Trip Overview
Departures
Coming Soon
Duration
10 Days
Activities
Cultural
Horseback Riding
Physical Rating
Riding Ability: Intermediate–Advanced
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Experience Mongolia by Horseback
On this memorable ride, we travel the sweeping landscapes of Gorkhi Terelj National Park. We cross snaking rivers and follow tracks through open grasslands carpeted with wildflowers, forested slopes and expansive valleys into the dramatic rock formations and granite mountains of Mongolia. This adventure is an out-of-this-world experience for riders seeking a culturally-steeped journey into Mongolia.
Follow in the Hoofprints of the Nomadic Herders
Steeped in History
Stay in remote tented camps, with one night in traditional yurt-like nomadic ger tents. Buddhist shrines, stone cairns and ancient ruins pepper the trail. During this horse trek we’ll experience the nomadic herder lifestyle and witness the seasonal shift of communities and their herds to summer pastures and vital water sources. Our ride will cover some spectacular terrain, intriguing ancient and historical sites and intimate visits with nomadic families to share stories and meals in communal ger tents.
Wonderful trip. Stone Horse is a very professional organization. The owners Sabina and Keith are great hosts. As well, they personally select the horses, make the saddles and the tack, guide and cook on the trips. I have ridden and been involved with horses for 60 years. Their horses and staff are top notch! It was an amazing experience to ride and see first hand all that Mongolia has to offer. I loved it and I would highly recommend Stone Horse for all future horse adventures in Mongolia.”
Carmen G.
Itinerary
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Day 1
Welcome to Mongolia
Get Oriented
From Chinggis Khaan National Airport (UBN), also referred to as New Ulaanbaatar International Airport, we transfer to the Springs Hotel in Ulaanbaatar City. After a refresh and rest or wander, we meet our Wild Women guide for an orientation and group introductions over dinner. The hotel is a walking-friendly distance to the central city square, museums, shops and restaurants. Your Wild Women guide will be able to recommend places and offer support if you need to locate any essential items for the trek.
Included Meals
Dinner
Accommodations
Springs Hotel
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Day 2
Terelj River Valley
Our Trek Begins
After breakfast, we travel by vehicle to the horse trek staging area in the Darkhid Valley, located one and a half hours northeast of Ulaanbaatar City. Here, we meet our horses and re-pack for our horse trek. After lunch, we begin our adventure in this rural area, which leads us to a high pass before entering Gorkhi Terelj National Park and descending into the Terelj River valley. We set up camp near the Terelj River or one of its downstream tributaries, depending on water levels and the pace of the group.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, in a tented camp
The Ride
4 hours in the saddle
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Day 3
The Tuul Valley
Forest Trails, Wildflowers and Open Grasslands
After breakfast, we set out for today’s ride traversing two forested passes and blooming valleys. Our lunch break is in the shade of the forest where the horses can graze and rest with us. In the afternoon, we can travel at a slightly faster pace, trotting down a wide valley. When we reach the Tuul valley, we turn north to make our way to our campsite for the night. Take a rejuvenating dip in the river (brace yourself, it’s chilly!), before enjoying a peaceful riverside dinner together.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, in a tented camp
The Ride
6 hours in the saddle
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Day 4
Ride to Princess Camp
Sleep in a Traditional Ger Tent
Our morning ride takes us through fields of wildflowers before we travel up the wide open valley with the high mountains and plateaus of the Khentii Mountains ahead in the distance. We find our perfect lunch spot among the startling rock formations. Our ride continues through the mesmerizing landscape of undulating hills of grasslands and mighty rock formations of Gorkhi Terelj National Park, up and over the hills to the valley of the Princess Camp. The eco-friendly camp is the only ger camp in this remote area of the national park. If the sun cooperates, solar heaters will permit us to have a hot shower. Dinner is served in the larger communal ger.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Princess Camp, Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
The Ride
6 hours in the saddle
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Day 5
Ride to the Ruins
Visit the Princess Temple
Today, the pack team and riders split up. The packers take the pack horses to tonight’s campsite via a shorter route, while the riders head out to visit the ruins of the Princess Temple. We enjoy a long lunch break at a high point with dazzling rock formations as a backdrop.
After lunch, we cross the valley floor to head up to another lookout and rest spot. Here, we have a panoramic of the landscapes we have traveled over the last few days. Our tented camp is just a short ride away, where tables set up with snacks and drinks await! We can choose between a refreshing cold plunge in the creek or request a camp shower, which will be set up behind a privacy screen at the camp, before enjoying our outdoor dinner with a spectacular view and our horses grazing on the nearby hills.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, in a tented camp
The Ride
6 hours in the saddle
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Day 6
High Ridges Ride
Heading for the Hills
Today we split up again so riders can explore the high ridges east of the Baruun Bayn Gol Valley while the pack team sets up camp near the river. We ascend to the highest ridge for lunch before circling back, traveling down a scenic route back into the valley by late afternoon. We turn south at the memorial monument dedicated to a local park ranger before reaching our tented camp where we’ll spend the next two nights. This site is a favorite with both horses and guests as it’s set back into the shade and shelter of the forest. Surrounded by meadows of wildflowers, verdant forested slopes, rising rock formations and high mountains, this campsite is an easy one to ease into.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, in a tented camp
The Ride
6 hours in the saddle
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Day 7
Two River Valleys
Visiting Nomadic Families
Today is dedicated to visiting local families to learn more about their daily life and nomadic livestock husbandry practices. It’s a short distance from our camp to reach the Tuul River valley, which we follow to the confluence with the Terelj River.
