Price
2026
12 nights – €2,250 per person, sharing.
2027
12 nights – €2,450 per person, sharing.
Dates & Prices
MONGOLIA
From Orkhon Valley to Gobi Desert
Overview
This is Mongolia at its wildest. Combining the sweeping landscapes of the UNESCO-listed Orkhon Valley, the dramatic dunes of the Bayan Gobi Desert and the remote wilderness of Naiman Nuur National Park, this is the only ride to explore all three in one unforgettable adventure.
Over 13 days you'll ride through an ever-changing landscape of open steppe, volcanic valleys, forests, mountains and desert, travelling with local nomadic horsemen whose lives still revolve around their horses. One of the highlights of the journey is spending three days in the remote Naiman Nuur region, where there are no vehicle tracks and your luggage is carried by pack yaks as you explore this spectacular wilderness on horseback.
This is a true expedition rather than a traditional riding holiday. You'll camp beneath Mongolia's incredible night skies, stay with nomadic families in their traditional guest yurts and experience a way of life that has changed little for centuries. Along the way you'll visit ancient monasteries, search for the rare Przewalski's wild horses in Khustai National Park and enjoy long canters and exhilarating gallops across some of the most open landscapes in the world.
Hardy, sure-footed Mongolian horses are perfectly adapted to this terrain, carrying you across landscapes that few visitors ever experience. For experienced riders looking for an authentic adventure, this itinerary offers an incredible combination of challenging riding, breathtaking scenery and genuine cultural experiences in one of the world's last great horse countries.
Location
Orkhon Valley to Gobi Desert
Airport
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Duration
12 nights
When to go
March - September
Riding level
Intermediate to Advanced
Weight
100 kg / 15.7 stone / 220 lbs
Group size
10 max
Accommodation
Hotels in the capital, tented camps and yurts on the ride.
Included
All the riding, accommodation,full board from lunch on Day 1 through to dinner on Day 12 (a packed breakfast is provided by the hotel on Day 13 before your early airport transfer), English speaking translator, tours and visits as per itinerary.
Extras
Small group supplement - €300 per person. Applies if less than 5 riders booked.
No single hotel rooms or yurts available. Single riders will share rooms and yurts with others of the same gender. Single tents are free of charge subject to availability at time of booking.
Excluded
Flights, drinks (except water, tea and coffee), personal expenses, the small group supplement where applicable and tips.
Price guarantee
All our riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book with us and will refund the difference should you find the same riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.
Exchange rate
Rates are subject to daily exchange rate fluctuations, please refer to our Terms and Conditions for full details.
Transfers
Group airport transfers on arrival and departure are included, based around the scheduled Turkish Airlines flights.
Departure dates
2026
July: 18 – 30 & 21 July – 2 August
August: 1 - 13, 11 – 23 & 18 – 30
September: 1 – 13 & 8 – 20
2027
May: 18 – 30 & 25 May – 6 June
June: 1 – 13, 8 – 20, 15 – 27 & 29 June – 11 July
July: 6 – 18, 20 July – 1 August & 27 July – 8 August
August: 10 – 22 & 17 – 29
September: 31 August – 12 September & 7 – 19 September
Riding & Itinerary
At the beginning and end of the season the riding pace is slightly slower to respect the horses' natural condition.
Day 1
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
Your English-speaking translator will meet you at Ulaanbaatar Airport on arrival of the Turkish Airlines flight for the group transfer. After lunch, visit the impressive Gandantegchinlin Monastery before enjoying a traditional Mongolian music and dance performance, including the remarkable Khoomei throat singing. Dinner in a local restaurant before overnighting in a comfortable 3-star hotel close to Sukhbaatar Square.
Day 2
Khustai National Park & Bayan Gobi Desert
After breakfast, travel to Khustai National Park for a 4x4 safari in search of the rare Przewalski's wild horses, also known as Takhi, as well as deer and marmots. Continue to the Bayan Gobi Desert where you'll meet your nomadic horse guides before settling into a guest yurt beside a local family.
Day 3
Riding in the Bayan Gobi Desert
Spend your first full day on horseback exploring the remarkable landscapes of the Bayan Gobi Desert, where sand dunes meet rolling grasslands and rocky hills. Visit the beautiful Ovgon Khiid Monastery before continuing your ride through this unique region. In the evening, set up camp beneath Mongolia's vast skies and enjoy dinner around the campfire.
Day 4
Bayan Gobi to the Orkhon Valley
Ride once more through the dunes and open steppe before travelling towards the UNESCO-listed Orkhon Valley. Spend the night in a traditional guest yurt beside a nomadic family near the spectacular Orkhon Falls.
Day 5
Into Naiman Nuur Park
Meet the nomadic horsemen who will accompany you through the Orkhon Valley before riding upstream through volcanic landscapes, ancient lava fields and forests towards the beautiful Naiman Nuur, or Eight Lakes, region. Camp for the night at the edge of the park.
