Horse holidays abroad · Mongolia
Mongolia on Horseback: Khentii, the Orkhon Valley and the West
Riding in Mongolia means a supported horse trek across open steppe and mountain valleys, camping or staying in gers, on trips of 10 to 16 nights with 7 to 9 riding days.
- Best monthsMay to Sep
- Level
Confident to expert - Typical trip10 to 16 nights
- Price guide
Higher to premium
At a glance
What does a riding holiday in Mongolia involve?
- Best monthsJune to September; some treks start in May
- Riding level
Intermediate to experienced on most treks; confident at walk, trot and canter - Hours in the saddle4 to 7 hours a day
- Typical trip10 to 16 nights, with 7 to 9 riding days
- Weight limit89kg to 95kg, depending on the trek
- Group sizeUp to 10 riders; up to 6 on the smaller ger trek
- HorsesMongolian horses, 12hh to 14.2hh
- TackRussian-style saddles with snaffle bridles; traditional Mongolian saddles on some treks
- AccommodationHotel in Ulaanbaatar, then tents, teepees or ger camps
- Price guide
Higher to premium for this kind of holiday, per person, before flights
The riding
What is horse riding in Mongolia like?
Riding in Mongolia is a trek from camp to camp across unfenced steppe, river valleys and low mountains, with a support crew moving the camp each day.
In the Khan Khentii protected area, northeast of Ulaanbaatar, yak carts carry the luggage and the camp between stops. On other treks a support vehicle does the same job.
The ground is open, so there is room for long canters, with slower going over passes, rivers and forest. An interpreter travels with the group on the Khentii treks.
Mongolian riders stand in the stirrups at trot and canter, and you are likely to do the same for long stretches on a small horse.
Khan Khentii
Orkhon Valley
Zavkhan and Tarvagatai
When to go
When is the best time to ride in Mongolia?
The best time to ride in Mongolia is June to September, which is when all the main treks run on set departure dates.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
The Orkhon Valley trek also runs in May. The Naadam games take place in July, and one Khentii trek adds two nights so you can watch the games.
Your level
What riding level do you need for Mongolia?
You need to be a fit intermediate or experienced rider for most Mongolian treks, confident at walk, trot and canter and able to ride a spirited horse.
Novice
Intermediate
Experienced
It suits you if
- You are fit enough to ride most of the day for a week or more
- You are happy camping with basic washing and toilets
- You want to see nomad life away from towns and roads
It is not for you if
- You weigh more than 95kg in your riding clothes
- You want a hot shower and a proper bed every night
- You want a short holiday of a week or less
The days are long, at 4 to 7 hours in the saddle for a week or more. The steppe trek in the west takes beginners who can mount and dismount unaided, riding 4 to 5 hours a day.
The weight limit is 89kg on the Khentii treks, 90kg in the west and 95kg in the Orkhon Valley. Hard hats are compulsory on the Khentii treks.
The horses
What are the horses and tack like in Mongolia?
Mongolian horses are small, strong and sure-footed, standing from about 12hh to 14.2hh. They are local working horses, hardy and willing.
Most treks use Russian-style saddles, similar to a stock or military saddle, with snaffle bridles. The Orkhon Valley trek uses the traditional Mongolian saddle, which has a short base and a high pommel and cantle, and the horses neck rein.
Where you stay
Where do you stay on a horse trek in Mongolia?
You stay in a hotel in Ulaanbaatar at the start and finish, and in tents, teepees or gers on the trek itself.
One trek uses six-person teepees shared by two, with two nights in a ger camp, and another uses gers with made-up beds, stoves and hot showers at riverside camps.
In the Orkhon Valley you stay in ger camps with showers and toilets, one night with a nomad family and tents in the Gobi. In the west you sleep in single tents, with solar showers and meals cooked over an open fire.
The cost
How much does a horse trek in Mongolia cost?
A horse trek in Mongolia is a higher price for ten nights, before flights, and rises to a premium price for the ger-based trek.
Khan Khentii horse trail
Price guide
Higher
Zavkhan steppe trail
Price guide
Higher
Orkhon Valley trail
Price guide
Higher
Khentii nomad-camp trail
Price guide
Premium
The prices include the horses, guides, meals, camps and airport transfers from Ulaanbaatar.
Rides we can arrange
Which rides do we recommend in Mongolia?
We know horses, and we know the people who run these rides. Tell us how you ride and where you want to go, and we will put you with the right one.
Khan Khentii horse trail
Eight riding days in the Khan Khentii protected area, with yak carts moving the camp, nights in teepees and two nights in a ger camp.
Khentii nomad-camp trail
Seven riding days in Khentii for up to 6 riders, sleeping in gers with beds and stoves. A July date adds the Naadam games.
Orkhon Valley trail
Nine riding days through the Orkhon Valley to Hustai and the Bayan Gobi, with ger camps and a night with a nomad family. Minimum age 12.
Zavkhan steppe trail
Nine riding days in Zavkhan and the Tarvagatai Nuruu National Park, following nomad routes, with single tents and a support vehicle.
Common questions
Mongolia riding questions
How big are Mongolian horses?
They stand from about 12hh to 14.2hh, with an average near 13.2hh. They are small but strong and very sure-footed.
What is the weight limit for riding in Mongolia?
It is 89kg on the Khentii treks, 90kg on the western trek and 95kg in the Orkhon Valley. Heavier experienced riders may enquire on the Orkhon Valley and western treks.
Can beginners ride in Mongolia?
The steppe trek in the west takes beginners who can mount and dismount unaided. The other treks ask for intermediate or experienced riders.
When is the Naadam festival?
Naadam takes place in July, and one of the Khentii ger treks runs a twelve-night date to include it.
Do you need a riding hat in Mongolia?
Yes. Hard hats are compulsory on the Khentii treks.
How many hours a day do you ride in Mongolia?
Most treks ride 4 to 7 hours a day. The western trek rides 4 to 5 hours, adjusted to the ground and the group.
Where to go next
Nearby, and next
Tell us how you ride
Tell us your level, your dates and the country you have in mind, and we will point you to the ride that fits.