The great cross over Mongolia - Horseback Mongolia
Off the beaten track

The great cross over Mongolia

This great cross Of Mongolia will offer you a great experience. After seeing the essentials of the centre of the country, you will go deeper out of the beaten paths to the West of the country. Snow-covered peaks, high dunes, glaciers, wait for you for this exceptional adventure that will show you a nice view of Mongolia.

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: made by the family

Lunch: Included

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-220km

Day 9Uliastai, in the heart of Zavkhan

Day 9Uliastai, in the heart of Zavkhan

  • We drive along the Khangai Mounts that surround the track at East, pass by the Zagastain Hills before reaching Uliastai, the capital of the province of Zavkhan ; we buy fresh supplies at the local market.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Accommodation: 2 stars hotel

Day 10Discovery of Otgontenger National Park

Day 10Discovery of Otgontenger National Park

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

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: 2 stars hotel

Lunch: Included

Dinner: Made by your team

Accommodation: tent camping

4h-145km
Tsagaankhairkhan

Day 11Hiking in the park

Day 11Hiking in the park

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

  • Road to Tsagaankhairkhan, in the province of Zavkhan. We set up our camp at the confluence of the Shiree and Tomort Rivers.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Dinner: Made by your team

Accommodation: tent camping

Tsagaankhairkhan

Day 12The highest dunes of Mongolia

Day 12The highest dunes of Mongolia

  • Journey until the highest dunes of Mongolia, Mongol Els, that extend from the province of Zavkahn in North Gobi-Altai, until the area of Khovd in extreme West.

  • Walking in the dunes. Our steps shatter the crest of the dunes, which entails small slide of fine sand. The flowing of the sand grains make a grave and surprising sound, which inspired the name of “singing dunes”. From the top, Mongol Els Dunes present a remarkable view on Lake Ereen Nuur, a rather marshy stretch of water near whose it can be dangerous to go.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Dinner: Made by your team

Accommodation: tent camping

Day 13A day in the desert, until Lake Dorgon

Day 13A day in the desert, until Lake Dorgon

  • Journey to Lake Dörgön, in the great lakes depression and at the border of the provinces of Gobi-Altai, Zavkhan, and Khovd.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Dinner: Made by your team

Accommodation: tent camping

1h 30m-50km
Chandmani
4h-150km

Day 14Meeting a khoomei singer

Day 14Meeting a khoomei singer

  • Stop in the village of Chandmani. Many singers of khoomei (traditional overtone singing in this area of Mongolia) live in the village. We meet a singer who will sing for us.

  • We arrive in the sum of Mankhan, that houses the caves of Tsenkher.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

1h 30m-60km
1h-40km

Day 15Arrival in Khovd, in the extreme West of the country

Day 15Arrival in Khovd, in the extreme West of the country

  • Visit of the rupestrian caves of Khoid Tsenkher, that house petroglyphs from the Upper Palaeolithic (from 12.000 to 48.000 years).

  • Walk on the banks of Lake Khar Us, Southeast of the city.

  • Arrival in Khovd. In the old days, this city was located in the Northern part of the silk road, it was an important commercial centre and had forged links with Russia and China. In 1763, the Manchu administration made built the fortress of Sagjin Cherem. The city was extended on four hectares and it was surrounded by 2-metres high, 2-metres wide walls. Today the province of Khovd houses 18 Mongolian ethnic groups.

Meal and accommodations

Accommodation: 2 stars hotel

Day 16

Day 16

  • We drive until Tavan Belchir Mount, whose name means "the five pastures". The mount is located North from Tsambagarav mounts, whose snow-covered peaks culminate at 4195 metres (2,61 miles) above the sea level. Many minorities live in this area, such as Uriankhai and Kazakhs.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: 2 stars hotel

Lunch: Included

Dinner: made by the family

Accommodation: Yurt for guests with a family

Day 17Trekking in Tsambagarav mounts

Day 17Trekking in Tsambagarav mounts

  • From Tavan Belchir, we start a 2-days trek in the valleys of Tsambagarav National Park. We'll meet Kazakh and Uriankhai nomads (Mongolian ethnies living in West of the country). We'll meet a Kazakh falconer who will show us his eagle.
    From Northwest of Tsambagarav mountains, we go closer to the snow-covered summits. View on the glacier.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Dinner: made by the family

Accommodation: Yurt for guests with a family

Day 18Eagles Festival

Day 18Eagles Festival

  • Stop on the banks of lake Tolbo.

  • We arrive in the capital of Bayan-Ölgii province that is located in the most Western part of Mongolia and that is the farthest city from any ocean in the world. Olgii is located at 1636 km (1,02 mile) from Ulan-Bator, at 1710 metres (1,06 mile) above the sea level. Principally Kazakhs live there and its atmosphere is very influenced by Central Asia: many signs written in Arabic, mosques and their cupolas pricked up to the sky.

  • Visit of Olgii Museum that shows an exhibition about the fauna and flora of the area. We discover the Kazakh culture, notably with traditional costumes and with a Kazakh yurt built in the museum.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Dinner: Baavgain khondii camp

Accommodation: Baavgain khondii camp

2h-1700km

Day 19Return flight to Ulan Bator

Day 19Return flight to Ulan Bator

  • We embark on our return flight to Ulan bator.

  • 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: Baavgain khondii camp

Lunch: Included

Accommodation: 2 stars hotel

Flight back

Day 20Have a nice journey and see you soon !

Day 20Have 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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