Horse Riding Mongolia – A journey off the beaten track

This Horse riding Mongolia journey offers stunning picturesque destinations you can enjoy while riding your trusted steeds through beautiful Northern Mongolia. We will ride through the colorful valleys and hills of the Darkhad Depression, rich with hundreds of freshwater lakes and rivers. Spend your nights under the starry open night sky of Mongolia with your tented camp surrounded by the wilderness.

Immerse yourself in Mongolian culture while staying with the Dukha Tsaatan reindeer herders tribe at their autumn camp in the Taiga and enjoy the hospitality of a local nomad herder family.

Charming Mongolian horses are capable of great speed and endurance on different terrains, both mountain and steppe roads. And these horses will be your trusted companions for the duration of your journey around the wilderness of Mongolia.

View Horseback Riding Tour Mongolia close up here. Create your adventure of a lifetime with Nomadic Trails!

Horse riding mongolia tour MAP

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Epic scenery of the southern edge of Siberia

Mongolian Horseback riding along beautiful lakes, stunning pine tree mountains, and open big meadows.

Visit a local nomadic family with horses and other livestock.

Enjoy the warm hospitality of the Reindeer tribe of the Taiga

Being part of “Everyday life activities of Nomads ” such as making diary products.

Explore ancient rock carvings sites and historical sites!

Wildlife spotting at all our destinations rich with fauna.

BRIEF TOUR ITINERARY

Day-1 Ulaanbaatar City

Day-2 Ulaanbaatar / Murun Town / Khuvsgul Lake

Day-3 Har Us Spring

Day-4 Har Us Spring – Mogoit River

Day-5 Mogoit River – Jaraahai River

Day-6 Jaraahai River – Sharga River Valley

Day-7 Sharga River Valley – Hogorog River Valley

Day-8 Khogorog River Valley – East Taiga / Reindeer Tribe Camp

Day-9 East Taiga / Reindeer Tribe Camp – Hogorog River Valley

Day-10 Dood Tsenher Lake – Tsagaan Nuur Town

Day-11 Tsagaan Nuur Town – Hogiin River

Day-12 Hogiin River – Bayan Mountain

Day-13 Bayan Mountain – Murun Town

Day-14 Murun Town – Ulaanbaatar

Day-15 International Departure

DETAILED TOUR ITINERARY

Day-1 ULAANBAATAR CITY

This day is our international arrival day. Depending on your arrival time we can visit the National history museum with priceless treasures of Mongolian history. We will also visit and explore the main square of Ulaanbaatar city called Sukhbaatar square located a short walking distance away from our hotel. An authentic folk concert is available in the evening.
Welcome dinner. Hotel/L,D/

Day-2 ULAANBAATAR / MURUN TOWN / KHUVSGUL LAKE

This morning we transfer to the airport and take a flight to Murun town, the center of Khuvsgul province in the northern parts of Mongolia. It takes 1 hour. Here, we visit the town and supermarket for some snacks and refreshments and drive to Khuvsgul Lake. Tented camping /B,L,D/

Day-3 HAR US SPRING

Today we meet our horses and ride along the shores of Khuvsgul Lake. This amazing lake is the deepest lake in Mongolia. We begin our journey by adjusting to the horse riding tempo as well as getting used to our short-stature Mongolian horses. Tented camping /B,L,D/

Day-4 HAR US SPRING – MOGOIT RIVER

After breakfast we start riding deep into the mountain valleys, crossing rivers as we make our way slowly towards the Jigleg Pass. With our vehicles departing before us we will travel with our horses and our one-day worth of supplies. Tonight we’ll set up camp next to a small river just before the pass. Tented camping /B,L,D/

Day-5 MOGOIT RIVER – JARAAHAI RIVER

This morning after a hearty breakfast, we will start our way towards and through the Darkhad Depression. This amazing ecologically unique location is rich with hundreds of freshwater lakes and rivers. We ride through the Siberian Taiga, the forested area of Mongolia. Tented camping /B,L,D/

Day-6 JARAAHAI RIVER – SHARGA RIVER VALLEY

On this day we will continue our journey riding through the Darkhad depression with countless mountains and flower valleys as our horse riding scenery. We will set our camp near the Sharga river valley for the night.

