Enjoy the endless vastness of the Mongolian steppes and deserts on this horseback tour. No fences or human intrusion have changed the landscape here. Ride through the Gobi Desert and visit local families who have been breeding horses for generations. Mongolian horse breeding has grown since the time of Genghis Khan, and even today the horses live in semi-wild herds without fences or stables, taking care of themselves and defending their foals against wolves. Observe the animals of the Mongolian steppe landscape and become part of this unique world far away from stress and hectic. You will camp beneath gigantic rock faces and admire impressive sand dunes. In the yurt camps, you will enjoy the comfort of a shower and a proper bed. Your luggage will be transported by traditional camel and horse carts and pack animals. If you wish, you can also try riding a camel. Our partner has been organizing horseback tours in the Gobi Desert for many years, so you can trust in their experience and immerse yourself in an unforgettable adventure in the rhythm of the nomads.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Ulan Bator and transfer to the hotel. Tour briefing and dinner together.

Day 2: After breakfast, visit the Gandan Monastery in Ulan Bator. It is the heart of Buddhism in Mongolia. Then leave the city for the grasslands, where you will enjoy a picnic lunch. Today's destination is Tseel, a place in the middle of nowhere. There you will meet your nomadic hosts with their horses and camels. You will be assigned horses and go on a short ride to get used to them.

Day 3: Today you will start your Gobi horseback tour heading west towards the Hoyd Önjuul Mountains.
On the first stage, you may be lucky enough to see some of the wild argali sheep that live everywhere in the rocks and mountains. You will ride past small herds of gazelles and may even spot wolves.

Day 4: After breakfast, you will break camp. The equipment will be loaded onto camels. You will ride south all day to the area around Bayan Hills near Suman. There, the next camp will be set up. In the immediate vicinity of a water source, you will meet many nomadic families.

Day 5: You continue eastward to the mountainous rock face of Zorgol Hairkhan, which can be seen from afar in the flat steppe. Here, narrow-headed vultures, the largest Eurasian vultures, similar to the condor in America, breed. The camp is set up at the large Ikh Zorgol Hairkhan Uul mountain range.

Day 6: The journey continues eastward, past the narrow Gobi Lake Hariin Nuur, where you may spot interesting birds. After about 25 km, you will reach the Baga Zorgoi Hairkhan Mountains. You will meet some nomadic families in the plains with excellent grazing land.

Day 7: On the way to Övör Burd, today's journey takes you through various types of steppe for almost 30 km. You are in the transition zone, where you will find all kinds of steppe landscapes, from classic steppe to sand dunes and rock formations. All day long, you will have a view of Zorgol Hairhan, a huge rock formation that rises several hundred meters into the sky. Overnight stay in tents.
Day 8: Today, you will head north to Shine Khudag. Water sources are very important for the grasslands of the Gobi.

Day 9: Today you will take a long ride (25 to 30 km) towards Arburd Sands. Along the way, you will meet several nomadic families with their herds. Overnight stay in the Arburd Sands yurt camp.

Day 10: You will take a shorter ride in the area of Arburd Sands, a 20 km long sand dune that is a refuge for wolves. You will cross the dunes on horseback. You are now in the middle of the vast Gobi Desert, which is very similar to the Sahara. Overnight stay again in the yurt camp.

Day 11: You will drive back to Ulan Bator (3 hours). In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to visit the city center. The sights are within walking distance. The guide will continue to accompany you here and then take you to a local restaurant for dinner, followed by folk music entertainment. Overnight stay in a hotel in Ulan Bator.

Day 12: After breakfast, transfer to the airport. Return home.

Subject to change!Naadam Festival: 
Before your Riding tour in July, visit the big Naadam festival in Ulan Bator. A huge spectacle awaits you, to which nomads from all over countryside travel. They compete against each other in various sporting competitions. A great opportunity to experience the traditions of Mongolia up close. Some customs may seem a little rough, but if you really want to get to know this countryside, you should attend a Naadam festival. 

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

Day 2: Today is dedicated entirely to the horse races that take place in the run-up to the Naadam festival. Whole armies of colorfully dressed rider compete. The races take place within a radius of 60 to 90 km from Ulan Bator. Some wrestling competitions usually take place at the same time. In between, you can fortify yourself with a sumptuous picnic. Overnight stay in a hotel. 

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

Accomodation
In Ulan Bator, you will spend the first and last night in a centrally located 4-star hotel. On the way, you will spend the night partly in yurts with 2 (field) beds and partly in tents. Single occupancy is possible for an extra charge. The yurts are spacious and have a stove so that they can be heated. In fixed yurt camps, there is a yurt for eating and a yurt for showering. The tents are extra large and high and equipped with 1 or 2 low camp beds. There is also a toilet tent and a shower tent. Please bring a sleeping bag.

Saddle & Tack: Comfortable Russian saddles, mongolian snaffles

Experience: You need to be confident in all gaits and enjoy fast and long gallops on the plains.

Horses: Mongolian small horses up to 1.52 m height. Strong, tough and enduring. Their flat gaits make them comfortable to ride. Only geldings are ridden.