In the heart of Zavkhan - Horseback Mongolia
Adventure

In the heart of Zavkhan

A tour that will lead you to the wild lands of the province of Zavkhan. After visiting the essential sites of the centre of the country, we enter in the wild Mongolia where lakes stand alongside the desert outside the snow-covered peaks of Khangai.

Try a new adventure in the heart of the province of Zavkhan, you won't regret it !

Day 1Arrival at Ulan Bator and visit of the city

Day 1Arrival at Ulan Bator and visit of the city

  • Arrival at the airport, meeting with our driver. Transfer to your hotel, settling in, and rest.

  • Appointment at 12 o'clock at your hotel with your guide. He will take you to the restaurant of your choice.

  • Let's immerse ourselves in the heart of the Mongolian history, in the wonderful National History Museum. Three floors of a rich, glorious, violent and noble past, from prehistory to Soviet period, including the creation of the great Mongolian Empire by Genghis Khan.

  • Walk in the centre of Ulan-Bator. Discovery of Gengis Khan Square and the House of Parliament.

  • At 18 o' clock, Mongolian traditional show at Tumen Ekh: folkloric dances, contortion, and of course khoomi, the overtone singing.

4h 30m-280km

Day 2On horseback on the small gobi

Day 2On horseback on the small gobi

  • Visit of Gandantegchinlen Monastery. In the morning, lamas get together to pray. They will answer your questions at the Mongolian Buddhist Centre.

  • We arrive at the splendid rocky formations of Khogno Khan. Discovery of the park : semidesert steppes, taiga, stunning rocky formations, 80-kilometre (49,71 miles) long sand dunes, are characteristic of this arid area nicknamed "Mini-Gobi".

  • Pony trek until Erdene Khambiin Monastery. "Monk Erdene's Monastery" dates from 17th century and was built in the mountain. Zanabazar built it in honour of his teacher, monk Erdene.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: 2 stars hotel

Lunch: Included

1h 30m-110km
3h 30m-130km

Day 3The former capital and lands of nomadism

Day 3The former capital and lands of nomadism

  • Journey to Kharkhorin, the former capital of Mongolia. The legendary city of Genghis Khan was founded in 1220 and was one of the stages of the silk road. The Mongolian Empire was governed from this city until Kubilai Khan set up the capital in Beijing. Today, there are only a few vestiges left of the former capital.

  • Visit of Erdene Zuu Monastery, built in 1586 by a nomad prince. The Chinese and Tibetan-inspired buildings are surrounded with 108 sacred stupas. Visit of the Museum of Kharkhorin.

  • We definitely leave the tarred road to taste the joys of the track. We drive along the splendid landscapes formed by the canyons and the green steppe, then we arrive at the home of breeders who will host us in the heart of Orkhon Valley.

  • Stay at herders' from the valley. During your stay, you will discover their way of life and you will be proposed many activities, such as milking, making traditional dairy products, or rounding up the animals with a horse.

    You will also attend the preparation of a Mongolian barbecue that you will enjoy with yours hosts.

Meal and accommodations

Lunch: Included

Dinner: made by the family Mongolian barbecue "Khorkhog"

Accommodation: Yurt for guests with a family

1h 30m-8km
Orkhon waterfalls

Day 4

Day 4

  • Those who wish will go pony trekking along Orkhon Valley, from the camp until Orkhon waterfalls.

    For the others, it will be possible to go to the falls by making a 6 km walk, or with the vehicle.

  • Visit of Ulan Tsutgalaan falls, white flood flowing on the black stone, transformed in rainbow by a short sunray… These 16-metres (52,49 feet) falls are just magic ! They were formed 20.000 years ago, as a result of a unique combination of earthquakes and volcano eruptions.

  • At the end of the day, you will attend the preparation of a Mongolian barbecue which you will enjoy with your hosts.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Dinner: made by the family Mongolian barbecue "Khorkhog"

Day 5Relaxing in the hot waters of Tsenkher

Day 5Relaxing in the hot waters of Tsenkher

  • Visit of Tovkhon Monastery. Vehicles can't go until the top of Öndör Ulaan Hill and we will walk until there to discover Tovkhon Ermitage, where Zanabazar, the first religious leader of Mongolia, created the Soyombo alphabet. The monastery is located 2312 metres (1,44 mile) above the sea level and from that place we'll have a wonderful view on the whole Khangai range. We'll picnic in exceptional surroundings, facing Orkhon Valley.

