• Horse herding

Across the steppe as a true Mongolian horseman

This adventure will offer you the opportunity to experience horseman’s life for the time of a trek. Indeed you will join horsemen to help them herding Stepperiders horses. There are over 200 horses that have to be herd from Stepperiders’ camp to winter camp. This journey will take them one month, but you will join them for 5 days.

Horse herding has been done for centuries and is necessary to provide enough grass to the horses to survive the tough winter. The summer camp hills have been grazed and it is time for this area to rest and re-grow until next summer. The winter camp will ensure good conditions to the horses who will experience temperatures going below -40C.

If you like adventure and horses and are not afraid from the cold, this trek is perfect for you! It will be a total immersion in a life far from the ordinary! You will end with the visit of Terelj National park, celebrating the end of your trek in a warm ger with the other participants.

The weather can be tough in October, this is why you will be followed by a support vehicle, to allow you to rest and warm up when it becomes too difficult.

 

Discover true horseman life

Herd over 200 horses across Mongolia’s steppe

Visit of Terelj National park and its highlights

Day 1:Meet your guide at Stepperiders

We will pick you up in Ulaanbaatar and drive you to Stepperiders ger camp. You will meet your guide who will introduce you to this very special trek and teach you about Mongolian nomadic culture (why do the horses change camp, winter in Mongolia etc.). He will also help you select a helmet and half-chaps for the ride.
You will have dinner with the other participants and stay overnight in a ger at Stepperiders ger camp.

Note: pick up in Ulaanbaatar any time between 9am and  5pm.

Day 2: Become a true horseman

You drive to meet the horsemen and the herd. You will receive horse riding and herding instructions and be ready to start your journey as a Mongolian horseman (horsewoman). The weather can change rapidly in Mongolia, so if you feel too cold or tired it is possible to stop riding and go in the support vehicle. The horses will travel for a month to reach winter camp, but you will travel with them for the next 5 days. On the way you will also stop to heat up and meet nomadic families in their traditional gers. They will be surprise and curious to meet foreign horse herders.
Night will be spent in tent. The nights are going to be very cold so we recommend that you share tents. Plus you will have to bring warm clothes and equipment.

Day 3 – 6: herding

Continue the herding across Mongolia’s steppe.
On day 6, you will say goodbye to the horsemen and horses who will continue their journey. You will leave with your guide to sleep in a warm ger in Terelj National park.

Day 7: Terelj National Park

You will spend the day visiting Terelj National park. You will see the Turtle Rock, Meditation temple and the Chinggis Khan Equestrian Monument.
At the end of the day you can either sleep at Stepperiders ger camp or be driven back to Ulaanbaatar

Day 8: – optional – Hustai National Park

It is possible to go on a jeep excursion to Hustai National park before we drive you back to Ulaanbaatar. Hustai is the home of the famous Mongolian Wild horses called Takhi or Przewalski horses that you will have the chance to observe. You might also see other species such as the red deer, marmot, wolf, lynx and many bird species.
At the end of the tour we will drive you back to your accommodation in Ulaanbaatar

Set departure tour, Dates & Price:

Departures:

Contact us if you would like to join! Starting mid-October

Tour grade: Moderate

Tour Price:

1 – 2 pax: 1.500 USD per person
3 – 4 pax: 1.250 USD per person

Price Includes
Pick up / drop off (Airport: anytime, Ulaanbaatar city: 09:00 or 16:00)
English speaking tour guide
All meals
Accommodation (tents and ger)
Bottled water
Horse riding
Entrance fees for national parks and visits
Support vehicle