Mongolia Bike Tour - Route of the Nomads

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia - Arrival

   Welcome to Ulaan Baatar! On arrival, you’ll be met by the driver and taken to your centrally located hotel (journey time approx. 1 hour). If you arrive early there are plenty of options to explore in downtown Ulaan Baatar.
   
   The city has modernised rapidly over the last 10 years with Western style, Dubai-inspired shopping malls and brand-name glitz, but there are more than a few hints and nods to its Soviet past. Around Suhkbataar Square, the huge cosmopolitan public square, and adjoining Parliament House with its monuments to Chinggis Khan and family, you’ll find wide, sombre, low-slung, squat Russian built buildings.
   
   Off the square is the National Museum, where you’ll get a good look at Mongol history and National Dress and close by is the State Department Store where you can dress yourself and buy the same get-up. The Choijin Lama Temple is also worth a quick visit. Venture further and ghetto-like housing towers and hip-hop-inspired fashion, graffiti and attitudes prevail.
   
   Further still, the city is surrounded by the Ger districts, an ever-growing sprawl of traditional housing of nomads that have moved off the land and into the city in search of work and an easier life. It’s a heady mix of east, west, modern, traditional, communist and cowboy!
   
   In the evening you'll head out for a Modern Mongol fusion dinner during which you'll have a chat about the schedule for the days to come.
   
   Overnight altitude: 1,300 Metres
   
   

   • Ulaan Baatar Hotel
   • Dinner
2. Day 2Ulaan Baatar Highlights and Traditional Music

   A day devoted to exploring the city and its main sights. First up is a visit to Ganden Monastery, Mongolia’s largest and most important Lamaist Buddhist monastery, where you'll be able to see monks and locals going about their daily devotions.
   
   Next is the Bogd Khan Museum, the former winter residence of the last theocratic ruler of Mongolia which houses the Bogd Khans’ personal living spaces and possessions as well as one of the most important collections of Buddhist artwork in the world. You'll follow this by heading up to Zaisan Memorial, for views overlooking the city and classic soviet murals depicting Mongolia’s involvement in WWII.
   
   Finally, you'll settle in for a performance of Mongolian traditional music featuring the unique horse-head fiddle and long songs, or throat singing: sounds of the steppe that will stay with you on your journey throughout Mongolia and beyond.
   
   Overnight altitude: 1,300 Metres
   
   

   • Ulaan Baatar Hotel
   • Breakfast and Lunch
3. Day 3Arvaikheer via Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes

   The start of your epic adventure begins by loading up the Russian luz 4WD vans and meeting the local crew. Along with your cycling leader, you’ll be accompanied by a team of locals including a cycling guide/ mechanic, cooks and drivers: all there to make sure you get the best out of your time in Mongolia and they always leave a long-lasting impression on guests for their warmth, humor and smiles.
   
   It’s a long day’s drive but you’ll stop for lunch, and the chance to ride a camel, at Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes: a vast 80km stretch of dunes surrounded by semi-desert steppe and thickets of Elm, Willow and Dogwood.
   
   After lunch, you'll continue towards the small town of Arvaikheer, the capital of Ovorkhangai Province and named after a famed racehorse of the area. Just beyond Arvaikheer we set up camp for our first night under the stars.
   
   Overnight altitude: 1,980 Metres
   
   

   • Arvaikheer Camp
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
4. Day 4Bayanhongor to Sharguljuut

   You'll pack up camp and head to the cycling start point on the southern edge of the Khangai Mountains near Bayanhongor. After setting up the bikes and taking lunch, you'll set off across the steppe and into the Khangai Mountains to the Sharguljuut River.
   
   The first section takes you on a slight upward trend on a hard-packed surface, with some sandy sections across open steppe until reaching the high point for the day with its magnificent views of the Sharguljuut Valley below and the Khangai Mountains beyond. A nice series of downhills then brings you to the river where you'll set up camp for the evening.
   
   Several semi-nomadic families inhabit the valley during the time of the trips and you’ll see several gers (yurts in Russian), dotted along the valley along with their goats, yak and horses. Once settled in you may wish to take a walk among the surrounding rocky outcrops, where several species of Ground Squirrel and Gerboa dart about or take a refreshing dip in the nearby river.
   
   Dinner as the sun sets is a daily highlight. The cook is adept at whipping up hearty, nutritious food in courses of soups, salads and mains that will delight your tastebuds and fuel you throughout your time on the bikes. Dining, shower and lavatory tents are set up for each camp and fold-out chairs and handwashing facilities are available too.
   
