Orkhon Horseback Riding

Route to Kharkhorin, the former capital of the Mongols. Founded in 1220 by Genghis Khan, this emblematic city was one of the major stops on the Silk Road. It was from Karakorum that the Mongol empire was administered until the capital was transferred to Beijing by Kublai Khan. Today, only a few remains of the capital subsist, reminding us of the historical importance of this place marked by the passage of the great khans.

This is the day your horseback riding adventure truly begins. From Kharkhorin, you set off for 9 days of Horseback riding in Mongolia along the Orkhon valley before reaching Naiman Nuur National Park.

The first six days are conducted with the assistance of a logistics vehicle, while days 8 and 9 will be in complete autonomy, with your personal belongings and logistics transported by pack yaks.

For this first day on horseback, you progress along the Orkhon river in the eponymous valley listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A land of nomadism par excellence, the valley welcomes many herders each summer who set up their traditional camps there.

From your horse, you observe scenes of nomadic daily life, between freely roaming herds, children playing in front of yurts and horsemen traversing the steppe. At the end of the day, you reach the village of Khujirt, renowned for its hot springs with healing properties, greatly appreciated by Mongolians.

Camp setup on the banks of the Khujirt river, in a peaceful natural setting ideal for concluding this first day of riding.

We continue our journey through the lush steppe of the Orkhon valley, a true territory of nomads. Throughout the day, herds of yaks, sheep, goats and horses roam freely around us, offering a living and authentic picture of rural Mongolie.

This immersion in the heart of the steppe holds many surprises for us, revealing a picturesque Mongolie where nature and traditions blend harmoniously.

At the end of the day, we reach the "*Uurt bend*", nestled at the foot of the Khangai Mountains. This is where we set up our camp for the night, in a peaceful natural setting open to vast spaces.

From our campsite at the Uurt bend, we embark on a day of horseback riding through mountains and forests, heading towards the Tövkhön monastery. This is where Zanabazar, Mongolia's first religious leader, composed the famous Soyombo alphabet, which has since become a national symbol.

Perched at 2,312 meters altitude, the monastery offers an exceptional panorama over the Khangai mountain range and the vast Orkhon valley that stretches as far as the eye can see. We take advantage of this remarkable setting to enjoy our picnic, facing one of the most beautiful landscapes of central Mongolia.

We continue our ride to set up our camp on the banks of the Orkhon river.

We leave this enchanting setting to head towards the mountain range located south of the valley. As we progress, we become fully aware of the volcanic nature of the region, crossing vast expanses of black lava that bear witness to its geological history.

We then begin climbing a neighbouring valley, where the increasing altitude allows larch forests to reappear. The climb continues through more rugged terrain, until we reach the area of the Mogoit springs.

Setting up the camp in tents for the night, in the heart of an isolated and preserved mountain landscape.

Today, we ride to the camp of our local guides, ideally set in the heart of the valley. Upon arrival, we meet their family and discover their daily life as herders, marked by animal milking, dairy product making and wood cutting.

These moments of sharing are an opportunity to immerse ourselves in Mongolian nomadic life, to observe gestures passed down from generation to generation and to enjoy simple and authentic scenes. A game of knucklebones with the children or a discussion around the fire make this immersion particularly warm.

This morning, we set off on horseback towards the Ulan Tsutgalaan waterfalls, a spectacular white torrent cascading down black volcanic stone. When the sun reflects off it, the water transforms into an ephemeral rainbow, giving all its magic to this site formed over 20,000 years ago, following a combination of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

We then continue our horseback ride towards the gates of the Naiman nuur national park. The path unfolds through steppes dotted with edelweiss, before following beautiful forests of pines and larches.

At the end of the day, we arrive at Boorgiin Oroi, where a family of yak herders welcomes us for the night. Their encampment, set at the edge of a small wood, faces the mountains of Naiman Nuur park, offering a peaceful and unspoiled setting for this new immersion in nomadic life.

We enter today the Naiman nuur national park by crossing the Khangai Nuruu pass, and immediately notice a radical change in landscapes. The lush steppes give way to a mosaic of much more varied scenery: pine and larch forests, wild roses, wildflowers, junipers, currants and wild onions.

This alpine-inspired vegetation, particularly rich, will delight botany enthusiasts.

We first reach Bugat Lake, before continuing our horseback ride through plains and forests to reach Shireet Lake, the largest in the park (10 km²) and also the highest, perched at 2,366 meters altitude. This wild lake, surrounded by forests and reflecting Tenger, the azure sky, offers a landscape of great gentleness and an atmosphere conducive to contemplation.

Today, we begin our return to the Orkhon Valley. We cross again through the marshy area that marks the entrance to Naiman nuur national park, then start climbing towards the eastern slope of the mountain. From the summit, a superb view opens up onto the meanders of the Orkhon river, offering a peaceful and harmonious panorama.

We then rejoin our hosts at Boorgiin Oroi for lunch, then resume the trail for a few gallops, still fully enjoying the steppe and forest landscapes before setting up our camp on the edge of the woods.

For this last day on horseback, we fully savor the final gallops in the heart of the steppes, taking one last time to enjoy the freedom and vastness offered by these Mongolian landscapes. We take a break by a waterfall for lunch in the open air, lulled by the sound of water.

It is with particular emotion that we bid farewell to our local guides, precious companions of these nine days of horseback riding. We return to the road towards the splendid rock formations of Khogno Khan, where the landscape changes dramatically. Here, semi-desert steppes, taiga, rocks sculpted by time and a long sand strip of nearly 80 km make up a fascinating region, often nicknamed the "mini Gobi".

We head towards Ulan Bator. Along the way, the steppe offers us a final farewell: herds of wild horses crossing the track, silhouettes of yurts smoking on the horizon… so many images that accompany our last moments in nature, until the gates of the capital.

Upon our arrival in the city center, check-in at your hotel where you can rest for a moment and enjoy some comfort.

The rest of the day is free. In the company of your guide, you will have the opportunity to explore the shops and markets of the city to make your last purchases and take a piece of Mongolia with you.