Gobi Desert & Khangai Mountains

This is a brand new route and few foreigners have ever been in this area that covers Mongolia’s biggest sand dunes and one of its highest mountain ranges. This remote area means contact with the outside world during the trek is impossible. Ice covered mountains sit above saltwater marshes. The great Gobi desert, though remote and barren, is a landscape of eerie, ghostly beauty.

Begin your journey in capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. This city, once the Buddhist and spiritual heartland of the nomadic peoples of Mongolia, is now a thriving commercial and industrial centre. The monasteries still remain, even after the communist purges, yet they now rest alongside internet cafes, nightclubs and streets teeming with rush hour traffic. However, Ulaanbaatar is still a capital where a grazing cow, a traditionally dressed nomad or a truck loaded with produce from the country can be found. It is amongst these fascinating juxtapositions that our journey begins.

Day 1

After arriving in Ulaanbaatar you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After a light lunch in the hotel there will be a program of sightseeing in the afternoon, including a visit to the Bogd Khaan Palace, which is a series of beautiful traditional buildings in which the last religious King of Mongolia resided. You will have dinner at a local restaurant and return to the hotel for a well-earned rest.

Day 2

Fly to Uliastai either in the morning or afternoon depending on the domestic flight schedule. On arrival in Uliastai town you will met by our local staff and driver and drive about 10 km. Dinner will be served and you will have your first tented night in the wilderness in this area.

Day 3

After breakfast you will drive about 90 km to reach the Mukhart River where you will meet your horsemen and today you will ride for some time in the area to get acquainted with your horse. Overnight in tents.

Day 4

You start early in the morning from the Mukhart Gol River and ride through the enormous and picturesque sand-dunes at Bor khyaryn. The Bor khyaryn sand-dunes are 150km long and are the biggest sand-dunes in Mongolia. A picnic lunch will be served on the way. During the ride you will have an opportunity to see the Rock Gate or Senjit Tsokhio, a natural gate formed by sun and wind erosion.

Day 5

Ride across Tasarhai Pass and reach Lake Jaahan Nuur, a beautiful lake surrounded by golden sand-dunes. It is a paradise for thousands of birds. Base camp will be set up on the shore of Lake Khar Nuur.

Day 6

Today you ride along the shore of Lake Khar Nuur and visit the Children’s Ovoo - shamanist worship site. This ovoo, or holy rock mound, is worshipped on June 1 every year in honour of children. There are two year old horse races and a wrestling competition held for children at this worship ceremony. Lake Khar Nuur is a picturesque lake surrounded by sand-dunes and huge impressive mountains. It is 3 - 8km wide, 25km long, 57m deep and is 1,980m above sea level. Right in the middle of Lake Khar Nuur there are two beautiful islands, known as the Big and Small Avgash, which are rich with different types of trees and bushes and different species of wonderful wild flowers which form a huge carpet across the islands. Birds gather here and spend the whole summer on these islands. They include cormorants, swans and one ususual species of duck which in Mongolian is called Angir. It is a great place to do birdwatching. Today’s whole ride will take about 30 km. Dinner and overnight at the base camp.

Day 7

Today you leave the sand-dunes behind and drive for 160 km to “Mod Tolgoin Ar” near the base of Mt. Otgontenger.  The campsite will be set near the Uujmiin Bulan of Mod Tolgoin Ar. Meet your horsemen and horses.

Days 8

Today’s ride will take about 25 km. Cars and the kitchen truck will follow on this day and lunch will be served on the way.

Day 9 - 10

Today you will ride about 17-18 km and on the way to will visit hot spring. Early in the morning you horseback ride to Otgon Hot Spa, arriving at the spa in the early afternoon. This spa is good for fighting off diseases affecting internal organs and joints (rheumatism). Those who come here for treatments are mostly from the western part of Mongolia. Here camels will carry your luggage for the next few days of our horseback riding. Dinner and overnight in tents around the hot spa.

Day 11

Today you will pack your horse and camel and continue on the ride. hunting for the famous vansumberuu flower. During the summer months, devotees travel long distances to pray to these rare and unique flowers and can often outnumber the local population. These pilgrims, along with some of the local people, believe these flowers to be holy and have curative powers. Trekking to Mt. Otgontenger is challenging and involves climbing above a 2,000m elevation to where the vansemberuu grows. Lovers come to the area because it is believed that the vansemberuu blesses those in love.

Day 12

The Khangai mountains in central Mongolia and the Altai Range in the southwest are the higest mountains in the country. Mt. Otgontenger, the highest peak in the Khangai Range, forms the centre of the newly created Otgontenger Strictly Protected Area and is one of three holy mountains in Mongolia. The mountain has an abundance of many different flowers, plants used for medicinal purposes and wildlife. History says that Chinggis Khaan’s funeral procession travelled from Tangad state to this holy mountain. There is golden sand found near this mountain which is thought to be good for internal organs and believed to melt in the mouth of humans. Overnight nearby at the Bogd River. Explore the area today, possibly as far as one of Otgontenger’s glaciers. Lake Batar Khundaga is located on the lower slopes of Mt. Otgontenger. In the past, Mongolians offered silver and gold ingots here so that blessings and bounty were delivered to them and today you will also explore the site of saint Ochirvaan’ God which is the shuteen of this holy moutain. You will camp after passing Shar Davaa in a beautiful valley next to a small stream.

Day 13

In the morning you will start riding to Khukh Nuur for about 30 km.

Day 14

In the morning you leave Khukh Nuur to reach Nart Nuur and will ride for about 18 km. Meet the trucks and set up base camp. Lake Nart is a beautiful lake surrounded by forests and there you have a great opportunity to see the peak of Mt. Otgontenger from a distance, and to hike and ride your horses for the last time during your trip. For dinner, you will have the Mongolian traditional meal of “Khorkhog”.

Day 15

After a relaxed morning, drive to Uliastai town. In town you will visit Javkhlant Tolgoi Hill to see the nine memorial stupas for famous Buddhist saints. These saints were all born in this province.

Day 16

After breakfast you will take a local flight back to Ulaanbaatar. The flight takes one and a half hours and your guide will accompany you. On arrival, you will be taken to your hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 17

Today will be a full day of sightseeing in the city including visits to Gandan Monastery and the the National History Museum. After lunch at the hotel visit the Fine Arts Museum and have some time for art and cashmere shopping. The evening program will include a folklore show followed by a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 18

In the morning you will be taken to the airport for departure.

2012 dates: 20th July - August 4th

2012 prices: from £2625 per person. Price is dependant on group size.

Not Included: Flights and Travel Insurance

Single Supplement: £100 for hotel & £150 for tent

Accommodation: 3* hotel then tented accommodation on trek, all meals

Meeting Point: Ulaanbaatar

Indicative flight price: London to Ulaanbaatar £1500pp return 

Transfer: Transfer & internal flights included

Hours In Saddle: Flexible

Max Weight: 90kg

Group Size: 2-12

Suitable for Non-Riders: No

Call us on +44 (0)1225 424413 or email contact@redlandsequestrian.com to check the ride availability and dates, once we have confirmed availability you can download and fill in a booking form:

• UK Rides Booking Form
• Worldwide Rides Booking Form

Each rider in the party must also complete a riding ability questionnaire before we can complete the final confirmation of your holiday booking.