Have you always wanted to travel to Mongolia, but without sacrificing a certain level of comfort? Here you have the opportunity to experience untamed wilderness and still sleep in a bed every night. In a small group of no more than six participants, you will ride through a fabulously beautiful area with wild river valleys, flowering meadows, vast treeless steppes and forested mountains. This is an extremely varied horse riding tour in the south of the Khentii Mountains, the former home of Genghis Khan. In addition to the magnificent natural surroundings, you will also learn a lot about the fascinating culture of the steppe dwellers. Despite the pressures of the modern world, the nomads have largely preserved their traditions to this day. The horses roam semi-wild through the steppes and forests. It is impressive to watch the herds in their natural environment. The stallions keep a close watch while the foals frolic and the mares nibble on the short steppe grass. The luggage, including a complete yurt, is traditionally transported by yak carts, which follow the group of riders and meet up with them again in the evening at the camp. You will spend two nights in the same place, usually near a river.

The Mongolian way of life is both foreign and fascinating. You can feel their closeness to nature and a certain carefree attitude. Nomads solve problems when they arise and don't worry about them in advance. They are also reluctant to tear up the earth to cultivate crops. Only since the Russian occupation in recent times have vegetables been grown in some places. Animals still provide the main source of food, with dairy products and meat at the top of the list. Although the Russians tried to eradicate Buddhism and shamanism, both have survived and Buddhism is the predominant religion. Immerse yourself in this exciting country for a few days and experience the customs and nature for yourself – a trip you will never forget!

Itinerary

Day 1 and 2: Arrival in Ulan Bator. Transfer by bus to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay. In the morning, visit the Lamaist Gandan Monastery. The Mongolians follow the Tibetan version of Buddhism with the Dalai Lama as their spiritual leader. In the afternoon, short drive to the steppe. The first camp is set up in a particularly scenic area, close to a nomadic family.

Days 3–4: The third day begins with a ride along the southern bank of the Tuul River. The landscape enchants with Mongolian steppes and Siberian forests. You may spot some yaks on the lush meadows of the Tuul River. The ride takes you to the Bosog Valley, where you will set up camp for the night. The next morning, the trail leads back to the southern bank of the Tuul River.

Day 5: Today you will visit the ruins of Gunjin Sum Temple, hidden in the forest. For the next two days, the ride will be accompanied by yak carts carrying the yurts, supplies and luggage. The trail leads north to the Khentii Mountains, through the forests to the Baruun Bayan River. There you will set up camp for the night.

Day 6: The day's ride takes you past sparsely wooded plains. The vegetation here is dominated by larch and pine trees. With a little luck, you may spot capercaillies and black grouse. The camp is set up on the Zuun Bayan River.

Day 7: After breakfast, the group moves towards the tree line of the Khentii Mountains. The ride takes the whole day and offers breathtaking views of the impressive landscape.

Days 8-9: The next day, you will say goodbye to the yak caravan and head back to Sharbulag. You will ride mainly on the higher side of the Tuul River until you reach a small yurt camp, the Jalman Meadows. The next day, you can enjoy the beautiful nature of the Jalman Meadows, take another ride into the Mongolian steppe or go down the river by boat. In summer, the meadows are covered with wild flowers, a biodiversity that you will not find in Western Europe today.

Day 10: Return to Ulan Bator. In the afternoon, you will have time to explore the city on your own. The distances from the centrally located hotel are short, and a local guide will be happy to give you tips for sightseeing.

Day 11: Transfer to the airport and start of the journey home.

Subject to change!Naadam Festival:
Before your horseback tour in July, visit the large Naadam Festival in Ulan Bator. A huge spectacle awaits you, with nomads travelling from all over the country to take part in various sporting competitions. This is a great opportunity to experience Mongolian traditions up close. Some customs may seem a little rough, but if you really want to get to know this country, you should attend a Naadam Festival.

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to the hotel for dinner together and tour briefing.

Day 2: Today is dedicated to the horse races that take place in the run-up to the Naadam Festival. Entire armies of colourfully dressed riders compete in the races, which take place 60 to 90 km from Ulan Bator. There are usually several wrestling competitions at the same time. In between, you can recharge your batteries with a hearty picnic. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 3: You will experience the official opening of the Naadam Festival in Ulan Bator. Dangerous-looking horsemen dressed in the traditional costume of Genghis Khan carry the national flag and open the festival. Afterwards, you will watch up to 700 wrestlers and archers compete in their contests. In the afternoon, you will visit the huge nomad camp outside Ulan Bator, where you can experience the festive atmosphere and perhaps even be invited to try a glass or two of kumis (fermented mare's milk). If you feel like taking part in the competitions yourself and are brave enough, you will even have the opportunity to take part in a horse race, after a little preparation, of course. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Accomodation
You spend the night in yurts with 2 beds in each. Single occupancy is possible for an extra charge. The yurts are spacious and have a stove so that they can be heated. All equipment is provided. In the fixed yurt camps there is a yurt for eating and a yurt for showering. The mobile yurt camps have a toilet tent and a shower tent. Nothing is missing!

Saddle & Tack: Comfortable Russian trekking saddles.

Experience: All gaits, depending on the terrain. We also like to gallop briskly on the plains.

Horses: Mongolian ponies up to 1.52 m. Strong, robust and enduring.