12 Days 11 Nights Naiman Nuur Horse Trek in Mongolia

Highlights:

Erdenezuu Monastery, Orkhon Waterfall, the Naiman Nuur and Tuvkhun Monastery

 Lengths: 11 nights/12 days

Adventure level: Medium Total driving km: 1500km

Transportation: Drive, horse & yak riding and trekking

Season: June 15 – September 1

Day 1: Ulaanbaatar City

Accommodation: Bayangol Hotel Meals: Lunch/Dinner

Upon arrival at Chinggis Khaan International Airport, our tour team will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. Due to traffic conditions, reaching your hotel may take between 2 to 3 hours. Depending on your arrival time, we will tailor today’s city tour to include the National History Museum and Sukhbaatar Square. In the late afternoon, we will visit a local family in Ulaanbaatar to experience felt art. This visit will allow us to create our souvenirs from sheep’s wool. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Kharkhorin via Bayangobi

Accommodation: Urguu camp Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Distance: 380 km/ 6 hours driving

Drive to Bayangobi, a unique combination of dunes, grassland and mountains. We will enjoy taking photographs and have lunch in the ger camp. Continue driving to Kharkhorin, the capital city of the Mongol Empire from 1235 to 1260. At the heart of Kharkhorin lies the Erdene Zuu Monastery, one of Mongolia's most significant spiritual and cultural sites. We will visit the Erdene Zuu Monastery and the Kharkhorin Museum. Overnight in a Ger Camp.

Day 3: Baga Khurkhree in Orkhon Valley  

Accommodation: Tented night Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Distance: 180 km/ 5 hours of driving/2 hours of horse trek

We will drive to Orkhon Waterfall, located in the Orkhon River. This stunning waterfall welcomes visitors with its natural beauty. Situated within the UNESCO-listed Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape, the area is steeped in history and surrounded by pristine nature and local nomadic traditions. Here, we will take time to explore the surroundings, enjoy scenic hikes, and capture stunning photographs before embarking on our horse trek to Baga Khurkhree. Overnight in a tent.

Day 4: Buureg Pass

Accommodation: Tented night Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Distance: 80 km/ 2 hours driving/3-4 hours of horse trek

We will continue our trek through the mountains of the Khangai Range, passing through breathtaking canyons shaped by ancient earthquakes. The journey to the Naiman Nuur Lake area will be a bit challenging, but rewarding. Located at 2,200 meters above sea level, these eight lakes are surrounded by high mountains draped in lush larch forests. We will camp overnight near Buureg Pass.

Day 5: Khuis Lake

Accommodation: Tented night Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Distance: 4-5 hours of horse trek

Today, we will trek to Khuis Lake, a remote area, where you can enjoy yourself in nature. The trekking distance will be approximately 15–18 km. Along the way, we will pass extinct volcanic craters, creating a dramatic landscape. After lunch, we will continue trekking to Bayan and Duruu lakes, visiting a local nomadic family for an authentic cultural experience, such as chopping wood by saw. We will camp overnight near Khuis Lake, with an optional evening hike for those who wish to explore further.

Day 6: Khuis Lake Accommodation: Tented night Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Distance: 4-5 hours of horse trek

We will be hiking through forests and grassland. On the way, we will hike through a few small lakes such as Haya, Shanaa, Bugat, Khuis, and Shireet. The Shireet Lake is a fresh water lake and is the biggest in the area. Settle our tented camp on the long stretching island of the lake. We can go fishing and swimming in the lake. Overnight in tent. Optional hiking in the evening.

Day 7: Buureg pass Accommodation: Tented night Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Distance: 3-4 hours of horse trek.

We will continue our hike to Buureg Pass, located in the Khangai Mountain range. Along the way, we’ll take in breathtaking panoramic views and enjoy unique wildlife amid vibrant alpine flowers. In late afternoon, we’ll set up camp near the Shurankhai Rock, where we’ll spend a night in a tent.

Day 8: Baga Khurkhree in Orkhon Valley Accommodation: Tented night Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Distance: 80 km/ 2 hours driving/3-4 hours of horse trek

Today, we will continue hiking to Orkhon Waterfalls where we will meet our drivers and vehicles again. Overnight in tent near the waterfall.

Day 9: Tuvkhun Monastery

Accommodation: Talbiun camp Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Distance: 120 km/ 4 hours driving

After breakfast, we will drive to Tuvkhun Monastery, founded in 1651 by the first Bogd Gegeen Zanabazar as a place for meditation. It was here that he created some of his most renowned works of art. Perched at an altitude of over 2,000 metres, the monastery is enveloped by mountain larch forests. Behind the temple lies a sacred cave known as the "Mother’s Cave." We shall spend the night in a ger camp.

Day 10: Bayangobi

Accommodation: Burd Star camp Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Distance: 260 km/ 5-6 hours driving

After breakfast, we will drive to Bayangobi, a unique destination featuring diverse natural landscapes, including Gobi dunes, forests, and the rugged Rocky Mountains. Here, we will have the opportunity to hike in the small dunes and experience a camel ride. In the afternoon, we will visit Erdene Khambyn Khuree, a historic monastery located in the majestic Khugnu Khaan Mountains, about 20 km from our ger camp. We will then stop by a nearby lake for birdwatching before returning to the ger camp for an overnight stay.

Day 11: Ulaanbaatar City

Accommodation: Bayangol Hotel Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Distance: 280 km/ 4-5 hours driving

Today we will return to Ulaanbaatar. An optional shopping after lunch. An evening cultural performance followed by a farewell dinner and a calligraphy session. We will spend the night at the hotel.

Day 12: International departures.

Package price:

3–5 pax: $3696
6–9 pax: $3311
10–15 pax: $2941
16+ pax: $2772

The package includes:

 Transfer to/from 4-star hotel

 3 meals a day during the trip

 English speaking guide

 Transportation in the countryside

 Accommodation at Mongolian 4-bedded ger camps  Sightseeing as per itinerary

 Entrance fees to the museum and the National Park  Camping

Single supplements:

 Single room in hotel - $40 extra per person per night  One bed use in a ger camp - $30 per person per night Necessary equipment to bring:

- Good hiking, 2 pairs of shoes

- Riding boots /waterproof/

- Helmet

- Chaps

- Headlight

- Water bottle - Hiking stick

- Hiking socks

- Long pants /waterproof/

- Jacket /waterproof/

- Hat /waterproof/

- Sunglasses

- Sleeping bag

- Cap and hats

- Gloves

- Sunscreen

- Lip protection balm

- Windbreaker

- Rain jacket

- Backpack

- Binoculars /small/

- Power bank

Important notes:

 Evening hiking is suggested in Naiman Nuur Area

 Please advise clients to bring as little luggage as possible. The group will have yaks for all luggage, including the kitchen equipment.

 Please inform clients to bring their power banks as there is no possibility to charge electronic devices during the tented nights.

 Mobile shower is provided during the trekking days. However, it might be quite cold if it rains.

 Small tipping is expected for the local horse and yak guide.