Category: Horse riding tours Mongolia  

Travel places: Ulaanbaatar – Murun town – Yamaat valley – Tsagaannuur village – West Taiga –  Tsagaannuur village – Ujig river valley – Khuvsgul lake – Murun town – Ulaanbaatar

Activities: Exploring lifestyle of reindeer herders, attending Shamanic ritual, learning unique traditions and horseback riding, enjoying crystal clear Lake Khuvsgul

Duration: 13nights / 14days

Number of participants: Min-3, max-12

Be ready to ride to the discovery of the Tsaachin community. This mythic ethnic will welcome you in their home place in mystical Taiga. It’s on horseback that you will reach their remote camp. You will spend days in their tribe, learning their everyday life and traditions while enjoying the breathtaking natural surroundings. Join in this trip to meet a Shaman custodian of a hidden realm.

Day 1 Welcoming day
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar the capital city of Mongolia. Transfer to your hotel. City sightseeing tour including Chinggis Khaan square and National Museum. In the evening enjoy a traditional art performance and Welcome dinner. Stay overnight in the hotel. BD

Day 2 Travel to Khuvsgul
Transfer to airport and take a flight to Murun, the center of Khuvsgul province. On arrival at the domestic airport, our local service team will meet and greet us. Travel to Yamaat valley for 90kms. Stay overnight in tent. BLD

Day 3 Travel to Tsagaannuur village
Travel to Tsagaannuur village for 200kms. On the way we will cross rivers and passes and take a scenic view over the Khoridol Saridag Mountain Range. Evening we will arrive at the Tsagaannuur. Stay overnight at Tsagaannuur Lodge. BLD (altitude app. 2350m above sea level)

Day 4-5 Horse riding to Taiga 
After getting registered at Border Troop Authorization we will transfer to the starting point of the horse riding trek. Here we will meet with local horse specialist guides/trail finders and horses. After having a brief instruction for riding Mongolian horses everybody will get acquainted with own horse and tack. Our guides will set entire luggage on pack horses, then start riding to West Taiga to reach Tsaachin people. Since our riding trail goes through wet and marshy places in the mountains and valleys, we couldn’t ride faster and all riders will follow same track along the ways. Stay overnight in tent on the way and stay in teepee with Tsaachin community. BLD (altitude app. 2900m above sea level)

Day 6 Exploring lifestyle of reindeer herders
We will deeply look into lifestyle of Tsaachin people. You can interact with them and learn more about their cultural features and traditions. Stay overnight in teepee. BLD (altitude app. 2900m above sea level)

Day 7 Meet with a Shaman fortuneteller
Visit to a Shaman of the area and learning more about this unique tradition. You will attend a Shamanic ritual ceremony that will be held in midnight time. Stay overnight in teepee. BLD (altitude app. 2900m above sea level)

Day 8-9 Horse riding Tsagaannuur
Horse trek back to Tsagaannuur village. For 2 days we will take another trail along the picturesque forested mountains and valleys. On the way we will cross over a mountain pass Ebed. Stay overnight in tent on the way and stay in Lodge at Tsagaannuur village. BLD (altitude app. 2350m above sea level)

Day 10 Travel to Ujig Valley
Today we will drive to Ujig river valley for 5-6 hours about 160kms. we will be camping at the stunning valley as taking a beautiful scenery. Stay overnight in tent. BLD

Day 11 Travel to Khuvsgul Lake 
Continue our drive for 4-5 hours to reach Ger camp at the shore of blue pearl Lake Khuvsgul. The Lake is sacred as the Mother Lake by Mongolians. Enjoy walking along the lakeshore. Stay  overnight in Ger camp. BLD

Day 12 Hiking
Enjoy a half day hike through the surrounding mountain for taking a panoramic view over the lake. Optional boat trip is available in the afternoon. Stay overnight in Ger camp. BLD

Day 13 Travel to Ulaanbaatar
Morning we will travel to Murun town for 100kms. Transfer to domestic airport and take a flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to your hotel. Shopping for cashmere and souvenirs. Enjoy Farewell dinner. Stay overnight in hotel. BLD

