Khuvsgul Lake Horse Riding
Learn to live like a local nomad in Mongolia
khuvsgul lake horse riding, trekking & Living Like a Local nomads (western Khuvsgul lake region)
Itinerary Change Notice (June 10, 2023): This itinerary, for 2023, owing to our nomadic families’ pasture situation (and more recent flash flooding in Mongolia) – they will be living near one another in 2023 so there will not be any lengthy horse riding nor traveling from one family to another. This itinerary for 2023 has been changed into a “homestay” program at 1 nomadic family at Khuvsgul Lake within their geographic region.
Khuvsgul Lake Horse Riding offers you and opportunity to experience one of Mongolia’s geographic gems and a highlight travel destinations that should be visited. Sapphire freshwater lake, emerald forests and remarkably beautiful Mountain scenery dominate its picturesque landscapes. Ger to Ger’s Khuvsgul Lake Horse Riding with Nomadic Families offers you a unique opportunity to explore nomadic lifestyle as well as participate within daily routines of nomadic families within the region. You will spend your days traveling and living like a nomad, as well as experiencing some light trekking between nomadic camps. In your free time you will have plenty of time to prepare traditional foods and drinks, assist families in herding and milking of their animals!
Khuvsgul Lake Horse Riding 7 days / 6 nights Community Fee with Guide (Interpreter)
Group size/USD Price:
1per = $770
2per = $526
3per = $445
Difficulty of Trip: Moderate
Method of Travel: trekking, walking and some horse riding (no scheduled horse riding to other family)
Departures: Limited
*This itinerary will be different owing to “June 10th Notice”, though it will be roughly the same – there will be modifications as it will be more focused as a “homestay”. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding.
Day One – Bus Ride to Khuvsgul Lake via Murun (D – Overnight in Guesthouse): Prepare yourself for a long scenic bus ride across a diverse geographic landscapes i.e. steppes, mountains, rivers, etc., to make your way to the starting point of the Khuvsgul Lake Horse Riding experience. We recommend that you take the morning 0800 local bus (much like USA’s Greyhound Bus Line) from Ulaanbaatar to Murun – arrival in the evening at 2200ish – to which the rural facilitator and driver will pick you up and take you to a local guesthouse. You will have a late dinner before rest and relax, but be sure to pack your own food for the day that you’ll need as your travel by bus.
Day Two of Nomadic Homestay at Khuvsgul Lake / Depart Murun to Nomadic Family (B, L, D – Overnight in a Genuine Nomadic Ger): After your breakfast at guesthouse, you will depart to the first nomadic family by Russian jeep for 110 kilometers. Upon arrival at Mr.Erdenesukh’s family, Mrs. Lhagvabayar will greet you with nomadic lunch and tea. After lunch you have the option to assist the family in their daily routines e.g. learn how to make a felt bag with hostess. From June 25th to August 25th Reindeer families live nearby the family, so you can visit to see reindeers guided by the host family. They are one of the last groups of nomadic reindeer herders in the world. Reindeer people live in a tepee in -30C to -50C in winter. Reindeers eat moss of trees and families have to move every month to find new pastures for their reindeers. Only over 2000 reindeers remain in Khuvsgul today. After dinner, you can play Mongolian traditional anklebone game with the family. You will stay overnight in family’s extra Ger.
*Per Notice, No Horse Riding to other Nomadic Family – you will remain at the same family.
Day Three of Nomadic Homestay at Khuvsgul Lake – Horse Riding to Mogoi (snake) Tree (B, L, D – Overnight in a Genuine Nomadic Ger): After breakfast, you will take ox cart for 15 kilometers to see “Snake Tree” which looks like a tree wrapped by snake from bottom to the top, and will have picnic lunch there. After you return to your family, you have the option to assist the family in their daily routines e.g. you can learn how to make homemade bread with your hostess. In the evening time, you will have a dinner and have an opportunity to play chess with family members before returning to your ger and enjoy a good rest.
*Per Notice, No Horse Riding to other Nomadic Family – you will remain at the same family.
