The comfortable ride

Road heading towards Khustai Nuruu National Park, a vast protected territory famous for hosting the last Przewalski's horses, called locally Takhi. Successfully reintroduced into the Mongolian steppes, these wild horses now roam in complete freedom.

At the end of the day, when the light becomes softer and animals more active, a walk takes you to their usual watering point. You can then observe them discreetly in their natural environment, in the heart of the vast Mongolian spaces.

You take the road 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 survive, recalling the historical importance of this place marked by the passage of the great khans.

This is truly the beginning of your horseback riding adventure. From Kharkhorin, you set off for 5 days of horseback riding along the Orkhon valley before reaching Naiman Nuur National Park.

The first five days take place with the assistance of a logistics vehicle.

For this first day on horseback, you travel along the Orkhon river in its 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 saddle, you observe scenes of nomadic daily life, between freely roaming herds, children playing in front of yurts and horsemen crossing the steppe.

You spend this first night in the valley, within a nomadic family from the region.

We continue our ride across the verdant steppes of the Orkhon valley, the true territory of nomads. Throughout the day, herds of yaks, sheep, goats and horses roam freely around us, offering a vivid and authentic picture of rural Mongolie.

This immersion in the heart of the steppes 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.

From our campement at Uurt's bend, we embark on a day of horseback riding through mountains and forests, heading towards the Tövkhön monastery. It is here that 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 Khangaï range and the immense 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 towards the camp.

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

These moments of sharing are an opportunity to immerse yourself 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 conversation around the fire makes 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 ride to the gates of the Naiman Nuur national park. The path unfolds through steppes dotted with edelweiss, before skirting 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 campement, set at the edge of a small forest, faces the mountains of Naiman Nuur park, offering a peaceful and unspoiled setting for this new immersion in nomadic life.

Your trek is coming to an end, and it is with emotion that you bid farewell to your equestrian guides, with whom you have ridden over these five days.

You then reach the Tsenkher hot springs, where you can relax in the hot water baths of the camp.

Departure for the splendid rock formations of Khögnö Khan. You will discover a park with varied landscapes, between semi-desert steppes, taiga zones, granite massifs and a long stretch of sand approximately 80 km long, which earned it the nickname of "mini Gobi".

Stroll along the sand dunes of Elsen Tasarkhai where we discover the arid landscapes of the Bayan desert.

You take the road back to Ulaanbaatar. Along the way, the last herds of horses crossing the road and the last yurts glimpsed in the distance accompany you to the outskirts of the capital.

You then arrive in the city center and settle into your hotel, where you can rest for a few moments.

The rest of the day is free. Accompanied by your guide, you browse the shops in the city to make your last purchases and enjoy the atmosphere of Ulaanbaatar one last time.