Day 14 Departure
After breakfast transfer to airport for departure. B

• Tour starting (start in Ulaanbaatar):
2015:
HT01 11 Jun
HT02 02 Jul
HT03 23 Jul
HT04 13 Aug

Price from:
USD 3450per person

Included: All activities described in the itinerary, twin/double basis hotel accommodation (2 nights) in Ulaanbaatar, Ger camp stay (4 nights), tent stay (4 nights), stay in teepee of Tsaachin family (3 nights) in countryside, English speaking guide service, local specialist guides and pack horses, field cook, all camping equipments, entrance fees to Protected Areas and sightseeing fees, RT domestic flight, all transfers by bus/mini bus in the city and 4WD Russian minivan in the countryside. Meals of breakfast, lunch /picnic during the ride/ and dinner as mentioned per day itinerary.

Excluded: International transportation to and from Mongolia, travel insurance, mineral (bottled) water and alcoholic drinks, sleeping bag, tips and gratuities, laundry and items of a personal nature.

Few countries have such a strong historical link with the horses as Mongolia – the first domesticated horses are thought to have emerged on the Eurasian steppes between 4500 and 2000BCE. The Mongolian nomadic culture is only remaining horse-based culture in the world. Here horses and people depend on each other, so there is a mutual respect between them that runs deep and long in the civilization. The horse is still the main form of transport, especially for nomadic families, whose horses are methods of transport and status symbols. Nomadic people extremely proud of their horse riding skills and children begin riding as young as three years old. Mongolian horses possess remarkable working ability. For carting, one horse, with a load of 450-500kg, can walk 50-60 km a day. During the grass-growing season, mares are milked 8-10 times a day, producing 0.5-1.0 liter of milk each time. Traditionally, Airag (koumiss), fermented mare’s milk is the famous drink of the nomads.
We offer great opportunities to those wishing to experience the riding in the country of nomads. A variety of rides is possible, from crossing mountain passes to pack-trips across the vast steppes that make up much of the country. You will have the chance to ride one of the oldest breeds of the horse, the indigenous Mongolian Pony, which is built for fortitude and endurance. Traditional Mongolian tack includes wooden saddles decorated with large silver studs, but most visitors will use more conventional English or Russian tack.

Essential Information on riding:
Horses – Mongolian Ponies (average standing height is less than 14hands 2inches – 1.47m)
Tack – Russian (and or locally made English-style)
Riding ability – Strong novice upwards
Accommodation – Hotel, Ger camp, Ger-(home) stay with local nomads & tent camping
Terrain – Varied: mountains, steppes, and grasslands
Best time of riding – July, August

We provide our clients best suitable horses according to their riding skills, either competent riders or beginners. Our local grooms and horse professionals will take best care for every client. Before starting a trip, they will usually, instruct rules about riding in Mongolia. In our riding tours, we use mostly Russian (cavalry) saddles, which are more convenient for “western bottoms” than the Mongolian equivalent. We recommend our clients bring their own riding helmet/hard hat. And riding boots or chaps are essential. A saddle bag is provided to every client, so bottle of water and necessary personal items can be carried in.

Our programs include many of different trails in different destinations of the country and our clients are recommended to choose best suitable riding holiday according to their fit and capabilities.
We mostly evaluate ability of our clients as like:

Beginner: A rider, who has limited experience, is unable to post the trot and does not canter.

Novice: A rider who is capable of mounting and dismounting unassisted, capable of applying basic aids, comfortable and in control at the walk, moderate length posting trots, and short canters.

Intermediate: A rider who has a firm seat, is confident and in control at all paces (including posting trots, two-point canters and gallops), but does not ride regularly.

Strong Intermediate: An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly and is comfortable in the saddle for at least 6 hours per day.

Advanced or competent: All of the above, plus an independent seat, soft hands, and capable of handling a spirited horse in open country.

We highly appreciate your decision for traveling to Mongolia with our company. Thus, we are pleased to assure the quality of your tour.
Please kindly check our Terms & Conditions and fill out the online booking form as below. With your given information, we would get back to you immediately for further confirmation.
Thank you very much and look forward to seeing you soon!