Horse Riding in Legendary Orkhon Valley tour

Route

What's the plan?

DAY 1: Arrive in Ulaanbaatar
Today you will enjoy a city sightseeing tour with visits to the National History Museum and Gandan monastery.

Accommodation: in the hotel

DAY 2: Ugii Lake in Orkhon valley
Today, our vehicle will drive you towards our base camp, “Ugii”, situated at the shore of Ugii Lake, in Orkhon valley. We will spend half day at the camp, meeting with wranglers and preparing yourself for the next horse trekking days. We will briefly introduce you to Mongolian horses and riding etiquettes.

Accommodation: in the camp

DAY 3: Khoshoo Tsaidam
Today we start our horse trekking towards Khoshoo Tsaidam, one of the most important historical sites of Turkic State. Inscriptions on the ancient monuments are considered the oldest known written documents of the Turkish language, and it describes the events of Turks Khaganate, who settled in the Orkhon valley in VIII-IX centuries.

Accommodation: in the tent
Horseback riding: 5 hours

DAY 4: Erdene Zuu monastery in Kharkhorin
Today we continue our trek through the beautiful Orkhon Valley and arrive in Kharkhorin in the afternoon, the ancient capital and one of the important sites of Mongolian history and culture. From here, the Chinggis khan and his sons ruled the Great Mongolian Empire during XIII century, and it was a political and trade center through which the legendary Silk Road passed, the main commerce network of Eurasia. Here we will visit the Erdene Zuu monastery, built on the ruins of the Kharkhorin city in XVI century.

Accommodation: in the tent
Horseback riding: 5 hours

DAYS 5-9: Orkhon waterfall
During the next few days we will trek on horseback down to the south. We will visit the Shank and Tovkhon Khiid temples, and arrive at Orkhon waterfall. This is the last point of our horse trekking.

Accommodation: in the tent
Horseback riding: 5 hours

DAYS 10-11: Hustai National Park
Today we take our vehicles and drive towards Ulaanbaatar. We will make an overnight stop near Khujirt, in a tent. On the next day, we will arrive at Hustai National Park, a unique landscape that features mountains and steppe. The one and only species of wild horses, the Takhi (Prjewalski horse), which was discovered at the end of the XIX century, is has been being reintroduced to Mongolia in Hustai national park during last 20 years. Now, the number of Takhi horses has reached about 200. We will have an opportunity to watch Takhi wild horses at the pasture site and other wildlife within the park.

Accommodation: in the tent

DAY 12: City tour
Today we will drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Once in the city, you will be able to relax in the hotel. We will also visit the Bogd Khan Winter Palace Museum and will enjoy a national folk song and dance performance in the evening.

Accommodation: in the hotel

DAY 13: Departure
Our services end today. Thanks for choosing us for your Mongolian adventure!

What's included

Included:

√ Transport
During the trek, all necessary transportation will be in a 4WD vehicle or in a minivan.

√ Guide
You will be accompanied by an experienced, English-speaking guide at all times.

√ Meals
The trek includes full board meals during the trek. These will provide you with the energy necessary to complete each stage of this trek.

√ Fees
The admission fees to the national park and protected areas and all activity fees, such as museums and cultural activities, are included in the price.

√ Accommodation
Accommodation during the trek is included in the price. On your first and last night, you will spend the night in a 3/4-star hotel. The remaining nights you will spend in tented camping sites.

√ Camping gear
You will spend 10 nights during the trek in camping sites. Except for sleeping bags, all other trekking equipment is included. You can rent a sleeping bag at our office for USD 6,-/ EUR 5.5,- per night.

√ Luggage Transfer
During the trek, the trekking company will take care of your luggage (up to 85L). You will only have to carry a day bag with your personal items.

√ Horses
During this trek, you will enjoy 7 days horseback riding in the Orkhon Valley. This activity is included in the trek. Wranglers will also join you for safety reasons.

Excluded:

× International Airfare
Flights to and from Mongolia are not included. To get an idea of which airlines are flying on Chinggis Khaan International Airport (ULN), have a look at their website.

× Visa application & fees
Your trekking company will not take responsibility for the travel visa for Mongolia. This should be organized by yourself. You can find a list of visa-free countries here http://www.consul.mn/eng/02visae.php.

× Tipping
The tip is not included in the price of the trek. Tipping is optional, but if you had a good time, try to be generous with those who made it happen.

× Single room supplement
During the trek you will share accommodation. If you want to stay in single rooms, you can request it at an extra cost.

× Travel Insurance
Your international travel insurance is your own responsibility. Discuss your itinerary with the insurance company before you travel.

× Personal Expenses
All personal expenses such as alcoholic drinks, laundry, souvenir, and other similar expenses are for your own account.

× Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bags are not included, you will have to bring your own. You can also rent one at our office for USD 6,-/ EUR 5.5,- per night.

× Excess baggage charges
Your bag can be up to 85L. If you have extra luggage, it will have an extra cost.

× Optional activities
Optional activities that may be available during the trek are not included in the price.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Best season

The weather in Mongolia is definitely one of its most curious features: it is so far inland that no sea tempers its climate. Moreover, Mongolia has 3 distinctive regions: the south, with the Gobi Desert, The North-west with its mountain ranges, and the center.

