Horse riding in Terelj National Park

By joining this trip you will be with tough Mongolian horses and feeling their energy and strength. Besides riding in natural beauty, you will closely encounter nomads’ culture and lifestyle, plus take a chance to watch and learn Mongolians’ horsemanship…

Length: 12nights / 13days
Tour starting: 17th of August
Price: start from 2590$ per person

HIGHLIGHT

• Category: Horse riding tours Mongolia

• Places to visit: Ulaanbaatar – Bayandavaa – Mountain Valley – mineral spring Shar Bulag – Tuul river – Zuunbayan river – Terelj river – Ulaanbaatar

• Activities: Horse riding, sightseeing, cultural visits

• Duration: 12nights / 13days

• Covering distance: 400kms

• Number of participants: Min-3, max-12

• Season: June – mid September

By joining this trip you will be with tough Mongolian horses and feeling their energy and strength. Besides riding in natural beauty, you will closely encounter nomads’ culture and lifestyle, plus take a chance to watch and learn Mongolians’ horsemanship.

ITINERARY

Day 1 Welcoming day
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar the capital city of Mongolia. Transfer to your hotel. Evening enjoy traditional art performance and Welcome dinner. Stay overnight in the hotel.*** D

Day 2 Travel to Terelj National Parkk
Drive to Terelj National Park where our start point of horse riding. Upon arrival you will greet our experienced local grooms who will be escorting entire riding trip. Warm up ride. Stay overnight in tent. BLD

Day 3 Riding & visiting to Nomadic family
Full day ride through beautiful wide open valley and varying hilly terrain will take 6-7hours. On the way visit a nomadic family. Stay overnight in tent. BLD

Day 4 Ride along Mountain Valley
Waken up by tea or coffee served in your tent. After breakfast everyone will start to pack up. Today the riders will ride through mountain valley for 6-7hours. Overnight in tent near to Kheer Azarga valley. BLD

Day 5 Steppe ride
After having breakfast, we’ll start our riding through the steppe for 6-7hours. This day you will enjoy longest nonstop gallop. Overnight in tent near a small hill called Khuukhdiin Ovoo. BLD

Day 6 Horse riding to mineral spring Shar Bulag
Continue ride through the mountain hills and valley for 6-7hours. The horse guide will take you along the mountain ridges and over the passes of Nevsei Mountain where we’ll get a panoramic yiew over river valleys and neighboring mountains, as well as through larch forest with beautiful wildflower patches before noon. This day we will be riding as high as 2100m above sea level, and before reaching the campsite we will ride past the mineral water spring – Shar Bulag. Stay overnight in tent. BLD

Day 7 Riding day
Full day ride in changing landscape (mountain and forest). Overnight in tent at Batsumber Khoshuu, located at the altitude of 2000m above sea level. At this campsite we will stay for two nights. BLD

Day 8 Exploring the beauty of nature
Today we will ride in Khan Khentii Protected Area and on the edge of complete wilderness of southern end of Siberian taiga life zone. Stay overnight in tent. BLD

Day 9 Riding to Tuul river
Full day ride through mountain valley of Delgeryn Adag and reach to Tuul river. Overnight stay at the bank of Tuul river. BLD

Day 10 Tuul river – Zuunbayan river
This day we will ride to another picturesque landscape with remarkable formations of rock. Zuunbayan river valley is rich in crystals and other minerals. Visit to nomadic family, and you will get acquainted unique culture of nomads. We will watch how to milk mares, distilling traditional vodka-shimiin arkhi from fermented yogurt and processing of dairy products including aaruul–dried curds. Souvenirs, candies and chocolates can be offered to family members and children. Stay overnight in tent. BLD

Day 11 Zuunbayan river – Terelj river
The last riding day. We will head our last camping spot in Terelj. Day ride continues through Bayangiin Adag where the  steppe and mountain  valley are mixed. On the way we will cross Terelj river. Tonight our vehicle will arrive to the campsite. Stay overnight in Ger of local family locatyed at the bank of Terelj river. BLD

