Ride in the Boundless Steppe

This fabulous horseriding trip goes in the heart of Mongolia, through the places rich in natural and historical value. You have a great opportunity to make a longest nonstop gallop in your life! Sense the freedom when galloping through horizon-reaching steppe…

Length: 13nights / 14days
Tour starting: 08th of June
Price: start from 3190$ per person

HIGHLIGHT

• Category: Horse riding tours Mongolia

• Places to visit: Ulaanbaatar – Khustai National park – Khognokhaan mountain – Gurvanbulag community – Ikh-Tamir soum – Tamir river – Kharakhorum – Ulaanbaatar

• Activities: Horse riding, trekking, visit tsaatan and nomad family, cultural visits

• Duration: 13nights / 14days

• Covering distance: 1300kms

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

• Season: June – mid September

This fabulous horseriding trip goes in the heart of Mongolia, through the places rich in natural and historical value. You have a great opportunity to make a longest nonstop gallop in your life! Sense the freedom when galloping through horizon-reaching steppe. Feel the energy of the most unspoiled and unexplored mysterious area where nomads started to establish the biggest Empire in the world of mankind history.

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 Drive to Khustai National park & horse riding
Travel to Khustai National Park, 110kms to the south west of Ulaanbaatar, the area of 50620ha reserve protects wild Mongolian horses famed as Takhi (Przewalski’s Horse). Visit the park to see wild horses. Afternoon we will set up first warm up riding for 2-3hours around the area after having a brief instruction for riding Mongolian horses. Stay overnight in Ger camp. BLD

Day 3 Move to Khognokhaan Natural Reserve
Continue travel to Khognokhaan Natural Reserve, the unique combination where mountains, forest and Gobi-type landscapes are all in one location. Here we will pitch our tent camp next to nomads’ Gers and you will have a great chance to see and learn more about nomadic daily life and customs. Our local horse specialist guides/grooms will welcome and greet you and will help to get acquainted with your horses and tacks. Then we will ride about 3-4hours till dinner time. Our ride for 3 days in this area will be mostly through the flat terrains and wide open valleys. Stay overnight in tent. BLD

Day 4-5 Horse riding & visit nomad family
We will ride to many interesting sites and beautiful areas including Erdenekhamba, a local Buddhist temple, Uvgun Khiid, a remain of ancient temple and Mongol Els, the longest sand dunes in Mongolia during full two days horse riding around Khognokhaan mountain. Since we live as neighbors to nomads we can visit them quite often and taste traditional dairy products, give hands in the procession of the products and being friend to share knowledge. You can get more familiar with their nature loved unique lifestyle. Stay overnight in tent. BLD

Day 6 Move to Gurvanbulag soum & ride in the steppe
Travel for 75kms to our next riding area at Gurvanbulag soum of Bulgan province. Same as previous days we will pitch our camp near to nomad families. Ride in the steppe. Stay overnight in tent. BLD

Day 7-8 Horse riding around area
Full two days horse riding through steppe and varying hills. Bulgan province is one of the well known areas for producing the best “airag” (fermented mares’ milk) in the country. Local people love to challenge each other to singing games, and then a loser has to drink a whole bowl of “airag” so beware when visiting local families. Stay overnight in tent. BLD

Day 9 Move to Ikh-Tamir soum
Continue our trip for 190kms to Ikhtamir soum of Arkhangai province. Stay overnight in Ger camp nearby Taikhar rock. BLD

Day 10-11 Horse riding
Last 2 days we will ride through wide open steppe and valley along Tamir river and do longest gallop as possible. Once you will watch how nomads catching untamed horses and training them in nomad way. Stay overnights in tent, which set up nearby nomad families. BLD

Day 12 Move to Kharakhorum & visit to felt workshop
Travel to Kharakhorum about 2.5hours for 130kms. Afternoon we will visit Erdene Zuu monastery, the largest and first Mongolian Buddhist temple complex built on the remains of Kharakhorum city. Visit a local cooperative to attend a workshop for making small felt products. Stay overnight in Ger camp. BLD

Day 13 Travel back to Ulaanbaatar
Travel back to Ulaanbaatar. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to your hotel. Shopping. Farewell dinner. Stay overnight in hotel. BLD

Day 14 DepartureAfter breakfast transfer to airport for departure. B

PRICE & DATE

• Tour starting (start in Ulaanbaatar):

2015:RB01 08 Jun
RB02 06 Jul
RB03 03 Aug
RB04 24 Aug

Price from:USD 3190 per person

Included: All activities described in the itinerary, twin/double basis hotel *** accommodation (2 nights) in Ulaanbaatar, Ger camp stay (3 nights) and tent stay (8 nights) in countryside, English speaking guide service, field cook, horse specialist guides and pack animals, all camping equipments, entrance fees to Protected Areas and sightseeing cost, all transfers by bus/minibus in the city and by 4WD Russin minivan in the countryside. Meals of breakfast, lunch /picnic during the ride in countryside/ and dinner as mentioned per day itinerary.

Excluded: International transportation to and from Mongolia, travel insurance, 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.