Ride Horses Via the Cradle of Nomadic Civilization
Included In-Country Services
Ride Horses Across Central Mongolia
The Khangai Mountain range in Central Mongolia is drained by some of Mongolia’s mightiest Rivers – incredible landscapes to ride horses! The Orkhon is the most famous of them. For tens of thousands of years the Orkhon and it’s tributaries gave water and shelter to the nomadic peoples and their animals. Until today their lifestyle has changed little and they still ride horses to herd their sheep and yaks, to protect them against the misfortune of the harsh weather and wolves.
Local horsemen will accompany you and take you to their homeland, teaching you about their secrets of survival. Our staff will set up the overnight camps, which will be both adequate and comfortable. There will be good food, prepared by a professional cook, a dining tent to shelter you from the sun and give you warmth at night, comfortable sleeping tents, a shower tent and a toilet tent. Vehicles will accompany the journey as an option for those who do not want to ride the entire distance.
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
Sightseeing and Welcoming Dinner
You will be met at the airport and transferred to your 4-star hotel. After lunch at the hotel, there will be sightseeing in Ulaanbaatar, including the National History Museum and the Bogd Khan Palace, a series of beautiful traditional buildings where the last religious King of Mongolia resided. The Palace is now a museum displaying fascinating artifacts and costumes associated with the king, as well as his collection of European furniture and stuffed animals. There will be a welcome dinner at a local restaurant, before heading back to the hotel for the night.
Overland by Jeep from Ulaanbaatar to Lake Ugii
You will be met at your hotel at a pre-arranged time by your guide and driver and begin the journey to the central provinces of Mongolia. The scenery is wide-open steppe with rolling hills in the background. We will stop for lunch along the way. Overnight will be spent in tents next to the Lake Ugii.
Ride Horses towards Khoshoo Tsaidam – Ancient Ruins of the Turkic Empire
Today we begin our linear ride. The camp will be moved each day with the aid of the vehicles. Today we will visit Khoshoo Tsaidam and see ruins from the time of the Turkic Empire.
Ride Horses towards the Ancient Capital known as Karakorum
Today we will ride towards the Karakorum, setting up camp at a place called Five Trees, not far from the Karakorum.
Ride Horses towards Karakorum and Spend the Day Exploring this Ancient Capital
Today we will ride on to the Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia from where Chinggis Khaan launched his cavalry. There is a small township here now. On arrival, the first and most obvious landmark is the massive wall of Erdenezuu Monastery. The monastery was built in 1586 and is surrounded by a vast 400m x 400m wall. Not a single nail was used in the construction of the ornate temples, only a few of which remain standing after the communist purges. In previous times the grounds held over 60 temples with 10,000 monks using them for their daily worship. We will visit this monastery and then ride along the Orkhon River, where we will set up camp. (Total distance 40km).
Ride Horses towards Tovkhon Monastery via Nariin
We will continue riding until we reach Nariin today, on the way to Tovkhon Monastery. We will set up camp in the valley for the night.
Ride Horses to Tovkhon Monastery and Visit the Home of the Famed Zanabazar
Today we will visit the monastery, which is situated at the top of Mount Tuvshin, and were the first religious King of Mongolia – the Ondor Gegeen Zanabazar – worked and lived. We will continue riding along the river until we reach our overnight camping spot on the river’s shores.
Ride Horses towards Orkhon Waterfalls
Today we will continue to ride to the Orkhon Waterfall. The waterfall is situated in the Orkhon Valley. This valley is known as the cradle of Mongolian civilization as many of Mongolia’s ancient monuments lie within its borders. We will camp by the waterfall for the next two nights.
After Many Days of Riding Horses, Today Spend the Day Enjoying Orkhon Waterfalls
After many days in the saddle, you might want to spend a day of leisure by the waterfall. If not, you can ride in this picturesque area. The area surrounding the waterfall is green and forested and you can spend the day walking in the area. This area of Mongolia is well known for producing the best ‘airag,’ or fermented mare’s milk in the country. Many locals love to challenge you to singing games – the loser has to consume a whole bowl of ‘airag,’ so beware when visiting local families!
Overland by Jeep to ‘Piece of Sand’ That Originates from the Famed Gobi Desert
Today we will drive until we reach a place called “Piece of Sand” – it is about a 5-hour drive from the waterfall. This stretch of sand is a long strip that originates in the Gobi and stretches all the way into the central aimag’s of Mongolia. On arrival, we will make our camp in the foothills of the Mount Khogno Khan. This mountain is perfect for some afternoon hiking and there are some remains of an ancient monastery that should be explored.
Overland by Jeep back to Ulaanbaatar for a Fantastic Cultural Program and Dining!
After breakfast, we will return to Ulaanbaatar in the vehicles – about a 6-hour drive, mainly on paved roads. On arrival in the capital, you will be taken to your 3-star hotel, where you can rest before attending a performance of traditional song and dance, followed by dinner.
Departure
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your international departure.
NRT-001: 15-26 May
NRT-003: 3-14 June
NRT-007: 17-28 July
NRT-011: 30 Aug-10 Sep
Price per person for a group of more than 9 people: USD 2,124
Transportation within Mongolia, twin accommodation in a 4-star hotel. Single accommodation can be arranged at an additional cost. Tented accommodation while on a trek, three meals a day, English-speaking guide, transfers, camel or horse hire where specified, support staff including drivers, horse /camel men, and camp assistants.
International transportation, travel insurance, visas, departure tax, alcoholic drinks, gratuities, items of a personal nature.It is the responsibility of the client to be fully covered with travel and medical insurance while traveling in Mongolia.
Upon request, a single supplement in the countryside can be provided at the additional cost. In case single accommodation in ger camps was not provided the amount would be calculated based on the missing nights and reimbursed. Nomads cannot be held responsible for over bookings, as long as the company can prove with sufficient documentation that overbooking has been the error of the third party. Should circumstances beyond our control, such as the imposition of quarantine restrictions, any changes of the domestic flight or train schedules, require a change of itinerary, we will inform your agent and propose an equivalent itinerary. Again, Nomads cannot take over the responsibility for the Airlines or the National Train Company. The traveler is responsible for having proper travel documents, such as a valid passport, proper visa, and the necessary passport pictures.
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