Day 12 Travel come back to Ulaanbaatar
Say goodbye to the groom and the horses. Drive to Ulaanbaatar. (2hours)  Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to your hotel. Shopping. Farewell dinner. Stay overnight in hotel. BLD

Day 13 Departure
After breakfast transfer to airport for departure. B

PRICE & DATE

• Tour starting (start in Ulaanbaatar):
2015:
HK01 15 Jun
HK02 20 Jul
HK03 17 Aug 

Price from:
USD 2590 per person

Included: Horse trip according to the itinerary, twin/double basis hotel accommodation*** (2 nights) in Ulaanbaatar, English speaking guide service, field cook, full board meals (breakfast, lunch /picnic during the riding trail/ and dinner in and out of Ulaanbaatar), tent stay (9 nights) and Mongolian Ger stay (1 night) in the countryside, local horse riding guide and pack animals, entrance fee to Protected Area, camping equipments and all transfers according to program.

Excluded: International transportation to and from Mongolia, travel insurance, visa fee, mineral (bottled) water and alcoholic drinks, sleeping bag, tips and gratuities, laundry and items of a personal nature.

TOUR INFO

Our riding trails
Few countries have such a strong historical link with the horses as Mongolia – the first domesticated horses are thought to have emerged on the Euroasian steppes between 4500 and 2000BCE. The Mongolian nomadic culture is only remaining horse-based culture in the world. Here horses and people depend on each other, so there is a mutual respect between them that runs deep and long in the civilization. The horse is still the main form of transport, especially for nomadic families, whose horses are methods of transport and status symbols. Nomadic people extremely proud of their horse riding skills, and children begin riding as young as three years old. Mongolian horses possess remarkable working ability. For carting, one horse, with a load of 450-500kg, can walk 50-60 km a day. During the grass-growing season, mares are milked 8-10 times a day, producing 0.5-1.0 liter of milk each time. Traditionally, Airag (koumiss), fermented mare’s milk is the famous drink of the nomads.
We offer great opportunities to those wishing to experience the riding in the country of nomads. A variety of rides are possible, from crossing mountain passes to pack-trips across the vast steppes that make up much of the country. You will have the chance to ride one of the oldest breeds of the horse, the indigenous Mongolian Pony, which is built for fortitude and endurance. Traditional Mongolian tack includes wooden saddles decorated with large silver studs, but most visitors will use more conventional English or Russian tack.

Essential Information on riding:
Horses – Mongolian Ponies (average standing height is less than 14hands 2inches – 1.47m)
Tack – Russian (and or locally made English-style)
Riding ability – Strong novice upwards
Accommodation – Hotel, Ger camp, Ger-(home) stay with local nomads & tent camping
Terrain – Varied: mountains, steppes, and grasslands
Best time of riding – July, August

We provide our clients best suitable horses according to their riding skills, either competent riders or beginners. Our local grooms and horse professionals will take best care for every client. Before starting a trip they will usually instruct rules about riding in Mongolia. In our riding tours we use mostly Russian (cavalry) saddles, which are more convenient for “western bottoms” than the Mongolian equivalent. We recommend our clients bring their own riding helmet/hard hat. And riding boots or chaps are essential. A saddle bag is provided to every client, so bottle of water and necessary personal items can be carried in.
Our programs include many of different trails in different destinations of the country and our clients are recommended to choose best suitable riding holiday according to their fit and capabilities.
We mostly evaluate ability of our clients as like:

Beginner: A rider, who has limited experience, is unable to post the trot and does not canter.

Novice: A rider who is capable of mounting and dismounting unassisted, capable of applying basic aids, comfortable and in control at the walk, moderate length posting trots, and short canters.

Intermediate: A rider who has a firm seat, is confident and in control at all paces (including posting trots, two point canters and gallops), but does not ride regularly.

Strong Intermediate: An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly and is comfortable in the saddle for at least 6 hours per day.

Advanced or competent: All of the above, plus an independent seat, soft hands, and capable of handling a spirited horse in open country.