Mongolia is one of the few countries in the world able to offer many choices to horseback adventurers of all riding levels. You can enjoy your equestrian experience at any part of the vast open, and diverse landscape of Mongolia.
To help you organize satisfying Mongolian horseback travel, we would like to share our knowledge about the attractions, destinations, and regions.
Let’s start with appropriate experiences for beginners and amateur riders.
Most horseback riding tours are organized with overnight camping, which is sometimes tiring for beginners and amateurs after the whole day experience on horseback.
Therefore, riding horses while sightseeing by vehicle could be an option. Mongolia has more horses than the human population, spread evenly through all regions, except the Gobi Desert has fewer horses. Thus, you can ride horses in the afternoons or evenings when you reach day-by-day destinations.
Or don’t you want to spend long hours in a car, then choose a closer destination where the vehicles will support you when needed and will be following you, carrying the luggage. For this experience, we suggest you the following places in central Mongolia;
The national park is located just 65 km northeast of Ulaanbaatar and suitable for several hour horse riding.
We reach Khan Khentii National Park through Terelj National Park or Genghis Khan equestrian statue. The national park covers a large area of woodland and mountains. The picturesque river valleys and lower forested lands are suitable for fewer day riding.
You will reach Elsentasarkhai after 4.5 to 5 hours of paved roads driving. It is one of the spectacular areas, represents the Gobi desert, grasslands, hilly steppes, and mountains. One day to several days horse riding is available camping overnights. Alternatively, you can stay at a ger camp or a nomad family and return to the accommodation after the horseback riding.
You can ride along the Orkhon Valley or combine the valley with picturesque Arkhangai province. Reaching the Orkhon Valley requires bit long driving of approximately 8 hours. Although, driving longer means you will sightsee more. This tour could include the famous central Mongolian attractions such as Erdenezuu Monastery, Elsentasarkhai semi-desert, Tovkhon Monastery, Ulaantsutgalan waterfall, and Ugii Lake.
Beautiful volcanic Eight Lakes are in the depths of the forested Khangai Mountain Range. The Eight Lakes horse riding length differentiates from 3 days to 10 days depending on the clients’ schedule and preference, plus 3-4 days driving. Along the way attractions are Elsentasarkhai semi-desert in Khugnu Khan National Park, Erdenezuu Monastery, Kharkhorin city historical relics, Tovkhon Monastery, the World Cultural Heritage Site Orkhon River Valley, Tovkhon Monastery, Ulaantsutgalan waterfall, Ugii Lake, Khushuu Tsaidam Monuments, and nomad family visits. The destination is suitable for intermediate to advanced riders.
A picturesque freshwater lake in the middle Khan Khentii National Park wilderness. Suitable for intermediate riders to advanced riders or adventure seekers. You will spend a few days on horseback riding through the pristine nature and obstacle trails without seeing even the nomads. On this adventure, you will travel via Gorkhi Terelj National Park and see the giant equestrian statue of Genghis Khan.
You will reach Tsenkher hot spa after 480 km driving with an overnight stop or making 11 to 12 hours of long driving. The 5-6 days riding takes you through mountain valleys, steppes, across rivers, and over the mountains. A support vehicle carries the luggage and drives along roads while your riding takes place on shorter trails. The horse riding ends at Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan National Park. You will return to Ulaanbaatar after 660 km driving in 1 to 2 days, seeing several attractions such as Erdenezuu Monastery and Ugii Lake. This destination is suitable for intermediate to advanced riders.
The horse riding could vary 2 days to 7 days exploring scenic spots of the national park and riding along the Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake’s shore, making a whole loop. On the other hand, you may combine the Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan National Park horse riding with discovery sightseeing tours.
One of the famous horse-riding destinations within Mongolia. Both horseback adventurers and cultural travelers head to the Reindeer herding mountain tribe in the northern Mongolian Taiga forest within the country’s border zone. The cultural travelers should have some horseback riding experience. Riders usually enjoy a faster pace in the open area on the first day when riding from Tsagaan Nuur town to the Taiga forest edge. The trails get challenging with mud, moss, bushes, and rocks along the woodlands and over the mountains. Nearby town Tsagaan Nuur is located 1200 km from Ulaanbaatar.
The lake is a suitable destination for leisure travelers, who may enjoy several hours to several days of horseback riding while staying in one of the fine ger camps on the lake’s shore. Adventure horse riders ride rounding the whole lake, covering 500 km within 9-11 days. It is some of the most picturesque, wild, but challenging rides in Mongolia. Alternatively, you can ride 200 km through Horidol Saridag and Munkh Saridag mountains in the southwest and west of Khuvsgul Lake.
Western Mongolia is renowned for the Eagle Hunter Kazakhs and the majestic Altai Mountains in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. Combine the horseback adventure with an eagle hunter visit, majestic Altai Mountains, picturesque Khoton Khurgan Lake, and Yolt Nature Reserve for the best experience and sightseeing.
Instead of the camping adventure, staying in an extra ger of eagle hunters for a day to several days and riding in the surrounding area is an option for riders who also wish to discover the culture.
In Khentii province, 290 km east of Ulaanbaatar, you will find monastery ruins covering a large area and restored temples of Baldanbereeven Monastery, surrounded by exceptional nature. We organize this trip starting at a nomad family near Khar Zurkhnii Khokh Nuur Lake to Bayangol valley and Baldanbereeven Monastery. According to the chronicle book Secret History of the Mongols, Temujin first united Mongol tribes and enthroned as Genghis Khan on the southern shore of Khar Zurkhnii Khokh Nuur lake in 1189. Along the way, you will see another beautiful Lake Khangal. Depending on your schedule, the horse riding tour length can last from 4 days to 7 days, plus some driving to and back to Ulaanbaatar.
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