Classic Mongolia Cycling Tour

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Arrival and Ulaanbaatar City Tour

   Upon arriving in Ulaanbaatar, you will be transferred to the group hotel. Meet the other travelers and explore the highlights of Mongolia’s capital. The city tour includes a visit to the country’s main Buddhist monastery, where the awe-inspiring, gigantic gold-plated Buddha statue serves as the principal object of worship. You will also observe local believers engaged in various worship rituals and prayers, many of whom are wearing colorful traditional overcoats.

   Next, visit the central square adjacent to the parliament building, which features a façade adorned with marble statues of Genghis Khan and his successors. Rightfully regarded as the city’s signature photo point, it is always bustling with newlyweds, reunification parties, and the public in general. Consider hearing an overview of Mongolia’s history from the Stone Age to the modern era at the National Museum, and see a few but remarkably important dinosaur fossils—such as intact nests containing eggs, carnivores fighting herbivores, and embryos still in their eggshells—at the Paleontology Museum of Mongolia. A panoramic view of Ulaanbaatar from an elevated hill on the city’s edge provides insight into its size and topography.

   Finally, after watching a show of traditional music, songs, and famous throat singing, enjoy a welcome dinner with the rest of the group and receive an informal introduction to the exciting cycling tour ahead of you.

   Overnight at the group hotel

   • Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
   • Dinner
2. Day 2Transfer to the starting point of the cycling tour

   You load into 4WD expedition vans equipped with special racks for carrying bikes and head west of UB, driving over rough tarmac that cuts through vast, open steppes with rolling hills in the distance. Along the way, you’ll see countless flocks of sheep, goats, horses, and cattle, herded by nomads near their traditional homes, known as gers. By late afternoon, you’ll reach a provincial capital and settle into a hotel. If you're up for it, you can explore the town on foot before dinner.

   • Hotel
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
3. Day 3Bike to Asgat Valley

   A 2-hour car transfer brings you to the foothills of the Khangai mountain range, where your ride begins after a snack break. Today is an acclimatization ride, with a gentle incline across grassy valleys fed by small streams that flow toward the arid plains of the Gobi Desert, which you can catch a glimpse of if you look back.

   In the afternoon, you’ll spot a few homes of nomadic herders and their enormous herds. Curious about bike travelers, they might pause their daily chores to greet and wave at you. You'll set up your first tent camp soon after crossing the day’s highest point at 2,450m. Most nights on this trip will be spent in comfortable tent camps, set up every afternoon after the day's biking. The camp includes tents for dining, showers, and bathrooms, along with delicious meals prepared by a chef.

   • 24.9 miles
   • Tent
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
4. Day 4Bike to Shargaljuut Valley

   For most of the day, you’ll gradually gain altitude along well-established car tracks carved into the mountainsides, offering sweeping views of a lush river valley filled with yaks and horses. The stunning scenery more than makes up for the rocky sections of the road, which eventually leads to the Shargaljuut mineral springs, many of which are boiling hot. A massive Soviet-era health spa sits on the mountainside, gushing with hot mineral water known for its healing properties, widely used in traditional Mongolian medicine. During the summer, the area is bustling with locals who spend a week or two seeking relief from various ailments. You’ll have time to explore and test the water temperatures.

   After another hour of pedaling along the valley, you’ll leave civilization behind. Your tents will be set up by a picturesque riverside, with a few gers and the herders' animals nearby.

   • 24.9 miles
   • 1,102.4 ft
     1,781.5 ft
     679.1 ft
   • Tent Camping
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
5. Day 5Crossing the Khangai Mountain Range

   Today marks the start of your journey across the Khangai’s watershed, which separates the southern basin from the northern basin. You’ll traverse less-traveled paths, taking in stunning, untouched landscapes that shift as the day unfolds. Each ascent, though sometimes challenging, rewards you with a panoramic highpoint, followed by an exhilarating downhill. The evening brings you to your campsite near the homes of local herders, offering a chance for interaction and cultural exchange.