Night horse riding can only be done if conditions are met and interest warrants. Night riding is an interesting aspect of horse riding as we can ride horses under the billions of stars of the sky! Tented camping /B,L,D/

Day-7 SHARGA RIVER VALLEY – HOGOROG RIVER VALLEY

Continuing through the beautiful Darkhad depression this day we will visit a nomadic family with livestock in Hogorog River Valley. Be a part of the locals’ culture. For the night, we will be staying in Ger – a Mongolian traditional dwelling, built by the local family. Ger stay /B,L,D/

Day-8 KHOGOROG RIVER VALLEY – EAST TAIGA / REINDEER TRIBE CAMP

Our day starts early, riding towards Taiga, the region where part of the Tsaachin or Reindeer communities lives. You will be introduced to the amazing world of the reindeer-herding people, talking with the local people and understanding their local culture and how they have managed to maintain such a traditional way of life for so long.

Spend this day staying amongst the Tsaachin people and experience their everyday life. Learn of their unique traditions such as milking reindeer and processing milk products like cheese. Tee-pee /B,L,D/

Day-9 EAST TAIGA / REINDEER TRIBE CAMP – HOGOROG RIVER VALLEY

After saying our farewell to the tribe people, we start our journey back to the Hogorog river valley while taking in the beauty of the larch forest and wildflower patches. We continue our riding journey farther to Dood Tsenher Lake and set out our camp for the night. Tented camping /B,L,D/

Day-10 DOOD TSENHER LAKE – TSAGAAN NUUR TOWN

This morning we’ll ride to see the ancient petroglyphs found in this region. Picnic lunch near a channel connecting two big lakes, one of which is Dood Lake, the other Deed Lake. We then continue our ride to Tsagaan Nuur town, the northern-most town of Mongolia. Tented camping /B,L,D/

Day-11 TSAGAAN NUUR TOWN – HOGIIN RIVER

After breakfast we ride along the mountains, passing through a rich valley of animals including sheep and goats, yaks, cows, and horses.
After a picnic lunch, we continue riding to Hogiin River valley near which we set out our camping for the night. Tented camping /B,L,D/

Day-12 HOGIIN RIVER – BAYAN MOUNTAIN

Today we’ll ride out and head into the mountains that overlook the lake. We make our way slowly to the top of the pass while enjoying the incredible views. We then ride to the canyon of Ar Bosgot or heaven door as locals call it. Arriving at our camp, we’ll say goodbye to our trusted horses. Tented camping /B,L,D/

Day-13 BAYAN MOUNTAIN – MURUN TOWN

Today, we start our drive via two passes to Murun town after breakfast. From the two passes, we will stop at one, where at the 13 Ovoo or the shamanic offering place we can offer some rice or milk for a good journey back. Driving further we return to Murun town and stay at a local hotel overnight. Local hotel /B,L,D/

Day-14 MURUN TOWN – ULAANBAATAR

Early start with breakfast and drive to Murun town to take an internal flight to Ulaanbaatar. We transfer to the hotel and free afternoon with some souvenir shopping and more. With a farewell dinner, we conclude our horse riding journey through Mongolia. Hotel /B,L,D/

Day-15 INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE

We will transfer you to your international departure.

HORSE RIDING MONGOLIA TOUR GALLERY

what's included

inclusions

Tented Camping dining tent

exclusions

Tented Camping dining tent

Tour reviews and testimonials

Agnes
5/5
Private Group Spiritual Shaman Tour
Best company ever! Planning a trip to Mongolia? Then I advise you to contact Nomadic Trails, a company who takes care of you from arriving till leaving Ulaanbaatar.

Very professional guiding in what you ever could want. Horse driving, driving trough landscapes, hiking, … it is organised on the most comfortable way as possible.

A Trip with Tulga is more than amazing. He knows every corner of his country and loves to share every aspect of it. He has a large contact list and is very welcome in every community. And wherever you put your tent, you will be astonished of the beauty of the scenery.

With Nomadic Trails it is easy going travelling because they take care of everything you ever could need on your trip.

So planning a trip to Mongolia? Don’t forget to contact Nomadic Trails. They will propose an itinirary on your level and expectations so it will be a once in a lifetime experience you’ll never forget.

I visited Mongolia 3 times now and planning to go next year again, offcourse with Tulga and his crew.

Bilyana C
5/5
Private Group Spiritual Shaman Tour
Highest level of professionalism! Mongolia surpasses my expectations! We where traveling in a group of women on the Feminine pilgrimage into sacredness of Mongolia.

