Gobi Steppe Ride

ULAANBAATAR
Arrive and transfer to your hotel. Tour briefing after dinner.

TO TSEEL
After breakfast, visit the Gandan Monastery, the centerpiece for the revival of the Buddhist Lamaism in Mongolia. With luck you can catch the prayer times. Then drive south out of the city and enjoy a picnic lunch on the grasslands. Continue across the steppe to a remote location called Tseel. Your nomad hosts will meet you at Tseel with their horses and Bactrian camels. You will select your riding horses and there will be a briefing and a short trial ride. Overnight here for two nights.

Naadam Itinerary

On the Naadam itinerary you spend Days 2 and 3 in Ulanbaatar at the festival, traveling to Tseel on Day 4. The rest of the itinerary follows the progression below.

HOYD ONJUUL
Today you will start your ride going west to the mountains of Hoyd Onjuul. In the surrounding area it is usually possible to spot herds of the Mongolian Gazelles also known as the white-tailed Gazelle (Procapra gutturosa). You may even glimpse the black-tailed goitred Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), which is better adapted to arid environments, indicating that you are riding in the transition zone of grasslands and desert steppes. In the mountain area you may be able to spot Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), which Americans call Elk or Wapiti. Certainly Wolves (Canis lupus) are around, but seldom seen.

TO SUMAN
Following breakfast you’ll break camp and load all the gers, equipment and provisions onto the camel carts caravan. You will ride for the full day south to the area of Bayan Hills, where high-altitude fauna such as the Siberian Ibex (Capra siberica) and Argali Sheep (Ovis ammon), the largest sheep in the world, sometimes are seen. Pitch camp and Suman. Usually there are many nomadic families in the immediate area, as there is a water source nearby.

TO ZORGOL HAIRKHAN
Today you will turn east and ride to the rock wall-like mountains of Zorgol Hairkhan (Sacred Zorgol), which can be seen in the distance all day. It is a striking feature on the otherwise undulating and flat steppe. Zorgol Hairkhan is mentioned in The Secret History of the Mongols, the oldest surviving Mongolian language literary work, which chronicles the life and genealogy of Genghis Khan. The Khan himself is said to have wintered here while in conflict with a competing leader. There are more nomads and livestock emerging now, and you will be able to meet some during the ride. At Zorgol there is also a breeding population of the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypus monachus), the largest Eurasian vulture – its size on par with the Condor of the Americas. The nests are quite low on rocks and small trees. The camp tonight will be at the larger massif, called Ikh Zorgol Hairkhan Uul.

TO BAGA HAIRHAN
Continue riding east, passing a small Gobi lake, Hariin Nuur, with perhaps some interesting birds. The distance is 25 km to the smaller – but still impressive – Baga Zorgol Hairhan Mountains and rock formations. The lakes act as “islands” for waterfowl flying across a “sea of grass”. Pitch camp here and scan the ridges of this spectacular rock wall for Siberian ibex.

TO OVOR BURD
The Gobi steppe in this area is quite variable since you ride through the transition zone of the Gobi, meaning there is true steppe, semi-arid steppe, sand dunes and also giant rock formations. On the day’s ride you will have an opportunity to pass archeological grave sites dating back to the Hunnu empire before the Christian era. You will ride for 25-30 km across populated steppe and for the full day we can see the Zorgol Hairhan giant rock formations in the distance. They are several hundred meters high, and are the central feature in the middle of the steppe.

TO SHIEN KHUDAG
Today’s ride turns north, a shorter distance to the Shine Hudagn, meaning “new well.” Water sources are important in the Gobi Grasslands. As with each day, this morning your camp is loaded onto the camel caravan and sometimes you will ride alongside but often will stray away from its straight course to explore interesting landscape features or great views.

ARBURD SANDS
A full day ride, for 25-30km to Arburd Sands. Today you will pass several nomadic herder families. The human occupants of this open and vast landscape are perhaps the most interesting, since all families in the area are nomadic herdsmen. The sand dunes of Arburd extend for about 20 km. They are a hideout for wolves and often we can see tracks here. It is a Sahara-like landscape in the middle of the grasslands, and the caravan will take a route around we you ride over the dunes. Overnight at Arburd Sands Ger Camp.

ARBURD SANDS
Stay at the ger camp another night, allowing the opportunity today to ride out and visit some nearby families. No mads here have large herds of cattle, and especially cashmere goats. You may also choose to stay back at camp and just relax and enjoy the scenery. Overnight at Arburd Sands Ger Camp.

ULAANBAATAR
Morning return drive of about three hours to Ulaanbaatar, where you will be checked into the hotel and have a free day in the city. Distances are short and nearly all points of interst can be reached on foot. You guide will be standing by to assist you in your shopping or sightseeing choices. Have a dinner all together as a group in a local restaurant followed by folk music entertainment.

DEPARTURE
Transfer to the airport or your next destination.