Itinerary Expand all Depart London.Depart London. Day 1 Start Ulaan Baatar.Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, transfer to the group hotel. Those not on the group flights will meet the group at the hotel. Bayangol Hotel or similar, Comfortable Hotel Arrive Ulaan Baatar.Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, transfer to the group hotel. Those not on the group flights will meet the group at the hotel. Comfortable Hotel Day 2 Morning sightseeing followed by a traditional Mongolian show; overnight train to Erdenet.This morning we start the day after breakfast with the trip briefing and then strike out on an introductory tour of Ulaanbaatar, including Sukhbaatar Square and Gandan Monastery. In the afternoon/evening, we enjoy a performance of traditional Mongolian song and dance by the world famous Tumen Ekh Troupe before boarding the overnight train to Erdenet in the early evening. Erdenet being Mongolia's third largest city and home to one of the largest copper mines in the world. Overnight in comfortable sleeping compartments on the train.Sleeper Train Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 3 Ride to Tal Tolgoi Well via the small township of Bugat; camp.Our train arrives early in the morning. Upon arrival we will be joined by our crew and support vehicles. After breakfast, we set up the bikes and head out towards the wilderness. The small township of Bugat makes a convenient lunch stop. After lunch, our route takes us over Chuluutiin Davaa, a long pass on which care must be taken as the surface is loose in parts. With a steep descent, we arrive at a long plain leading to tonight's camp near Tal Tolgoi Well. Cycle approx. 50km.Wild Camping Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 Cross Tuluugiin Pass; camp.After our first night near local herding families, we cycle through undulating country before descending to a bridge over the Altaan (Golden) River. Rock formations in the area hint towards a volcanic past. The riverbanks make an idyllic spot for a picnic lunch. It is a long steady climb to Tuluugiin Pass where the scenery changes dramatically as the forests give way to open steppe, at least for a while. Today is our longest cycling day on the trip. Cycle approx 70km.Wild Camping Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 Arhangai steppe ride through undulating country to open green valley below Mt. Khairkhan (1862m); camp.Today we pass through rolling hills, past small lakes and herds of horses. Steppe eagles can be seen in this area. We stop for lunch with views across the steppe. After lunch we continue on tracks around the southern side of Mt Khairkhan (1862m) and make camp in an open green valley beneath Kholbooriin pass (1649m). Cycle approx. 60km.Wild Camping Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 6 Short climb to cross Kholboogin Pass (1649m) before descending to Khairkhan Lake camp.The day begins with a bit of exertion as we make the short climb in the morning up to the pass, giving us far-reaching views across the countryside. Down the other side we wind along gentle river valleys before emerging at the township of Khairkhan. After lunch on the outskirts of town we pass a series of small lakes before choosing a camp for the night. Cycle approx. 50km.Wild Camping Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 Cycle up Khunjiin River Valley to camp beneath Mt. Chingeltei.Today we follow the Khunjiin River as it rises gently towards its headwaters. River valleys like this provide fertile pasture for grazing livestock and are popular campsites with local herders. Wetlands near the river attract birdlife, including demoiselle crane. Overnight in the upper reaches of the river valley, beneath Mt Chingeltei. Cycle approx. 60kmWild Camping Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 8 Short climb past the headwaters of the Khunjiin; descend into Tamir River Valley; camp near Great Rock of Ikh Tamir.After a short climb to the headwaters of Khunjiin River at Uran Khutul pass, it is downhill to the Tamir River where we have lunch on the banks. Near the river we will pass burial grounds dating back to 8th Century AD. We camp tonight on the banks of the Tamir, not far from Ikh Tamir, or 'Great Rock'. Locals say that if you can throw a rock over the rock, it will bring you good luck for the rest of the journey. Cycle approx. 60km.Wild Camping Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 9 Half-day ride to Tsetserleg; capital of Arhangai, afternoon free.Today is a half-day and we make a good start to make the most of the afternoon for a chance to rest. Gurviin Dava Pass is a long but steady ascent through forest for the most part, with a short steep climb at the end. Arriving at the provincial capital of Tsetserleg makes the effort well worthwhile. Tsetserleg means 'garden' and this township has one of the most attractive settings of any in Mongolia, nestled in a cul-de-sac of mountains. We pitch camp by the Tsetserleg River. The afternoon is free to relax, enjoy a hot shower and experience staying in a traditional Mongolian ger. Cycle approx. 45km.Ger Camp Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 10 Morning ride in foothills of the Khangai Mountains.We are now close to the Khangai Mountains and a short ride takes us to the foothills. The rolling country of Arhangai has been replaced by forested hills of larch and pine with dramatic alpine peaks in the distance. There are three short passes today, with lunch on the third before descending to tonight's camp. Ride approx. 