The horse is the national symbol of Mongolia, and the country’s culture has
been based on horses from time immemorial. Through this ride you will
appreciate and understand the association between the Mongolian horse, the
majestic landscape, and the life of nomadic people.
Our trek first takes us to an exceptional and largely unexplored area within
the mountains and valleys surrounding the massive Tsambagarav Mountain in the
far west of Mongolia, wedged between China and Russia. On horseback, we follow
the trail the nomads take when moving from their winter to summer camps, past
breathtaking scenery and along high mountain trails. On reaching the
spectacular Namarjin Valley a few idyllic days will be spent in the company of
nomads.
Then we go on by vehicle to the most western provinces of Mongolia - Bayan
Olgii and Uvs. We visit the Kazakh minority group and their Golden Eagles,
which are used for hunting, continuing on to the beautiful Uureg, Achit and
Uvs Lakes, abundant with waterfowl and an ideal settings for nature lovers.
Client Feedback
Itinerary - 14 Days
Day 1 Arrival in Ulaanbaatar – sightseeing
You will be met at the airport on arrival, and transferred to your 3-star
hotel. The day (one day is enough for most people) can be spent sightseeing in
Ulaan Baatar, including Gandan Monastery and the Bogd Khan Palace, which is a
series of beautiful traditional buildings in which the last religious King of
Mongolia resided. It is now a museum displaying fascinating artefacts and
costumes associated with the King as well as his collection of European
furniture and stuffed animals. Visit the Natural History Museum and the Fine
Arts Museum. Lunch and dinner will be at local restaurants. Overnight at the
hotel. D.
Day 2 Fly to Khovd – Buyant River – Namarjin Valley
We will transfer you to the airport for a morning flight to Khovd.
Khovd City is the capital of Khovd aimag (county) and lies near Black Water
Lake and Jargalant Mountain. You will be met at the airport by our local
guides and drivers and taken to the Buyant River for lunch. In the afternoon
we will drive to Namarjin Valley in the Altai Mountains (about a 5 hr drive).
You will be rewarded with the views of this vast wide-open valley filled with
grazing herds of goat, sheep, and yaks, and spotted with many gers. Towering
over the valley is the impressive snow-capped peak of Tsambagarav. Because our
horsemen’s families live here you will have a unique opportunity to experience
the nomadic way of life. We will stay overnight in a tented camp. B, L, D.
Day 3 Namarjin Valley – visit nomadic families – horse riding
Spend the morning at leisure in the valley, walking or just resting. The
Namarjin is a lush and green valley with a small stream flowing through it,
and is surrounded by rocky hills. Many nomadic families make it their home in
the summer months. The Kazakhs, who are Muslims and one of Mongolia’s ethnic
minorities, populate this area. After breakfast we will meet the horsemen and
saddle up the horses for a short ride so that you can accustom yourself to the
horse and tack, and to the terrain. In the afternoon we will ride to an
adjacent gorge to see a glacier. On the way we will visit a Kazakh family and
see their gers and way of life. Their gers are a little larger than standard
and decorated with traditional hand-stitched colourful rugs. Their traditional
dress is also slightly different to the Mongols as the men tend to wear large,
black dels and small, bright hats. We will return to the camp for the night.
B, L, D.
Day 4 Horse riding – visit Kazakh eagle hunters – Khongor Olon Lake
Today we begin our linear ride, and each day the camp will be moved
by vehicles. While riding to Khongor Olon Lake we will visit the mighty Kazakh
eagle hunters. Their eagles are kept near the Kazak gers in the summer months
and then taken out to catch small animals in early winter when the first snows
cover the ground. The eagles are trained from a young age or caught when they
are older having already developed the hunting instinct. When they are 15
years of age they are released back into the wild. We will see the birds
outside the gers and watch the Kazakh men with them. We will stay overnight in
the camp by the edge of the lake. B, L, D.
Days 5 & 6 - 2 days riding to Lake Doroo – Sukhait Mountains
We will continue riding over the Sukhait Mountains to Doroo Lake for the next
two days. The landscape changes from high mountains to low grassland and open
valleys, which will allow you to gallop freely across the vast plains. We will
stay overnight in tents by the side of the lake. B, L, D.
Day 7 Rest at Doroo Lake
After several days of riding, we will spend a day of leisure by the lake:
walking; bird watching; visiting nomadic families; and swimming. We will stay
overnight at a tented camp. B, L, D.
Day 8 Ride to Khashaat Valley
Today is the last day of riding. We will ride until we reach Khashaat Valley,
where we will have a farewell dinner with our horsemen. You will be served a
special Mongolian meal of ‘horhog,’ which is mutton cooked slowly in a huge,
metal urn with vegetables, water and hot rocks from a flaming fire. The meat
becomes soft and tasty and the water turns into a thick meaty broth. We will
camp in Khashaat Valley. B, L, D.
Day 9 Drive to Achit Nuur, Bayan-Ulgii
Today we will travel in vehicles and continue the journey through the
westernmost province of Mongolia, Bayan Olgii. We travel to Achit Nuur Lake -
an 8-hour drive - passing through Ulgii, the capital of the aimag. Achit Nuur
is a large fresh-water lake with an abundance of bird life. We will spend the
night in a tented camp by the side of the lake. B, L, D.
Day 10 Achit Nuur – Uureg Lake, Uvs
We will spend the morning at Achit Lake and then drive to Uureg Lake in the
far north of Uvs aimag. It is an exhilarating drive of about 4 hours over a
rocky, mountainous road. The lake, which nestles between mountains, is small
in comparison to Achit, but affords views across to Siberia. Overnight tented
camp at Uureg Lake. B, L, D.
Day 11 Uureg Lake
We will spend a day of leisure at Uureg Lake, walking, bird watching, and
swimming. We will stay at the previous night’s camp by the lake. B, L, D.
Day 12 Uureg Lake – Uvs Lake
We will spend the morning at Uureg Lake and then drive to Uvs Lake,
passing through the aimag capital of Uvs, Ulaan Gom. Uvs Nuur is the largest
lake in Mongolia and covers 3500 sq. km. It is surrounded by sand dunes on the
eastern side and is a salt-water lake. The bird life includes Arctic tern,
sand grouse and rock partridge. They live undisturbed around the shores of the
lake due to the absence of animal and human habitation, and the abundance of
shrimp in the lake. We will camp on the shores of the lake. B, L, D.
Day 13 Ulaan Gom – return to Ulaan Baatar
We will drive to Ulaan Gom for the flight to Ulaan Baatar in the afternoon.
You will be met at UB airport and taken to your 3-star hotel. Dinner will be
at a local restaurant. B, L, D.
Day 14 Departure
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your
international departures. B.
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.
