Nomadic Journeys · Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
A luxury horseback expedition through the Khan Khentii mountains
Nomadic Journeys' Big Skies Trail rides in wide loops through the remote valleys, forests, steppes and meadows of the southern Khan Khentii wilderness and Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. Unlike more basic Mongolia treks, every rider stays in a full-sized Mongolian ger with a proper cot bed, full linens and a wood-burning stove, no sleeping bag needed. The camp moves by yak cart caravan every two days, and the trip finishes with two nights at Nomadic Journeys' own ger camp at Jalman Meadows. Over 30 years running, with deliberately small groups, half the size of their regular tours.
Riders must be competent and confident at all paces. Expect to be in the saddle for several hours per day across varied terrain. A good level of physical fitness and experience with trail riding is essential.
The camp moves with you rather than the other way round. You ride out across the steppe and along the rivers for several hours, while the camp is packed and moved ahead by yak or camel cart, so each night you arrive at a fresh spot with the ger kitchen, hot showers and tentipi tents already set up. Days mix riding with time to rest, walk or take to the water by raft or kayak, and two nights are spent at the permanent low-impact camp at Jalman Meadows.
Spacious tentipi tents with fold-out bed-cots (bring your own sleeping bag) and a Mongolian ger serving as the mobile kitchen and dining tent, with hot showers and compost toilets. Two nights at the Jalman Meadows ger camp and two nights in a central Ulaanbaatar hotel.
All meals on the trek are included, cooked in the ger kitchen. Meals in Ulaanbaatar follow the itinerary.
Best months: June to September
Rides run through the short Mongolian summer, when the steppe is green and the days are long and warm. Nights on the steppe stay cool even in summer.
Nearest airport: Ulaanbaatar (UBN), reached via Seoul, Beijing, Istanbul or Moscow
Transfers: Met on arrival and transferred to your hotel, then driven out to the steppe to start the ride
Fly to Ulaanbaatar, spend a night in the city, then head out to the wilderness camps.
