Journey 17 days into the far west of Mongolia, where snow-capped peaks meet the Chinese border and roads vanish into silence. For 12 days on horseback, you’ll cross alpine meadows, hidden valleys, and high passes once traveled only by herders and hunters. Share fires with Kazakh nomads, sleep under endless stars, and take part in a mini Eagle Festival that few travelers ever witness.
It’s a slow-motion adventure into a hidden world.
This ride is for those who crave distance — not just from roads and cities, but from routine.
Ride is adaptable for riders of all abilities, from beginners to advanced. However, participants must be able to mount and dismount unaided. The horses here are mountain-bred and steady, and the pace is thoughtful. But you do need to be fit, open-minded, and comfortable with discomfort — cold mornings, basic camping, sudden weather changes, and unfamiliar ways of life.
If you’re looking for polished luxury or a tight schedule, this isn’t your ride.
But if you want to feel remote, raw, and truly connected — to the land, the people, and your horse — then this journey will stay with you long after you’ve left the mountains behind.
Unseen Mongolia:
You’ll ride in a part of Mongolia that few outsiders ever reach — a border zone so remote it requires special permission. There are no roads where you’re going. No crowds. Just mountains, game trails, and a sense that you’ve stepped out of time.
True Nomadic Hospitality:
This isn’t a performance for tourists. You’ll meet Kazakh families who still live by horse and herding. You’ll be welcomed into their lives with warmth, tea, and stories. Many are friends of your guides — not staff, but neighbors.
Eagle Culture — Up Close:
Rather than watching from the sidelines, you’ll take part in a mini version of Mongolia’s Eagle Festival. See how young eagles are raised, meet the hunters, and join playful horseback games that celebrate skill and tradition.
Ride How You Feel:
The terrain calls for calm, careful riding in the high country — but when the valleys open, you’ll have space to let your horse run. No fences. No lines. Just trust and the wind.
A Journey That Stays With You:
This tour isn’t built around bucket lists. It’s built around quiet, shared, wild moments – that shift how you see the world. The kind of journey that leaves you just a little different.
Ulaanbaatar
In Ulaanbaatar (2 nights):
Private room provided whenever possible
If additional nights are needed, recommendations and arrangements can be offered
Outside of Ulaanbaatar:
Mostly in private hiking tents (no single supplement required)
Other types of accommodation may be used where appropriate, depending on the itinerary and region
The exact route taken will be weather dependent (for example snow can block the mountain passes). Also we explore new trails with the right group of riders. This Trip Plan is an example of the route we may take. Think of the trek as non-itinerised.
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar. We meet you at the airport/train station and take you to your hotel. You are free to explore this fascinating city before we gather for an evening meal and meet your fellow riders.
Fly to Ulgii, the main town of Bayan-Ulgii aimag (province). From here we drive south to reach the edge of Altai Tavan Bogd National Park (4hrs), and meet the horses. We start with a safety briefing and pointers about the local riding style, and then begin matching you to your ideal horse. A ride around the local area in the evening will allow you to decide if this is the horse for you.
Set off riding across arid open plains, stopping for lunch with our wrangler Hatran’s family at their summer camp along the way. Camp on the shores of Chigertei Nuur, a lovely freshwater lake.
Climb up to Jalanash Pass, snow-covered for much of the year, and over into a hidden world of alpine meadows, forests and fast flowing streams. Camp near a pair of ancient khun chuluu, or man-stones, from the Bronze Age.
Ride through a military checkpoint and in to the border zone. Keep your passport handy, and your camera lowered. Reach our base camp, beside a fast-flowing mountain stream and nearby forest.
A day ride to explore the local area, following game trails up through dense forest to reach alpine grasslands. The views west in to China are spectacular. Keep a watch for elk and ibex.
To explore further we need to load up the packhorses. Follow horse trails used by the border patrol to head down-river, establishing a second base camp for the next two nights. This is remote and spectacular country – Mongolia has a lot of beautiful places, but there is nothing quite like this. We ride up high again, through lush meadows and forest, following narrow game trails. Horse trekking paradise we like to call it! By Day 9 we return to our first base camp, riding high above the river valley this time.
A rest day for the horses – it’s hard country even for these amazingly tough horses. You may be ready for a rest yourself. Relax and read a book, or go for a hike in search of wildlife.
It’s now time to start making our way back out of the mountains, via a horse-only trail, including one night along the way with the packhorses. Camp above the tree-line, amongst craggy peaks local people call the Eagle’s Nest.
Continue up and over the Pass of Death. It sounds ominous, but that’s just the name we gave it when we first came this way many years ago. A series of steep switchbacks drops you down to the valley below. Even in summer, snow is always a possibility. Camp beside Khunt Nuur (Swan Lake).
Ride down the valley and over to Shar Gobi Gol (Yellow Gobi River), where we first met the horses right back at the start. Keep an eye out for petroglyphs as we ride along – ancient rock carvings depicting wildlife and hunting scenes.
Today we make the most of the wide flat valley to do some fast riding, after all the mountain trails. For those who are keen you will find out just how fast these horses can really go. In the afternoon we have an informal mini-eagle festival and horse games.
A final half-day ride to finish in Altai village, from where we drive back to Ulgii. Stay in a ger camp outside the town.
Depending on the flight time, we may be able to see the sites of Ulgii, including the local market, a women’s craft cooperative, and the provincial museum. Fly back to Ulaanbaatar. Meet in the evening for our final group dinner and a well-earned drink.
We will help with finding any last minute items to take home for friends and family, and if there is time you can see some more of the city. Finally we take you to the airport/train station and say bayartai.
Everything (almost) is included from the time we meet in Ulaanbaatar on Day 1, until we say farewell on Day 17.
What’s not included?