   Overnight altitude: 2,205 Metres
   
   

   • 15.5 - 18.6 miles
   • 820.2 ft
     820.2 ft
   • Sharguljuut Camp
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
5. Day 5Biking to Erdensogt

   Your first full day on the bikes starts with a beautiful ride up the valley of the Sharguljuut River. The ride is undulating on jeep tracks for the first 20km or so, and you’ll need to familiarise yourself with the terrain as it varies from smooth to rock-strewn with several stream crossings; a challenge when the scenery is doing everything to draw your eyes.
   
   Local families here call out to you to stop and join them for some milk tea, airag (fermented mare’s milk) and curd, along with several types of dairy products that sustain the nomads during the fruitful summer months. Migratory ducks and cranes can sometimes be spotted so keep your eyes peeled.
   
   Your first break occurs after crossing the Sharguljuut River where you'll rest up to re-fuel with some snacks, tea, coffee and juice. If the river is high the water can get over wheel height so you may have to carry the bike across, jump in the van or pick a good line and power through – you’ll be taught the best lines and technique for crossing Mongolian streams! After this, it’s a steady 10km climb into the mountains on a gradual incline.
   
   Stone mounds dot the valley as you climb higher – these are cairns built by the nomads so the Peregrine Falcons and other birds of prey can launch themselves on the rodents in the valley and keep their numbers in check – nomad conservation! The route becomes very steep for one kilometre to the summit at 2557m where the views open up on both sides of the pass and provide a stunning panorama. After this, it’s steep for around one kilometre downhill before it flattens out for the downhill run all the way to camp in one of the nicest valleys of the tour.  
   
   Overnight altitude: 2,557 Metres
   
   

   • 29.8 miles
   • 2,831.4 ft
     2,831.4 ft
   • Erdensogt Camp
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
6. Day 6Shar Hutul Pass to the Tuin River Valley

   Today you'll make your way across the Shar Hutul pass at 2540m for a spectacular downhill into the Tuin River valley. With several stream crossings as you crisscross the Tuin River to make your way upstream toward the river’s headwaters.
   
   The riding is more challenging in the afternoon as you steadily gain altitude as well as traversing wide rock-strewn riverbed. The high mountain terrain and impressive glacier-formed valleys are pocketed with forest and strewn with colourful wildflowers.
   
   Your camp tonight, far from civilisation, is the highest and most spectacular of the tour looking down the Tuin River Valley over an often frozen lake from 2511m. You might even catch a glimpse of Marmot, hear their barking or, if you are lucky hear the howl of a Wolf. Sightings of both these animals are rare though as Marmot is the most favoured meat of the nomads and Wolf are hunted for the prestige it confers on the hunter.
   
   Overnight altitude: 2,540 Metres
   
   

   • 29.2 miles
   • 2,099.7 ft
     2,099.7 ft
   • Tuin River Valley Camp
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
7. Day 7Khul Sayangiin Pass - Tamir River Valley

   You'll start the day with a steady 6km climb to the top of Khul Sayngiin pass where you'll rest at the Ovoo, a cairn of rocks and blue prayer flags that mark the pass on all mountain roads and trails in Mongolia.
   
   It’s here that locals will make offerings of rocks – that help maintain the cairn – while circumnavigating the Ovoo three times in a clockwise direction. You’ll also see plenty of vodka bottles and crutches among other offerings at these sacred places too; a dead giveaway to many nomad's favorite pastimes; riding horses and drinking!
   
   A tricky downhill leads you down to the valley floor with the rest of the day seeing you navigate lots of stream crossings and extended rocky sections. This stunning valley will lead you to the Tamir River and your spectacular riverside camp with its perfect swimming spot, rocky outcrops, forested hillsides, wildflower grassland and mountains.
   
   Overnight altitude: 2,714 Metres
   
   

   • 32.9 miles
   • 748 ft
     748 ft
   • Tamir River Valley Camp
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
8. Day 8Cycle to Bulgan - Family Visit

   Just one steep hill to negotiate today, but it’s mostly downwards on super smooth tracks and trails. During the day you'll visit a nomad family and have a tour of their Ger dwellings sampling some of the dairy that is particularly famous in the Khangai mountains.
   
   You'll stop at Bulgan to pick up any supplies, your first stop in relative civilisation for days before continuing to the camp overlooking the Tamir River. A shorter day today and you'll finish the cycling at lunchtime and have a relaxing afternoon at camp.
   
