Routes
Horse Trekking in the Orkhon and Khangai
Multi-day riding on Mongolian horses, most often in the Orkhon valley and Khangai mountains or in the river country east of Ulaanbaatar. Trips run from a week to a fortnight and mix full riding days with support vehicles carrying the gear, so a tent camp is set up ahead of you. The long Orkhon version threads Ogii Lake, the Khar Balgas ruins, Karakorum, the cliff-top Tuvkhun monastery and the Ulaan Tsutgalan waterfall. Operators sell these as suitable for beginners, but a full riding day on a wooden Mongolian saddle is not a pony ride.
- Typical length
- 7–14 days (Read more: 8)
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Driving per day
- minimal on riding days; the support vehicle handles transfers, with one or two long road days at each end
- Total distance
- Riding stages of roughly 25-30 km per full day; an 8-day trip covers about 100-120 km on horseback, a 14-day Orkhon trek considerably more
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Jan: not a best month
- Feb: not a best month
- Mar: not a best month
- Apr: not a best month
- May: not a best month
- Jun: a best month
- Jul: a best month
- Aug: a best month
- Sep: a best month
- Oct: not a best month
- Nov: not a best month
- Dec: not a best month
Stops: Ulaanbaatar → Gorkhi-Terelj National Park → Ögii Lake → Kharkhorin and Erdene Zuu Monastery → Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape and Ulaan Tsutgalan waterfall → Elsen Tasarkhai (Mongol Els) → Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue, Tsonjin Boldog
Day by day
- Day 1
Ulaanbaatar to the trailhead
Transfer to Terelj National Park or, on the Orkhon version, to Ogii Lake. Ger camp, horses introduced.
- Day 2
First riding day
A short 2-3 hour stage to settle into the saddle and the tack, then a longer push to the first river camp. Tented camp.
- Day 3
Full riding day
A full day in the saddle across passes and river valleys; support vehicle meets the group at camp. Tented camp.
- Day 4
Long stage
The big day, 25-30 km. Tented camp.
- Day 5
Culture day off the horse
On the Orkhon trek this is the cliff-top Tuvkhun monastery or the Karakorum ruins; on the eastern version it is Gun-Galuut nature reserve. Ger camp.
- Day 6
Rest day
Fishing, kayaking, hiking or archery, with no riding. Ger camp.
- Day 7
Return to Ulaanbaatar
Road transfer, usually with the Chinggis Khaan statue on the way. Hotel.
- Day 8
Departure
Airport transfer.
Price bands
budget join-in
181-193 USD
Prices as published for 2026
Group size assumed: 9-10 travellers
Includes: Selena Travel's 8-day Sacred Rivers Horse Trek is US$1,450 pp at 9-10 people, with guide, transfers, entrance fees, 3 ger and 3 tent nights, listed meals, 4 full days of horse hire and a horse guide, and a visa support letter. The 14-day Orkhon trek is US$2,700 pp at 9-10 people.
standard private
236-293 USD
Prices as published for 2026
Group size assumed: 3-6 travellers
Includes: The 14-day Orkhon trek is US$4,100 pp at 3-4 people and US$3,300 pp at 5-6, same inclusions.
premium
381-686 USD
Prices as published for 2026
Group size assumed: 1-2 travellers on a private trek
Includes: The 14-day Orkhon trek is US$9,600 for a solo rider and US$5,330 pp for two; the 8-day Sacred Rivers trek is US$4,750 solo. A 4% credit card surcharge applies on the 8-day trip.
Accommodation
Roughly half tented camps and half ger camps, with a hotel night at each end. The 14-day Orkhon trek uses 7 tent nights, 4 ger camp nights and 2 nights in a 3-star Ulaanbaatar hotel. Tent nights mean no shower and an outdoor toilet.
Vehicle
Horses are the transport; a support van or 4WD carries luggage, food and camp gear and meets the riders each evening. This is why beginners can join — you are not carrying anything and the vehicle can take anyone who has had enough for the day.
Not for
Ask before you book
- How many hours per day are actually in the saddle, and how many full riding days?
- Mongolian wooden saddle or a Western or English saddle — and can you request a change?
- Is there a support vehicle every day, and can a rider ride in it if needed?
- How many wranglers per group, and what is the rider-to-horse ratio including spares?
- Helmets: supplied or bring your own?
- How many tent nights and what is the toilet and washing arrangement?
- Is there a card surcharge on the balance payment?
Sources (3)
- Sacred Rivers Horse Trek, 8 days - Selena Travel — Day-by-day with full riding days and a 25-30 km stage, Medium grade, price range by group size, accommodation split, 4 days of horse hire included, May-September season, 5-15 July blackout, 4% card surcharge
- Horse Trekking in the Orkhon Valley, 14 days - Selena Travel — Long-trek day-by-day with riding hours, route through Ogii Lake, Khar Balgas, Karakorum, Tuvkhun and the Ulaan Tsutgalan waterfall, tiered pricing, 7 tent / 4 ger / 2 hotel night split, all-levels claim
- Mongolia tours catalogue - Selena Travel — Cross-check of both horse-trek products and their headline prices