ORKHON VALLEY, HORSE RIDING TOUR /12 DAYS/
SHORT DESCRIPTION
Riding on horseback beside nomads through the wonderful landscape of the Orkhon Valley, is there a better way to experience the real Mongolia? This camping horse riding tour takes you to the most remote sites of the Valley, with the comfort of a support vehicle (except for 3 days with pack yaks in Naiman Nuur Park). With your English speaking translator, and guided by authentic nomads, you will discover the heart of Mongolia
- CATEGORY: CULTURAL AND ADVENTURE TOURS
- AVAILABLE: MAY TO OCTOBER
- DURATION: 12 DAYS, 11 NIGTHS
- DESTINATION: CENTRAL MONGOLIA
ESSENTIALS
GUIDE
A Chinese, English or Russian speaking Mongolian guide will accompany the group at all times. The guide will be a native Mongolian person with great local knowledge who can deal with any requests and ensure that your holiday to become one of the most unforgettable experiences of your life.
TRANSPORT
This trip you have a two choice. First one is a highest level, latest model, air-conditioned private 4WD vehicles for the maximum comfort on your touring days. And second choice is Russian 4x4 Van. Also with 20 years’ experience drives.
MEALS
In Mongolia, you will be dining at fine American, European and Asian cuisine restaurants. Mutton, beef, rice and noodles form the basis of the Mongolian diet, so your meals will be based around this. However, the trail rations may include vegetables, eggs, peanut butter, cheese and sometimes yak! On some days there will be lunchboxes from our cook.
PERSONAL THINGS TO BRING WITH YOU
Warm thin layers of clothing are the best such as bring a rain jacket, gloves and hiking booth. Don’t forgot first aid kit (medicine for headache, cold, diarrhea, runny nose; bandages; any medicine prescribed for you). All your camera equipment.
TOUR PACKAGE PRICE
| Group size | Price/Per person |
| 1 pax | 3030USD |
| 2-3 pax | 2180USD |
| 4-6 pax | 2050USD |
| 7-9 pax | 1980USD |
| 10-12 pax | 1880USD |
| 13-15 pax | 1790USD |
| 16< pax | 1550USD |
| No | Include service | Exclude service | Include service of Meals |
| 1 | Vehicle with a driver. | Items of personal nature | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| 2 | Fuel for the trip whole time | Beverages, alcoholic drinks, bar bills, laundry | Per day 3 bottle water for per person /1,5 liter/ |
| 3 | English speaking guide | Travel and insurance | One time Mongolian traditional food /lamb with vegetables/ |
| 4 | Accommodation/Ger camps and Hotel/ | International transportation | |
| 5 | All food, during the trip and at restaurants /Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner/ | Excess baggage fee in the flight /15kg includes handbag is free of charge/ | |
| 6 | All cooking and camping gears. | Optional activities | |
| 7 | National park and border office permits (area you will go is close to China and Russia border) | Single supplement /For hotel or Ger camp/ | |
| 8 | Airport shuffle | Gratuity for the tour team | |
| 9 | Other small administration fees Basically, includes everything. | Taxi |
TOUR ITINERARY
Day 1 - Ulaanbaatar capital city of Mongolia
Pick you up our driver and guide from Chinggis Khan international airport. Drive to Your hotel. Visit local outdoor market /bazaar/, Gandan Monastery and Mongolia national museum. Evening Leisure day in Ulaanbaatar city. Over night at Hotel
| Distance | n/a |
| Route | n/a |
| Drive time | n/a |
| Accommodation | Grand Hill Hotel |
| Food | Dinner |
Day 2 - Karakorum city, Erdene Zuu monastery
Breakfast and drive to Karakorum, Mongolia ancient capital. Picnic lunch en route. This is a long day on the road (6-7 hours drive – depending on the condition of the roads), but this evening, you will already be in the Orkhon Valley World Heritage Site, ready to start your horse riding tour tomorrow! Visit of Erdene Zuu Monastery. After the visit, We will stay to Ger camp.
| Distance | 340km |
| Route | Asphalt |
| Drive time | 4 hours |
| Accommodation | Ger camp |
| Food | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Day 3 - Orkhon valley
After breakfast, meet the nomadic herders and horses who will be your companions during this horseback ride in Central Mongolia. We begin our equestrian adventure in the northern mountains of the famous Orkhon Valley. Picnic lunch brought by our support vehicules, nothing to carry on the horses, so we can enjoy many canters! After the ride, we set up camp in the wilderness for dinner and overnight.
| Distance | 20km |
| Route | N/A |
| Drive time | 4 hours |
| Accommodation | Tent |
| Food | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Day 4 - Orkhon valley
After breakfast, we continue our horse ride in the Khangai Mountains. Picnic lunch brought by our support vehicules. After the ride, we set up camp in the wilderness for dinner and overnight.
