Discover Mongolia by horseback riding through foresty mountains and a beautiful steppe in Naiman Nuur (Eight Lakes) National Park. This tour offers you a true nomadic experience alongside with opportunity to disconnect from the continuous cycle of information and relax your brain.
Ulaanbaatar, Sukhbaatar Square
3 Hours Before Flight Time
2 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
Mongolia offers many different conditions, from desert steppe to forested mountain rides for the keen horse riders. Mile upon mile virgin pasture land and mountain ranges with no boundaries and often without tracks to follow open up in front of you. This horse riding and trekking holiday take you to inspiring parts of the country letting you gallop freely through the endless horizons of this historical land. You will meet your local horse guides and horses near Orkhon Waterfall, where they will give helpful guidance for your riding adventure. Mongolian horse tends to be small, has tremendous stamina, and is well adapted to the harsh environment where they have survived over the centuries. The program offers a 20-30 km ride a day, depending on the terrain.
Transfer to the hotel and relax. City tour including the Gandan Monastery, the National Museum of Mongolia, which represents Mongolian Culture starting from the Stone Age to the 21st century, and Buddhism, Sukhbaatar Square (also known as Chingis Khaan Square). In Gandan Monastery, you can take local prayers, monks, the biggest standing indoor Buddha statue, and temples’ own figure. (L/D)
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Drive to Kharkhorin, the ancient capital of Mongolia at the time of the Mongol Empire. There’s almost nothing left from this great capital of the world, but in 1586, under the rule of King Avtai Sain, the Erdene-Zuu Monastery was built at the site of the ruins of ancient Kharkhorin. The Erdene-Zuu – means Hundred of Treasures was again destroyed during the Stalinist purges of the 1930s, but there are still various Buddhist statues, works of art, religious instruments, and even Tsam religious dance masks at the monastery. There are an amazing 108 stupas surrounding the monastery. (B/L/D)
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Drive to The Tuvkhun monastery, which is settled on the top of the Shiveet mountain. This is the place where Zanabazar, the head and founder of Mongolian Buddhism, was creating his famous artworks such as the national script “soyombo” in the XVI century. Now, the temple has accepted as “the world precious heritage” by UNESCO. We can see the symbolic rock formations named “Mother womb”, stone script, and caves in surroundings. Renting a horse towards the mountain top is available. The view of surrounding mountains is amazing from the Tuvkhun Monastery site. Outdoor prepared hot meal. Stay overnight at the ger camp during summer time. Otherwise in the tent in the beautiful nature. (B/L/D)
We will reach the Orkhon waterfall or known as Ulaantsutgalan waterfall. Formed by volcanic eruptions about 20.000 years ago, the waterfall cascades from a height of 20m. It is a scenic, tranquil spot and surrounding nature is undisturbed, as such there are opportunities for good walking and riding in the area. Stay overnight in different ger beside nomadic family. (B/L/D)
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Our horseback riding guides will come to us in the morning with horses and yaks to load our baggage. While they are loading our baggage, we say goodbye to our vehicle team until the end of the horse riding. Then, we start horse riding sessions towards Naiman Nuur (or Eight Lakes) area. We will ride about 20-30 km each day. At the end of the day, we arrive at a local horse-breeding family, where we will stay in a ger (maximum 4 people in the same ger). Familiarize with nomad lifestyle meet and talks with nomads. Outdoor hot meals. (B.L/D)
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We will continue our tour. The area is completely wild and just recently got available to adventure travelers to come on horseback or on foot. We climb up to the Bodongiin Hamar Pass (3000 m above sea level), the passageway through a green valley, and we walk down to the place of our tented camp. Outdoor hot meals.
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Next day: we are trekking within the legendary Orkhon valley, where the most important historical events of the Mongol Empire took place. Our point is magnificent ‘Khuisiin Naiman Nuur ‘Lake, which means “The eight lakes of the Navel”. Connected with each other 8 lakes’ area is surrounded by extinct volcanoes. The altitude is 2500m high. On the way, we meet herders of yak, horse, and sheep, and we will stop at nomad settlements to have breaks. Outdoor hot meals.
Khuisiin Naiman Nuur is a beautiful lake that was created by volcanic eruptions centuries ago, covers 11,500 hectares around the lake located in Uvurkhangai Province to the southwest of the Khangai Mountain Range. Naiman Nuur with its exceptional configuration is surrounded by the beautiful nature of the middle part of the Khangai Mountain. These lakes with fresh water and interconnected by groundwater channels such as Shireet, Khaliut, Bugat, Khaya, Khuis, Onon, Doroo, Bayan-Uul are called Khuisyn Naiman Nuur. These lakes located at 500m to 3km from each other. It was placed under state protection in 1992.
At the end of the day activity, we arrive at the “Naiman Nuur” ger camp. Have good relaxation after our adventure. Hot shower. Full board meals.
We rest at the lakeshore after our 3 days of horseback riding. (B/L/D)
Today we will drive all the way back to Ulaanbaatar. Lunch at a roadside restaurant on the way. (B/L/D)
Option to do a city tour with the Bogd Khaan Palace Museum and Zaisan Memorial, which is dedicated to all lives lost during WWII, to have a panoramic view of the whole city. Farewell dinner together. (B/L/D)
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Transfer to Chingis Khaan International Airport or Train station and depart Mongolia. (B)
