Horses, Horizons & the Spirit of Naadam
Mongolia is gloriously unpredictable, and if you embrace its spontaneity you’ll be swept away by wild Mongol ponies, endless steppe and the magic of riding through a fenceless world where horses outnumber people. Expect vodka toasts, fiery little mounts, cosy gers, heartfelt hospitality and the unforgettable spectacle of Naadam Festival child jockeys thundering across the steppe like centaurs.
Trip Highlights
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Being invited into a Mongolian home to drink airag (fermented mare’s milk) and eat steamed mutton
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Galloping across the steppe in true Chinggis Khan style on a wild-eyed Mongol horse
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Watching a spine-tingling shamanistic ceremony in remote northern Mongolia
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Jumping into a bone-chilling freshwater stream to cool off after a long day of riding
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Spending time with the nomadic Tsaatan people and the reindeer they revere (19-day ride)
• 19 days, 18 nightsRiding levelBeginner • Intermediate • Strong Intermediate • Advanced On the move You ride to a new destination every day or two.
Details
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Riding levels
Beginner to advanced. Beginner riders MUST be fit, willing to canter, and have a lot of trail riding hours under their belt.
ALL riders must be able to mount from the ground unassisted.Not sure what your riding ability is? See the definitions below.
- Type of tack
Handmade rope bridles and unique saddles that combine the best features of Mongolian, Western, English and Australian saddle design.
- Horse breed
Small, brave, tough-as-nails Mongolian horses, standing 13 to 14 hands high.
- Accommodation
The accommodation varies throughout the trip, with most nights spent camping in tents, but there will also be nights at the beginning and end of the ride when you’ll stay in ger camps and hotels.
- Pace
The pace varies from a walk right through to a canter, with long periods of trotting.
- Weight limit
A maximum of 95kg / 210lbs.
It is VERY important that you provide your current weight accurately when booking. If your weight is not accurate, we cannot guarantee that your hosts will have a horse for you to ride.
- Group size
A minimum of 2 and a maximum of 12 guests.
- Minimum age
16 years of age
- Time in Saddle
Between 6 to 8 hours in the saddle a day.
*Saddle fitness is a MUST! - When to go
June & July.
- Languages
Head guide will speak English.
Local team speak Mongolian.
What’s included (and what’s not)
Included
- Transfers to/from Ulaanbaatar Airport
- All meals, from first day dinner through to last day breakfast
- Accommodation throughout the itinerary
- Riding activities outlined in the itinerary
- Internal flight (19-day Khovsgol ride)
Excluded
- International flights
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Staff tips
Departure dates and prices
Ride length
• 13 days, 12 nights
• 19 days, 18 nights
Riding level
Beginner • Intermediate • Strong Intermediate • Advanced
Booking fee
A fixed Booking Fee of $106 USD
Payment plans
Lock in your ride with a 10% deposit and pay the rest over time – interest-free in 10 easy payments. Learn more.
Accommodation types
Single
Private accommodation for one guest (room, tent, or similar). A supplement may apply on departures where a sharing option is available.
Share
Willing to room share with the same gender or travelling with a companion.
Couple share
Sharing a bed with companion.
Non-rider
Sharing a room with a riding companion.
Per person
2026
19-Day Khovsgol Ride
June 28 to July 16, 2026
$4550 USD per person for minimum 2 guests
$4110 USD per person for 3-5 guests
$3905 USD per person for 6+ guests
*Please note, this price includes an internal flight price of $400 USD per person.
13-Day Arhangay Ride
July 2 to 14, 2026
$3160 USD per person for minimum 2 guests
$2920 USD per person for 3-5 guests
$2720 USD per person for 6+ guests
The fun bits
Payment details
- A fixed Booking Fee of $106 USD
- All bookings are charged in the local currency of the ride destination.
- Accepted payment method is by credit or debit card only.
Cancellation policy
We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel your ride, please let us know as soon as possible. Cancellation fees apply based on how close your departure date is, and deposits are non-refundable. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect your booking. Read our full cancellation policy.
International fees
If you're paying in a currency different from your own, your bank may charge a conversion or international transaction fee.
Please note
Single supplement is available on request. Prices are subject to change, but as a guide you can expect to pay around $85 USD per hotel night and $15 USD per tent night (no single ger available). For our solo globetrotters, with your comfort and privacy in mind, we recommend you budget for the single supplement for the camping portion of your trip so you have your own tent.
Itinerary
Please note, these are suggested itineraries only and subject to change at the discretion of your guides due to weather and other influencing factors.
