Price
2026
12 nights – €2,980 per person, sharing.
Dates & Prices
MONGOLIA
Orkhon Valley Yurt to Yurt Ride
Overview
This journey showcases two of Mongolia's most remarkable landscapes – the rolling grasslands of the UNESCO-listed Orkhon Valley and the striking dunes and open steppe of the Bayan Gobi Desert. Over 13 days you'll spend eight unforgettable days on horseback, riding through wide open country where nomadic families still move with the seasons and horses remain at the heart of everyday life.
Unlike many riding holidays in Mongolia, there is no camping in tents. Instead, you'll spend each night in traditional yurts, whether in comfortable yurt camps or alongside nomadic families, allowing you to experience Mongolia's wilderness without giving up the comfort of a proper bed and, on most nights, a hot shower.
Riding hardy Mongolian horses, you'll travel through volcanic landscapes, river valleys, forests, mountain trails and vast open grasslands, with plenty of opportunities for long canters and exhilarating gallops across the steppe. Along the way you'll visit ancient monasteries, search for the rare Przewalski's wild horses in Hustai National Park, soak in natural hot springs and spend time with the nomadic families who have called this extraordinary landscape home for generations.
This is an adventure that combines authentic cultural experiences with some of the best trail riding Mongolia has to offer, all while enjoying comfortable accommodation each evening. For experienced riders looking to discover the country's spectacular landscapes without the need to camp, it's an exceptional way to experience Mongolia.
Location
Orkhon Valley, Mongolia
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
Yurts on the trail. Hotel or yurt camp near Ulaanbaatar Airport on your final night.
Included
All the riding, accommodation, full board from lunch Day 1 to dinner Day 12 (breakfast on day 13 is not included because of the early airport transfer), English speaking translator, tours and visits as per itinerary.
Extras
Small group supplement- €350 per person. Applies if 4 or less riders booked.
No single hotel rooms or yurts available. Single riders will share rooms and yurts with others of the same gender.
Excluded
Flights, drinks (except water, tea and coffee), breakfast on day 13 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 are included on arrival and departure, based around the scheduled Turkish Airlines flights.
Departure dates
2026
14 – 26 July
18 – 30 August
Riding & Itinerary
Please note that at the beginning and end of the riding season the pace is a little slower to suit the natural condition of the horses. Following the harsh Mongolian winter, rides in May and early June are taken at a more relaxed pace to allow the horses to regain their strength. Similarly, from mid-August onwards, the pace is eased to help the horses build up condition before the onset of winter.
Day 1
Arrival & Hustai National Park
Your English-speaking translator will meet you at Ulaanbaatar Airport on arrival of the Turkish Airlines flight for the group transfer. Leave the city behind and head straight to the Mongolian steppe, travelling approximately 2½ hours to Hustai National Park, home to the rare Przewalski's wild horses, also known as Takhi.
After lunch at the yurt camp, enjoy a 4x4 safari through the national park in search of the wild horses, as well as deer and marmots. Dinner and overnight in a traditional yurt camp.
Day 2
Bayan Gobi Desert
After breakfast, travel by 4x4 to Khogno Khan National Park, also known as the Bayan Gobi or "Rich Gobi" Desert. Meet your nomadic horsemen before your first ride through this unique landscape of sand dunes, rocky cliffs and open steppe. Visit the beautiful Ovgon Khiid Monastery before spending the night in a guest yurt beside a nomadic family.
Day 3
Riding in Bayan Gobi
Spend a full day on horseback exploring the dramatic scenery of Bayan Gobi. Ride through sweeping sand dunes, semi-desert grasslands and lush river valleys where herds of Bactrian camels, horses and livestock roam freely. Picnic lunch is provided before continuing your ride to a comfortable yurt camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 4
Orkhon Valley
Travel to the UNESCO-listed Orkhon Valley, where you'll meet the nomadic family who will guide you throughout the next stage of your adventure. After lunch, choose your horse and enjoy your first ride through the valley before spending time with your hosts and learning about their traditional way of life. Overnight in a guest yurt with the nomadic family.
Day 5
Naiman Nuur Park
Ride upstream through the beautiful Orkhon Valley towards the remote Naiman Nuur region. Pass ancient lava fields, rivers and forests before arriving at an isolated yurt camp surrounded by stunning mountain scenery. Dinner and overnight at the yurt camp.
Day 6
Orkhon Waterfalls
Continue riding alongside the Orkhon River through one of the wildest parts of the valley before reaching the spectacular Orkhon Waterfalls. After exploring the falls, enjoy dinner and overnight at a nearby yurt camp.
Day 7
Through the Orkhon Valley
Ride along the Orkhon River before crossing one of the valley's few bridges and climbing into the surrounding Khangai Mountains. Enjoy wonderful views across the valley before arriving at a guest yurt beside another nomadic family for dinner and overnight.
Day 8
Tovkhon Monastery & Hot Springs
Ride through forest trails to the historic Tovkhon Monastery before continuing back down into the valley. After another day of long canters across open country, arrive at natural hot springs where you can relax after your ride. Dinner and overnight at a nearby yurt camp.
Days 9–11
Ride to Karakorum
Spend the next three days riding across wide open landscapes towards Karakorum, the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire. With plenty of opportunities for long trots and gallops, you'll continue to experience Mongolia's spectacular scenery while staying with nomadic families and in traditional yurt camps. Along the way you'll gain a deeper insight into nomadic life before saying goodbye to your horses and guides near Karakorum.
Day 12
Erdene Zuu Monastery & Return
Visit the impressive Erdene Zuu Monastery before beginning the journey back towards Ulaanbaatar. After lunch en route, continue to a comfortable hotel or yurt camp close to the airport. Dinner and overnight.
Day 13
Departure
Early morning group transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport in time for your departing flight.
Please note that breakfast is not included due to the early airport transfer.
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
Accommodation on this ride has been carefully chosen to offer an authentic experience of Mongolia while providing the best levels of comfort available in such a remote destination. Throughout the journey you'll stay in a mixture of traditional yurt camps, guest yurts with nomadic families and a comfortable hotel or yurt camp close to Ulaanbaatar Airport on your final night.
For most of the trip you'll stay in well-equipped yurt camps, where traditional circular yurts are heated by a central stove and typically sleep between two and five guests in single beds. Most camps have shared shower and toilet facilities in separate buildings, giving you the chance to enjoy a hot shower and a comfortable bed after a rewarding day in the saddle.
On four nights you'll stay in guest yurts alongside local nomadic families, offering a genuine insight into daily life on the Mongolian steppe. These stays are simpler, with more basic facilities and communal shower tents rather than permanent bathrooms, but they are often among the most memorable parts of the journey. Spending time with your hosts, sharing meals and experiencing their way of life offers a wonderful glimpse into a culture that has changed little for centuries.
Your final night is spent in a comfortable hotel or yurt camp close to Ulaanbaatar Airport, making for an easy transfer before your flight home the following morning.
Meals are wholesome, freshly prepared and designed to keep you fuelled throughout the 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. If you have any dietary requirements or food allergies, please let us know when booking and these will be accommodated wherever possible.
Please note that breakfast on Day 13 is not included due to the early morning airport transfer.
Accommodation
Yurts on the trail. Hotel or yurt camp near Ulaanbaatar Airport on your final night.
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.
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