The Comfortable Ride

Road towards the Khustai nuruu national park, a vast protected territory famous for being home to the last Przewalski's horses, called locally Takhi. Successfully reintroduced in the Mongolian steppes, these wild horses now roam in complete freedom.

At the end of the day, when the light becomes softer and the animals more active, a walk takes you to their usual watering point. You will then be able to 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 transfer of the capital to Beijing by Kublai Khan. Today, only a few remains of the capital survive, reminding us of the historical importance of this place marked by the passage of the great khans.

Today is when your horseback riding adventure truly begins. 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 logistical support vehicle.

For this first day on horseback, you make your way along the Orkhon river in the eponymous valley, 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 mount, you observe scenes of nomadic daily life, between freely roaming herds, children playing in front of yurts and riders traversing the steppe.

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

We continue our ride through the lush steppe of the Orkhon Valley, 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 Mongolia.

This immersion in the heart of the steppe holds many surprises in store for us, revealing a picturesque Mongolia 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 camp at the Uurt bend, we begin 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 of the Khangai range and the vast Orkhon valley stretching 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 in 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 discussion 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 rock. When the sun reflects off it, the water transforms into an ephemeral rainbow, giving all its magic to this site formed more than 20,000 years ago, as a result of a combination of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

We then continue our horseback ride to the gates of the Naiman nuur national park. The path unfolds through steppes scattered with edelweiss, before skirting beautiful forests of pine and larch.

At the end of the day, we arrive at Boorgiin Oroi, where a family of yak herders welcomes us for the night. Their camp, 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.

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 for 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 discover a park with varied landscapes, between semi-desert steppes, taiga areas, granite massifs and a long band of sand of approximately 80 km, which earned it the nickname of "mini Gobi".

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

You head back to Ulan Bator. 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 do your last shopping and enjoy the atmosphere of Ulan Bator one last time.