We had a wonderful guide Tulga fluent in English and looking after every detail as well as arranging unforgettable visits with Mongolian families to horse riding to taiga.
We took a road trip without roads from Ulaanbaatar to the taiga visiting the nomadic people who lives with a reindeers. Amazing sceneries that any photos cannot fully describe! It was amazing! We really got a first hand appreciation of the nomadic way of life and a chance to see incredible Mongolian scenery as well as herds of reindeers, horses, yaks, sheep and goats.
And not only about the drive to the countryside, the culture, the food and the gers, but also about the people we met. During our journey into deep countryside into a wilderness, our guides the Nomadic trails team settled beautiful lunch tables on open air, sometimes near to beautiful river, sometimes in a highlands, or woods.
And food was amazing! We felt safe, happy and nourished! They was patient and helpful throughout our trip. I’m so happy and grateful to Nomadic trails for having one of the best journeys in my life!

Bronwyn.R
5/5
Horse riding Tour
We had a fantastic experience! I felt completely safe the whole time, as Nomadic Trails was extremely organised. There was no stress of worrying incidents due to poor organisation, everything was so well thought out.

So we had the perfect balance of being safe, whilst having a extremely exciting adventure in rugged, remote Mongolia.

I highly recommend Nomadic Trails. I was slightly hesitant to go to horse trekking in Mongolia because it is quite remote and could end up being a lousy holiday if you had a badly run tour and poor quality horses. I was recommended Nomadic Trails by a friend who had been on five trips with this company.

The Mongolian culture and people was such a pleasure. I have had several of my own horses over the years, and I have to say none have been as awesome as my Mongolia horse, he had so much personality and was a gun, so much fun to ride! Riding through Mongolia was an experience I will never forget. The country is spectacular and vast, photos and video could never do it justice, you have to see for yourself.

I am hoping to go back on another tour with Nomadic Trials again for sure. Five stars is well deserved for this crew. Definitely choose Nomadic Trails.

Fiona
5/5
Custom Horse Trekking Tour
I love the ethos of nomadic trails and how they support local families. It really adds to the experience. Especially as the horses and horseman were locally sourced. My advice to you? Keep a journal!!

We spent 10 days camping with the horses in western Mongolia with a couple of days in Bayan-Ulgii and Ulanbataar. I have so many amazing memories of this trip.

Tulga, our guide, and our support crew were outstanding and we always felt very safe and well looked after. Our cook was very good. I became especially fond of Tulga and Bolat (our horseman) Tulga is friendly and funny, and Bolat was shy, but oh so cheeky once I got to know him!

We had two novice riders, with myself and another being experienced riders. Our horses were supplied by the first family we met in the Bayan-Ulgii countryside. They were exceptionally well cared for and very well behaved. These mongol horses are incredible and temperaments outstanding. They were very well picked in nature for our traveling members.

I nicknamed my horse Constable Care (Aussie joke) and he definitely lived up to his name. He was very careful and did a great job looking after me. He was so tolerant of me plaiting him up like a show pony, and not a bite or kick in him. The support crew played a joke and did his mane up in the traditional manner the next day we rode out!

My favourite memory of Constable Care was on our last day with the horses. Our novice riders walked behind with Bolat, while Tulga, myself and our other experienced rider galloped back to our first family. After riding to our slowest members, it was great to stretch our legs. Constable Care was amazingly fast.

What a way for a character building adventure! We went after peak tourist season, so the weather was a little more unpredictable, but still quite tolerable. So many fond memories, from 17 sleeping in a family Ger, tasting mares milk in the street of Bayan-ulgii, admiring Bronze Age rock art, watching a late season small town nadaam festival, our horseman singing for us, ice cream and beer on a dry day, museums, haggling for art in chiggis khan square and shopping in UB. All in the increiable landscape of Mongolia and the Altai mountains.

My wind horse was definitely reinvigorated and Mongolia is calling to me. When the time is right I will be contacting Tulga and Nomadic Trails again.

John
5/5
Group Reindeer Herders tour
Tulga designed our itinerary to cover as much quality experiences as we can in 7 days. We had a wonderful time boating at Khovsgol, tent camping in 5* spots – all with superb sunset view, before

hopping on our horses to go to the Tsaatan reindeer tribe, then finally staying at one of the best camps in Murun.
Everything was so well-organized. Noteworthy is Tulga’s relationship with the tribe, which is an important consideration when we were planning this trip as we want to be as respectful as possible to the tribe for them not to feel uneasy during our stay.
Our group was delighted to have raw and authentic Mongolian experience without having to sacrifice comfort – we had delicious food, great accommodation and comfortable transportation all throughout our trip – thanks to the incredible team of Nomadic Trails!

