Muir's Tours - Mongolia - Horse Riding

14 days - Highlights of Mongolia + Horse & Camel Riding

Ride with nomads in the Baga Khentii Hills & Camel safari in the Gobi

This is one of a number of adventures in Mongolia that includes horse riding. This trip will appeal to riders who want limited riding with a tour of the must see places in Mongolia - the Gobi desert, Lake Khuvsgul PLUS the main festival of Naadam and the Khentii Hills - the place where Genghis Khan was born and raised.

The journey begins with 2 days at Khuvsgul Lake, the smaller version of the world's biggest, deepest, oldest fresh water lake Lake Baikal. There will be ample time for hiking, swimming and kayaking at the lake, or you can just relax near the blue expanse of water and listen to the bird songs. Khuvsgul is full of lenok and sturgeon. The surrounding area is home to bear, sable and moose, as well as over 200 species of birds. We will then return to Ulaanbaatar, where you can experience the blend of traditional and modern in the rapidly developing city.

Next stop is the Gobi desert. There are thirty-three varieties of desert landscape in the Gobi, and you will have time to examine a number of these during the five days. After walking through the ice gorge at Yolyn Am, you will explore Mongolia’s largest sand dunes, firstly on foot, and then on camel back, led by a nomad camel herder. Then, you can follow in the footsteps of Roy Chapman Andrews an American who was the first scientist to see dinosaur eggs. After this adventure we return to Ulaanbaatar for sightseeing, before heading to the east into the Baga Khentii Mountains, where you will spend two days riding Mongolian horses and hiking the surrounding area of taiga forest mountains with spectacular granite rock formations. climate in Mongolia

And finally we return to Ulaanbaatar for Naadam festival. Naadam is the most colourful festival in Mongolia. The best of traditions, costumes, songs and dances are there. The main events of wrestling, horse racing and archery contests will give you a feeling of who the Mongols are.

 

 
Suitable for any rider who can control a horse: The horse riding is in the easy hill terrain of the Baga (smaller) hills of the Khentii, so this particular ride is suited to novice and intermediate riders.

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to a 3 star hotel. The rest of the day will be free for you to explore the city. In the evening a dinner in a local restaurant to welcome you to Mongolia.

Day 2 Fly to Khuvsgul aimag – drive to Lake Khuvsgul – 140km
Today you are transferred to the airport for the flight to Moron, either in morning or afternoon depending on the domestic flight schedule. The flight from Ulaanbaatar to the capital of the Khuvsgul aimag will take one and a half hours, and your guide will accompany you. On arrival at Moron you will be met by a local driver and jeep and, after a light lunch, you will be driven north towards Lake Khuvsgul. The drive is about 140 km and will take about 5-6 hours. The highest altitude is 2300m. On arrival settle in to your ger and relax before dinner.

Days 3 & 4 - 2 days by Khuvsgul Lake – hike, swim, kayak, relax
Spend two idyllic days by the lake. There will be time for hiking in the surrounding hills, swimming or kayaking in the lake, or just gazing out over the vast blue expanse of water. You will be staying at the ger camp and all meals will be at the camp. For lunch there will be the option of taking a packed lunch out with you.

Day 5 Return to Ulaanbaatar
Today will have an early start in order to get back to Moron in time for the flight to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival in Ulaanbaatar you will be met by a driver and vehicle and taken back to your hotel. The rest of the day is free, with dinner at a local restaurant in the evening.

Day 6 Ulaanbaatar – riding & hiking in Baga Khentii Mountains
After breakfast you will have some time for shopping and a trip to the Fine Art Museum. You will be met by your driver in the early afternoon, and driven east of the capital to the Baga Khentii Mountains. These mountains are situated within a National Park of outstanding beauty, only 1 hour from the capital. On arrival in the mountains you will be taken to a small ger camp for lunch. It is located in a beautiful spot, and is next to a nomadic family. The afternoon is at your leisure for riding and hiking in the mountains. We will have dinner at the ger camp, and spend the night at the tented camp.

Day 7 - Horseback trek
In the morning, there will be an organized trek on horseback for three or four hours. A nomadic horseman will accompany you and you will have time to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. There are a lot of mountain flowers, especially edelweiss, and you can spend time hiking alone through the forested hillsides, among beautiful streams with crystal flowing waters, observing and visiting the nomadic families in the vicinity. In the afternoon you will be transferred back to your hotel in Ulaanbaatar for dinner and the night.

Day 8 Fly to South Gobi – Yolyn Am ice gorge
Today you are transferred to the airport for the flight to the South Gobi aimag, either in morning or afternoon depending on the domestic flight schedule. The flight takes one and a half hours, and on arrival at the airstrip in the Gobi a local driver, who will take you to Yolyn Am, or ‘Eagle Valley’, will meet you. This is about 40km from your ger camp and will take about one hour’s drive. The valley is about 10km long and is completely shaded from the sun in some parts by high cliff walls. It is possible to walk through the valley and out the other side. You may be lucky enough to spot wild sheep and goats grazing high on the cliff walls. The valley is also full of soaring eagles hunting for prey. At the opening of the valley is a Natural History Museum displaying interesting information about the animals in the area. We will have dinner and stay for the night at the ger camp.

