Horse riding in Mongolia, a mythical paradise

By: Pablo Imberti Posted: 04/11/2019

In this article, we recommend the best horse riding holidays in Mongolia, a nomadic country where you will enjoy the eternal blue sky.

We visit Asia, where horses were first domesticated. Nowhere is the relationship between man and horse as celebrated as in Mongolia, where it has been central to the nomadic culture for thousands of years.

Mongolia, the nomadic essence

Mongolia is a one-of-a-kind and rarely visited country, with plenty of endemic wildlife that is hard to find somewhere else. Between Russia and China, this nation has a millennial and rather unknown culture that fascinates those who dare to visit it.

The most common breed in this region is the takhi, which is thousands of years old, according to several researches.

Adventure in Mongolia: 5 options

The multiple charms of Mongolia make it attractive to many tourists every year. There are many companies that organize horse riding tours in this beautiful country, so the options vary according to adventurers’ preferences and interests. In all cases, every option offers a unique opportunity to be in touch with nature, wildlife and the different human communities and ethnic groups.

A list with the best offers is presented below. They are classified based on different criteria like experience, itineraries, and the like.

Equitours

Following the route of emperor Genghis Khan, this company offers small-group tours with an English-speaking, native Mongolian guide.

They organize their tours in different parts of the country. One of them is Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, in the north.

This place has many natural wonders like lakes, glaciers, interesting rock formations and thermal springs, but it is also home to a Buddhist monastery, brown bears and over 250 bird species.

For more information, please visit the website: https://www.equitours.com/horseback-riding-destinations/asia/mongolia/

Stone Horse

This company has over 30 years of experience in horse riding tourism and specializes in low-impact back country adventures. They put the emphasis on combining the country’s outstanding landscapes with cultural experiences from Mongolia. Apart from visiting Gorkhi-Terelj, they organize tours to the Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area, in the north of the country, which is considered the birthplace of Genghis Khan. Burkhan Khaldum, the sacred mountain, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is locally believed to be the tomb of the popular warrior and conqueror.

You can find more information about their itineraries here: https://stonehorsemongolia.com/

Rara Avis Travel

With a particular emphasis on the nomadic essence of the Mongolian culture, this company organizes tours to the heart of the mountains. Adventures are carried out in small groups, five people at most and children can also participate. Travellers will be able to enjoy the best Mongolian gastronomy with an outdoor meal. What else can you ask for? This tour can also be organized in Gorkhi Terelj and includes a visit to a typical house of a local nomadic family so you can learn about their traditions and culture.

You can find more details here: https://www.raraavistravel.com/

Zavkhan Trekking

This company is characterized by organizing genuine horse riding adventures. They are not the typical organized group tours but native journeys in Mongolia. The experiences they offer are suitable for riders with different skill levels, in small groups. They prefer remote and less populated areas, and they don’t have fixed routes. They keep searching for new trails all the time. One of their expeditions takes place in Hustai National Park, in the centre of the country. This place is notable for its mountains and steppes, and its desolate and deserted landscape. They also offer rides to the Altai Mountains, a remote mountain range whose summits reach over 4,000 metres above sea level.

For more information, visit their website: http://www.zavkhan.co.uk/

Stepperiders

With over 200 horses, this company organizes tours of up to 13 days. Their expeditions take place in the Bogd Jan Uul Mountain, in Gorkhi Terelj National Park. This is also the birthplace of local shamanism, another interesting side of Mongolia that is worth discovering.

Another special adventure that they offer is a 10-day tour to Lake Huvsgul. The trip includes visits to inactive volcanos, thermal springs, mythical mountain ranges and even a reindeer farm.

Most of their tours include a combination of horse rides with trekking, walks and even camel rides. Stepperiders also has a camp which is just one hour’s drive from Ulaanbaatar where tourists can stay if they prefer more relaxed holidays.

You can find more information about their programs in the website: http://stepperiders.mn/

Visit Mongolia on horseback in a self-discovery journey

Guided tours, wild and unspoilt routes, moonlit nights under the stars and short, intense horse rides. Equestrian tourism offers a lot of possibilities and all of them are amazing. Travelling on horseback brings us closer to nature in a unique and ancestral way, like people used to do centuries ago.

It is an excellent opportunity to get to know yourself better, to connect to primitive aspects of history and make contact with other human beings, animals and remote, dream destinations. No matter the season, the climate or the landscape, when you choose this activity for your holidays, it will always be beneficial.

We hope to have inspired you to join one of these horse riding tours in Mongolia. If you have already had the luck to visit this wonderful country, share your experience with us!

Are you also passionate about the idea of travelling Asia on horseback?

And while Mongolia stands out for its nomadic people, other Asian countries also have a special bond with the equestrian world, the horse is always present in their history and daily life.

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