Wilderness Trekking Mongolia

Trekking in Mongolia is the great opportunity to get far off the beaten track and explore the country and its culture in the most authentic way by hiking. If you are an experienced hiker, you will love the Mongolian countryside with its natural beauty. Trekking in Mongolia is spectacular with diverse scenery – beaten routes combine with hidden trails through remote wilderness terrain. Some of our trips contain elements of trekking within the framework of longer cultural overland trips.

Day 1. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar.

Day 2. Hustai National Park/Bayangobi

Day 3. Kharkhorin

Day 4-5. Orkhon waterfall

Day 6.  Tsenkher hot spring.

Day 7-8. Khorgo Volcano/Terkh Tsagaan lake

Day 9.  Zavkhan/ Solongot pass

Day 10. Tosontsengel/Telmen lake

Day 11. Khyargas Nuur

Day 12-13. Khan Khukhii Mountain

Day 14.  Uvs lake

Day 15. Ulaangom/Uureg

Day 16. Khovd river/Achit lake

Day 17. Ulgii

Day 18. Tolbo/ Ulgii

Day 19.  Ulaanbaatar

Day 20.  Departure

Day 1. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar. Transfer to hotel.  Explore the city by visiting Gandan monastery and winter palace of Bogd Khan, who was the last king of Mongolia. In the afternoon we will visit museum of National History. Overnight and relax in the hotel.

Day 2. Hustai National Park/Bayangobi. After breakfast we will drive to Hustai park by jeep. The national park Khustai was established in 1992, and famous for its Takhi wild horse reintroducing project. Takhi is wild horse which is known to the world as Russian explorer “Przewalsky horse”. We will have an opportunity to ride horses and will experience arid semi desert steppes, taiga, impressive rock formations and the 80 kilometres long place of sand. Overnight at the ger camp.

Day 3. Kharkhorin. Today we will travel to the ruins of Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia in the first half 13th century. We will visit Erdene Zuu monastery which is surrounded by 108 stupas. In 1220, Genghis Khan decided to establish the capital of his empire in Karakorum. However, only after four decades his grandson Khublai Khan moved the capital city to present day Beijing. Karakorum was abandoned and was destroyed in 1388. On the ruin of the city, Erdene Zuu monastery was built in the 16th century but unfortunately was plundered during Stalin's purge in 1930s. Overnight at the ger camp.

Day 4-5. Orkhon waterfall.  We will drive to Orkhon valley today.  We will walk along the stunning landscapes formed by the canyons of Orkhon and the green steppe. This region is registered as UNESCO's world heritage, possesses numerous historical remains of its glorious past and became an ideal place for many horse breeders’ family in the summer times. The following day, we will do horse travel to the Orkhon waterfall (approximately 10-13km). Overnight at the ger camp.

Day 6.  Tsenkher hot spring. After breakfast, we will cross the rivers, green valleys and arrive at the Tsenkher hot spring. a sulphur spring that emerges from the ground at 85 Celsius degree, were outfitted for visitors in 1996. The facility includes outdoor and indoor baths, showers and accommodations. Overnight in the ger.

Day 7-8. Khorgo Volcano/Terkh Tsagaan lake. We   will pass by Tsetserleg, the capital of Arkhangai province and drive to the Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan lake national park. Khorgo Volcano is located on the east shore of Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan (2100 metres). From its summit, which is covered in ovoo, one has splendid view over the whole region and the lake. The latter, a lake about 20 km long, was formed when volcanic lava dammed the Suman River, cutting a large gorge through basalt. We have a good opportunity to ride a horse and trek on the shore. Overnight at the ger camp and we will trek 6-7km next day around the beautiful lake. Overnight at the ger camp.

Day 9.  Zavkhan/ Solongot pass. We will drive to the direction of Western Mongolia. This is the most isolated wild corner of the country with diverse geographical landscape. We will drive through the famous canyon called Solongot pass which is located in the Khangai Mountain. Ider river which is rich in taimen fish flows through the canyon. Scenery is breathtakingly beautiful. Overnight on the bank of Ider River.

Day 10. Tosontsengel/Telmen lake. After breakfast, we will pass by Tosontsengel village, previously wood manufacturing town. This place is less known and less visited area of the country and we will discover a wide variety of countryside with true Mongolian nomads. We will go to Telmen lake to discover the vast plain surrounded by mountains. Overnight at the tent in the beautiful green landscape.

Day 11. Khyargas Nuur. Today we will drive to the Khyargas lake, a salt lake amid desert and scrub grass, provides an attractive summer home for birds but sees little tourist traffic. The main attraction of the lake is Khetsuu Khad, an enormous rock sticking out of the water that attracts migratory cormorant birds. Trekking and overnight at the ger camp.

Day 12-13. Khan Khukhii Mountain. After breakfast, we will drive to the majestic Khan Khukhii Mountain. The Khan Khukhii Mountain is one of the 4 sacred mountains in Mongolia. It is a national conservation park which protects desert steppe landscape. We will discover the beauty of this magnificent place for 4 and 5 hours. On the second day, we will visit local herder’s family. Overnight.

Day 14.  Uvs lake. After breakfast, we will continue our drive and pass beautiful Boroog dunes. Photo sessions on the beach of a small lake with full of sand. In the afternoon, we will drive to Uvs lake, with total of 3.000 sq km, one of the biggest lakes in Mongolia. The lake water is saltier than that of lakes. It is not surprising that you will not find any fish there. On the other hand, for numerous migratory birds who prefer marshy environment spends summer time in Uvs lake. Overnight.

Day 15. Ulaangom/Uureg. We will stop at Ulaangom, a provincial capital for food and water supply then we will go to the salt lake of Uureg. The site offers an eye catching view with the eternal snow summit of Tsagaan Shuvuut Mountain. The local herders go there with their livestock for its fertile terrain. Overnight.

Day 16. Khovd river/Achit lake. We will drive through the Khovd river and continue to the Achit Lake, one of the biggest lakes in the region north of Altai. The lake water is supplied by many big rivers. This is a main source of water in the region for migratory birds and local people. There are lot of local people who spend their summer.

Day 17. Ulgii. Today, we will drive to the direction of the north, to the province of Bayan-Ulgii. We will approach magnificent Tsambagarav mountain(4193m). We will have trekking and climbing whilst appreciating the natural beauty and see the local people. We will visit a kazakh eagle hunter’s family and discover their unique way of life. Overnight in tent.

Day 18. Tolbo/ Ulgii. We will pass magnificent Tolbo lake surrounded by Kazakh herder’s families and then we will go to the Ulgii provincial capital. On the contrary to the other provinces, its population is largely dominated by Kazakhs, who have their own language, custom and Islamic religion. Over night in a local hotel.

Day 19.  Ulaanbaatar. We will catch flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Transfer to hotel and relax. Traditional cultural performance with folk songs, throat singing, beautiful melody of horse-headed fiddle, ethnic dances and arty contortion in the evening. Overnight and relax in the hotel.

Day 20.  Departure. Breakfast at the hotel. Our wilderness trekking in Mongolia ends here by transferring to the airport.