Classic Mongolia Cycling Tour

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Arrival in Ulaanbaatar and tour briefing at welcome dinner

   Upon arrival at the Mongolian capital you will be transferred to a centrally located hotel. Time permitting you may consider exploring the city center and feel the atmosphere of recent changes towards modernity. Meet with the rest of the group for a  welcome dinner and get an informal introduction to the great cycling tour ahead of you.

   Overnight at the hotel.

   • Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
   • Dinner
2. Day 2Ulaanbaatar city tour

   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 facade 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 enjoyed a show of traditional music, songs and famous throat singing, enjoy a Mongolian dinner.
   

   • Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
3. Day 3Transfer to Arvaikheer town, the starting point of the ride

   Load onto the 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 yurt, is a common sight.

   Around late afternoon, you will arrive at the provincial capital of Arvaikheer and settle in a hotel. If wished, you can explore the town on foot before dinner.

   • 19.3 miles
   • Hotel in Arvaikheer
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
4. Day 4Cycle to Asgat Valley

   A 2-hour car transfer brings you to the foothills of the Khangai mountain range where you can 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 the 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.

   The first tent camp will be established soon after crossing over the day’s highest point at 2450m (8,038ft). On most nights of 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.

   • 19.3 miles
   • 1,102.4 ft
     1,781.5 ft
     679.1 ft
   • Tent camping
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
5. Day 5Bike to Shargaljuut Valley

   A series of short climbs followed by swift descents along a route strewn with spectacular rock formations will bring you to today’s tea spot. From there on you will 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 you to Shargaljuut mineral springs of which many of them are boiling hot.

   A massive soviet era health spa dominates the mountain side streaming with hot mineral water famous for its curing qualities and is 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. You can spend some time looking around the place and trying the water temperature.

   Cycle one more hour further along the valley and civilization is completely left behind. Tonight your tents will be erected on a pretty riverside with a few yurts, the tents of herding locals, and their many animals in our sight.

   • 32.3 miles
   • -183.7 ft
     2,286.7 ft
     2,470.5 ft
   • Tent camping
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
6. Day 6Crossing of the Khangai range

   The next three days will be spent crossing Khangai's watershed which separates its southern basin from the northern basin. Relish the vast landscapes on a route that is rarely traveled with hidden corners to explore in the range.

   Each night, campsites will be located in the vicinity of local herders' homes allowing you the opportunity to interact and gain a better understanding of their culture.
   

   
   

   • 25.5 miles
   • 1,072.8 ft
     2,903.5 ft
     1,830.7 ft
   • Tent camping
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
7. Day 7Crossing of the Khangai range

   On the second day of your Khangai range crossing, expect to see more breathtaking landscapes dotted with local herders and their immense flock of animals.

   A pleasant surprise awaits each day as the views are always one of a kind but always gorgeous. At times the ascent can be quite challenging but you will be rewarded with panoramic views at the top and then followed by a spectacular downhill ride.
   

   • 25.5 miles
   • -210 ft
     2,424.5 ft
     2,634.5 ft
   • Tent camping
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
8. Day 8Crossing the Khangai range

   On your final day of crossing the Khangai range, the incredible views just keep on making the cycling better with every pedal. By now you would have learnt so much from local herders and their way of life as campsites are always near their homes.

   Enjoy the beauty of the Khangai range as you pedal leisurely in its unspoiled beauty.
   

   • 23.6 miles
   • -593.8 ft
     469.2 ft
     1,063 ft
   • Tent camping
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
9. Day 9Cycle to Tsetserleg town

   Having made it to the northern side of the Khangai, cycle to Tsetserleg town, a pretty provincial capital located in the shelter of a spectacular granite ridge. A short but steep pass is followed by an overall fast day on excellent packed surfaces. The last climb finally opens to an interesting view of traditional residential districts, geometrically aligned and with a lot of bright rooftops.

   You will have ample time for exploring the town including its busy market where local people sell pine nuts, various wild berries and other natural produce of the Khangai region. In just half an hour’s pedaling, settle in a traditional style guest accommodation with relative comforts of a conventional hotel such as running water, showers and bathrooms. For a guest room you will be allocated a real Mongolian yurt.
   
   

   • 41.6 - 41 miles
   • -1,125.3 ft
     1,807.7 ft
     2,933.1 ft
   • Yurt Camp
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
10. Day 10Ride to Tsenkher hot springs resort

    It will be a half day of riding to negotiate 3 short but steep passes which will bring you to Tsenkher, a lush wooded valley, famous for its mineral hot spring. Although somewhat crowded with both local and foreign travelers during the short summer season, it will certainly feel good to soothe your muscles in a hot pool. A relaxing massage and laundry service is available too.

    Another night will be spent in traditional Mongolian tents.

    • 15.5 miles
    • 400.3 ft
      1,453.4 ft
      1,053.1 ft
    • Yurt camp
    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
11. Day 11Cycle to Orkhon River Valley

    Another fast day on great soils to reach Orkhon River Valley that's littered with sponge like volcanic rock. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it contains hundreds of ancient burial mounds that dot the landscape.

    The night will be spent in camps that have been set up beside the river where you can take a dip in its cool waters before dinner.

    • 47.8 miles
    • -298.6 ft
      3,510.5 ft
      3,809.1 ft
    • Tent camping
    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
12. Day 12Cycle to Karakorum - medieval capital of Genghis Khan

    Cycle downstream along the Orkhon River and lose altitude throughout the day. Your destination is the town of Karakorum - site of the Mongol Empire capital in the 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 the late 14th century.

    Today the main attraction here is the monastery museum of Erdene Zuu which was established in rhe 16th century by a Mongol khan as part of the introduction of Buddhism as the main religion. The monastery then suffered almost a complete destruction during the anti-religion campaign of the 1930s with just a dozen temples surviving till present. You can visit the monastery and the local museum for a glance at a few surviving artifacts of the old capital before heading to a yurt camp to celebrate the ride.

    • 44.7 miles
    • -689 ft
      1,679.8 ft
      2,368.8 ft
    • Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
13. Day 13Return to Ulaanbaatar and farewell dinner

    Load the bikes and be transferred back to Ulaanbaatar. Along the way there will be a stop at a scenic location where you can enjoy a picnic lunch. Upon arriving at the hotel, settle in and prepare for a farewell dinner in the evening.
    

    • Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
14. Day 14Departure

    After breakfast you will be transferred to Chinggis Khan International Airport for your onward travels.
    

    • Breakfast