Mongolia is a country of wide-open spaces, pristine nature, hospitable people and horse-based nomadic culture. Our Gobi desert and Mountain Steppes Mongolian Horse Trek is one of the most recommended horse trekking holidays of Mongolia includes horse riding without time and space limit, many interesting activities, attractions and experiences such as nomadic life discovery while staying with nomads, learn to cook and try traditional meals, authentic Mongolian barbecue, some hiking in the Hugnu Tarni National Park, ruins of ancient monasteries, three and half-day horseback riding. The tour itself takes place in the transition zone of the Gobi desert, and mountain steppes make the tour more attractive and exciting. Camping in the wild nature and enjoying countless sparkling stars in the evenings are other highlights of the tour. You also stay traditional Mongolian dwelling Ger.
Itinerary
Day 1: Start the tour to Elsentasarkhai, northern edge of the Gobi, visit nomads and horse riding
Meet your guide and driver at the airport/ the railway station/at your accommodation. Before leaving Ulaanbaatar, prepare for the several days’ horseback adventures if needed. Start the tour to Elsentaserhai. Elsentasarkhai is a unique place represents the Gobi desert, mountain steppes, grasslands, and high mountains in a single area. Visit a nomad family and discover the uniqueness of nomadic life. Next, 2-3 hours accustom horse trekking over the steppes. In the evening, you will have an authentic Mongolian barbecue for dinner.
Accommodation: An extra ger of a nomad family
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Horseback riding to Ikh Mongol Mountain and Shireet Tsagaan Lake
Our adventure continues along long continues sand dunes with views of rolling mountains and open steppes on the other side. The small river flows along the sand dunes add scenery of green meadows. Our today’s destination is beautiful Ikh Mongolia Mountain and small Lake Shireet Tsagaan Nuur among sand dunes. The area is a central point of Mongolia. As well as, the foundation of today’s capital Ulaanbaatar was put here in 1639. Total riding distance is 22 km.
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Riding across the sand dunes, explore beautiful small lakes edge with the sand dunes and Hugnu Khan Mountain
Today, we will ride through the expanse areas of the sand dunes to its north. Explore small lakes have beautiful green and small colorful flowers dotted shores. Ride further to Hugnu Khan Mountain. Today, you may ride faster on open steppes if you wish. Arrive at picturesque mountain Hugnu Khan. Riding distance is 30 km.
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Explore the beautiful mountain, visit ruins of ancient temples and local worshipping area
After breakfast, we will visit the ruins of Erdenehamba temple. If you wish, you can walk up the mountain and see the ruins of Uvgun temple. Views of surrounding areas are awe-inspiring from the mountain top. Next, we will ride on a flatter area to Khadagt Khoshuu, a local worshipping place in Khugnu Khan Mountain. Ride to a ger camp and end of the horse riding. Riding distance is 28 km.
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Drive back Ulaanbaatar
We will arrive in Ulaanbaatar after 4-4.5 hours driving. Have lunch in a restaurant. Check-in the hotel and free time to discover the city your own.
Accommodation: 3* Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Background
Is this horse trek suitable for me?
This is a 5-day tour that includes three and half-day horseback riding. The tour is suitable for both beginners and advanced riders. Are you traveling with your family or friends like to do horse trekking, but you are not a horseback adventurer? No worries. You can ride the horses at your pace with the help of a local equestrian. You can enjoy some hiking and sit in your support vehicle which follows you every day if long or fast riding is not your interest. We planned the tour to have a maximum of 25 to 30 km riding a day. Even though you can have your optional riding after settling the camp if the 25 to 30 km is not enough for you. Alternatively, we could customize the itinerary shortening the riding distance or change the terrains, etc. We may require specific horse riding abilities for your safety, comfort, favor of you and other tour members if you join our group tour departure. Local riding techniques, the best ways to treat Mongolian horses and their character, etc. will be taught at the beginning of the tour. We ride at walking speed in burden areas. Cantering and trotting will help us to cover the distance faster. You can gallop on the steppes and flatter areas if you wish. The tour includes 1 overnight stay in a ger camp at the end of your countryside tour. Two nights in the tent among outstanding nature and under starry skies, one night with a nomad family, and one night in a hotel in Ulaanbaatar.
Meals
Tour meals are included according to the itinerary. In the countryside, ger camps meals are both European and Mongolian. Meat is the main ingredient for meals and is served for lunch and dinner along with vegetables, salads, and soups. There will be more meat in traditional Mongolian meals. A typical breakfast is tea or coffee, bread, jam, butter, eggs and sausage. There are some cookies, cheese, cereals, pancakes and more at some of the ger camps for breakfast. For lunch, meals include salads, Mongolian soups and a main course (pasta, rice, vegetables, beef/mutton/chicken/fish near lakes/rivers), and dessert and tea. Salads, a main course, a dessert, and tea will be served for dinner. With nomads, you will try authentic Mongolian meals. Different types of meals offered simultaneously are not customary in Mongolian tradition. If you are a vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions, please inform us in advance, and we will make arrangements accordingly. About lunch, it will be packed as a picnic. More information on Mongolia meals
Accommodation
Mongolian tourism depends highly on the season, and seasonal accommodation ger camps are fully open between 15 May and 25 September. It could be earlier or late. However, we will be traveling in central Mongolia and most ger camps start earlier and close late autumn. Nomad family home stays are available if you are a keen traveler and would like to discover more about the nomadic life. The company will provide good quality camping gear. Bringing your sleeping bags suitable for as low as -10°C is recommended. Alternatively, we can provide sleeping bags. For more detailed information about the main accommodation ger camp, please visit Mongolia Ger camps, Mongolia nomad family stay, and Mongolia hotels
Guides
Most of our company guides are English speaking. We also have some guides who speak German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and Japanese. They are all friendly, helpful and most of them were born and grown in the countryside. Therefore, they have good knowledge about every aspect of Mongolia, good at horse trekking and have at least three years or more years of guiding experience. Except for your interpreter-guide, one or more nomad men will be your equestrian depends on the riders’ number. Your guide will be a cook for a small group of 2-4 people, and we will provide a cook if the group has more than 4 PAX.
Transportation
Most of our tours were designed with four wheels driving Japanese or Korean vans driven by experienced, friendly and good mechanic-drivers. For bigger groups, the Russian van will be used due to its capacity and load capacity. Different types of vehicles are available on request. You may check the travel vehicle details at Mongolia transportation
The best time to do Mongolia horse trek
The most suitable time to take the tour is between 15 May and 15 September. The day temperature in July and beginning of August could rise to +38°C. Therefore, consider your health issue of horse riding in hot. Or on the contrary, July and beginning of August could be the wettest time of the year. Therefore, be prepared for some occasional rains. May, June, August, and September are the most suitable months for riding. Mongolian weather fluctuates a lot seasonally, daytime, and at night. Therefore, be ready for sudden weather changes such as hot, warm, cool, rain, and wind. It sometimes happens on the same day. Weather in May and September is cold in the evenings and at night. It could even snow in mountainous areas. For your pre-departure preparation and an idea to prepare for this inflexible weather condition, you may check our detailed packing list of the horse riding tour.
To plan your dream holiday or customize the tour exclusively for you, what to do and see in Mongolia page may help you.
As well as, please check attractions in Central Mongolia, and Southern Mongolia.
