon is yours to explore and discover this fascinating city's vibrant culture and sights.

Accommodation: Three-star hotel

• Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Day 12: Transfer to the airport or railway station

They will transfer you to the airport or railway station.

• Meals: Breakfast

About the tour

On this horseback riding tour, you will journey to Naiman Nuur, also known as the Eight Lakes, located 2,400 meters above sea level in the Khangai Mountain Range. This beautiful area can be reached by horseback or on foot from the north side. The Eight Lakes are called Shireet, Mukhar, Khaliut, Bugat, Khaya, Duruu, Khuis, and Onon, located 500 meters to three kilometers from each other. The first half of your ride will take place on hilly steppes, while the last half will be in mountainous and forested areas. Visiting and learning about the distinctive way of nomadic life is an inseparable part of your horseback adventures.

Moreover, you can visit and see the top attractions of central Mongolia, except for the horseback tour. The attractions are the Elsentasarkhai semi-desert, Kharkhorin and Edenezuu Monastery in the Orkhon Valley, Tovkhon Monastery, Ulaantsutgalan waterfall, and Ugii Lake. The 12-day tour includes eight-day horseback riding adventures designed for advanced riders. Depending on the terrain, View Mongolia has planned a maximum of 35 to 45 kilometers of riding daily. An optional ride is available after they set up camp for those who want to ride more than 40 kilometers.

A support vehicle will accompany you for five of the eight riding days, allowing riders to choose their preferred distance and drive if necessary. You will set up your tents after approximately seven to eight hours of riding, including one to one and a half hours for a field lunch and time to relax. Since you start the tour in the morning, you will have plenty of free time in the evenings.

The equestrian and guide will instruct on the local riding techniques, the best ways to treat Mongol horses, and their character at the beginning of the tour. You ride at walking speed in the burden areas. Cantering and trotting will help you to cover the distance faster when available. You can gallop on the steppes and in flat areas if you wish.

Horses

The strong Mongolian horses, which stand about 1.6 meters tall at the shoulder, may resemble ponies; however, they played a significant role when Genghis Khan and his successors conquered half of the world in the 13th century.

Guides

Most of the guides are English-speaking, but they also have guides who speak German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and Japanese. They are all friendly and helpful, most born and raised in the countryside. As a result, they possess excellent knowledge about all aspects of Mongolia and are skilled in horse trekking, with at least three years of guiding experience.

In addition to your interpreter-guide, one or more local nomad men will accompany you as equestrians, depending on the number of riders in your group. Your guide will also cook for small groups of two or four people. If your group exceeds four people, they will provide a separate cook.