Cycling from steppe to Gobi
8 days
Overview
Much of Mongolia’s territory is steppe – wide open grasslands as far as the eyes can see, yet there are other ecoregions. The Mightiest mountain ranges of the country are in the north and west, and the Gobi Desert is to the south. On this trip, you’ll be able to cycle from the steppe to the edge of the Gobi. The cycling tour will start from a world-famous site known for its successful reintroduction of the Przewalski’s horse, a wild horse species that graze within the Khustai National Park to an area at the edge of the Gobi packed with astonishing granitic formations via Zorgol Khairkhan, a mountain venerated by the local people. Around 303 km will be covered by bicycle in 5 days out of the 8 total days. En route, you will see how the livestock herding nomads keep their tradition alive in the ever-changing modern times.
Plan Your Perfect Trip from May to October!
This trip is best organized between May to October, offering you the flexibility to choose the most suitable dates for your adventure. Whether you're looking for pleasant weather, fewer crowds, or specific seasonal activities, this time frame provides the ideal conditions for an unforgettable experience.
Date & Price:
Departing: 18-08-2024
Finishing: 25-08-2024
Status: Open
Departing: 03-09-2024
Finishing: 10-09-2024
Status: Open
Departing: 27-05-2025
Finishing: 03-06-2025
Status: Open
Departing: 01-07-2025
Finishing: 08-07-2025
Status: Open
Departing: 22-07-2025
Finishing: 29-07-2025
Status: Open
Departing: 18-08-2025
Finishing: 25-08-2025
Status: Open
Departing: 03-09-2025
Finishing: 10-09-2025
Status: Open
Departing: 01-05-2025
Finishing: 15-10-2025
Status: Open
Price Per Person:
Includes:
- * 2 overnights at 4 star hotel in Ulaanbaatar (twin+breakfast)
- * 3 tented overngihts (twins)
- * 2 overnight in a tourist ger camp (twin/triple)
- * All indicated meals + drinking water
- * Extra drinks and snacks during cycling
- * All visits and National park fees
- * Russian 4WD van(s) equipped with bike racks as support vehicles during cycling
- * English speaking cycling guide(s)
- * Cook(s)
- * Mountain biking gudie(s)
- * Good quality mountain bike
Exludes:
- * Optional activities
- * Travel insurance
- * Sleeping bags and mattresses
- * Meals that are not indicated
- * Gratuities
- * Personal biking clothes and gears
- * International flights
- * Visa fee
Travel information:
- * Visit Khustai NP which is world famous for successfully reintroducing
- * Cycling in Mongolian grassland steppe and semi-Gobi terrain
- * Visit Zorgol Khairkhan Mountain is venerated and revered by the local people
- * Visit to the astonishing granitic formations of Baga Gazariin Chuluu
- * Single room extra for 2 nights at UB hotel: 60 US$
- * Single tent extra for 3 nights: US$ 30
- * Single ger extra for 2 nights: US$ 40
Day 1 Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia
Arrive at the capital of Mongolia. Our representative will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to a city-centered 4-star hotel. Meet at the hotel lobby in the evening to attend a show of traditional performances followed by a welcome dinner and tour briefing.
- D
- Hotel
Day 2 Drive to the starting point of cycling and bike to Khustai NP
Our guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel early in the morning and drive to the starting point of cycling. Our guide will give a brief introduction about the trip and do thorough adjustments on the selected bikes. Today we cycle to Khustai NP, famous since the 1990s for its successful reintroduction of the Przewalski’s horse. Originally native to the steppes of Central Asia, these horses went extinct in the wild during the 1960s. The kitchen team will go ahead, and serve light snacks and lunch along the way during the cycling trip. Dinner and overnight at a ger camp in the national park after visiting the information center and seeing the wild horses.
- B.L.D
- Ger camp
- 150 km
- 31 km
Day 3 Across the Queen Tuul River
We start the day with a pleasant downhill after breakfast. Today we cycle across beautiful remote terrain, spotting traditional felt homes called a ger and herds of livestock. We will cross a bridge over The Tuul River, also known as Queen Tuul, which is a vital source of fresh drinking water for millions of humans and animals. Our drivers and cook will serve tea and snacks before midday. After a short break, we continue cycling at a steady pace to our lunch spot. We will end the day with a bit of a challenge, gently ascending for 3-4 hours until camp. The support crew will assemble kitchen, toilet, and shower tents while you set up your individual tents.
