The frightful hordes of Mongols of the past are what inspired the Dothraki of Game of Thrones. Mongolia has long inspired people. A sparse and inhospitable steppe inhabited by free-loving nomadic tribes. It is a land of eye-watering destitution and beauty. How could this land with such a small population have created the largest contiguous empire in the history of man?
Horseback riding across the great Mongolian steppe is just one of the many reasons why Mongolia should be your next travel destination in Asia.
What To Know About Mongolia
Mongolians have a long history of growing up in the staddle and today around 30% of the population remains nomadic or semi-nomadic. Horse culture remains integral to the Mongolian way of life. Caution to Western tourists with romantic ideals. While horses are seen as pets in the West, they are not in this region, they are work animals and food and are treated as such.
- Size: 604,000 Square Miles or 1,564,000 Square Kilometers
- Population: 3.3 Million (the Worlds Most Sparsely Populated Sovereign Nation)
- Ulaanbaatar: Capital And Largest City (Home To about Half Of the Population)
- Similar Countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tuva (an Autonomous Republic in Russia) Share a Similar Horse Nomadic Culture on The Steppe
- Nomadic Population: Estimated To Be Around 30% of The Population
The season for horse riding in Mongolia is in the summer. Do not go in the winter - Ulaanbaatar is the coldest capital on earth. In the winter it has an average January temperature of -24.5 °C (-12.5 °F).
For anyone visiting Mongolia, horseback riding is a must - to go there and not ride horses would be like going to America and not eat burgers, hotdogs, or drink coffee.
Tip: In This Article, We Are Presenting Tours Listed Online, But It May Be Cheaper And Easier To Inquire In Person While In Mongolia (Things Work Differently in That Part Of the World)
Gorkhi Terelj National Park Horse Riding - 10-Day Expedition
One horse riding trip of a lifetime is riding through the Gorkhi Terelj National Park. There is everything from unscheduled and customized treks to one-day trail rides to 10-day expeditions.
The Gorkhi Terelj National Park is a wonderland of wide-open valleys and rolling hills. It has trails along rivers and over forested passes. It is a taste of the great Asian Steppe.
- Stay: In Yurts (Large Nomadic Tents) Also Called Mongolian Ger
This ten-day tour has 8 days of actual horse riding with the other two getting to and from Ulaanbaatar. The price includes everything.
- Includes: Ground Transportation, Hotel Accommodation, Permits, All Camping Equipment, Horse Gear, Etc.
- Size: Small Groups Only - 6 Guests per Expedition
- Language: Includes English Speaking Guides
- Price: $3,200
12-Day Gobi Steppe Ride
Heard of the mighty Gobi desert? It is in Mongolia and is another sparse, harsh, and stunning environment to explore. This 12 day Gobi Steppe Ride is a well-designed trek and travelers will live with the horses and camel carts in the great outdoors. This is a taste of nomadic life.
The vast openness and nothingness are hard to find in America - except for perhaps places like the Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska (the least visited national park in the United States with no road access).
- Duration: 12 Days and 11 Nights
- Riding Time: 9 Days Riding, 5 Hours A Day
- Group Size: 2 - 10 Persons
- Price: Starting At: $2,400 Per Person
18-Day Western Mongolia Horse Trekking/Snow leopard Tour
Want to go horse trekking and see a rare and shy snow leopard? Consider the epic 18-day Western Mongolian Horse Trekking and Snow Leopard Tour.
Basically, all of Mongolia is the definition of remote, but Western Mongolia is most of this remote nation where everything is remote. It is also the most ethnically diverse, mountainous, and arguably the most scenic region of Mongolia. The region is home to the Altai Mountain Range with the highest peaks in Mongolia and Lake Uvs - a large saltwater lake.
It is a region home to many animals including snow leopards, the Govi Bear, ibex, antelope, golden eagles, wolves, falcons, and many more. The full 18-day Western Mongolia Horse Trekking and Snow Leopard tour can be seen here.
- Included: Camping And Horse Trekking Equipment
- Note: This Is A True Adventure Expedition Into the Mongolian Wilderness
- Price: Inquiries At info@horsetrailsmongolia.com
Snow Leopards: Snow Leopards Are Endangered And One Of The Most Difficult To See, There are Over 30 Snow Leopards Believed To Live Here but Spottings Are Not Guaranteed
Horseback riding in Mongolia is the trip of a lifetime. It is an experience that can also be had in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, one of the best tour organizers is Central Asian Guide for all tours of this undiscovered region.