Steppe Escape Cycle Tour - 4 days

Itinerary

• Cycling the great Mongolian grasslands

  We start the day with a short car transfer to the edge of Ulaanbaatar. Soon after leaving the city, you will start seeing many domestic animals: horses, cattle, sheep, and goats. Mongolia is known to have 50-60 million animals which make up the bulk of the rural economy. We start the bike tour by cycling across vast open grassland alternated by gentle hills. Except for just a short part, most of today’s distance of 30km is on distinct car tracks with a smooth packed surface. On our route lie a couple of interesting sites to see. First is a group of horse statues erected on an elevation and dedicated to renowned racehorses of the area. The cult of horses and their place in the Mongolian culture is significant. Another is a shamanistic ritual site where shamans periodically gather to enhance their supernatural skills. Shamanism has rapidly been reviving since 3 decades ago when Mongolia embraced western-type democracy. Our first night in the Mongolian countryside will be in a comfortable hotel comprised of traditional felt-clad tents, known as yurts. The camp is located on the edge of a vast open grassland

  • Lunch, dinner
  • Yurt camp
  • Distance 31km, +420m

• Cycling to a XIII century king’s court

  The first 10km this morning is easy pedaling across grasslands most commonly associated with Mongolia. Further and until the end of the day, gentle climbs alternate with rolling descents to open grasslands with mountain slopes dotted with scenic rock formations in the background. Our destination is the historic complex called "XIII century Mongolia". As the name suggests it is a stylized demonstration of Mongolia’s medieval life. Today, we settle down at “Khan’s court” and have your photo taken dressed as a medieval Mongol nobleman or try your hand at traditional archery. The lavishly decorated interiors, wild environment, and absence of electric power make the atmosphere feel quite medieval. Tonight, you will have a candlelight dinner under the grand dome of the king’s yurt.

  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Yurt camp
  • Distance 53km, +700m

• Cycling to Khan Khenty National park

  This morning we visit two other stations of the historic complex. You can have your names written down in traditional vertical writing or learn more about shamanistic beliefs. We leisurely pedal across open valleys dotted with white mushroom-like homes of nomadic Mongols and catch a glimpse of a way of life that hasn’t seemingly changed in centuries. Large flocks of goats as well as horses and cattle graze alongside. We take a chance to visit a nomadic family. Back on bikes, we climb to a wooded pass at 1887m, the gateway to the Khenty wilderness area that marks the southern edge of the Siberian mountain forest ecosystem. A long descent on a rocky surface brings us to a cozy yurt camp located at a picturesque riverside with high willow growth and wooded mountains as the backdrop.

  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Yurt camp
  • Distance 60km, +730m

• Easy cycling along lush riverside, transfer to Ulaanbaatar

  Bear, wolf, lynx, and boar inhabit the depths of the wilderness area but as well herbivores such as elk, a few kinds of deer, and the many fur animals typical to boreal forest. But of course, it’s not realistic to encounter the wild animals in warm seasons and especially on trails trodden by human beings but yet you acutely feel the immensity of the wilderness. This morning we cycle along the lush riverside, crossing a couple of knee-deep streams. We enjoy our last lunch in the wilderness, load bikes, and transfer back to Ulaanbaatar. En route, however, we take a brief detour to visit a giant mounted statue of Genghis Khan and enjoy a panoramic view of mountains and grasslands from an observation deck on the horse’s head. Finally, we take a 2-hour return transfer back to Ulaanbaatar.

  • Breakfast, lunch
  • Distance 25km, +200m