Arrival in UB and city tour

Upon your arrival in Ulaanbaatar, our local staffs (drivers and guide) will pick you up at the international airport of Chinggis khan. You will be transferred to a centrally located three-star hotel.
At noon, you will be escorted for a guided city tour that highlights the city’s most notable attractions, impressive National History Museum, Sukhbaatar Square and the Parliament building.
As the evening approaches, at 6:00 PM, experience a traditional Mongolian show at Tumen Ekh ensemble, featuring folk dances, contortion, and khoomii, the unique throat singing, followed by a welcome dinner.

To Kharkhorin: ancient capital of Mongol empire

We will start our day early with a six-hour drive, covering a distance of 360 km to Kharkhorin, the ancient imperial city of the Mongol Empire from the 13th century until its destruction by Chinese Ming Dynasty troops in the late 14th century. Upon arrival, we will visit the Kharkhorin Museum, where we can learn about the rich history of the Mongol Empire and Genghis Khan.
In the evening, will settle into a twin-shared ger camp, a cozy accommodation where you will sleep in gers that are furnished to resemble inviting hotel rooms.

Explore Erdene Zuu monastery: a historic gem in Khakhorin

After taking a hearty breakfast at the camp, we will visit the Erdene Zuu Monastery, the first significant Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, founded by Abtai Khan in the 16th century. This monastery, surrounded by Buddhist stupas, was partially destroyed during the communist era. We will take time to explore its stunning architecture and tranquil grounds.
Next, we will visit the ‘Erdenesiin Khuree’ calligraphy center, which focuses on preserving and promoting Mongolian calligraphy. Visitors can participate in workshops (which require advance scheduling and have a fee), explore exhibitions, and learn about the history and techniques of this art form.
In the afternoon, we will head to the home of a nomadic horseman, where we will spend the night in preparation for our exciting horseback adventure the following day.

Galloping through Orkhon valley

On this first day, we ride along the Orkhon River in its namesake valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its historical significance and rich nomadic culture. Fertile pastureland lies alongside the river and the Khangai Mountains, offering a stunning blend of natural beauty and heritage.
Today’s ride will take us across the open valley and flat steppes, including gentle rolling hills that allow us to gallop freely. We will set up our camp on the shore of the Orkhon River.

Riding towards Shireet Ulaan mountain

We continue through the expansive Mongolian steppes until we reach the larch-forested mountains, where the hidden monastery of Tuvkhun awaits. Along the way, we’ll encounter numerous nomadic summer camps, featuring their felted gers and herds of horses and yaks, all set against a mesmerizing backdrop. Set up camp at the foothill of Shireet Ulaan Mountain.

Riding through forests to Tuvkhun monastery

We are setting off this morning through the forests of Shireet Ulaan to Tuvkhun Monastery, located 2,100 meters above sea level. This 5-kilometer ascent on horseback will lead us to breathtaking views from a plateau surrounded by trees and rocky formations. In 1648, the young Bogd Zanabazar, the first religious leader of Mongolia, was inspired by this beautiful area and built a small stone cave for meditation in 1651, called ‘dubhan,’ which is now known as ‘Tuvkhun’. From there, we can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the entire Khangai mountain range, with the Orkhon Valley stretching out beneath us.

After descending from the mountain, we will cross the Orkhon River via a bridge and arrive at our campsite for the day, located on the riverbank.

At the heart of the Orkhon Valley: Explore Ulaan Tsutgalan Waterfalls

In the morning, we continue our ride up the valley, passing through basaltic rock formations, open grasslands, and nomadic camps. We’ll make a stop at a local family’s home to savor Mongolia’s favorite beverage, mare’s fermented milk known as ‘Airag.’ Here, we’ll spend time with the family and enjoy lunch together with our hosts before heading to the Ulaan Tsutgalan Waterfalls. This impressive waterfall, approximately 21 meters high, was formed as a result of various earthquakes and repeated volcanic eruptions, which created basalt canyons and a long gorge.
Our overnight stay will be at a family-run guesthouse.

Further into the depth of the Valley: Boorog, Gateway to Naiman Nuur

Still on horseback, we ascend deeper into the valley. We ride along the terrain, surrounded by impressive basalt rock formations and eventually some trees, until we reach Boorog, the landmark at the gateway to the Naiman Nuur natural park. Here, we will stay at the home of a yak herder, who will also serve as our trek guide. This location will be the starting point for the second part of our horseback trek, where we will ride independently for two days without the support of drivers or vehicles.

Welcome to the Eight Lakes Region (Naiman Nuur)

Today marks the beginning of our exciting two-day riding adventure in the Eight Lakes Natural Park with pack yaks and horsemen. We’ll travel through lush larch forests, vast marshlands, and serene lakes. This morning, we say farewell to our drivers, whom we will meet again at Shuranga’s family ger. We will prepare our gear and pack the yaks with our supplies for the ride.
First, we will ride over Boorog Hill and enter Naiman Nuur Nature Park, a region formed by volcanic eruptions centuries ago. Located at over 2,400 meters above sea level, it spans an area of 11,500 hectares. The lakes here are named Shireet, Khaliut, Bugat, Khaya, Khuis, Shanaa, Doroo, and Bayan-Uul, although some of the smaller lakes have completely dried up.
We will see all of the lakes and set up our camp on the shores of Shireet Lake. The afternoon is free for swimming and enjoying the surroundings.

End of the ride and Arrival at Shuranga’s nomadic family

We continue our ride along the shores of Shireet Lake, the largest and most beautiful lake in the area. After passing a hill blanketed in a larch forest, we will discover secluded corners of the lake before slowly ascending in a zigzag pattern up Shireet Pass, where we will pause to admire the panoramic views over the lake. Our ride then takes us into a vast valley.
Upon arriving at the nomadic family that spends the summer along the banks of the Shuranga River, we will meet our driver. We will bid farewell to our horsemen and local yak guides, thanking them for their invaluable assistance.
The afternoon is free for resting and exploring nomadic life. Overnight in a Ger.

Drive to Bayan Gobi

We will start our day early with a five-hour drive, covering a distance of 280 km to to Khugnu Khan Reserve, where we can enjoy the beautiful landscapes of Mongolia and beauty of the Gobi Desert. This area features green grasslands, surprising sand dunes, and impressive rock formations at Khogno Khan mountains.
In the afternoon, we will arrive at the welcoming home of a local family, where we will spend the night and experience their hospitality. Here, we will do a camel ride for about 1-2 hours in the beautiful dunes.

Back to Ulaanbaatar

Return to Ulaanbaatar, traveling 280 km through the stunning Mongolian steppe, where you’ll see traditional gers and grazing livestock. Once you arrive, check in at your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day to explore at your own pace. In the evening, we will come together for a farewell dinner.

Departure: See you next time 🙂

Transfer to International Airport for your journey back home. You can choose your return transfer time based on your flight.