Khangai Mountains cycling, hiking and horse riding tour - 11 days

Itinerary

• Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, welcome dinner

  On arrival at Ulaanbaatar Airport, meet our representative and transfer to a centrally located 4-star hotel. If time permits, enjoy an orientation walk in the city center and a guided visit to the National Museum of Mongolia, which traces the country’s history from prehistoric times through the empire period, Buddhism, and the modern era. In the evening, attend a traditional folk performance featuring music, dance, throat singing, and contortion, followed by a welcome dinner and tour briefing with your guide.

  • Dinner
  • Hotel

• Travel to Khugnu Khan Nature Reserve & Mongol Els sand dunes

  Early this morning, we drive west of Ulaanbaatar across wide open countryside where rolling hills give way to rugged mountains. Along the way, we pass large herds of horses, sheep, and goats grazing on dry pastureland, as well as the traditional tents of nomadic herders.

  In the afternoon, we arrive at Khugnu Khan Nature Reserve, a striking landscape of sand dunes, rock formations, and mountains. We hike to explore secluded Buddhist temple ruins hidden in a quiet valley, with an optional ride on a two-humped Bactrian camel in the evening. Tonight, we stay at a comfortable tourist lodge made up of traditional felt-covered gers, offering hotel-style comforts with shared facilities located separately from the gers.

  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Ger camp

• 3 days of cycling in Khangai Mountains

  Over three days, we cycle westward from the edge of the Mongol Els into the greener heart of central Mongolia. The route takes us across sandy plains and savanna-like valleys framed by granite mountains, then on to Ugii Nuur Lake, an important freshwater habitat for migratory birds. Continuing toward the Khangai Mountain Range, we ride rolling hills and grassy valleys, crossing the historic Orkhon River before transferring to a natural hot spring resort. The final day features gentle climbs to high passes with wide views of forests, rivers, and open pasturelands, where nomadic life unfolds along the way. Each evening, we stay in comfortable ger camps, with opportunities to relax and enjoy mineral hot springs.

  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Ger camp
  • 63 km, 70 km, 55 km

• Hike to Tuvkhun Monastery then travel to Nomadic Host Family

  Having concluded our cycling adventure, this morning we take a short transfer to Shiveet Ulaan Mountain. We arrive around noon, have lunch, and hike up to Tuvkhun Monastery, tucked just below the summit.

  Built in 1653 and known as the “Land of Happy Solitude,” the monastery served as a meditation retreat for a prominent Buddhist leader of Mongolia, a direct descendant of Chinggis Khaan who played a key role in the spread of Buddhism during the 17th century. We visit several restored temples and crawl through the small “Mother Belly” tunnel, a ritual believed to cleanse sins and ensure a favorable rebirth.

  After the hike, we descend into the Orkhon River Valley, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site known for its ancient burial grounds, memorials, and monuments. The valley remains home to herding nomads, with felt gers and large herds of livestock dotting the landscape. In the evening, we arrive at our welcoming nomadic host family for an overnight stay.

  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Host family

• 2 days of horse riding the Orkhon valley

  Before setting out, the horses are saddled and your guides give clear instructions on riding Mongolian horses. We ride through a valley shaped by ancient lava flows and wide basalt fields, an area still used year-round by nomadic herders. Accompanied by your guide at all times, we follow the Orkhon River downstream to the Red Waterfall, where a tributary drops 24 meters into a narrow canyon. After a full day on horseback, we return to the host family, with the horses quickening their pace as they sense home nearby. The next day, we saddle up again and ride into the mountains to visit a hidden natural hot spring.

  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Host family

• Travel to Karakorum, a historic Mongol Empire capital

  This morning, begin your Mongolian journey with a drive to Kharkhorin/Karakorum, where the third son of Chinggis Khaan established the capital of the Mongol Empire in the early 13th century. The city flourished only briefly before being destroyed by Ming Dynasty troops in the late 14th century. Today, the main highlight is Erdene Zuu Monastery, founded in the 16th century as part of the introduction of Buddhism as Mongolia’s state religion and later largely destroyed during the anti-religious campaigns of the 1930s, with only a handful of temples surviving. Spend time exploring the tranquil monastery grounds and viewing the remaining artifacts, then walk the nearby earthen mounds that still mark the site of the ancient capital. Conclude the visit at the modern Karakorum Museum, home to an impressive and ever-growing collection of archaeological finds and historical exhibits.

  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Ger camp

• Travel back to Ulaanbaatar

  This morning, we drive back to Ulaanbaatar. The six-hour journey across the open steppe is unhurried, offering time to reflect on the journey and on a country that has undergone rapid change over the past three decades, as traditional ways of life adapt to outside influences and a globalizing culture. On arrival in Ulaanbaatar, we settle into our hotel and gather in the evening for a farewell dinner to celebrate your Mongolian experience.

  • Breakfast, dinner
  • Hotel

• Departure transfer

  You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.

  • Breakfast