Classic Mongolia Cycling Tour - 13 days

Itinerary

• Arrival transfer, Ulaanbaatar city tour

  Upon arriving in Ulaanbaatar, you will be transferred to the group hotel. Meet the other travelers and explore the highlights of Mongolia’s capital. The city tour includes a visit to the country’s main Buddhist monastery, where the awe-inspiring, gigantic gold-plated Buddha statue serves as the principal object of worship. You will also observe local believers engaged in various worship rituals and prayers, many of whom are wearing colorful traditional overcoats. Next, visit the central square adjacent to the parliament building, which features a façade adorned with marble statues of Genghis Khan and his successors. Rightfully regarded as the city’s signature photo point, it is always bustling with newlyweds, reunification parties, and the public in general. Consider hearing an overview of Mongolia’s history from the Stone Age to the modern era at the National Museum, and see a few but remarkably important dinosaur fossils—such as intact nests containing eggs, carnivores fighting herbivores, and embryos still in their eggshells—at the Paleontology Museum of Mongolia. A panoramic view of Ulaanbaatar from an elevated hill on the city’s edge provides insight into its size and topography. Finally, after watching a show of traditional music, songs, and famous throat singing, enjoy a welcome dinner with the rest of the group and receive an informal introduction to the exciting cycling tour ahead of you. Overnight at the group hotel (dinner, hotel).

  • Dinner
  • Hotel

• Transfer to the starting point of the cycling tour

  We load in 4WD expedition vans which have special racks for carrying bikes and drive west of UB on rough tarmac across vast open steppes with rolling hills in the background. Countless flocks of grazing sheep, goats, horses and cattle herded by nomads and their traditional homes, known as ger, is a common sight. Around late afternoon we arrive to a provincial capital and settle in a hotel. If wished, you can explore the town on foot before dinner.

  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Hotel

• Bike to Asgat valley

  2-hour car transfer brings us to foothills of the Khangai mountain range where we start riding after a snack break. It is an acclimatization day at easy incline across grassy valleys fed by small streams that flow to arid plains of the Gobi desert, a glimpse of which you can get, looking back. A few homes of nomadic herders and their enormous herds will come in to your view this afternoon. Always curious about bike travelers, they may abandon their daily chores and come to greet and wave you. We establish our first tent camp soon after crossing over the day’s highest point at 2450m. On most of the nights on this trip you will sleep in a comfortable tent camp erected every afternoon upon finishing the day’s biking. It provides all amenities of a good wilderness camp including tents designated for dining, showering and bathrooms, not to mention great meals cooked by a chef.

  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Tent
  • 31km +543m/-307m

• Bike to Shargaljuut valley

  A series of short climbs followed by swift descents along a route strewn with spectacular rock formations bring us to today’s tea spot. From there on we gradually gain altitude on well established car tracks cut in and around mountain sides that provide a high angle views of a lush river valley teeming with yaks and horses. The great scenery compensates for some rocky sections of the road which eventually brings us to Shargaljuut mineral springs many of them boiling hot. A massive soviet era health spa dominates the mountain side streaming with hot mineral water famous for its curing qualities and widely used in traditional Mongolian medicine.  Summer is a busy time here with lots local people spending a week or two getting rid off their ailments. We spend some time looking around the place and trying the water temperature. One more hour of pedaling further along the valley and civilization is completely left behind. We erect our tents on a pretty riverside with a few gers, the tents of herding locals, and their many animals in our sight.

  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Tent
  • 52km +697m/-753m

• Crossing of the Khangai range

  During these 3 days we cross the Khangai’s watershed that separates its southern basin from the northern basin. The whole route follows the least travelled and hidden corners of the range. It’s truly delightful to see beautiful landscapes change every single day. Each ascent, at times quite challenging, brings you to a panoramic highpoint which is then followed by a breathtaking downhill. The road is then usually replaced by a level portion where you pedal leisurely and absorb the appeasing beauty of the virgin nature. Local herders and their immense flocks of animals will be your only and silent spectators. Invariably, our campsites are located in the vicinity of their homes allowing you opportunity for more interaction and cultural experience.

  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Tent
  • 41km +885m/-558m, 41km +739m/-803m, 38km +143m/-324m

• Bike to Tsetserleg town

  Having made it to the northern side of the Khangai we bike to Tsetserleg town, a pretty provincial capital located in the shelter of a spectacular granite ridge. A short but steep pass is followed by an overall fast day on excellent packed surfaces. The last climb finally opens an interesting view of traditional residential districts, geometrically aligned and with a lot of bright rooftops. We will have ample time for exploring the town including its busy market where local people sell pine nuts, various wild berries and other natural produce of the Khangai region. In just half an hour’s pedaling, we settle in a traditional style guest accommodation with relative comforts of a conventional hotel such running water, showers and bathrooms. For a guest room you will be allocated a real Mongolian ger.

  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Ger camp
  • 66km +551m/-894m

• Ride to Tsenker hot springs resort

  Half a day riding to negotiate 3 short but steep passes brings you to Tsenkher, a lush wooded valley, famous for its mineral hot spring. Although somewhat crowded with both local and foreign travelers during short summer season, it certainly feels good to sooth your muscles in a hot pool. Relaxing massage and laundry service is available too. Another night in traditional Mongolian tents.

  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Ger camp
  • 25km +443m/-321m

• Cycle to Orkhon river valley

  Another fast day on great soils to reach Orkhon river valley littered with sponge like volcanic rock. This UNESCO designated historic heritage site contains many hundreds of ancient burial mounds that dot the landscape. We set up tented camp right beside the river and take a dip in its cool waters before dinner is ready.

  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Tent
  • 77km +1070m/-1161m

• Bike to Karakorum - medieval capital of Genghis Khaan

  We cycle downstream along the Orkhon river loose altitude throughout the day. Our destination is the town of Karakorum - the site of the Mongol Empire capital in 1200s. However, its glory was short lived as it soon fell into obscurity and was eventually destroyed by invading Chinese armies in late 14th century. Today the main attraction here is the monastery museum of Erdene Zuu established in 16th century by a Mongol khan as part of introduction of Buddhism as the main religion. The monastery then suffered almost a complete destruction during the anti-religion campaign of 1930-ies with just a dozen of temples surviving till present. We visit the monastery and the local museum to take a glance at a few surviving artifacts of the old capital before heading to a ger camp to celebrate our ride.

  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Ger camp
  • 72km+512m/-722m

• Return to Ulaanbataar, farewell dinner

  Load bikes and drive back to Ulaanbaatar stopping for a picnic lunch at some scenic spot along the way. Upon arriving settle in your hotel and meet at a good-bye dinner.

  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Hotel

• Departure transfer

  Transfer for your return travel home.

  • Breakfast