Meridith
5/5
Private Reindeer Herders & Horse riding Tour
Excellent! Nomadic Trails is a top rate outfit. We thoroughly enjoyed our horse trip with Tulga and Naraa. They met our highest

expectations and we went back for another trip the next year. The culture, food, horses and especially the country were wonderful. We highly recommend Nomadic Trails if you want to see real Mongolia.

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS TOUR?

Ulaanbaatar winter Snowing scenery
Ulaanbaatar
Horse riding to Dukha tribe in Northern Mongolia
Dukha Tsaatan Tribe Summer Camp
Murun town of Northern Mongolia
Murun town
frozen Khuvsgul Lake 2022
Khuvsgul Lake
Stunning scenery of Darkhad Depression
Darkhad Depression
Sandra Henri with Nomadic Trails Khogorog river home stay
Khogorog river valley
Reindeer-Summer Mongolian Reindeer Herders tour
Mongolian Taiga

Packing tips, horse riding equipment:

Bring good quality riding boots, rain jackets, riding gloves, and windproof jackets among others. No need to bring a saddle or bridles. Because we provide comfortable western-type saddles, and horses are taken good care of by our horse guide.

You can also bring the following for your own comfort and usage:

  1. Your own helmet (we do offer them in case our travelers do not bring theirs).
  2. Small-sized saddle bag for a water bottle and other accessories.
  3. Saddle pads

There are mosquitoes near rivers or lakes in the evenings in the Northern parts of Mongolia. Therefore, a mosquito spray, which is very effective, is highly advised.

Horse riding and riding time for Horseback Riding Tour Mongolia:

We have successfully organized our horse riding to the Taiga with travelers who have never ridden a horse before. Don’t worry, you will have full detailed instructions from your Tour Leader on how to ride a horse, how to sit on the saddle, hold the reins, and more.
All of our team members are trained in First aid, so we are capable of giving you first aid and taking you to the nearest hospital as quickly as possible. But as the ground is mossy and soft and you follow the instructions from your horse guide, there is a very small chance of you getting injured.

There are of course horse-riding time limits per day. Each day will be a bit different from another, depending on the local weather. A broad estimate for your expectation would be anything from 2-8 hours including breaks and meal stops. There will be activities where we stop at local herdsmen or sightseeing that still counted in as riding hours.

Don’t want to ride a horse but still wish to travel with your group?

A wide variety of choices will be open to you should you choose to pass on horse-riding while your friends or group-mates go horse riding. For example, our destinations allow activities such as fishing, photo shooting, and hiking through the mountains. You only need to contact us.

Tented trip food:

Our professional expedition chef will be preparing both Mongolian and European cuisine for you. Depending on the itinerary of the day for example with lengthy driving, we will also be eating a packed lunch. Please don’t forget to write in our passenger list about your dietary requirements and allergies.
We will be providing you with mineral water, tea, and brewed coffee, but soda and juice will not be provided.

Reindeer related information:

Reindeer produce very little milk, so you cannot purchase it. But not to worry, you can still drink reindeer milk tea made by a local reindeer family. Some families with many reindeer sell cheese, so when you meet such families you can ask them to buy some.

After we ask the owner first, we can also ride a reindeer for a short amount of time.

Domestic local flight:

The baggage allowance for a domestic flight in Mongolia is 15kgs in total: 10kg for check-in luggage and 5kg for hand luggage. For extra luggage, you pay 3000-5000 Tugriks (local currency) per extra kilogram.

Tour guide and Leader:

Certified English-speaking experienced Tour Leaders and Tour guides will be your friend and close partner for the duration of the trip and even after your departure. All Nomadic Trails team members have been trained personally by Nomadic Trails experts and the Mongolian Professional Tour Guide Association.

Related blogs & articles

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Horseback riding tips
Horse riding and packing tips from a travelers perspective. Read about our traveler’s experence with Nomadic Trails.
The Best Reindeer Herder photos
Best Reindeer Herder photos uploaded and shared on social media. View count data was collected from Nomadic Trails official Facebook.
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Top 10 things to do in Mongolia
A list of the top 10 things to do in Mongolia with reasons and their pictures by Nomadic Trails Mongolia.

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