MONGOLIA

Mongolia, the Land of the Khans, a land so intriguing and mystical that our Lead Guide for this tour, Lee, has been there eight times, riding out of the capital Ulaanbataar and into the wild, in all directions…

This tour heads west, as Genghis once did, out along the Tuul river, crisscrossing the vast plains and hills, encountering wild horses and yaks, onwards to the Mini Gobi with its camels and eagles, to finish outside Kharkhorin, a small village at the very centre point of Övörkhangai Province.

We will stay in ger encampments with hot food and showers for 8 days and out under the stars for another 2, cooking and eating by the campfire, bedding down in tents.

The surface for this tour is 100% gravel, fully supported by our Mongolian partners in the coolest old Russian trucks you’ll ever see. A gravel bike or MTB is required.

Most places you go to visit, you experience the place, the environment and its culture. In Mongolia, out on the steppe, cycling along valleys 25km long and 15km wide, up over majestic peaks with not a soul in sight, you quickly realise that something is different here - it’s not you doing the experiencing - rather, it’s you that is being experienced.

Somehow, it gets into you, this place, it envelops you.

The beautiful thing, if that isn’t beautiful enough, is that you then get to take it home with you, your own little slice of wonder…

Please drop us a messsage to get updates on this tour, we will have the full itinerary very soon!

Note: For this tour a MTB or gravel bike is essential, with 40mm plus knobbly tires..

Please note that on all of our tours, we make sure that no one gets left behind, and always have one guide at the front and one at the back. We are all about inclusivity, not exclusivity - this is a collective, after all!

Dates

August 3rd - 12th

Days

Cost

Stages

7

Distance

646km

Daily Average

92km

Elevation

7,500m

10

4300 US

Intermediate / Challenging

Rating

Surface

Group Leaders

2

100% Gravel

Single Supplement

$200

Support

Fully Supported

THE LOWDOWN

  • DAY 1

    ARRIVAL / ULAANBAATAR

    Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, you will be transferred to a 4-star hotel in the center of the city. The rest of the day is allocated for unpacking, assembling bikes, which we then load onto out expedition vehicles — 4WD Russian vans. In the evening we have out Welcome Dinner, and we will you provide an informal introduction to the amazing cycling tour ahead of you!

  • DAY 2

    UB - KHUSTAI MOUNTAINS 86km / 1432m

    A short transfer to the edge of the city brings you to the starting point. We unload the bikes and begin riding toward the Khustai mountain range in the west. Double track hard-packed dirt leads us across gorgeous, gentle hills before descending to a valley by the Tuul River—one of the largest rivers in the country, which eventually flows into Lake Baikal in Russia.

  • DAY 3

    KHUSTAI - TUUL RIVER CAMP 109km / 854m

    Today, we cycle on smooth, packed surfaces with pristine views of rolling hills, interspersed with rugged rock formations that thrust up from the earth. Later, we come across epic wide-open grasslands through which the impressive Tuul river winds its imperious way. From the highest point of the day, at 65km, we enjoy a panoramic view of the boundless steppe before continuing to a yurt camp by the riverside. Located off-grid, the camp is an incredible spot for stargazing. The high altitude and dry air ensure amazing sky clarity, with the darkness lit up by endless stars.

  • DAY 4

    TUUL RIVER - CAMPSITE 69km / 660m

    Tonight we camp out in individual tents under the stars! And where is our campsite? Why, it’s the exact spot that marks the geographical centre of Mongolia. With a campfire to keep us toasty in the evening, we have a special treat of a BBQ, Mongolian style. This has all the makings of an unforgettable day!

  • DAY 5

    CAMP - MINI GOBI GERS 71km / 64m

    We continue cycling westward across the steppe. towards the Mini Gobi Desert - a spectacular expanse of dunes stretching over 100 km across the grasslands. This area is home to an authentic nomadic lifestyle, centered around the five principal types of livestock: horses, cattle, camels, sheep, and goats. Throughout the day, you’ll encounter large herds and many tents of nomadic herders. Tonight, we stay in gers at the base of the dunes.

  • DAY 6

    MINI GOBI - SANGIN DALAI LAKE 125km / 1192m

    The day begins with a 12 km traverse across the dunes - those 45mm low pressure tires are going to come in handy! On the other side of the dunes, once on firm ground, we encounter rugged mountain and gentle hills rolling into a vast, seemingly boundless expanse. Its immensity and pristine beauty is impossible to describe. Once again, you’ll find yourself alone in this wild country, with only the occasional nomadic tent and wild horses on the trail. Tonight, we camp by a vast salt lake at the junction of the Gobi Desert, the Khangai Mountain Range, and the grasslands of central Mongolia.

  • DAY 7

    SANGIN - ORKHON VALLEY 124km / 1448m

    Today, we cross the southern threshold of the Khangai Mountain Range, which covers one-tenth of the country’s territory. A dramatic shift in scenery unfolds—from barren, rocky slopes to wooded hillsides, coniferous forests, and lush pastures. From the highest point of the day, at nearly 2,200 meters, you’ll descend into the Orkhon River Valley. This area is rich in historical significance, home to burial mounds, deer stones and ancient graves. Tonight, we stay in a luxurious eco ger camp.

  • DAY 8

    ORKHON -KARAKORUM 59km / 1310m

    Our final day of cycling. We ride along the Orkhon riverside before climbing into the mountain range that flanks it from the south. Following a high ridgeline, we enjoy spectacular bird’s-eye views of the river valley, with its woods, meadows, and clear streams. Our ride concludes upon reaching the vast open plain where the second son of Genghis Khan built the capital of the Mongol Empire in the early 13th century - Karakorum. The main attraction today (apart from the scenery!) is Erdene Zuu Monastery, one of the first Buddhist monasteries in Mongolia established in the 16th century. Tonight, we celebrate our adventure in comfortable ger camp on the edge of Karakorum.

  • DAY 9

    TRANSFER BACK TO ULAANBATAAR

    We load the bikes and drive back to Ulaanbaatar, stopping for our final picnic lunch at a scenic spot along the way. Upon arrival, settle into your hotel and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. In the evening, we gather for a cultural performance featuring traditional folk music, dance and throat singing. A Farewell Dinner follows, where we celebrate our most awesome cycling adventure!

  • DAY 10

    Transfer day to the airport for your flights back to reality!