Itinerary
- Day 1
Ulaanbaatar to Kharkhorin
Your hotel pickup gets you started early, then you'll head out to Elsen Tasarkhai where an 80 km expanse of sand dunes stretches across forested steppe. You'll trek along the dunes before moving on to Kharkhorin, Mongolia's ancient capital, to visit the country's oldest monastery. That night you're staying in a local family's guest ger, so you'll get a real sense of how people live out here.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek along Elsen Tasarkhai dunes
- Visit Kharkhorin Monastery
Landmarks/POIs Elsen Tasarkhai Kharkhorin Monastery - Day 2
Kharkhorin to Orkhon Valley
An early departure takes you to Ulaan Tsutgalan waterfall in the Orkhon Valley, a 20-meter cascade that's pretty impressive. You'll meet your horse guides and get mounted up, then start riding from the waterfall into Buureg valley at the foot of the Bayan mountains. You'll settle into another guest ger for the night with a local family.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Ulaan Tsutgalan waterfall
- Horseback riding from Orkhon waterfall to Buureg valley
Landmarks/POIs Ulaan Tsutgalan Orkhon Valley Buureg Valley Bayan Mountains - Day 3
Buureg Valley to Duruu Lake
After breakfast, you're heading out on horseback to Duruu Lake, the first of the Eight Lakes, which has this distinctive saddle-stirrup shape. On the way you'll pass White Horse Lake and Bayan Lake. By evening you'll be camping in a tent right at Duruu Lake, so bring your camera for the landscape around you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Horseback ride to Duruu Lake
- See White Horse Lake and Bayan Lake en route
Landmarks/POIs Duruu Lake White Horse Lake Bayan Lake - Day 4
Duruu Lake to Deer Lake
Riding continues after breakfast toward Deer Lake, and you'll pass smaller lakes like Huis, Shana, and Haya along the route. Throughout the day you're crossing small rivers and mountains, so it's a full day of varied terrain. Your tent camp is at Deer Lake for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Horseback ride to Deer Lake
- Pass Huis Lake, Shana Lake, and Haya Lake
Landmarks/POIs Deer Lake Huis Lake Shana Lake Haya Lake - Day 5
Deer Lake to Shireet Lake
Today focuses on getting to Shireet Lake, the largest of the Eight Lakes, and you'll be crossing streams and mountains to get there. You'll also see Khaliut Lake, one of Mongolia's most beautiful lakes, so there's a lot of scenery to take in. You're camping in a tent on the banks of Deer Lake tonight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- All-day horseback ride to Shireet Lake
- See Khaliut Lake
Landmarks/POIs Shireet Lake Khaliut Lake - Day 6
Deer Lake to Buureg Valley
Early morning riding takes you back to Buureg Valley, passing Khuis Lake and Shanage Lake on your way. You'll cross the Bayan Mountains by horseback and stop somewhere along the route for lunch. After you eat, it's more riding to reach the family you'll stay with, finishing the day in a ger.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Horseback ride back to Buureg Valley
- Cross Bayan Mountains on horseback
Landmarks/POIs Khuis Lake Shanage Lake Bayan Mountains - Day 7
Buureg Valley to Elsen Tasarkhai
Morning brings you west to the Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes, and you'll have lunch at a ger camp there. After eating, you trade your horse for a camel and ride through the dunes for an entirely different experience. You'll have free time to explore the dunes on your own in the evening before settling into a ger.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a ger camp), Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive to Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes
- Camel riding through sand dunes
- Free exploration of sand dunes
Landmarks/POIs Elsen Tasarkhai - Day 8
Elsen Tasarkhai to Ulaanbaatar
You start with breakfast and then have some early morning time to explore the sand dunes one last time. After that, you'll leave Elsen Tasarkhai and drive back to your hotel in Ulaanbaatar, bringing your Mongolia adventure to a close.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Early morning exploration of sand dunes