Day Four of Nomadic Homestay at Khuvsgul Lake – Walking to Lake Khuvsgul (B, L, D – Overnight in a Genuine Nomadic Ger): After breakfast, you will begin 12 kilometers horseback riding through gorgeous, forested landscape. Upon arrival at Mr. Gansukh’s family, his wife Mrs. Davaajargal will serve you a nomadic lunch and tea. After spending some time with the family, you will begin your 7 kilometers hiking to see the most beautiful lake in Mongolia from a mountaintop. After the hiking, you will return to your ger for dinner and have good rest.
Day Five of Nomadic Homestay at Khuvsgul Lake – Horse Riding to Cave (B, L, D – Overnight in a Genuine Nomadic Ger): After breakfast you have the option to assist the family in their daily routines e.g. your hostess can show you how Mongolians make milk tea by using dried dungs as firewood. Then you will start your horse riding for 10 kilometers to see underground cave. Along the way you’ll have an enjoyable picnic lunch before returning to your host family. After having little bit rest, hostess can show you how to make dexterous knots and how to sew Mongolian Deel, which is our traditional dress that Mongolians still wear today. After dinner, you can learn playing the traditional game called Khorol with the family before returning to your ger for good rest.
Day Six of Mongolia Nomadic Homestay – Depart back to Murun (B, L, D – Overnight in local Guesthouse): After breakfast you have the option to assist the family in their daily routines e.g. your hostess can show you how to make Mongolian patterns for traditional garments. Then you will have a farewell lunch with her family. After your lunch, the rural driver will arrive and take you to Murun (125 kilometers) by Minivan. Today you can visit on your own to the Local Museum (open till 1900 – tickets are 4000 Tugrug), Chingunjav Main Square or public hot shower place. You will have a dinner and overnight at local guesthouse.
Day Seven – Depart back to Ulaanbaatar (B): Shortly after your morning breakfast, you will take the morning 08am bus journey back to Ulaanbaatar.
Important Notes for Mongolian Homestay Travel and Mongolia Homestay: These are “non-touristic” nomadic cultural lifestyle adventures with nomadic families – please do refer to the ‘terms and conditions’ for further clarifications. Winter itineraries are provided for “reference” there will always be changes in activities, methods of travel, etc., to maintain the ‘health/safety’ of travelers and nomadic families. Please double confirm itineraries via email. ONLINE Itineraries are subject to change owing to weather, cultural circumstance, terrain, lifestyles, etc., distances will change in accordance with Nomadic pastures, weather, culture, lifestyles and other factors. Kindly refer to the Pre-Trip online learning area for more details in how to prepare via this link
Khuvsgul Lake Horse Riding – Included Services:
- Visiting a nomadic family
- All nomadic breakfast, lunch and dinner which are stated on itinerary
- English Speaking Guide/Interpreter services
- Herder Guide service on route
- Sightseeing
- Stay overnight at family’s extra Ger
- Horse riding according to itinerary (* Per June 10th Notice, this has changed owing to pasture situations… riding will depend on the given situation at the time of visitation – which may change)
- Traveling by ox cart according to itinerary
- Pack animals on route
- Cultural activities (making Mongolian cuisines, playing ankle bone game etc)
- Boiled water on route
- Two ways bus tickets between UB and Murun (other unspecified bus routes you’ll have to arrange independently)
- Local transportation service between Murun and nomadic families (other unspecified routes you’ll have to arrange independently)
Khuvsgul Lake Horse Riding – Not Included Services:
- Taxi to/from Dragon Bus Station within UB city (you’ll need to cover)
- Camping equipments /sleeping bag /
- Two overnights in Murun /local guest house 45000MNTper night, local hotel’s standard single room 60000-80000MNT per night. NOTE: Kindly note that the accommodation prices for Murun are only “estimates”, we’ve noticed that a handful of rural hotels/guesthouses have raised their prices up a bit e.g., what was 40,000MNT ($15) has become 80,000+ MNT ($30+) in some cases – so please be mentally and financially prepare for any inflation fluctuations… unfortunately we can’t control these situations 👍
- National park fee
- Finances for personal use