Mongolia is popularly known as “The Land of the Blue Sky” because it has an average of 230-260 annual days of sunshine. Despite the sunshine, temperatures in Mongolia can get really low, especially in winter (December-February), with temperatures of -30° C.

When is the best time to visit Mongolia? Well, summer and beginning of autumn are the seasons most recommended, that is, between June and September. During these months, temperatures range between 15°C and 30°C. Spring and late Autumn are not bad options neither, but bring a thicker jacket, because temperatures at night get down to -8°C.

Despite the low temperatures, remember to bring with your sunglasses and sunscreen, it is not called “the land of the Blue Sky” for nothing.

What should I bring for my nomad family visit?

It is polite to leave some form of gift with the host to repay them for their hospitality. In general, money does not make a good gift, so leave something personal like postcards from your country, Polaroid photographs and sweets are all thoughtful tokens. It is, however, impolite to take photographs without asking. Many Mongolians dislike tourists taking photographs of them or their children without warning. However, they are usually delighted if you do take their photograph, provided you will then send copies back to them.

How do I get the visa for Mongolia?

You need a visa upon arrival if you are traveling to Mongolia from a country that has no Mongolian consulate or embassy, you can pick up a 30-day tourist visa upon arrival at the airport in Ulaanbaatar. You’ll need 108,000 tugrugs (45 USD) and two passport photos – you should also have a pre-approval letter from an organization or company in Mongolia. In case of booking a tour with us, we will help you to get a visa support letter and further assistance.

Tipping

Tipping is not that common in Mongolia. However, it is common to tip guides and drivers. How much to tip is never clear, but we advise to tip your guide and driver some 2-5 USD per day of trek. If you got a good service and had a good time thanks to their work, show them your gratitude. Be generous, it will be much appreciated.

Packing List

Packing List

When trekking, packing the right equipment is essential. You need to always be ready for the unexpected. We asked our trekking partners in Mongolia to see what they recommend you to pack for your adventure and these are their recommendations:

- Trekking shoes
- Warm clothing
- Windproof and waterproof Jacket
- Small towel
- Camera
- Hat or bandana
- Sunglasses
- Toiletries
- Sunblock/lotion
- Lip Balm
- Insect repellent
- Sandals (optional)
- Passport copies
- ATM/credit cards
- Emergency cash
- Pen

Accommodation

Accommodation

Accommodation during the trek is included in the price. Accommodation during the trek is included in the price. On your first and last night, you will spend the night in a 3/4-star hotel. The remaining nights you will spend in tented camping sites.

In Ulaanbaatar we provide accommodation in 3/4 star hotels on comfortable double rooms, with breakfast.

We will provide you with all the camping equipment necessary during the days in the mountain. Sleeping bags are not included. You can rent a sleeping bag at our office for USD 6,-/ EUR 5.5,- per night.

Ayan Travel

Ayan Travel

Ayan Travel - the team of local travel experts organizing discovery & adventure-oriented tours for groups and individuals. We offer programs that take you to the best landscapes and must-see attractions of Mongolia and always try to provide a chance to get to know authentic nomadic life, meet real people and try the adventure activities that Mongolia has to offer proudly.

Adventure is in our spirit. We operate “Adventures in Mongolia”. Imagine immersing yourself, traveling through rugged mountains, feeling freedom on rolling steppes, wandering through wild Taiga forests, discovering dinosaur territory, the mysterious Gobi Desert, paddling on waters, encountering with wild mammals and facing one of the coldest winters on earth, with adventure guides who will enjoy with you. This is what we stand for and what we do for adventurers!

Safety

Safety

Safety is of the outmost importance to us. That is why this is an area in which we simply do not compromise when it comes to keeping the cost of our trekkings low. Our guides have been selected on the basis of their technical competence, proven safety performance, impeccable judgment, friendly attitude and ability to provide useful and expert instructions. They are also very professional and well trained in first aid and personal protection equipment.

How To Book

How does it work?

On Bookatrekking.com you can find and compare the adventures of your dreams. Is this trekking adventure your match? In that case, you can proceed to book. At Bookatrekking.com you make a deposit of 15% of the total amount. You pay the remaining amount on location prior to the trek directly to the trekking company.

Bookatrekking.com uses only the safest payment methods. Once your booking has been received, your place is reserved, your place is safe and you can look forward to your chosen trekking.

After you have made your booking, you will receive an e-mail confirmation with all necessary information and the contact details of the trekking company. If you have any questions or if you want to clarify something, you can obtain information directly from the right person. Of course, you can also always ask us your question. Send us an e-mail on support@bookatrekking.com

The trekking company will also receive your details and can therefore always contact you and provide you with extra information.

Cancellation Policy

You wish you didn’t have to, but there is no other way: You find yourself having to cancel your plans. In this case, you lose your deposit, but since you haven’t paid the large sum yet, you at least save that. Please do let us know if you cannot make it. A no-show can be a small disaster for your trekking provider, who did its best to block your dates. View our complete cancellation policy here.