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(No availability) 12 Day Steppe Rider Horseback Riding Tour in Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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Mongolia Horseback Riding Tour
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Traveling across Mongolia on horseback offers an authentic taste of the country's rich heritage. 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 Khaan and his successors conquered half of the world in the 13th century.
Key information
- Horse Breed: Mongolian
Highlights
- 8.5 days of horse riding
- Ride to Naiman Nuur or Eight Lakes
- Timeless and fenceless horse riding in breathtaking nature
- Instruction about local riding techniques
- 11 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
- Camping and enjoying scenic nature
Skill level
- Intermediate
Styles
11 days with instruction
Group size: 5-12 participants
Airport transfer included:
Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport
Accommodation
Check-in Time:
14:00
Check-out Time:
12:00
During the tour, you will stay at a centrally located three-star hotel for two nights in Ulaanbaatar and three nights in a ger camp between the camping days. 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 Celcius; 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
Your 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- to three-accustom 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 on the horses and ride along the Orkhon River Valley.
- Accommodation: Camping
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: The landscape changes into the mountainous area and riding along the Orkhon River Valley
You will observe the landscapes 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 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/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. 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 hiking 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 days 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 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 burden areas. Cantering and trotting will help you to cover the distance faster when available. You can gallop on the steppes and in flatter areas if you wish.
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
Traveling Mongolia on horseback is a real taste of Mongolia. The strong Mongolian horses with a shoulder height of 1.6 meters may look like ponies. Even though, the horses played a significant role when Genghis Khaan and his successors conquered half of the world in the 13th century. On this horse riding tour, you will head to Naiman Nuur or Eight Lakes lies 2400 meters above sea level in the Khangai Mountain Range. This scenic place is accessible on horseback or hiking from the northern side.
The Eight Lakes are called Shireet, Mukhar, Khaliut, Bugat, Khaya, Duruu, Khuis, and Onon located 500 meters to three kilometers from each other. A volcanic eruption created the lakes. 11,500 hectares area of the Eight Lakes has been protected under state protection since 1992 and is being kept well due to its remoteness. The first half of your riding will take place in hilly steppes while the last days will be in mountainous and forested areas.
Visiting and learning about the distinctive way of nomadic life is an inseparable part of horseback adventures. Moreover, you 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.
Food
You will be served all meals as indicated in the itinerary included in the price.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- 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)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- Horse riding tour
- 11 nights accommodation
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Airport transfers
- Luggage and riding horses
- English-speaking biking guide
- Support vehicle and transfer services
- Daily bottled
- 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
- Gratuity for the guides and drivers
How to get there
Recommended Airports
ULN
Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport
11 km
Transfer included
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport (ULN). Transfer from and to the airport is included. View Mongolia 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.
Airport: Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport
Airport transfer included: Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
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.
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