
In the footsteps of Genghis Khan
Mongolia
The green grasses of the Great Steppe reach far and wide, up to the horizon. A closer look will easily reveal heards of horses, cattle and sheep walking close to gerts, typical Mongolian yurts. Not far in the West monumental peaks of the Khangai Mountains rise into the sky, casting shade on the mysterious taiga. Our horses snort calmly, eager to go. We came from Karakorum and there’a long way ahead of us – to the Mongolian Sands, also know as the Small Gobi Desert.
Saddle up, let’s ride!
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Days overall13 daysDays in saddle9
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Group size12Available
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StandardComfy Khan: hotels, comfy yurts, one night tentingLuggageno limit kgFoodlocal cuisine, vegetarian meals available
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Skillswalk, trot, gallop
Mongolia, a land shrouded in legend lays ahead of us! It was here where Genghis Khan, one of the most outstanding leaders in World’s history, ruled a waged wars. The land, where riders seem to be born in saddles and horses seem to be born to gallop through vast grasslands.
Our tour is much more than just a trail ride. It’s an experience of a unique culture of the peoples of the Great Steppe, who have survived in the wild Mongolian land until this very day. It’s also an adventure into the footsteps of a great nomadic empire that has greately influenced the history of Asia and Europe. We will see the famous Karakorum, visit Buddhist temples as well as stay with local inhabitants. The breathtaking nature is also a crucial part of our trip: the Great Steppe, pastures, mountains, canyons, lakes, rivers, waterfalls and a desert – it’s all there.
This is our first run of this kind in Mongolia – we’re scouting this trail, so be prepared for anything! The accomodation standard during our adventure is relatively high: we spend most of the nights in gers – large, tent-like constructions, that we would usually call “yurts”. Regular tents will be used for one night only, when we venture deep into the wilderness, where no human settlements are available.
During this trip we ride lightweight, without any luggage on our horses. For most of the trail a car will assist us and during Days 8-10 we be accompanied by pack yaks.
Local horses are relatively small-frame, so the maximum rider weight shouldn’t exceed 95 kg. Daily parts of the trail are 30-50 km long, but the landscape allows for relatively fast riding. We spend 5-7 hours a day in the saddle, plus breaks.
- 2 nights in a hotel in Ulaanbaatar
- 8 nights in gers (yurt-like tents/camps)
- 1 night in eco tipis
- 1 night in tents
- Full alimentation (except for Ulaanbaatar), alcohol not included
- Transfer from and to the airport in Ulaanbaatar (first and last day of the trip)
- All car transfers included in the programme (4×4 cars)
- Entry fees to all attractions mentioned in the programme
- Entry to the traditional dance and throat singing show
- Visit and bath in hot springs
- Company of the local guide
- Polish- and English-speaking pilot
- A horse with a full tack
- Assisting car to transport your luggage
- Pack yaks on days 8-10 when cars are unable to assist
- A tourist insurance covering high-risk sports
- Flight ticket to and from Ulaanbaatar (ca. 820 Euro)
- Visa to Mongolia (ca. 60 Euro)
- Meals in Ulaanbaatar
- Minor expenses (souvenirs, extra snacks, alcohol, etc.)
- Optional: short Bactrian camel ride (20 Euro) and Mongolian archery lesson (5 Euro)
- Day 1 Arrival
- Day 2 Karakorum
- Day 3 Orkhon River bends
- Day 4 Khangai Mountains
- Day 5 Footsteps of Zanabazar
- Day 6 Mongolian family
- Day 7 The Eight Lakes
- Day 8 Horses and yaks
- Day 9 Pathless tracts
- Day 10 Back to the steppe
- Day 11 Granite and sand
- Day 12 Farewell to the Great Steppe
- Day 13 Departing home



This adventure is organized in a comfy and diverse manner – as for Mongolia. We spend most of the nights in places where toilets and showers (sometimes: makeshift, but still) are available. In Ulaanbaatar we stay in a hotel. Outside the city we sleep mainly in gers – Mongolian yurt camps. On five nights those gers are eco-tourism ones, comfy and of nice standard. We will spend another three nights in family-run gers, in which conditions are definitely more basic, but – on the other hand – we will have the chance to see and take part in the lifes of authentic Mongolian shepherds. We will spend one night tenting out, as our trail will take us away from any human settlements. The last night before returnig to civilization will be hosted in ecological, wooded tipis (toilets and showers available).
You can read through the detailed day-by-day plan in the Itinerary section.
Depending on the particular day meals will be prepared by our guides, local families or cooks at restaurants. Typical Mongolian cuisine is relatively fatty and heavy. It’s based mostly on animal products – meat, milk, cheese, as all shepherd diets around the World, although vegetarian meals are also available if required.
Equipment
Saddles in Mongolia vary: there are English and Russian saddle available, as well as local, steppe saddles. As far as possible we will choose saddles to meet riders’ preferences, although the main priority is to match horses according to riders’ height and weight. We use bits.
Riders’ outfits should be relatively versatile to fit the Great Steppe’s climate. Temperatures during the day might reach 25 degrees Celsius, but occasional local showers, storms or fog might occur. In the evening temperatures will noticeably drop. We recommend a set of clothes that will allow for layering up, so you could put on or take off some clothes in case of changing temperature and conditions. Waterproof outerwear will also be a must. Instead of regular jodhpur boots we recommed trekking boots, also waterproof. A scarf or bandana to protect against dust and sand on dry days would be a good idea, too.
What you should take with you
For the most of the trip a 4×4 car will support the group, although for 3 of 9 day of riding (Days 8-10) a car won’t be able to go where we go, so our belonging will be transported by yaks. There is no luggage weight limit, but we recommend keeping it as lightweight as possible. Remember to pack you stuff in waterproof sacks or backpacks. During the day we ride lightweight taking only those things we need while on horses.
- passport
- cash, preferably USD or EUR
- clothes – to layer up
- swimsuit (for a bath in hot springs) and flip-flops
- trekking boots
- electronics, e.g. camera
- small bags or a handy backpack (for documents, wallet, bottle of water)
- a canteen or any other handy water container (e.g. a plastic water bottle)
- flashlight, a headlight usually works best
- sunscreen
- headcover against the sun, scarf/bandana against dust
- waterproof trekking boots
- raincoat
- knife (swiss army knife works good, too)
- optionally: your own sleeping bag / inner layer for sleeping bags
A sleeping bag will be needed for just one night that we spend tenting out. Typical sleeping bags and mongolian army sleeping bags are available on the spot, fresh and clean, always washed before the tour. If you don’t want to bring your own sleeping bag – it’s a perfect option, just let us know you need one.
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
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photo: guide's archive
Date | Trip Status | Price | Spots | |
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2023 dates coming soon!
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