Trip highlights:
- Various landscapes such as steppe, forest, river valleys, etc.
- Meet nomad families, participate in their daily lifestyles and enjoy their hospitality
- A field team that who will look out and provide services for each and every member
- Visit the famous and historical Orkhon valley, Bayangobi, worshipped Khugnu Khaan Mountain, and Mongolia’s ancient capital Kharkhorin city.
Duration: 15 days and 14 nights
Horse riding: 8 days
Activity: We will travel about 150 kilometers on dirt road, and about 250 kilometers on paved road. We will spend approximately 4 to 5 hours horseback riding. We will provide guidance and training to those who are riding a horse for the first time.
Accommodation: 2 nights in hotel, 2 nights in ger camp, 10 nights in tent
Transportation: 4*4 Russian van. The cars will follow as we are horseback riding for safety.
Number of participants: Min – 2 PAX, Max – 12 PAX
Tour code: MAT003-02
Chinggis Khaan established the largest empire known to man and during this trip, you will have the chance to gallop through the steppe where Chinggis and his armies galloped, and visit the Orkhon Valley where Chinggis Khaan established the capital of his empire. We will ride through the open steppes, high mountains, forests, and sand dunes, visit nomadic families.
Day 1: An introductory city tour through Ulaanbaatar, where we will visit sites such as Gandan-tegchilen monastery, National Museum of Mongolia where you will learn about the history of Mongolia, and other sites such as Zanabazar fine arts museum will allow you to see the culture of Mongolia.
Day 2: In the morning, we will head west out of Ulaanbaatar and arrive at ancient capital Kharkhorin city. As we come near to the city, we will see a sand dune in the middle of the steppe known as Elsen tasakhai. We will have a chance to ride camels here. We will stay overnight in a ger.
Day 3: In the morning we will visit Erdenezuu monastery. Erdenezuu monastery, built on top of the ruins of Kharkhorin city, was the first and biggest Buddhist temple built in Mongolia. Although ruined during the Communist period, it operates as a museum today. In the evening, we will meet our horses and herders at Ulaan ereg. Overnight in tent.
Day 4: Today will be our first day on horseback. During our horseback riding, we will visit a nomad family and see their daily lifestyle and activities. You will have a chance to drink traditional milk tea and airag and eat milk curd.
Day 5: On this day, we will continue our horseback riding through Orkhon Valley, a cultural region which contains many archeological finds such as deer stones, man stones, burial sites, and ancient city ruins dating back to the 6th century. In the evening, we will have a bon fire in the wild, and stay in a tent at the edge of the forest.
Day 6: Today we will see an amazing valley covered in fossilized magma. Then we will tent behind Bayan Mountain in Tsagaan Azarga valley. Bayan Mountain protects the delta of Khuisiin naiman nuur (8 Lakes of the Navel), beautiful lakes which were created by volcanic eruptions centuries ago. We will stay overnight in a tent.
Day 7: In the morning, we will ride to the top of a mountain pass located on the border of three provinces. From here, the beauty of Tsagaan Azarga valley can be fully appreciated. After lunch, we will continue riding until we come to our tent site. Overnight in tent.
Day 8: This day we will cover the longest distance. We will ride through 8 Lakes National Park visiting each of the lakes named Duruu, Huis, Bugat, Shireet, Shanaa and Khaya. The lakes are located from 500 m to 3 km from each other. We will stay overnight in tent
Days 9, 10: We will ride towards Uliastai River. The ride will take us through landscapes such as steppe, forest and mountain. We will pass by nomad families, grazing livestock, and all kinds of flora and fauna. Overnight in tent.
Day 11: Our last day of horseback riding. We will arrive at Orkhon waterfall. Orkhon waterfall is a 24 m high waterfall which was formed by a combination of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes about 20,000 years ago. We will camp on the river bank. In the evening, we will release the horses back into the nature. Overnight in tent.
Day 12: Today, we will drive by car towards the mountain where Tuvkhun monastery is located. Tuvkhun monastery was where religious figure Zanabazar lived, worked and meditated and created the Soyombo. We will have a chance to visit Mother’s womb cave, where those who enter are purified and are born again. We will stay in a tent.
Day 13: Today we will walk through Khugnu Khaan Mountain and visit Uvgun monastery. This mountain is located north from Elsen tasarkhai. Many wild animals and flowers can be observed here. Junipers and dogwood grow in the mountain, and animals such as argali, ibex and vultures live here as well. We will stay overnight in ger camp.
Day 14: In the afternoon, we will arrive at Ulaanbaatar city. In the evening, we will see a Mongolian cultural concert with contortion artists, throat singers, national long songs and dances. Overnight at hotel.
Day 15: Departure
See trip map 