- 19-Day Khovsgol Ride
- 13-Day Arhangay Ride
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Day 1: Arrival
Non-riding dayArrive in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia (called “UB” by locals and visitors alike). After immigration and customs, you will be met by your guide and driver and transferred to your hotel. Referred to as “The City of Contrasts”, where modern constructions stand beside traditional dwellings and ancient monasteries, UB is a rapidly growing and developing city with a population of around 1.5 million people. Conveniently located in downtown UB, your hotel is within walking distance of Sukhbaatar Square, museums, theatres, and shops. Depending on an arrival time, you may enjoy a short city orientation tour before dinner.
Overnight in hotel.
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Day 2: Ulaanbaatar
Non-riding dayFull day of guided sightseeing in UB. Visit Sukhbaatar Square and, if time permits, Zaisan Memorial. Zaisan Memorial is a landmark of UB built on the Bogd Khan Mountain, and the best place to view the city.
Dinner and overnight in hotel.
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Day 3: Fly to Murun
Non-riding dayAirport transfer for your flight to Murun. Drive approx 120km (74mi) to Khatgal, the gateway to Khovsgol National Park. Lake Khovsgol is 100 miles long and the deepest in Central Asia. The lake holds 2% of the world’s fresh water.
Overnight at a ger camp on Lake Khovsgol, with a hot shower available.
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Day 4: Jigleg Camp
2 hours in the saddleToday you will take a boat ride on Lake Khovsgol to the base of Jigleg Pass, located halfway up the western shore of the lake. Your local guides will welcome you at Jigleg Camp, where you’ll meet the horses and wranglers and ‘test ride’ your Mongolian steed. Overnight in tents.
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Day 5: Darkhad Valley
6 to 8 hours in the saddleThis is the first day of your horseback riding adventure, yay! Each day you’ll ride for around 6-8 hours, covering 30-40 km (18-25 mi).
Today you’ll ride through the Darkhad Valley towards Renchinlhumbe. The Darkhad Valley (Darkhadyn Khotgor) is considered remote and relatively inaccessible even by Mongolian standards. The local Darkhad people are known for their ancient practice of Shamanism. Vehicle supported.
Overnight in tents.
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Day 6: Renchinlhumbe
6 to 8 hours in the saddleContinue riding to the town of Renchinlhumbe in the Darkhad Valley. Vehicle supported. Overnight in gers in Renchinlhumbe, where you’ll gain some fascinating insights into local life.
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Day 7: Zuun Taiga
6 to 8 hours in the saddleRide through the Darkhad Valley towards Hogrog and Zuun taiga. East (“Zuun”) Taiga is situated northeast of Tsagaan Nuur beyond a steppe valley called Hogrog. Vehicle supported. Overnight in tents near the Sharga River.
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Day 8: Hogrogo
6 to 8 hours in the saddleToday you’ll ride to Hogrogo, the jumping-off point to visit the Tsaatan (Reindeer People) in East Taiga. There are roughly 18 families who live in East Taiga. They move and camp in two groups (13 families and 5 families, respectively). Much of the terrain in East Taiga is open valleys, wetlands, and forests. Vehicle supported. Overnight in tents.
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Day 9: The Tsaatan Reindeer People
6 to 8 hours in the saddleIt’s time to leave the support vehicles and take a pack trip into the northern mountains to the summer camp of the Tsaatan (Reindeer People). Average camp distances from the edge of the Taiga in Hogrogo range from 6-40 km (4-25mi). The Tsaatan are a community of nomadic reindeer herders, originally from Tuva in Siberia, who have historically inhabited the border region of Russia and Mongolia. Ethnically, they identify as Dukha and Uighar, but their lifestyle as reindeer herders earned them the Mongolian name Tsaatan, which means roughly “with reindeer.” Reaching their camp, you’ll stay in tents with packhorse support.
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Day 10: Tsaatan Summer Camp
Optional riding daySpend the day at the Tsaatan summer camp exploring the area on foot or horseback. Overnight in tents with packhorse support.
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Day 11: Hogrog
6 to 8 hours in the saddleRide back to Hogrog to reunite with the support vehicles. Overnight in tents.
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Day 12: Return to Renchinlhumbe
6 to 8 hours in the saddleRide halfway back to Renchinlhumbe. Vehicle supported. Overnight in tents.
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Day 13: Renchinlhumbe
4 to 6 hours in the saddleA shorter ride to Renchinlhumbe, arriving in the late afternoon. Overnight in gers.