Day 9 Khongoriin Els sand dunes – 220km
Today we will make an early start to the Khongoriin Els sand dunes. They are about 220km from the aimag center, and the drive will take 7-8 hours. These are Mongolia’s largest sand dunes. You will have packed lunch on the way. After a long day of driving, we will have dinner and set up tented camp by the sand dunes.

Day 10 Camel ride through sand dunes
Today we will be riding on camels to explore these massive sand dunes, which rise to a height of 800 meters in some places. The two-humped Bactrian camels are very comfortable to ride as they walk slowly and gently, and we will be well supported by the humps, sitting comfortably between them. Our camel man will lead the way through the sand dunes. We will take lunch with us and ride back to the camp in the evening.

Day 11 ‘Flaming Cliffs’ of Bayanzag
Today we will be driven back to the Gobi ger camp, near Dalanzadgad, for dinner and the night. We will make an early start and on the way back we will visit the “Flaming Cliffs” of Bayanzag. Bayanzag is an area of red cliffs, which were formed by the erosion of the sand and rock over many thousands of years. It is also the site of several successful dinosaur excavations. The drive to Bayanzag from the ger camp will take about one hour and you will see some wide, open desert scenery on the way. Packed lunch on the way.

Day 12 Sightseeing in Ulaanbaatar – evening cultural program
After a relaxed, late breakfast you will be driven to the desert airstrip with your guide for your return flight to Ulaanbaatar. At the airport in Ulaanbaatar you will be met by our vehicle and transferred to the hotel. In the afternoon, there will be guided sightseeing in Ulaanbaatar, including the Bogd Khan Palace, which is a series of beautiful traditional buildings in which the last religious King of Mongolia resided. In the evening there will be a cultural program of a folklore show, followed by dinner.

Day 13 Naadam Festival – evening program of folk song and dance
Spend a full day at the Naadam Festival in Ulaanbaatar. In the morning we will see the Flag ceremony on the main square, and then go to the stadium to see the opening ceremony, and the wrestling and archery competitions. In the afternoon we will see the horse racing in the surrounding countryside. The evening program will be a performance of Mongolian folk song and dance. A guide and vehicle will accompany you at all times. Breakfast and lunch will be at the hotel and dinner will be at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14 Departure
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your international departure.

 

NEW Visa Rules - If you are planning to stay in Mongolia for more than 30 days you must register (and de-register) with the Foreign Citizens Registration Office – the cost of this is negligible, but you may need to allow extra time for the two visits to the registration office.

 

Departure codes and 2007 dates:  NSA004 - 29 Jun-12 Jul        

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Price per person - 2006:                  Email for current price and ask about availability

 

If we have 2 - 3 in the group GBP1500 - GBP1640 / USD3070

If we have 4 - 5 in the group  GBP1300 - GBP1500 / USD2713

If we have 6 - 8 in the group  GBP1250 - GBP1370 / USD2548
If we have 9 or more
in the group GBP1200 - GBP1320 / USD2441

Single supplement: GBP190 / USD370

Please note: The ‘single supplement’ refers to single room accommodation in hotels only. It does not refer to single accommodation in gers or tents. We endeavour to place single clients in their own ger or tent whenever possible.

 

The base currency is the US Dollar and payments in any other currency may need to be adjusted for exchange rate.


 


What is Included

All transfers and transportation within Mongolia. Shared accommodation in the a good quality hotel, single accommodation can be arranged at an additional cost. Tented and ger camp accommodation in the countryside. All meals. An English speaking guide. All sightseeing costs and fees. Horse and all riding equipment, except helmet (you must bring your own to ensure a good fit). All support staff including drivers, horse men and camp assistants.

What is Not Included

The price is based on joining in Ulaan Baatar and international flights and airport departure taxes are not included, but we will be pleased to quote for UK residents. Comprehensive travel insurance is required.
Visas fees. Alcoholic drinks. Tips and any item of a personal nature.

 

Airfare (from the UK)

As a guide, the international airfare should be in the range £430 - £490 for economy class.  We guarantee a competitive quote with excellent service for your flight tickets. 

 

Visas

A visa is required and will cost about GBP35.  US passport holders should not need a visa.

 

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive personal insurance, including search and rescue is required on this trip. For UK clients we recommend the policies of the British Mountaineering Council, for their expertise in evacuation from remote areas worldwide. Details at www.thebmc.co.uk  As Insurance is always provided by a company based in your home country, we are unable to suggest suitable insurance companies unless you reside in the UK.