9 Days • 8 Nights
Nomadic Mongolia: Steppe, Gers & Horse Riding
Tour Includes
About the Trip
You'll seek the wild takhi horses of Khustai, ride across the grasslands of Terelj and the central steppe, help herd and milk with a nomad family, learn to put up a ger, and share their food, music and daily rhythm. Wildlife, wide horizons and warm hospitality fill the days.
With comfortable ger camps and a genuine nomad-family stay, expert guides and horses arranged, it is a deep and unforgettable taste of the herding way of life.
Trip Highlights
- The wild Przewalski's horses of Khustai
- Days of horse riding across the open steppe
- A stay with a nomadic herder family
- Helping herd, milk and put up a ger
- Traditional Mongolian food, music and games
- The rock formations and temples of Terelj
- Endless grasslands and starry skies
- Nights in traditional ger camps
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 9-day journey.
Arrive in the capital and settle in, with a welcome dinner of Mongolian flavours.
Drive to Khustai National Park to see the wild takhi horses on the steppe, with a first gentle ride and a ger-camp night.
Journey deeper into the central steppe to a nomadic herder community, settling in and learning the rhythms of herding life.
A full day with the herder family — helping move and milk the animals, learning to put up a ger, riding the steppe and sharing their food, music and games.
Travel to the beautiful Terelj National Park, its granite crags and green valleys, settling into a ger camp.
A full day riding across the Terelj steppe to the Turtle Rock and the hillside Aryabal meditation temple, with a herder visit.
Visit the colossal Chinggis Khaan statue and explore more of Terelj — hiking, riding or simply soaking up the vast landscape.
Drive back to the capital for a final evening, with time for the cashmere shops.
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 central steppe (incl. a nomad-family stay), 3N Terelj, 1N Ulaanbaatar
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner and full board on the steppe
- An Ulaanbaatar orientation and the Khustai wild-horse reserve
- A genuine nomadic herder-family experience
- Guided horse riding across the steppe and in Terelj
- The Chinggis Khaan statue and Terelj National Park
- All riding, park and activity 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.
Do I need to be an experienced rider?
No — Mongolian horses are small, hardy and calm, and rides are matched to your ability with guides alongside. Beginners are welcome, and you can ride as much or as little as you like.
What is staying with a nomad family like?
You sleep in a ger near the family, share their meals and daily life, and take part in herding activities. It is simple and authentic, with basic facilities but unforgettable warmth and hospitality.
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