   • 27.3 miles
   • Tent Camping
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
6. Day 6Crossing of the Khangai Mountain Range

   On this second day, you’ll continue to explore the hidden corners of the Khangai range, where beautiful new landscapes greet you at every turn. After each climb, a breathtaking view awaits, followed by thrilling downhill stretches. The road then flattens, allowing for a leisurely ride through peaceful terrain, surrounded by the vastness of unspoiled nature.
   

   • 26.1 miles
   • 1,072.8 ft
     2,903.5 ft
     1,830.7 ft
   • Tent Camping
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
7. Day 7Crossing of the Khangai Mountain Range

   The final day of this segment offers more of the Khangai’s diverse beauty. As you pedal along, the shifting landscapes continue to impress, each ascent opening up to new, sweeping vistas.
   

   • 23.6 miles
   • -210 ft
     2,424.5 ft
     2,634.5 ft
   • Tent Camping
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
8. Day 8Bike to Tsetserleg Town

   After crossing to the northern side of the Khangai, you’ll bike toward Tsetserleg, a charming provincial capital nestled beneath a stunning granite ridge. The day starts with a short but steep pass, followed by a fast-paced ride on smooth, packed surfaces. As you approach the town, the final climb rewards you with a view of traditional residential districts, neatly aligned with vibrant rooftops. You’ll have plenty of time to explore, including a visit to the bustling market, where locals sell pine nuts, wild berries, and other natural products from the Khangai region. After just half an hour of pedaling, you’ll arrive at a traditional-style guest accommodation that offers the comforts of a hotel, including running water, showers, and bathrooms. Your room for the night will be an authentic Mongolian ger.

   • 41 miles
   • Ger Resort
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
9. Day 9Ride to Tsenker Hot Springs

   You’ll spend half the day riding across a few short but steep passes before reaching Tsenkher Valley, renowned for its mineral hot springs. While it can get busy with both locals and tourists during the short summer season, the soothing hot water is a perfect way to relax your muscles, especially with a cold beer in hand. If you like, you can also enjoy a relaxing massage or make use of the laundry service. For the night, you’ll stay once again in traditional Mongolian gers.

   • 15.5 miles
   • Ger Resort
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
10. Day 10Cycle to Orkhon River

    You’ll enjoy another fast-paced day on smooth trails as you head toward the Orkhon River Valley, dotted with sponge-like volcanic rock. This UNESCO-designated heritage site is rich with history, featuring hundreds of ancient burial mounds scattered across the landscape.

    By evening, you’ll set up camp right beside the river, where you can cool off with a refreshing dip in its waters before dinner is served.

    • Tent Camping
    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
11. Day 11Bike to Karakorum - Medieval Capital of Genghis Khaan

    You’ll cycle downstream along the Orkhon River, gradually losing altitude throughout the day. Your destination is the town of Karakorum, once the capital of the Mongol Empire in the 1200s. Its glory was short-lived, eventually falling into obscurity before being destroyed by invading Chinese armies in the late 14th century.

    Today, the main attraction is the Erdene Zuu Monastery, established in the 16th century by a Mongol khan during the introduction of Buddhism as the main religion. Although nearly destroyed during the anti-religion campaigns of the 1930s, a dozen temples still stand today. You’ll visit the monastery and the local museum to glimpse the few surviving artifacts from the old capital before heading to a ger camp to celebrate your ride.

    • 44.7 miles
    • Ger Resort
    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
12. Day 12Return to Ulaanbataar and Farewell Dinner

    You’ll load your bikes and drive back to Ulaanbaatar, stopping for a scenic picnic lunch along the way. Once you arrive, you'll settle into your hotel and later gather for a farewell dinner to wrap up the journey.
    

    • 44.7 miles
    • Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
13. Day 13Departure

    After breakfast, you'll be transferred for your onward journey
    

    • Breakfast