   Overnight altitude: 1,950 Metres
   
   

   • 24.9 miles
   • 1,312.3 ft
     1,312.3 ft
   • Tamir River Camp
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
9. Day 9Cycle to Tsetserleg & Tsenkher Hot Springs

   A flat morning ride, with a small climb, takes you up to a viewpoint overlooking Tsetserleg, one of Mongolia’s more picturesque towns. A route down to the town gets you on tarmac for a few kilometres and you‘re back in civilisation.
   
   A coffee break and a visit to the Tsetserleg Museum are good options here and there are plenty of supermarkets too. Heading out of town you'll lunch beside the Tamir River before tackling some hills so as to get to your destination: Tsenker. Your stay is at a tourist Ger camp with shower facilities, restaurant and outdoor hot springs to relax and soothe any tired muscles.
   
   Overnight altitude: 2,051 Metres
   
   

   • 32.3 miles
   • 2,404.9 ft
     2,404.9 ft
   • Tsenkher Ger Camp
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
10. Day 10Cycle to Tsaagan Sum

    Today you'll head for the hills and make your way up through pine forest and narrow valleys as you head back into the heart of the Khangai National Park. You'll cross several streams and rivers before a last climb and a 15km descent brings you to Tsaagan Sum where natural springs are revered to have special healing qualities. Your camp is on the open steppe with views up and down the valley below.
    
    Overnight altitude: 2,051 Metres
    
    

    • 32.9 miles
    • 1,781.5 ft
      1,781.5 ft
    • Tsaagan Sum Camp
    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
11. Day 11Cycle to Orkhon River

    A shorter day of 30 kms sees you take on two steep climbs with equally thrilling downhills on either side, where a last run takes you across the Orkhon River lunch and your camp. From here you'll take a drive up the river for a hike and, perhaps, a swim in the Orkhon Waterfalls which are dramatically positioned where the Orkhon River passes through an impressive canyon.
    
    Overnight altitude: 1,951 Metres
    
    

    • 26.7 miles
    • 1,781.5 ft
      1,781.5 ft
    • Orkhon River Camp
    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
12. Day 12Cycle the Orkhon Valley

    Your last full day on the bikes and it’s a relatively easy day along the Orkhon River valley – an amazing ride through ancient lava flow and Kazakh burial mounds. This valley has witnessed massive volcanic eruptions in its past which has made the region particularly fertile and subsequently attractive to Chinggis Khan, who based the capital of the Mongol Empire at the end of the valley, and earlier Uighyr and Turkic peoples who also ruled vast areas of Central Asia from the same area. As such the Orkhon Valley is considered one of the great archeological and historical sites for peoples across central Asia and into the Middle East.
    
    You'll have a few climbs today but with the camp by the Orkhon once again and the chance for a refreshing end of ride dip.
    
    Overnight altitude: 1,701 Metres
    
    

    • 45.4 miles
    • 1,043.3 ft
      1,043.3 ft
    • Orkhon Valley Camp
    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
13. Day 13Cycle to Kharkhorin - Visit Erdenne Zhu Monastery

    With your destination not far away, you’ll complete your ride by summiting your last hill for expansive views back up the Orkhon valley. A great downhill and flat run brings you to the Mongolian Nations monument which serves as the perfect spot for a final group photo.
    
    From here you'll head down into Kharkorin, a smallish town that was once the capital of the world’s largest empire where you'll tuck into lunch before packing up the bikes. You'll be heading to Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes to camp tonight but on the way you'll stop at the impressive Erdenne Zhu monastery. Tonight you'll feast on a traditional river stone cooked lamb dish, horhog and toast your last night on the steppe with a spot of Vodka.
    
    Overnight altitude: 1,705 Metres
    
    

    • 18.6 miles
    • 1,371.4 ft
      1,371.4 ft
    • Elsen Tasarkhai Camp
    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
14. Day 14Drive to Ulaan Baatar - Final Dinner

    An early start today for your journey back to Ulaan Baatar will give you time for some souvenir shopping prior to your final dinner to celebrate the end of your epic ride across Mongolia.
    
    Overnight altitude: 1,300 Metres
    
    

    • Ulaan Baatar Hotel
    • Breakfast and Lunch
15. Day 15Departure Mongolia

    Time to bid farewell to Mongolia as you transfer back to New Ulaanbaatar International Airport (journey time approx. 1 hour) for your flights back home.
    
    

    • Breakfast