Mongol Horse Trails

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This journey on horseback is a close encounter with Mongolian horsemen and their horses.A nomadic people who to date have survived the modern pressures and lifestyles. There is no other nation in the world that so much depends on horses. The Mongol horsemanship is famous, and strikingly different to anything else.The herders keep their horses in a semi-wild condition, allowing them to live freely in harem groups. During the harsh winter in subzero temperatures, the horses are able to fend for themselves and protect their foals against predators such as wolfs.There are no fences or any stables anywhere.

We will ride in the steppe areas which are the summer pasture lands of Mongolian nomads. Riding will take place two strikingly different areas. The first part of the journey will be at the treeless steppes and the latter part of ride through Khan Khentii Protected Area, being mountain forest taiga zones.

Jan Wigsten at Jalman Meadows,
Photo by Stellan Håkansson

Brief Outline Itinerary

We will start this horse ride as A Nomadic Journey, e.g. without vehicle support in wild terrain.Our luggage will be loaded on to yak carts; a ger will be carried to house our mobile restaurant unit.The beginning of the ride will be in the steppes and gradually it will become very scenic in the forest steppe mosaic and southern taiga lifezone. Mountains, steppes, forests and wooded meadows. Camping along rivers.

Day 01. Ulaanbaatar

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar. Transfer to your hotel. Tour briefing after dinner.

Day 02. To the Steppes

A.m. Visit the Gandan lamasery, possibly in time for the prayers, center for the Buddhist revival in Mongolia. The Mongols follow the Tibetan version of Lamaism, Dalai Lama being the supreme theocratical leader.

We depart towards the steppes and have a picnic lunch on arrival. Pitch camp nearby some nomadic families. Here will meet the yak carts and the horses.

Day 03-05. Steppe ride

Ride over the treeless steppes. We will ride across rather hilly terrain with occasional patches of birch forest. Throughout the ride we will make contact with local herdsmen, often relatives and friends of our wranglers.

Our support structure is free from vehicles. All our provisions, camping equipment, luggages will be loaded on to yak carts. Even a ger (yurt) will be brought, and we will learn how to use it.

On the last day suddenly forests will start to appear, and we are now riding towards the Hentii wilderness area consisting of Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area which is the interior parts of Gorkhi Terelj National Park. In Mongolia the Siberian forested nature meets the Central Asian deserts and steppes while all the time riding in this transition zone.

Day 06-07. To Sharbulag Valley

The horses will now permit us riding through the larch forests, up the slopes of the mountains following the ridges with superb scenery whilst the yak carts will follow the broad river valleys.We will arrive and pitch camp at the Sharbulag Valley. We will spend two nights here, and it will allow for some flexibility in the middle of our ride.

Day 08. To Tuul River

Cross a pass and ride into the upper parts of the Tuul River Valley. We are now near the main ridge of the Hentii Mountains.The horses will help to get up on to the ridges where the panoramic views are extraordinary. It is a partly forested area.

Day 09-10: To Jalman Meadows

We will ride towards the Jalman Meadows famous for its wildflowers and reach our semi-permanentger camp. It is situated a next a beautiful wooded meadow on the upper parts of the Tuul River. We will overnight for two nights at Jalman Meadows, making a superb last day ride in the area.

Day 11. To Ulaanbaatar

A,m. Return to Ulaanbaatar and check into the hotel. See the capital city on your own.Distances are short. The local guide is standing by to assist where your points of interest are located.

Day 12 Departure

Transfer out to your next destination.

Nomadic Journeys Style

Nomadic Journeys have introduced a concept of practical and desirable ways of travel in Mongolia, which is the synergy of Western and Mongolian ideas brought about after many years experience of travel all across Mongolia. We emphasize the quality of human contacts and encounters with local people.Respect for the horse and local equestrian traditions, from which many lessons can be learnt. Shared adventures. To travel with Nomadic Journeys means living with the horses and the yaks in the great outdoors, choosing the life of the nomad. It is an active holiday calling for some effort but with moments of complete relaxation and pleasure.

Transport: Mongolian families frequently move from one pasture to the other using traditional wooden carts.These are tied to the animals available in the region.Here we will use yaks, or rather yak-cow crossbreeds here called "hainag". The services of some herdsmen will be hired by the expedition, and they will provide us with their animals.

Staff: A local guide who speaks English and Mongolian will accompany the group at all times.A cook will follow, with an assistant.In addition, the services of the local herdsmen will be hired along with their animals.The horsemen follow a traditional lifestyle in the areas where we will be riding.

Meals: Our cook will prepare the meals.We pride ourselves in having cooks adapt to both western and Mongolian cooking on our trips.There are always vegetables available, and we have no problem accommodating vegetarians on our trips.For breakfast we can usually buy fresh yogurt from the herdsmen in the local area.

Minimum riding ability: Competent rider. Fit and capable of riding at all paces confidently.Varying terrain, in the saddle for several hours.

PRICE ex Ulaanbaatar

USD 1890 per person (2/10 members)

Includes: Leadership, breakfast every day, and all meals outside Ulaanbaatar. All overnights in hotels (2n.) in shared double, gers (2n.) and tents (7n.), camping equipment and all local transport.

Excludes: Drinks, laundry, Lunch and dinner in Ulaanbaatar. Air or train tickets in and out of Mongolia. Visa fee. Single room/tent/ger supplement is USD 20 per night.  

Additional night in Ulaanbaatar is USD 90 per double room and USD 65 for single room, which also includes breakfast and local taxes

DATES ex. Ulaanbaatar: 2008

Naadam: There is a Naadam Festival extension possibility prior to MHT02 for Ulaanbaatar Naadam Games July 10th-13th.  Pls. ask for details. 

Reversed itinerary: The itineraries could reverse for operational reasons. MHT03 is planned for reverse.

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