Muir's Tours - Mongolia - Horse Riding

Make the most out of the visit to Tsaatans, the only reindeer herding people of Mongolia and a tribe which count about 300 hundred people altogether. Trek on horseback through the picturesque Khuvsgul province, and camp for 2 days on the shores of the tranquil Khuvsgul Lake, before returning to Ulaanbaatar to explore the sights of Mongolia’s capital city.

This trip takes you to Lake Khuvsgul, the top beautiful lake in Mongolia. The surrounding area, which belongs to the Lake Khuvsgul National Park, comprises of high mountains, dense taiga forest and clear rivers.

In order to meet the Tsaatans we will take a dramatic ride through the taiga. These enigmatic people herd reindeer, not only for their antlers, a lucrative medicinal stuff but as well for their milk and meat. Reindeer are the best beasts of burden for the forested mountains of the area. This is your chance to drink reindeer milk and go for a reindeer ride!

 

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Ulaanbaatar   Arrive and transfer to a 3 star hotel. A welcome dinner will be held at a local restaurant, with local music, food, and entertainment. Overnight stay is at the hotel.

Day 2 Flight to Moron – Darkhad Valley   Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Moron either in the morning or afternoon. We depart Ulaanbaatar at 7.20am and arrive in Moron at 9.00am. You will be met at the airport by our vehicles and staff and driven towards Darkhad Valley to the west of Lake Khuvsgul . We will camp near a small village called Toom.

Day 3 Soyot – Khugiin River  We will drive to the small village of Soyot near which we will set up our base camp beside the Khugiin River. You might want to try the wild berries, which grow in profusion nearby and are made into a delicious jam by the locals. You will also meet the local horsemen who will accompany us on our journey.

Days 4 to 7 - 4 days trekking on horseback in Khuvsgul – visit Tsaatan families  Depending on your level of experience, an appropriate horse will be selected for you by our expert horsemen. When you watch the packhorses being loaded, you will be amazed at how much these small, sturdy horses can carry. Nevertheless, we recommend that you take as little as possible with you on this leg of the trip. Remember, the horses will carry our tents and food as well as your luggage. Essentials are, however, raingear and a waterproof pack. You can leave extra baggage at the base camp. The ride itself takes us through spectacularly beautiful and remote country. En route, we will spend some time with the Tsaatan people at one of their mountain camps. We ask you to remember that when we visit these people, we are guests in their homes, so it is appropriate to offer them small gifts in return for their hospitality. You might want to discuss this with your guide. We will be camping overnight in tents.

Day 8 Back to base camp – visit local families- traditional Mongolian meal   Today you will have a well-earned rest at our base camp. You will meet some of the locals who live in gers nearby and see how they live. In the evening, you will have the traditional Mongolian meal of ‘khorkhog’. khorkhog is large chunks of meat and vegetables ‘pressure cooked’ using hot rocks. Don’t worry, you don’t have to eat the rocks but you might be interested to see what is done with them after the meal is cooked!

Days 9 to 12 A 4-day horse trek to Lake Khuvsgul  Refreshed, after a day relaxing at base camp, we are back on the horses today. This time we are on a linear route to Lake Khuvsgul. At first the terrain will be wide-open valleys, then rocky mountain slopes, and will finally take us down a forested mountain path to the crystal-clear blue waters of the lake. On fourth day overnight at ger camp.

Days 13 & 14 - 2 days at Khuvsgul Lake  Spend two days of leisure around the lake at our base camp. You can just relax, or if you still have some energy left, you can swim, fish or hike. Overnight at ger camp.

Day 15 Drive to Moron for return flight to Ulaanbaatar  In the morning, we will pack up camp and head south to Moron - a six hour drive with a stop on the way for lunch. We will reach Moron in time for the late-afternoon flight to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival in Ulaanbaatar, you will be taken to your hotel, where you will stay overnight. Dinner will be at a local restaurant.

Day 16 Sightseeing in Ulaanbaatar  We will visit the Gandan Tegchilen Monastery and the Bogd Khan Winter Palace, the home of the last religious king of Mongolia. We will also go to the Natural History and the Fine Arts museums. You will have time for shopping. Lunch and dinner will be in local restaurants and we will overnight at the hotel.

Day 17 Departure  You will be transferred from your hotel 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 dates: NRT006. 1-17 August 2007

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Price per person - 2007:

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, including 2 domestic flights. Shared accommodation in the Bayangol hotel or similar, single accommodation can be arranged at an additional cost . Tented and / or ger camp accommodation in the countryside. Meals as stated above by use of the code (B = Breakfast etc.). 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 GBP470 - GBP550 for economy class.  We usually suggest flights with Aeroflot, based on price and shortest route.

 

Visas

A visa is required and will cost about £35. US Passport holders do not need a visa.