8 Days • 7 Nights
Central Mongolia: Karakorum & the Orkhon Valley
Tour Includes
About the Trip
You'll visit Kharkhorin, site of Chinggis Khaan's legendary capital Karakorum and the great Erdene Zuu Monastery, seek the world's last truly wild horses in Khustai National Park, and journey into the UNESCO Orkhon Valley with its waterfall, hot springs and nomadic herders. Ger camps, horse riding and steppe skies fill the days.
With comfortable ger camps, private guides and a 4WD, it is a deep, authentic immersion in nomadic Mongolia.
Trip Highlights
- Khustai National Park and the wild Przewalski's horses
- Kharkhorin, site of the ancient capital of Karakorum
- The great Erdene Zuu Monastery
- The UNESCO Orkhon Valley and its waterfall
- Nomadic herder families and their gers
- Horse riding across the steppe
- Volcanic scenery and hot springs
- Nights in traditional ger camps
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 8-day journey.
Arrive in the capital and settle in, with a welcome dinner of Mongolian flavours.
Drive to Khustai National Park to see the takhi (Przewalski's horse), the world's last truly wild horse, reintroduced to the steppe, staying in a nearby ger camp.
Journey west across the steppe to Kharkhorin, site of Chinggis Khaan's legendary capital of Karakorum, settling into a ger camp.
Explore the great Erdene Zuu Monastery, Mongolia's oldest, built from the ruins of Karakorum, and the museum and monuments of the ancient imperial capital.
Travel into the UNESCO Orkhon Valley, a sacred landscape of grassland, volcanic rock and nomadic herders, settling into a ger camp by the river.
Explore the Orkhon waterfall and the valley on horseback, visiting nomad families, sharing airag (fermented mare's milk) and learning about herding life.
The long, scenic drive back across the steppe to the capital for a final evening.
A final breakfast before your transfer to the airport.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- Private airport transfers and a private guide and 4WD driver throughout
- 1N Ulaanbaatar, 1N Khustai, 2N Kharkhorin, 2N Orkhon Valley, 1N Ulaanbaatar
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner and full board at all ger camps
- An Ulaanbaatar orientation and the Khustai wild-horse reserve
- Kharkhorin, the Karakorum site and Erdene Zuu Monastery
- The Orkhon Valley, its waterfall and nomadic culture
- Horse riding and nomad family visits
- All park and site fees per the itinerary
Exclusions
- International airfare to and from Mongolia
- Any visa fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (essential, with evacuation cover)
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional activities and horse riding where not stated
- Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa: Many nationalities can now visit Mongolia visa-free for up to 30 days; others need an eVisa or visa in advance. Your passport should be valid at least six months — we can advise
- Currency: The currency is the Mongolian Tugrik. Cards work in Ulaanbaatar, but the countryside is a cash economy with almost no ATMs, so carry enough cash for the whole trip beyond the capital
- Best season: Mongolia is a summer destination — June to September brings warm days and green steppe. The famous Naadam festival is in mid-July; winters are extremely cold and most camps close
- Ger camp life: You stay in traditional felt gers (yurts) with beds and a wood stove. They are comfortable but simple, with shared or private bathroom blocks; bring layers, a headlamp and a sense of adventure
- Long distances: Mongolia is vast and roads are often rough tracks, so expect long, scenic overland drives, with domestic flights for the Gobi and the far west, all arranged for you
- Big temperature swings: Even in summer, days can be warm and nights cold, so pack warm layers, a windproof jacket, sturdy shoes, sunscreen and sunglasses
- Nomadic etiquette: When visiting a nomad family's ger, enter with your left foot, never step on the threshold, accept offered food or drink with your right hand, and move clockwise inside
- Connectivity: Mobile signal is limited or absent outside Ulaanbaatar and the main towns — embrace the digital detox and the vast, silent landscapes
- Health: Drink bottled or boiled water, and note that facilities are basic in remote areas. Comprehensive travel insurance with evacuation cover is essential
- Power: Ger camps often have limited, generator or solar electricity for a few hours a day, so bring a power bank and a universal adapter (Mongolia uses type C/E plugs at 220V)
Frequently Asked Questions
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included throughout, with full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) at the remote ger camps where there are no restaurants, plus a welcome dinner in Ulaanbaatar. It is hearty, home-style cooking.
Are transfers and touring private?
Yes — you travel with your own guide and a 4WD driver across the countryside, with domestic flights for the Gobi and far west, all arranged for you.
Do I need a visa for Mongolia?
Many nationalities now visit visa-free for up to 30 days; others need an eVisa or visa in advance. We confirm the requirements for your passport before you travel.
When is the best time to visit?
June to September is the season — warm days, green steppe and open camps. The Naadam festival falls in mid-July, and the Golden Eagle Festival in early October. Winters are extremely cold.
What is a ger camp like?
A cluster of traditional felt tents (gers) with real beds, rugs and a wood stove, plus a central dining ger and a shared or private bathroom block. Comfortable and atmospheric, if simple — a magical way to sleep on the steppe.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. Durations, regions, camps and experiences can all be tailored, and we can add the Naadam festival, eagle hunters, Lake Khovsgol or a luxury camp. Just tell us what you have in mind.
How much driving is involved?
Mongolia is huge with few paved roads, so expect long, scenic 4WD journeys across the steppe and desert, broken by stops. Domestic flights cover the longest legs to the Gobi and the west.
What are Przewalski's horses?
The takhi, or Przewalski's horse, is the world's only truly wild horse, never domesticated. Once extinct in the wild, it has been successfully reintroduced to Khustai National Park, where you can see herds on the steppe.
What was Karakorum?
Karakorum was the capital of the Mongol Empire under Chinggis Khaan's successors in the 13th century. Little remains today, but the great Erdene Zuu Monastery was built from its stones, and the site is deeply evocative.
More Adventure Journeys
Adventure
Customizable
El Salvador Highlights: Volcanoes, Flowers & Surf
El Salvador Highlights: Volcanoes, Flowers & Surf
El Salvador
Adventure
Customizable
El Salvador Short Escape: Volcanoes & Surf
El Salvador Short Escape: Volcanoes & Surf
El Salvador
Adventure
Customizable
Grand El Salvador: The Complete Country
Grand El Salvador: The Complete Country
El Salvador