Continuing up the Terelj River valley, we reach our host family and share a hearty, traditional lunch. Depending on their schedule and daily tasks, we might be able to try making milk products or help with other chores. On our way back, we stop at our horseman’s summer home for more snacks and genuine nomad hospitality. We arrive back at our tented camp in the late afternoon and have a light meal (snacks) in the evening.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, in a tented camp
The Ride
6 hours in the saddle
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Day 8
Return to the Terelj
Riding in the Open Valley
Today we have the opportunity to ride at a faster pace (for those who wish), trotting or cantering up a broad valley. There are forested sections and open grasslands with pops of yellow poppies and Mongolian asters as well. In the afternoon, our trek continues over another small pass before we drop down into the big open valley of the Terelj River. After one final break in a stand of cottonwood forest, we travel a short distance to our last shaded campsite near a creek. There’s time to relax and revel in one last trek dinner together.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, in a tented camp
The Ride
6 hours in the saddle
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Day 9
The Darkhid Valley
Easy Rider
Today’s ride takes us into the upper valley of the Terelj River. It’s easy riding along well-established tracks with mostly even terrain and several river crossings. Our last picnic lunch is near the river under the shade of old larch trees before we head up to cross another pass. From the top of this pass, it’s an hour’s ride back to the Darkhid Valley, where revitalizing snacks and drinks are waiting. The horses, after a quick check-up, are set loose down the valley to join the rest of the herd that stayed behind. It’s a wonderful sight to watch them roll around and trot off for their week’s break. Our shuttle back to the city should arrive at the Springs Hotel around 8–9 p.m., in time for one last dinner together.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Springs Hotel
The Ride
6 hours in the saddle
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Day 10
Departure
A Fond Farewell
After breakfast there is a group transfer to Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN). For those who are extending their stay in the city, the hotel staff can assist with arranging local guided tours or offer directions to museums, historic sites and souvenir shops.
Included Meals
Breakfast
Take a Deeper Dive
Want all the details in one handy package? Download the full itinerary here.
What’s Included
- All accommodation, including six nights in tented camps (individual or two women per tent as preferred), one night at the Princess Ger Camp and two nights in a hotel
- Comfortable saddles with safety features: outfitted with padded endurance stirrups and safety cages
- Support team, including the female trip leader, two female Mongolian guides/cooks/camp assistants and three wranglers/packers
- Trekking crew and team (trained for medical issues or emergencies)
- Mongolian and international dishes
- Safe drinking water
- Stress-free airport transfers
Please Note:
Dietary requirements and preferences are considered, so please contact Wild Women Expeditions if you are vegan or have other diet concerns
All applicable taxes are included in the trip price.
Itineraries may be subject to change without notice due to weather and other environmental conditions. Please review our Booking Terms.
Trip Details
Know Before You Go
Click HERE for all of the logistical details you’ll need to know prior to departure—including the packing list, arrival and departure details and suggested tipping information.
This trip starts in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (airport code: UBN), and finishes in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (airport code: UBN).
Day 4 Hike
Today’s 9-mile (15 km) hike is rated moderately difficult due to length and the steep downhill at the beginning (with undulating hills for the remainder). It can be technically challenging in places due to wash-out and loose stones. As noted, a shuttle option is available.
For the alternate hike option, the climb is still challenging and steep with some rocky scrambling, but shorter. Our guide will thoroughly describe both options for those who are concerned but be prepared to sweat! It will be a hot and challenging walk.
The Wild Women Way
If you’re wondering how we roll, it’s together. The Wild Women Way is our modus operandi, our mantra and our rock solid foundation. You can learn more about our Wild Ways HERE.
How We Support You
Ready for a big adventure? We’re in it together. On this trip, we’ll be spending many hours each day in a saddle. We suggest riding regularly for three months before your adventure (Western-style riding lessons would be most appropriate).
Still have questions or concerns? Let’s talk about it.
What the Trip Entails
This is an active multi-day tour on horseback for intermediate riders. You must be comfortable with the following:
- Riding Ability Rating: Intermediate–Advanced (Confident at all paces, on a forward horse, but not necessarily comfortable jumping.)
- Western tack and riding style
- Riding in dramatic landscapes with different terrain
- Eight days in the saddle at a moderate pace
- Camping in the wilderness and contributing to an adventure as a team
- Staying in Ger Camps as the Mongolian nomads have done for centuries
- Enjoy being with horses that command our respect through their strength of character and who give their all to take care of us
- The mighty little Mongolian horses can carry people up to 6”4 tall (1m 95 cm) and up to 210 lbs (95 kg)