- B.L.D
- Tent
- 72 km
Day 4 Enter the Gobi Desert via Zorgol Khairkhan Mountain
Today we pedal easy ups and downs for 76 km across the grasslands on a smooth dirt road. Tonight, we camp near Zorgol Khairkhan, a 1,668 m tall, reddish granite mountain literally meaning Sacred Fawn Mountain. According to an ancient legend, a doe had turned her fawn into stone each time she ventured out for food to protect her baby from wolves. Upon returning each time, she dropped milk on the stone to turn it back to life. But one day, she couldn’t recover her youngling because a crow flying over had cast its shadow over the stone figure, thus cursing it to remain “Zorgol Khairkhan.”
- B.L.D
- Tent
- 76 km
Day 5 Cycle to Adaatsag village
Today we cycle towards Adaatsag, a small village located near peculiar granite formations called Baga Gazriin Chuluu. Starting off with a gentle ascend to the highest point of 1,630 m above sea level, today’s riding is mostly gentle downhills with the exception of a few small ascends. You will notice slight differences in scenery from previous days as we are entering the Gobi region. It’s a land full of vibrant colours and unique structures formed by nature, where the contrast between the sky and land is much clearer.
- B.L.D
- Tent
- 65 km
Day 6 Cycle to peculiar granite formations
Today we will cycle for 60 km with easy ups and downs in semi-desert terrain. Our destination is a 15 km long, 10 km wide set of granite formations called Baga Gazriin Chuluu via Khukh Burd Temple. There are over 20 kinds of medical herbs and many species of animals such as Argali wild sheep, ibex, and marmot that inhabit here.
- B.L.D
- Ger camp
- 60 km
Day 7 Drive back to Ulaanbaatar
Load bikes onto support vehicles and drive to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel and rest or self-explore the city until farewell dinner..
- B.D
- Hotel
- 250 km
Day 8 Departure transfer
Our guide and driver will transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.
- B
Gallery
Reviews
Mohan Prabhakar
Jun 2024 • Friends
We had a beautiful experience in Mongolia, made better by the professional, well organised, warm and hospitable team at Mongolia Biking experts. A special highlight was the amazing food that was freshly prepared when we were on the road and camping. Thanks to the amazing crew Dashka, Chuka, Lkhagvaa, Tuul and Khurlee.
uranusjr
These ARE the Mongolian Biking Experts you are looking for
Jul 2024 • Friends
We struck gold! We had so many worries before we started, knowing nothing about Mongolia. The company is new, but everyone in the crew is so experienced and professional. So much caring and everyone has good spirits from start to end. And the food! The chef brought out top notch food in the middle of the grassland it felt so surreal. They know what they are doing and you SHOULD put yourself in their hands.
Belle H
Best MTB adventure in Mongolia!
Jul 2024 • Friends
We went on a 5 days (~220 km) MTB trip. The view entire way is spectacular with wide open grasslands landscapes, mountain ranges, sand dunes and river terrains. Weather is perfect and we even manage to chase storms and double rainbows on the horizon.
We have a crew of 5 on this trip with us 24-7; 1 guide, 1 mechanic, 2 drivers and 1 chef. One of our guide speaks perfect English and mechanic follows the peloton entirel ; we have zero problem camping in the tent out in the wild for 3 nights in a roll. Also we spent 2 nights in Ger tent. Our chef preps amazing gourmet food outdoor; breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Our drivers take perfect care of the car and provide all sort of shades when we are just in middle of nowhere. All and all, above and beyond.
I’ve done a lot of travels in many formality but hands down the best adventure bike trip in Mangolia! If you have exercise regularly and be open-minded about bike trips, look them up on Google and book your trip with Mongolia biking experts!
Jayesh Morvankar
We drove from UB to Amarbayasgalant and then to Kharkhorin via Ugii Lake. We further explored Little Gobi and the Hushtai NP before returning to UB.
The landscapes were varied and stunning especially at Amarbayasgalant, Ugii Lake and
Couldn't have enough of the livestock grazing, the horses running, the nomadic Gers, steppes.
The 7 days cycling trip that followed (Northern Gobi) was curated to our requirements and was fantastic with a lot of challenges, great camping / ger stay, locations, excellent meals. We rode from Choir towards Mandalgovi through Ikh Gazriin Chuulu and further to Baga Gazriin Chuulu, Sum Khukh Bvrd Temple ruins, Adaatsag, Zorgol Khairkhan.
The entire 15 days of planning was curated by Dashka, lead by Chuka and supported by the UAX drivers Tuul (for both our jeep tour and cycling), Lkhurlee. Our chef, Lkhagvaa was simply outstanding with his variety cooking, creativity and flavours that always left us wondering about his skills and wanting more!