  • Arrival at Tsenkher hot springs, where you can lounge in the hot springs of the camp.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Day 6Lakes and volcanos area

Day 6Lakes and volcanos area

  • Stop at Tsetserleg, small lovely village nested in mountains of larches. We'll buy fresh supplies at the local market and visit Zayan Gegeen Museum.

  • Road to Khorgo – Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur Natural Park that is located 2060 metres (1,28 mile) above sea level. This lake, called "the great white lake", and its whole volcanic surroundings, are the emblematic area of the province of Arkhangai.

  • We will spend 2 nights at a local family guesthouse, under the yurt, on the banks of the Terkhiin Tsagaan lake.

Meal and accommodations

Lunch: Included

Dinner: made by the family

Accommodation: Yurt for guests with a family

Day 7

Day 7

  • Hiking along the banks of the lake. We go towards Southeast where Khorgo Volcano reaches its highest point at 2240 metres (1,39 mile). (Easy) ascent of the volcano. From the top, we enjoy a splendid view of the lake and the surrounding hills. Nearby the volcano, stunning lava flows form an original landscape never seen up to now.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Lunch: made by the family

Dinner: made by the family

Accommodation: Yurt for guests with a family

6h-190km
Ider river

Day 8Deeper in wild Mongolia

Day 8Deeper in wild Mongolia

  • We take the road towards West and the province of Zavkhan. We drive along the Solongotiin Hills. Lunch in a local restaurant in Tosontsengel. The atmosphere of the cities in the Western Mongolia makes inevitably think about the one of the lost cities in the American Far West. We set up our camp in a small corner of paradise between sky and land, on the banks of the Ider River.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Dinner: Made by your team

Accommodation: tent camping

Ider river
6h 30m-260km

Day 9The lake among the dunes

Day 9The lake among the dunes

  • We drive across the province of Zavkhan. We can admire at East the high summits of Khangai and a forest zone, and at West the desert. Although this tour is very far from the classic touristic tours, it shows many natural wonders, such as Otgontenger Mount, landscapes of dunes and turquoise lakes.

  • We arrive in a semi desertic zone until Lake Khar, splendid lake in the middle of the dunes.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Day 10

Day 10

  • This day is dedicated to a hike all around Lake Khar. We discover breathtakingly landscapes typical of Gobi, surrounding a turquoise lake.

Day 11

Day 11

  • Short hiking (a few kilometres) in the Erdene Khairkhan mountains, until the site of Senjit Khad, a rocky formation that reminds the ones of the American Far West.

  • Visit of Mukhartiin River's source. An exceptional site where the river literally rises from the sand dunes.

4h 30m-150km
30m-15km
Bogd river

Day 12On the bank of the Bogd river

Day 12On the bank of the Bogd river

  • We drive along the Khangai mounts that overlook the track at East, then pass through the Zagastai hills, and finally arrive at Uliastai, capital of the province of Zavkhan ; we go to the local market to buy fresh supplies.

  • We will drive again for 10 kilometer before reaching the bank of the Bogd river where we will pitch our camp.

Meal and accommodations

Dinner: Made by your team

Accommodation: tent camping

Bogd river
4h 30m-175km

Day 13Discovery of Otgontenger National Park

Day 13Discovery of Otgontenger National Park

  • Visit of Otgontenger National Park : waterfalls and Lake Badagakhundaga.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Dinner: Made by your team

Accommodation: tent camping

Day 14Uliastai, in the heart of Zavkhan

Day 14Uliastai, in the heart of Zavkhan

  • Hiking until the artificial waterfalls on the Bodg River, or free time to peacefully enjoy the bucolic nature.

  • Return road to Uliastai where we'll settle in and rest in a small provincial hotel.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Accommodation: 2 stars hotel

Day 15Flight to Ulan Bator, the Mongolian capital

Day 15Flight to Ulan Bator, the Mongolian capital

  • Arrival in town and transfer to your hotel where you can rest a few moments.

  • Rest of the day free. With our guide, you can go shopping in the centre of the city.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: 2 stars hotel

Lunch: Included

Accommodation: 2 stars hotel

Flight back

Day 16Have a nice journey and see you soon !

Day 16Have a nice journey and see you soon !

  • Breakfast at the hotel. We go with you to the international airport of Ulan Bator. The transfer can be organized at the time you want, according to the schedule of your flight.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: 2 stars hotel

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