12 Day Steppe Rider Horseback Riding Tour in Mongolia
Mongolia Horseback Riding Tour
This listing has one of the 10 most popular offers available in Mongolia
Traveling across Mongolia on horseback offers an authentic taste of the country's rich heritage.
Key information
- Horse Height Range: 15.7 hands
- Horse Breed: Mongolian
Highlights
- 7.5 days of horse riding
- Riding to Naiman Nuur or Eight Lakes
- Trotting through obstacle areas and forested mountain trails to more remote areas
- Exploring breathtaking nature without space and time limits
- Instructions about local riding techniques
- 11 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
Skill level
- Advanced
Styles
Accommodation
During the tour, you will stay at a centrally located three-star hotel for two nights in Ulaanbaatar, three nights in a ger camp, and six nights of camping. Wilderness camping with horses is one of the most rewarding experiences for riders. Throughout the six days of camping, View Mongolia will supply high-quality camping gear. They recommend bringing your own sleeping bags suitable for temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius; however, they can also provide sleeping bags if needed.
Program
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.
Location
The tour will take place in Mongolia.
Food
View Mongolia will serve meals as indicated in the itinerary.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
What's included
- Horse riding tour
- 11 nights accommodation
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Daily bottled water
- Arrival and departure transfers
- Luggage and riding horses
- English-speaking biking guide
- Support vehicle and transfer services
- Travel shower
- Entry fees to the museums and the national parks
- Camping gear and cooking equipment
What's not included
- Items of personal nature
- Alcoholic drinks, beverages, and bar bills
- Bar bills, laundry, and telephone calls
- Travel and medical insurance
- Visa fee
- Airfare
- Optional activities and additional services
- Single supplement fee (503 USD)
- Gratuity for the guides and drivers
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Chinggis Khaan International Airport
26 km away from your destination
Airport transfer
Transfer included
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN). Transfer from and to the airport is included. The driver will pick you up from the airport. Kindly provide View Mongolia with your arrival information, flight or train number, and arrival times. They will arrange the pick-up service, or should you need to be picked up from any of the hotels in Ulaanbaatar, please provide the information.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 25 days before arrival.
Reviews
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