Day 1
Riding: No riding.
You will be transferred from Ulaanbaatar airport to your three star hotel (transfer timed to meet the Turkish Airlines flight). After lunch you visit the Gandantegchinlin Monastery with its impressive giant golden status of Buddha, followed by a show with traditional dances, music and songs from Mongolia, especially the amazing Khoomei.
Day 2 - Ullaanbaatar - Przewalski Horses (Khustai) - Bayan Gobi
Riding: No riding.
After breakfast you depart early for Khustai national park (c. 1.5 hour drive), home to wild Przewalski horses, also known as Takhi. Upon arrival you'll go on a 4x4 safari in the national park to search for the wild horses as well as deer and marmots that abound in this protected area. Stop for lunch in the restaurant of the yurt camp by the entrance to the park.
You then continue by 4x4 to the Bayan Gobi desert (c. 4 hours drive, depending on traffic). There you meed the nomad herder who will be your horse guide for the next two days in the Bayan Gobi. Dinner and overnight in a guest yurt near the herders' family yurt (up to 5 people per yurt).
Day 3 - Bayan Gobi Desert
Riding: 4 - 6 hours
A full day on horseback in the Bayan Gobi, which is the only opportunity to ride a horse in the typical Gobi landscape as the southern Gobi only offers camels. This area is the geographical heart of Mongolia and located at the junction of three major Mongolian ecosystems - two of the main mountain ranges, the Khangai and Khentii, and the northern edge of the Gobi desert.
Mount Batkhan overlooks this area and gives rise to several rivers and springs which mix their waters with the sand dunes of Elsentasarkhai ("sand break") forming a changing and spectacular scenery.
Ride through the surrounding dunes and mountains to reach the Khogno Khan cliffs where you visit Ovgon Khiid monastery which is set in dramatic scenery.
Set up camp in the middle of nowhere in a sparsely populated area in the heart of the Bayan Gobi. You set up your own sleeping tent, and there is an additional shower tent and communal mess tent for preparing meals.
Day 4 - Bayan Gobi - Nomads of the Orkhon Valley
Riding: 2 - 3 hours
After breakfast you ride again through the dunes of the Bayan Gobi desert. Stop for lunch in the wilderness and then leave the horses behind and set off to reach the Orkhon Valley and meet another herding family not far from the famous Orkhon Falls. Dinner and overnight in a guest yurt near the nomadic family.
Day 5 - Orkhon Valley
Riding: 4 - 6 hours
After breakfast you meet the horses and herdsmen who will accompany you on your trek through the Orkhon Valley. This mornings ride takes you to the famous Orkhon Falls where you continue riding through 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 you of Mongolia's volcanic past.
After a picnic lunch you ride to the wooded slopes of Naiman Nuur park. Set up camp, enjoy dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 6 - Naiman Nuur
Riding: 4 - 6 hours
After breakfast there's a complete change of scenery as you venture into the wild and remote landscapes of Naiman Nuur which means the 8 Lakes Park. Pack yaks will carry your equipment and personal belongings for these three days as this beautiful and isolated area is not accessible to vehicles. Pack your luggage and camping equipment onto the yaks and start your steep ride into the mountains, stopping for a picnic lunch en-route. The pace is slow in this part of the park due to the rugged terrain.
You will spend the next two nights in guest yurts (5 people per yurt) with a nomadic family living in this remote park - they are yak breeders.
Day 7 - Naiman Nuur Park
Riding: 4 - 6 hours
Todays ride takes you into beautiful forested mountains to discover the wonderful scenic lakes of the Naiman Nuur park before returning to your guest yurt.
Day 8 - Naiman Nuur Park
Riding: 4 - 6 hours
On horseback you depart Naiman Nuur with your pack yaks and head back into the Orkhon Valley. Ride through steep mountains where you'll appreciate the sure-footed horses and ability of your yak herders!
Eventually you'll leave the yaks behind and continue out onto the open spaces of the Orkhon Valley where you can pick up the pace. Set up camp not far from the "little waterfalls" of the Orkhon.
Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 9 - Orkhon Valley
Riding: 4 - 6 hours
Head out for an invigorating ride following the Orkhon river. Lunch is taken by the river where you cross one of the few bridges, allowing you to then start climbing the Khangai mountains that border the valley. Upon reaching the edge of the forest you set up camp.
Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 10 - Orkhon Valley - Bayan Gobi
Riding: 4 - 6 hours
A long day of riding today as you head through the forest to Tovkhon Monastery, one of the major Buddhist sites in Mongolia and situated at 2400m. After lunch you ride down the mountains into the Orkhon Valley, with astonishing views across the valley. Upon reaching the Orkhon river again you can open up the horses across the wide open terrain until reaching your 4x4 vehicle to set up camp near a Buddhist stupa.
Dinner and overnight in camps
Day 11 - Orkhon Valley - Karakorum
Riding: 4 - 6 hours
After breakfast you set out for your final day of riding across open terrain perfect for long canters and stopping for lunch en-route. Your ride will end close to Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia. Set up camp in an area just outside Karakorum.
Farewell dinner and overnight in tents
NB. on this final night it's traditional to share gifts with the nomadic herders such as moisturising creams, lip sticks, sunglasses, healing creams for horses, eye drops, or anything that is hard for them to find on the steppes.
Day 12 - Karakorum - Ullaanbaatar
Riding: No riding.
After breakfast you visit the Erdene Zuu monastery before heading back to Ullaanbaatar, stopping for lunch along the way. You'll be back in Ullaanbaatar for about 6pm and will check into your hotel near the Sukhbaatar square which offers a wide choice of restaurants and the chance to do some late night shopping. Dinner is to your own account tonight.
Day 13
Riding: No riding.
Breakfast and transfer to the airport in time for the Turkish Airlines flight.
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.
