CLASSIC MONGOLIA CYCLING TOUR

Arriving in Ulaanbaatar, you will be transferred to the group hotel. Time permitting you may have a chance to familiarize with the city center and feel the atmosphere of recent changes towards modernity. Meet with the rest of the group at welcome dinner and get an informal introduction to the great cycling tour ahead of you. Overnight at the group hotel. (dinner, hotel)

The introductory city excursion starts with a visit to the country’s main Buddhist monastery. The awe-inspiring gigantic gold-plated Buddha statue is the principal object of worship. You will also observe local believers busy with various worship rituals and generally praying, many of them wearing colorful traditional overcoats. Then visit the central square adjacent to the parliament building with a façade adorned by marble statues of Genghis khan and his successors. Rightfully, the city’s signature photo point, it is always busy with newlyweds, reunification parties and public in general. Consider hearing an overview of Mongolia’s history from stone age period to modern era at the National Museum and seeing a few but remarkably important dinosaur fossils such as intact nests containing eggs, carnivores fighting herbivores and embryos still in the eggshell in the Paleontology Museum of Mongolia. A panoramic view of Ulaanbaatar from an elevated hill on the city’s edge gives an idea of its size and topography. Finally, having watched a show of traditional music, songs and famous throat singing, enjoy a Mongolian dinner. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, hotel)

We load in 4WD expedition vans which have special racks for carrying bikes and drive west of UB on rough tarmac across vast open steppes with rolling hills in the background. Countless flocks of grazing sheep, goats, horses and cattle herded by nomads and their traditional homes, known as ger, is a common sight. Around late afternoon we arrive to a provincial capital and settle in a hotel. If wished, you can explore the town on foot before dinner. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, hotel)

2 hour car transfer brings us to foothills of the Khangai mountain range where we start riding after a snack break. It is an acclimatization day with a gradual climbing angle across grassy valleys fed by small streams that flow to arid plains of the Gobi desert a glimpse of which you can get, looking back. A few homes of nomadic herders and their enormous herds will come in to your view this afternoon. Always curious about bike travelers, they may abandon their daily chores and come to greet and wave you. We establish our first tent camp soon after crossing over the day’s highest point at 2450m. On most of the nights on this trip you will sleep in a comfortable tent camp erected every afternoon upon finishing the day’s biking. It provides all amenities of a good wilderness camp including tents designated for dining, showering and bathrooms, not to mention great meals cooked by a chef. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent) (40km)

Throughout the most of the day we gradually gain altitude on well established car tracks cut in and around mountain sides that provide a high angle views of a lush river valley teeming with yaks and horses. The great scenery compensates for some rocky sections of the road which eventually brings us to Shargaljuut mineral springs many of them boiling hot. A massive soviet era health spa dominates the mountain side gushing with hot mineral water famous for its curing qualities and widely used in traditional Mongolian medicine. Summer is a busy time here with lots local people spending a week or two getting rid off their ailments. We spend some time looking around the place and trying the water temperature. One more hour of pedaling further along the valley and civilization is completely left behind. We erect our tents on a pretty riverside with a few gers, the tents of herding locals, and their many animals in our sight. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent) (40km)

During these 3 days we cross the Khangai’s watershed that separates its southern basin from the northern basin. The whole route follows the least travelled and hidden corners of the range. It’s truly delightful to see beautiful landscapes change every single day. Each ascent, at times quite challenging, brings you to a panoramic highpoint which is then followed by a breathtaking downhill. The road is then usually replaced by a level portion where you pedal leisurely and absorb the appeasing beauty of the virgin nature. Local herders and their immense flocks of animals will be your only and silent spectators. Invariably, our campsites are located in the vicinity of their homes allowing you opportunity for more interaction and cultural experience. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent) (44km, 42km, 38km)

Having made it to the northern side of the Khangai we bike to Tsenkher hot springs. A series of short but steep passes with excellent descents on hard-packed surfaces will bring you to the valley of Tsenkher river, famous for its hot spring baths. Upon reaching it take a bath or shower in the hot spring water. You may as well take a relaxing body massage at a small additional fee. Tonight you will have an overnight in a traditional Mongolian felt tent known as ger. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, ger camp) (90km)

Another fast day on great soils to reach Orkhon river valley littered with sponge like volcanic rock. As a UNESCO historic heritage site contains many hundreds of ancient burial mounds that dot the landscape. We set up tented camp right beside the river and take a dip in its cool waters before dinner is ready. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent) (76km)

We cycle downstream along the Orkhon river and loose altitude throughout the day. Our destination is town of Karakorum – the site of the Mongol Empire capital in 1200s. Largely an experiment of city building by nomadic people, Karakorum never became a fully functional capital before it was destroyed by invading Chinese armies in late 14th century. Today the main attraction here is the monastery museum of Erdene Zuu established in 16th century by a Mongol khan as part of introduction of Buddhism as the main religion. The monastery then suffered almost a complete destruction during the anti-religion campaign of 1930-ies with just a dozen of temples surviving till present. We visit the monastery and the local museum to take a glance at a few surviving artifacts of the old capital before heading to a ger camp to celebrate our ride. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, ger camp) (72km)

We load bikes and drive to Ulaanbaatar stopping for a picnic lunch at some scenic spot along the way. Upon arriving settle in your hotel and meet at a good-bye dinner. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, ger camp)

Transfer for your return travel home. (Breakfast)