Day 6
Riding with Pack Yaks
Today marks the start of one of the most unique parts of the journey. As the terrain becomes too rugged for vehicles, your luggage is carried by pack yaks while you continue on horseback into the remote Naiman Nuur Park. Ride through forests and mountain trails to reach the nomadic yak-herding families who call this wilderness home. Overnight in a guest yurt.
Day 7
Exploring the Eight Lakes
Spend the day riding through the spectacular scenery of Naiman Nuur National Park, visiting several of the famous Eight Lakes while enjoying the peace and isolation of this remarkable wilderness. Return to your nomadic hosts for another night in their guest yurt.
Day 8
Return to the Orkhon Valley
Reload the pack yaks before descending from the mountains back into the Orkhon Valley. As the landscape opens up once again there are more opportunities for long canters and gallops across the grasslands. Camp near the Little Waterfalls of the Orkhon River.
Day 9
Riding Along the Orkhon River
Follow the Orkhon River through wide open valleys before crossing one of its few bridges and climbing into the Khangai Mountains. Camp overnight in another beautiful wilderness location.
Day 10
Tovkhon Monastery
Ride through forests to the historic Tovkhon Monastery before descending once more into the Orkhon Valley. Enjoy more exhilarating riding across open country before camping close to a Buddhist stupa for your final nights on the trail.
Day 11
Final Day on Horseback
Your last day in the saddle takes you across open steppe towards Karakorum, the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire. After saying farewell to your horses and nomadic guides, enjoy a final evening around the campfire with the team before your last night camping.
Day 12
Erdene Zuu Monastery & Return to Ulaanbaatar
Visit the magnificent Erdene Zuu Monastery before travelling back to Ulaanbaatar. Arriving in the early evening, you'll check into your hotel near Sukhbaatar Square where you'll have free time to explore the city, enjoy some shopping or choose one of the many local restaurants for dinner.
Day 13
Departure
Early morning transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport in time for your departing flight. The hotel will provide a packed breakfast for you to take on your journey.
Please ask about
Other rides in Mongolia, we have a variety of itineraries on offer.
Horses
Local Mongolian horses, 13 – 14hh, very hardy, very strong and very fast.
Riding level
Intermediate to Advanced
Type of riding
Progressive trail ride with sometimes long hours in the saddle. Riders should be fit.
Tack
Traditional wooden saddle, or endurance type of saddles, a simple snaffle bridle
Weight limit
100 kg / 15.7 stone / 220 lbs
Group size
10 max
Accommodation & Meals
Throughout the journey you'll experience a wonderful mix of accommodation that reflects the adventurous nature of this ride. You'll spend six nights camping beneath Mongolia's vast open skies, four nights staying in traditional guest yurts with nomadic families, and two nights in comfortable 3-star hotels in Ulaanbaatar at the beginning and end of your adventure.
Camping is one of the highlights of this ride, allowing you to stay in some of Mongolia's most remote and spectacular locations. High-quality one and two-person tents, complete with thick self-inflating mattresses, provide a comfortable night's sleep after a day in the saddle. A spacious mess tent is used for meals and gathering together in the evenings, while a simple shower tent with water heated over the campfire is available along the route. With virtually no restrictions on wild camping, you'll spend your nights surrounded by some of the country's most breathtaking scenery.
Four nights are spent in guest yurts alongside nomadic families, offering a fascinating insight into a way of life that has remained largely unchanged for centuries. Heated by a traditional stove and furnished with single beds, these simple but welcoming yurts provide an authentic Mongolian experience. Facilities are more basic than at the hotels, with communal shower tents and dry toilets, but the opportunity to share time with your hosts, learn about their daily lives and experience their legendary hospitality is often one of the most memorable parts of the trip.
Meals are hearty, freshly prepared and designed to keep you fuelled throughout this demanding ride. Full board is included from lunch on Day 1 through to dinner on Day 12, with breakfasts, picnic lunches and evening meals provided each day. Water, tea and coffee are included throughout the trip, while other drinks are payable locally. Your hotel will provide a packed breakfast on Day 13 before your early morning airport transfer. If you have any dietary requirements or food allergies, please let us know when booking and these will be accommodated wherever possible.
Accommodation
Hotels in the capital, tented camps and yurts on the ride.
Single Supplement
No single hotel rooms or yurts available.
Meals
Inform us about food allergies and intolerances
Drinks
Water, tea and coffee included. Other drinks payable.
The Destination
The Orkhon Valley in Mongolia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its rolling grasslands, nomadic traditions, and rich history. It's a place where many families still practice a traditional way of life, raising herds of horses, yaks, sheep, and goats. The valley is also home to fascinating archaeological remains, some dating back to the 6th century.
Book Now
Please accept the Privacy Policy to continue!
Please fill in your first name, last name, phone number and email before submitting.