50km.Wild Camping Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 11 Cycle across undulating steppe to Mt. Ondor Khairkhan (2312m).Our route now takes us into the heart of the Khangai Mountains, following well-marked 4WD trails. Herders still inhabit the valleys, yet yaks have replaced cows as the milk-producing animals. We follow picturesque valleys and camp beneath Mt Ondor Khairkhan (2312m). A relatively long day that can be challenging if conditions are windy.Cycle approx. 60km.Wild Camping Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 12 Ride the Khangai Mountain Range on good jeep tracks; descend to Orkhon River Valley.Today we cross the Khangai Mountain range on good jeep tracks and drop down to the Orkhon River on the longest, smoothest descent of the journey. This Orkhon River flows to the ancient capital, Karakorum, then on to Lake Baikal in Russia and further northwards to the Artic Ocean. After lunch we continue downstream to our overnight camp on the river banks. Overnight camp by the Orkhon River. Cycle approx 50km.Wild Camping Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 13 Ride to Karakorum and Erdene Zuu Monastery; overnight in traditional ger camp.We ride out from camp following undulating terrain, crossing and recrossing the Orkhon River as we make a beeline for the fertile plain chosen by Genghis Khan as the location for the capital city of his empire. 'Karakorum' is derived from a Turkic language and means black rock, and shares this name with mountains in Pakistan. Arriving in the ancient capital in the early afternoon, we check into the Karakorum ger camp for hot showers and a well-earned rest. This afternoon we head out to explore Erdene Zuu Monastery, the largest and most famous monastery in Mongolia. Built in 1586 under the direction of Abtai Khan on the ruins of the ancient capital, much of the monastery was destroyed during Stalinist purges of the 1930's, but an impressive wall with 108 stupas and a number of temples still remain. We spend the night in traditional Mongolian gers.Cycle approx. 35km.Ger Camp Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 14 Drive to Ulaan Baatar, visit sand dunes at Mongol Els; free afternoon.We make a good start this morning for the 400km drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Travelling at an easy pace, we stop at the Mongol Els to view the sand dunes. Picnic lunch along the way. Check into our hotel on arrival in Ulaanbaatar - hot showers and cold beers!Bayangol Hotel or Similar, Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 15 End Ulaan Baatar.Those on the group flights will be taken to the airport early for their flight back. For other travellers the trip ends after breakfast. Fly to London.Those on the group flights will be taken to the airport early for their flight back. For other travellers the trip ends after breakfast.
MongoliaAll nationalities require a full passport that must be valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay. It is your responsibility to have the correct personal documents and to obtain your own visa, if one is necessary, in accordance with the regulations of the country you are to visit. The information below is primarily for UK passport holders, and other nationalities should check with their travel agent or the relevant embassies. We are not responsible for the actions of local immigration and customs officials, whether at points of entry or otherwise, and any subsequent effects. Almost all nationalities, including British, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand, require a single entry visa for Mongolia. If you think you may be exempt you must check requirements with your local authorities or your agent. The current cost of a visa for British Citizens is £50 and further information can be found here. American passport holders are offered 30 days visa-free entry to Mongolia on presentation of a valid passport at the time of entry. Visa regulations can change without notice: please check the current regulations in good time to obtain a visa if one is required.
MongoliaThere are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Camping, Hotels, Mongolian Gers & Sleeper Train Most of the trip is spent wild particapatory camping and you will be asked to put up and take down your own tents. A toilet tent is put up at lunch and in the evening and a shower tent is put up when not camping near a stream (you should bring bio-soap for washing in streams as well as wet-wipes). When we stay in the ger camp these are comfortable yurt-type felt tents with beds inside and shared bathrooms. The hotel in Ulaanbaator is comfortable with en suite bathrooms. The sleeper trains have 4 berths per compartment.There may occasions when we replace a night camping with a Ger stay should local circumstances, such as the weather, dictate it.Single SupplementIf you prefer to have your own room, please request a single supplement at the time of booking. Availability is limited and these cannot be guaranteed however when available a single supplement will cover all nights of the tour with the exception of the sleeper train, which is shared with 4 berths per cabin.