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Day 14: Naadam Festival
Non-riding dayObserve Renchinlhumbe’s Naadam festivities. Naadam or ‘Festival’ has occurred for centuries in Mongolia as an exhibition of horse racing (racers are generally aged 7-11 and race 15-30 kilometres/9-18 miles), wrestling (men only) and archery (women and men). July 11 is the official date of Naadam established by the Mongolian government. Stay overnight in gers.
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Day 15: Jigleg Pass
4 to 6 hours in the saddle.After lunch in town, you’ll ride towards the Jigleg pass. Vehicle supported. Overnight in tents.
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Day 16: Jigleg
6 to 8 hours in the saddle.The last day of riding, boo! In the afternoon you’ll arrive at Jigleg and say goodbye to the wranglers and horses. Vehicle supported. Overnight in tents.
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Day 17: Khatgal
Non-riding dayToday you will have a boat ride on Lake Khovsgol from the base of Jigleg Pass halfway up the western shore of the lake, to Khatgal. From here you’ll be driven to Harganat Eco Lodge overlooking the magnificent Delger Murun river valley. Overnight in the Harganat ger camp.
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Day 18: Return to Ulaanbaatar
Non-riding dayCatch your return flight to UB. Enjoy a folk theatre performance and a farewell dinner in the evening. Overnight in the same hotel in downtown UB.
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Day 19: Departure
Non-riding dayAirport transfer for your return flight home.
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Day 1: Arrival
Non-riding dayArrive in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia (called “UB” by locals and visitors alike). After immigration and customs, you will be met by your guide and driver and transferred to your hotel. Referred to as “The City of Contrasts”, where modern constructions stand beside traditional dwellings and ancient monasteries, UB is a rapidly growing and developing city with a population of around 1.5 million people. Conveniently located in downtown UB, your hotel is within walking distance of Sukhbaatar Square, museums, theatres, and shops. Depending on an arrival time, you may enjoy a short city orientation tour before dinner. Overnight in hotel.
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Day 2: Elsen Tasarkhai
Non-riding dayDepart UB in the morning. Drive to Elsen Tasarkhai, a part of the Mongol Els sand dunes, which stretch 80km long and 5km wide across Uvurkhangai province. It is located west of Ulaanbaatar and east of Karakorum – the ancient Mongolian capital. The area is surrounded by sand dunes, hills covered with rare shrubs and a small forest beside a river. Together, this presents a unique combination of Mongolian mountains, forests and Gobi-type landscapes in one location. Stay overnight in a ger camp.
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Day 3: Tsetserleg
2 to 3 hours in the saddleDrive to Tsetserleg, the capital of Arhangay. Located in west-central Mongolia, Arhangay is called the ‘Switzerland of Mongolia’ for its beautiful scenery: forests, rivers and mountains. After lunch, continue on to camp in the valley of the Ikh Tamir River, where you’ll meet horses and wranglers. On the horseback trek, you’ll cover approximately 20 miles (32 kilometres) per day and meet the support vehicle each night at a new campsite. Personal luggage and the supplies for ‘catered camping’ are transported in the support vehicle, making for light, fast travel on horseback. Each night you’ll camp out in spacious two-person tents. During each day’s ride you’ll visit the gers of local herders and have a chance to experience nomadic life on the Central Asian steppe.
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Days 4 to 9: Riding through Arhangay
6 to 8 hours in the saddleRide and camp through the valleys and mountains of Arhangay. A support vehicle will carry all camping goods and food and local wranglers will take care of the horses. You’ll visit many families along the way and taste the local spoils of summer: yoghurt, cheese and the infamous airag (fermented mare’s milk). Although we recommend a riding background for this trip, the support vehicle always has room for anyone who is ready for a break from the saddle. Camp out in tents overnight.
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Day 10: Naadam Festival
Non-riding dayExperience Naadam in the town of Tsetserleg. Observe the opening ceremony and the ‘Three Manly Games’. Naadam, or ‘Festival’, has occurred for centuries in Mongolia as an exhibition of horse racing (jockeys are generally aged 7-11 and race 9-18 mi/15-30km), wrestling (men only) and archery (women and men).
After lunch, you’ll drive 75 miles (120 km) to Kharkhorin, the ancient capital of the Mongolian Empire, located 250 miles (400 km) southwest of UB. There are presently efforts to re-establish Kharkhorin as the capital of Mongolia as it was centuries ago. Depending on your arrival time, either this afternoon or the following morning you’ll explore the restored Erdenzuu Monastery (‘Hundred Treasures’), originally built in 1586. Overnight in ger camp.
