Mongol Horse Trails

Day 1: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

Arrive in Mongolia’s capital and transfer to your hotel. In the evening, meet your guide team for a welcome dinner and trip briefing.

Days 2–3: Journey to the Steppes

Visit Gandan Monastery, the heart of Mongolia’s Buddhist revival, possibly catching the morning prayer ceremony. Depart Ulaanbaatar by road and head into the vast countryside. After a picnic lunch, we set up camp near nomadic families and meet our horses and yak caravan. Short introductory ride.

Days 4–5: Horseback Trek Across the Steppe

We begin our ride across open steppe and hilly terrain dotted with birch forests. All provisions and camping gear are transported by yak carts. We’ll meet local herding families—often relatives of our guides—and experience their hospitality. On Day 5, we enter the Khentii wilderness, riding into the transitional zone where Central Asian grasslands meet the Siberian boreal forest.

Days 6–7: Into the Mountains – Sharbulag Valley

Ride deep into larch forests, up mountain ridges with breathtaking views, while the yak caravan follows river valleys below. We reach Sharbulag Valley and camp for two nights, giving us flexibility for exploration and rest.

Days 8–9: Ride to Jalman Meadows

Continue to Jalman Meadows, known for its rich biodiversity and wildflowers. Our ride ends at the luxury ger camp by the upper Tuul River. Say goodbye to the yak caravan and enjoy a final full day of riding in this pristine alpine setting.

Day 10: Return to Ulaanbaatar

We return to the capital by vehicle. Spend the afternoon exploring Ulaanbaatar at your leisure—museums, shops, or the city’s vibrant cultural life. Farewell dinner and Mongolian entertainment.

Day 11: Departure

Transfer to the airport for your onward journey or flight home.

DATES ex Ulaanbaatar: 

MHT01: 15 – 25 Jun
MHT02: 30 Jun – 10 Jul Naadam opt
MHT03: 21 – 31 Jul
MHT04: 17 – 27 Aug
MHT05: 01 – 11 Sep

PRICE ex Ulaanbaatar:        

2 – 10 members: USD 2550 per person

Single supplement (10n): USD 500

Private trip supplement:

2/4 members USD 500 per trip

5/up members no charge

Practicalities:

At Nomadic Journeys, we focus on meaningful connections—with local nomads, horses, and the wild landscapes of Mongolia. This is not just a ride—it’s a shared adventure rooted in traditional lifestyles. Respect for the horse and the ancient Mongolian equestrian culture is central to our philosophy, offering valuable insights for those who travel with us.

Transport: This journey involves no motor vehicle support once we leave the city. Apart from the initial and final drives, we travel entirely by horseback and traditional wooden yak carts, the same type Mongolian herders use when moving between seasonal pastures. You’ll be riding horses across the steppe while your luggage, camp gear, and dining ger are carried by yak cart caravan.

Accommodation: During the ride stay in spacious tentipis, equipped with foldable cot beds (bring your own sleeping bag). A traditional Mongolian ger (yurt) serves as our mobile restaurant. We also bring shower tents and compost toilets in marquee-style tents. Spend two nights at Nomadic Journeys’ own low-impact ger camp Jalman Meadows, surrounded by scenic wilderness. In Ulaanbaatar stay two nights at a centrally located hotel, double occupancy room.

Our Crew: A Mongolian English-speaking guide will accompany the group throughout. An experienced camp cookprepares daily meals (both Western and Mongolian). Local herdsmen join with their horses and yak carts, offering deep insight into the traditional nomadic lifestyle. For groups of five riders or more, a Mongolian doctor will also accompany the trip as part of our crew.

Meals: Meals are freshly prepared by our own cook. We accommodate vegetarian diets. Fresh milk and yogurt are often sourced from local herders along the route. Meals are enjoyed in the dining ger, offering a warm and authentic setting.

Riding Skills: Riders must be competent and confident at all paces. Expect to be in the saddle for several hours per dayacross varied terrain. A good level of physical fitness and experience with trail riding is essential.

Naadam Games Extension: You may extend your adventure to witness Mongolia’s Naadam Festival ( MHT02 Extension). Watch thrilling horse races with up to 1,000 horses, as well as traditional wrestling and archery competitions on the open plains outside Ulaanbaatar. Costs USD 1,100 per person.

Reversal of trip: For operational reasons, the direction of the horseback journey may be reversed, starting from Jalman Meadows and ending near the steppe, without affecting the core experience.

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

Excludes: Drinks, laundry, lunch in Ulaanbaatar. Air or train tickets in and out of Mongolia. Bring your own sleeping bag, riding helmet and short chaps.