| Distance | 20km |
| Route | N/A |
| Drive time | 4 hours |
| Accommodation | Tent |
| Food | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Day 5 - Tuvkhun monastery
After breakfast, we ride to Tovkhon Monastery, one of the major Buddhist sites in Mongolia. We reach the monastery with our horses at 2400m. Picnic lunch. We ride down the mountains to the Orkhon Valley. The views are astonishing on the large valley with wooden mountains in the background. This regions is known as the cradle of the nomadic way of life in Mongolia. After the ride, Ger camp in the wilderness for dinner and overnight.
| Distance | 20km |
| Route | N/A |
| Drive time | 4 hours |
| Accommodation | Tent |
| Food | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Day 6 - Orkhon waterfall
After breakfast, we ride to the famous Orkhon Falls. We continue our horse riding tour in the upstream part of the Valley where the landscape becomes wilder and wilder. This region has black ancient lava flows which contrast with the white running water of the Orkhon River and remind us Mongolia’s volcanic past. Picnic lunch. We reach on horseback the larch forests with the impressive Naiman Nuur mountains in front of us. After the ride, we set up camp in the wilderness for dinner and overnight.
| Distance | 20km |
| Route | N/A |
| Drive time | 4 hours |
| Accommodation | Tent |
| Food | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Day 7 - Naiman nuur /Eight lake/
For the next 3 days, our horse ride will have a totally different pace: after the wide open spaces, we now ride in very wild and remote landscapes: the Naiman Nuur Natural Park, which means “the 8 Lakes Park”. Pack yacks carry the equipment and your personal belongings for these three days as this beautiful and isolated area is not accessible to vehicles. We pack the luggage and camping equipment on the yacks and start our steep ride to the mountains. Picnic lunch. We will stay for 2 nights in guest yurts (up to 5 persons per yurt) with a nomadic family living in this very remote park. They are yack breeders.
| Distance | 20km |
| Route | N/A |
| Drive time | 4 hours |
| Accommodation | Tent |
| Food | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Day 8 - Naiman nuur /Eight lake/
Today, we ride in beautiful forested mountains, discovering the wonderful scenic lakes of the Naiman Nuur Park, one of the most beautiful sites in Mongolia. Dinner and overnight at the guest yurts.
| Distance | 20km |
| Route | N/A |
| Drive time | 4 hours |
| Accommodation | Tent |
| Food | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Day 9 - Naiman Nuur /Eight lake/
Today, we leave the Naiman Nuur Park with our pack yaks, to go back to the Orkhon Valley. We ride through steep mountains, and will appreciate our sure footed horses and the ability of our yak drivers! We set up camp close to the yak breeder’s yurt. Dinner and night under tents.
| Distance | 20km |
| Route | N/A |
| Drive time | 4 hours |
| Accommodation | Tent |
| Food | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Day 10 - Nomad family
We spend this last day in the Orkhon Valley with a nomadic family. The day is devoted to the discovery of the traditional lifestyle of the nomads of Mongolia. We can take part to the daily activities of the family. You’ll find simple tips to facilitate contact with your host family here. During the day, we can still spend a few hours in the saddle, helping them to round up the herds, or just going for a ride to explore the region. Dinner and night in a “guest-yurt” close to our nomad family’s yurts. The comfort is more simple than in the yurt camps as there are no showers, but you will experience the real nomadic way of life in Mongolia
| Distance | 20km |
| Route | N/A |
| Drive time | 4 hours |
| Accommodation | Tent |
| Food | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Day 11 - Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes
Breakfast and transfer to Khogno Khan Park (4 hours drive – depending on the condition of the roads). Khogno Khan’landscape is very similar to Gobi Desert, in southern Mongolia. Picnic lunch. Visit of the Ovgon Khiid Monastery and camel ride in the Elsentasarhaï sand dunes. For this last night in the steppe, we enjoy the magic of a touristic ger camp (yurt camp) in the desert. Spending the night in a traditional yurt, with Mongolian furniture, is also a wonderful experience, not to be missed Dinner and night at the yurt camp (up to 5 riders per yurt, showers in a separate building).
| Distance | 180km |
| Route | Asphalt |
| Drive time | 3 hours |
| Accommodation | Ger camp |
| Food | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Day 12 - Ulaanbaatar city
Breakfast and early departure to Ulan Bator where we arrive in the afternoon. Picnic lunch. The rest of the afternoon is dedicated to shopping downtown, where you will find traditional clothing and objects of daily life. In the late afternoon, you will attend a show with traditional dances, music and songs from Mongolia, especially the amazing Khoomei. No dinner included, to let you choose among the varied dining opportunities offered by Ulaanbataar.
| Distance | 280km |
| Route | Asphalt |
| Drive time | 4 hours |
| Accommodation | Hotel |
| Food | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Day 13 - Home sweet home
Leave Ulaanbaatar. Our driver drop off to Chinggis Khan international airport. Thank you for visiting our country
| Distance | 70km |
| Route | Highway |
| Drive time | 1 hour |
| Accommodation | n/a |
| Food | Breakfast |
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