This Mongolia horseback riding tour is an authentic encounter with the Mongolian horsemen and their horses. Despite pressure from the modern world, the nomads have largely preserved their traditions to this day. The horses are kept semi-wild, which allows them to live in herds and defend the foals from wolves, for example. Their instincts remain intact because there are no fences or stables to protect them. You will ride mainly in the steppe, on the nomads' grazing land. The first part of this Mongolia horseback riding tour is dominated by treeless steppe, while the second part takes you through taiga and a protected area with mountain forest. In keeping with tradition, luggage is transported by yak carts, which follow the group of riders and rejoin them in the camp in the evening.

Itinerary

Days 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 Mongols 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 and 4: Your Mongolia horseback tour begins! The first part of the ride takes you through treeless steppe, the original home of the mounted Mongol tribes. The hilly terrain then begins with scattered birch groves. Again and again you will encounter breeders whose herds of horses graze freely in the steppe. No vehicles are taken into this wilderness: luggage and equipment, even a yurt as a communal tent for the evening, are loaded onto yak carts and meet up with the riders again in the evening. In Mongolia, the Siberian forests meet the Central Asian steppes and tundras. You continue your ride in this extremely varied border region. Suddenly, forests appear and you reach the protected Gorkhi Terelj Nature Park in Khan Kentii, known for its unique wildflowers.

Day 5: Through sparse larch forests, you climb up into the mountains, where a fantastic view awaits you. You ride over the mountain ridge while the yak carts follow through the river valley. Overnight stay in a beautiful camp in the Sharbulag Valley.

Day 6: You will ride into the fertile area. You will follow the river and ride over the mountains with beautiful views of the valley. Overnight stay as on the previous day.

Day 7: A pass takes you to the wide Tuul River. You continue riding to the Khenti Mountains. After your ascent, you will be rewarded with a magnificent view of the vast river valley and the surrounding mountains. The area is partly forested. The deciduous forests are home to numerous wolves, bears, moose, red deer, and marmots, although they are rarely seen. Overnight stay in tents.

Days 8-9: You continue your journey through the upper Tuul Valley towards Jalman, where the wildflowers are particularly colorful. Overnight stay on both days in the Jalman yurt camp, near a forest area. On the 9th day, you will take a day ride through the beautiful flower meadows.

Day 10: Return to Ulan Bator. 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 your journey home.

Subject to change!After your Riding tour in June/July, you have the opportunity to 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: 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 2: 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.

Day 3: The program ends with breakfast. In the evening, meeting with the other participants of Riding tour. Dinner together and overnight stay.

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 bridle.

Experience: All gaits, depending on the terrain. We also like to gallop briskly on the plains. The short tour is suitable for riders as well as non-riders and even for less experienced riders.

Horses: Mongolian ponies up to 1.52 m tall. Strong, tough, enduring and comfortable. Only geldings are ridden.