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Reviewed November 2018 Stephen YaxleyAn incredible, stunning, strange and wonderful experience The organisation and support from the entirely local team running the trip was absolutely exceptional. NK, the group leader, was faultless - calm, fun, supportive, organised, knowledgeable, entertaining. He led an exceptional team of drivers, cooks, mountain bikers/mechanics/guides, who all made the trip utterly fantastic. Breathtaking scenery, well maintained bikes, a good variety of routes - grassy Steppes, mountains, lakes and rivers. Gorgeous camp locations. Fascinating visits to a nomadic family, the capital and the ancient capital. It was a wonderful trip.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? It is really difficult to choose one - the most inspirational moment was often every single morning, setting off after a hearty breakfast to (usually!) crisp blue skies, early morning sun, herds of animals across the Steppes, distant ger tents. Just magical. Staying up late one night to see the stars on a very clear night was very special. The lamb roasted in the traditional way with hot stones from a fire one evening was very special too.What did you think of your group leader? NK was himself an inspiration. He truly was mindblowing - great fun, extremely knowledgeable. methodical, efficient, well organised. I was in awe of him! Can’t thank him enough for making the trip so amazing.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? It got very cold at night on this last tour of the season... down to -5 on occasions. But still up to 20 degrees sometimes in the day. So being equipped for the temperature change and range is critical for your enjoyment of the trip - I was pretty cold at night, and setting off in the morning I was dressed up like for skiing, and then rapidly had to strip off layers as the temperature shoots up in the mornings.
Reviewed September 2018 Steven GITTENSThe land that time forgot This was simply a magnificent holiday in a wonderful country. Cycling eleven days in a row is a bit tough and the terrain can be challenging, but it is worth the effort. The landscape is vast and photographs cannot do it justice. I never tired of seeing herds of horses, running free in this never ending scenery. On the practical side, the tents were of top quality, the bikes were of equally good quality, the crew of 8 were brilliant and the group of cyclists were great company. The meals were well balanced and a credit to our cook. NK our leader was probably the best group leader I have experienced in my many Exodus adventures. We even had a shower tent with warm water when possible. September brought us varied weather conditions, with cold mornings, some rain, snow on the mountains, hail, high winds and plenty of sunshine. I would recommend this holiday especially if you want to get away from busy cities and experience real peace and quiet.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? I never tired of the horses running alongside us. The herds of yaks and cows and enormous flocks of sheep and goats are equally impressive. Large birds of prey can be seen regularly. The night skies are incredible.What did you think of your group leader? NK was magnificent. His organisational skills, his pleasant manner and his love of Mongolia is inspirational. My luggage failed to arrive when we landed at Ulaan Baataar, but NK assured me that the luggage would arrive before we boarded the overnight train. He arranged this and my luggage arrived. The excellent Gala Dinner on our last night was a very pleasant surprise. Our team consisted of NK, two other cyclist guides, three drivers, a cook and cook's assistant.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take a good quality sleeping bag. The camping is very good and nothing to fear. We all became very slick at erecting our tents and taking them down.Is there anything else you would like to add? When wild camping, toilets can be a bit of a worry. In Mongolia we had a western style toilet in a tent.
Reviewed September 2016 Steve HallBig skies and teeming herds A great trip in stunning landscape. A good mix of easy riding with time to enjoy the views and more challenging ups and downs. It is quite something to see herds of horses running beside you while you ride, to watch eagles soaring above you as you camp by a pristine stream. If you are happy on a bike and in a tent I can think of no better way to see Mongolia than this.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Hard to pick just one, but all these are great memories: watching the sunset over lake from our camp site, running herds, herdsmen on horseback, the "performance of contortion by springy girls" in Ulan Baatar.What did you think of your group leader? Our trip leader was young but very good, with excellent communication skills, thoughtful and engaging. This was his first trip as leader, though he had assisted on many more. The rest of the support team were clearly experienced and very good at keeping the trip on track, both on the road and at the overnight stops.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Compared with our only previous Exodus cycling trip (Myanmar in 2014, level 3) this trip had much more cycling and less sightseeing. When we booked it was level 3 but has since been re-graded from level 3 to 4. We found the trip notes were pretty accurate, but beware the short days - less distance but plenty of height gain. The trails were generally pretty good, but variable surface conditions (slippery mud, sand, rocky descents) added an extra element of challenge in places, and a strong headwind made for slow progress at times. Expect wet feet - there are lots of river crossings. The general description of "undulating with a few short steep climbs" is fair, but before the short steep climbs there is often a long not-so-gentle climb. The tents and bikes were very good, both in terms of specification and condition. We were happy to see that, having read about issues with bikes and tents in a review of an earlier trip. The support team checked all our group's bikes over regularly, most if not every evening. The sleeping mats provided were OK but not fantastic. If you have a good one that you trust, then bring it.Is there anything else you would like to add? Bugs were not a major problem in the evenings but bug spray is essential, and we found a solar charger handy for keeping our cameras, etc. in service.
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