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Day 11: Return to Ulaanbaatar
Non-riding dayReturn drive to UB (6-8 hours’ driving with breaks). In the evening, watch a folk theatre performance of throat singing, traditional dances, contortion and more. Overnight in the same UB hotel you stayed in on day 1.
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Day 12: City Tour
Non-riding dayEnjoy a breakfast buffet at your hotel before a full day of guided sightseeing in UB. Begin the tour at Zaisan Memorial, a prominent landmark looking over the city of UB built on Bogd Khan Mountain. Walk Sukhbaatar Square, named after the Mongolian National Hero of People’s Revolution in 1921. Sukhbaatar Square is surrounded by the Parliament, the Stock Market, cultural sites, the Palace Royal Opera House and the main post office. Visit Gandan Hiid (monastery), the largest Buddhist temple in Mongolia. Take in the Museum of National History and the Fine Art Museum of Zanabazar to acquaint yourself with Mongolian history, traditional culture and arts. Farewell dinner. Overnight in hotel.
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Day 13: Departure
Non-riding dayYour guide and driver will take you to the airport for your return flight home.
Transfer information
Complimentary airport transfers are included upon arrival and departure in Ulaanbaatar.
You can arrive into Ulaanbaatar anytime on day 1, and depart anytime on the final day.
Please note
For the 19-day Khovsgol itinerary, your internal flight to/from Murun is included in the ride price.
Accommodation
The accommodation varies throughout the trip, with most nights spent camping in tents, but there will also be nights at the beginning and end of the ride when you’ll stay in ger camps and hotels. A ger camp is the Mongolian version of a motel, with traditionally decorated gers for sleeping (usually shared rooms with 2-4 pax), a separate dining hall and very basic shower and toilet facilities.
Single supplement is available on request (NB: single gers are not available).
NB: For our solo globetrotters, with your comfort and privacy in mind, we recommend you budget for the single supplement for the camping portion of your trip so you have your own tent.
Food
Meals on this journey are basic, hearty and plentiful, with some dishes familiar and others unusual in both appearance and taste. While in cities, it’s wise to sample a variety of restaurants to enjoy vegetables and other foods that won’t be available once the ride begins. Expect to eat a great deal of mutton and occasionally yak, usually boiled but sometimes fried, with rice, noodles or potatoes accompanying most meals and vegetables appearing only rarely. We strongly suggest bringing a personal stash of snacks for moments when another bowl of mutton feels like one too many. Vegetarians are welcome, but please advise us well in advance so the outfitters can plan accordingly; depending on your needs, you may also wish to bring freeze-dried or dehydrated meals.
Alcohol is not included in the trip price, so if you’d like to enjoy a drink during your adventure, let your guide know upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar so they can take you to a supermarket to stock up. Although you may pass through townships en route, don’t rely on finding alcohol there.
Reviews
Sarah P
Samantha Philp
Eszter Hortobagyi
4 rides with Globetrotting 
Edith Cattell
What's my riding level?
Not sure what your riding level is? Watch our videos to see all our levels.
Beginner
Reasonably confident riding a horse at a walk, a rising trot, and learning to canter.
Intermediate
Confident and in control riding at all paces outside an arena, but not riding regularly. Comfortable and competent using aids {the language of your leg, seat and hands} to communicate with your horse.
Strong Intermediate
An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly outside of an arena and is fit enough to ride for at least six hours per day. Strong intermediate riders are comfortable and competent in all three gaits; able to post or sit to the trot; have an independent seat while cantering (don’t hold onto the saddle); and can pick up the correct canter lead. They can also navigate more complex terrain, including asking a horse to sidestep and jump over a small obstacle.
Advanced
A frequent rider who is very fit, comfortable in the saddle for at least six hours per day, and has an independent seat and soft hands. Advanced riders are confident on a forward-moving horse at all paces over rough and variable ground on open terrain. They can ride over small jumps and know the techniques used to collect a horse
Not sure? Contact our team to help you figure out your riding ability.
Stories from the saddle
A Day Spent in Ulaanbaatar
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Stacey West – My Mongolia
Attention globetrotters! You’re in for a real treat. Our dear friend and globetrotter, Stacey West, joined us for the Golden Eagle Ride last year, and she has generously shared her love letter to Mongolia. Her vivid descriptions will teleport you
