Even though summer attracts hordes of visitors every year, Mongolia reveals its most authentic essence in winter. When the first snow covers the steppes, the countryside returns to its original intimacy and purity. The fresh air, the untouched landscapes and the warm hospitality of the locals offer a rare and precious experience.
This is the time of year when the great Mongolian festivals take place, marking moments of intense conviviality where families gather and gladly welcome travelers into the warmth of their yurts. Riding in the snowy expanse, immersing yourself in traditions and sharing local festivities make the Mongolian winter an unparalleled adventure that is both exotic and deeply human. An absolutely unique experience for adventurers who want to experience this fascinating countryside in an authentic way. With deep insights into traditional life on the steppe and magnificent back s of the Mongolian winter landscape.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Ulan Bator early in the morning and transfer to the yurt hotel. In the afternoon, you will visit the capital of Mongolia, including the Gandan Monastery, where thousands of nomadic pilgrims come to pray. The visit to this ancient temple ends with a prayer meeting. You will then make a detour to the market, where you will meet the locals doing their shopping. In the evening, enjoy a dinner with specialties in the yurt restaurant and spend the night in the yurt camp.
As the journey is usually long and travelers are often tired when they arrive, they are not very receptive to cultural visits and guided tours on the first day. For this reason, we prefer to offer you the visit to Ulan Bator and the shows at the end of your stay. On your arrival we offer you breakfast, lunch is taken in a standard restaurant in the town and dinner is served in the yurt hotel.

Day 2: Drive to the Khenti Mountains
After breakfast, you drive through the beautiful winter landscape of the Khenti steppes by off-road vehicle, which offer a true spectacle of light and color in winter. If the sky is clear, as it usually is, you can enjoy wonderful views of the snow-covered steppes from fall to spring. The colder the night, the more colorful and intense the sky.
In the afternoon, you will meet cattle breeders who live deep in the valleys covered in icy snow. Dinner and overnight stay with the nomads of the region.

Day 3: With the nomads near Buural Chuluu
The moods change throughout the morning and you take your time to take in this landscape, which has been created by huge geological upheavals that have brought forth the most amazing rock formations from the depths of the earth. Covered with snow here and there are the massive mountains of Khenti, an unjustly little-known place that was declared a nature park by the government in 1998. Today to tack up you will take your horses for the first time and set off on a ride to discover the valley and its surprising rock formations. Overnight stay in a yurt with the cattle breeders.

Day 4: The white springs of Centaine
In the morning to tack up you hitch up your horses and set off for Zuun Tsagaan Rashaan, a mineral spring known for its soothing water The landscape is untouched, the snow crunches under your hooves and your every breath turns to steam in the icy air. All around you, the steppe stretches to the horizon, interrupted by snow-covered hills and trees frozen by winter. In the afternoon, the ride slows down, as if nature itself were setting its own rhythm, calming and meditative. The silence is only interrupted by the steady steps of the horses and the whistling of the wind. As night falls, you return to the warmth of the yurt. The fire crackles, salty tea is passed from hand to hand and the laughter of the hosts fills the room. The food is simple but rich and shared in an atmosphere of brotherhood and authenticity. 

Day 7: Bulagny Bulan
We continue on to Bulagny Bulan, a peaceful valley, where nature shows itself in all its winter purity. The snow covers the hill and plains with a thick blanket and muffles every sound. The world seems to be silent to stand, and only the breathing of the horses and the sound of the wind sweeping across the steppe can be heard. At the end of the day, a new nomadic family opens the doors of their yurt for you. After a long ride, the warmth emanating from the stove and the friendly welcome of your hosts are particularly soothing. 

Day 8: The princess's convent
Today's ride takes us to Gunjiin Sum, the princess's monastery, which lies in the heart of a remote valley. Beneath the snow, the mountains seem to sleep, shrouded in an almost sacred silence. The horses move slow through the powdery snow, their hooves leaving fleeting traces on this path that has been trodden by countless generations before them. The ruins of the monastery emerge from behind a hilltop, looking majestic despite the centuries and the effects of the weather. This place, steeped in history and spirituality, still echoes with the prayers of the monks and ancient tales. 

Day 9: The mountains of Shivert
Early in the morning, we continue towards Shivert, a mountainous region where the landscapes become more rugged and grandiose. The horses move between snow-covered slopes and silent forests, where every tree seems to be frozen in the ice like an immobile guardian. The wind comes up, becomes more lively, more biting, and the rugged reliefs remind us that Mongolia in winter is a wild region where nature imposes its rhythm and laws. As the hours pass, the landscape transforms into a mineral, white fresco. In the evening, your hosts invite you to warm up in the cozy yurt by the warm stove with a cup of tea.

Day 10 Return to Terelj
The ride is coming to an end. The last moments on horseback are enjoyed like a farewell: Every step echoes on the snow, every breath of wind caresses the untouched steppe one last time. The landscapes pass in front of you as if they want to imprint themselves in your memory forever.
As you approach Terelj, the silence of the vastness gradually dissolves. Now it's time to say goodbye to horses and hosts.
The road takes you back to Ulan Bator, where a comfortable hotel room awaits you. After so many evenings in the yurt, accompanied by the crackling of the fire and the hospitality of the nomads, the modernity of town seems almost unreal. This contrast underlines the richness of this experience: a journey between two worlds, the world of ancient traditions and the world of modern life.

Day 11 Ulan Bator
On the last day, you have the day at leisure. After breakfast, you can spend the day in Ulaanbaatar.

Day 12 
In the morning, transfer to Ulan Bator airport for your return flight. The heart is heavy, but full of memories.

Subject to change without notice!

Accomodation
You spend the night in yurts, the traditional Mongolian dwellings. As a rule, one person or a family lives in these places, which are completely isolated from any civilization and in the middle of nowhere. The comfort is basic (no shower, no running water water, outdoor toilet). However, it should be noted that the yurts are very comfortable: They are heated (inside temperature in winter between 20 and 25 °C) and you can sleep upright in them to stand. The heating is switched off at night, so bring a good sleeping bag.

Saddle & Tack: Local saddles and tack. No saddlebag provided.

Experience: Comfortable in all gaits, cross-country experience. You must also be in good health and fitness. Experience of traveling in the mountains is advantageous.

Horses: Mongolian horses, small and robust, fast and comfortable. They have a height of 1.35 to 1.45 m.

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