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Cycle across the vast Mongolian steppe and experience traditional games
Cycle across the vast Mongolian steppe and experience traditional games
Mongolia remains a mysterious presence in the heart of Central Asia, a traditional country where visitors are still an unusual sight. Nomads wander the grasslands, setting up their white gers (tents) where the pasture is lush for their horses. On our bikes, we follow good trails across wide, open steppe, into expansive mountain scenery and through larch and pine forests. Camping wild under the wide skies adds an adventurous edge to what is certainly one of our most intrepid cycle tours. Adding to the experience this special departure spends two days taking in traditional wrestling, archery, horse-riding, bone flicking and Mongolians dressed in their best clothes at the Naadam Festival in Ulaanbaatar.
June, July and August are the summer months in Mongolia, characterised by daytime temperatures of 20ºC to 30ºC and evenings around 15ºC. Summer is also the wet season and rainy days are certain over a two-week journey. September is the start of Autumn, expect daytime temperatures 15ºC to 25ºC, nights 5ºC to 10ºC. Mongolia is a land of tremendous seasonal change, as temperatures plummet to -40ºC in the wintertime. It can snow on any day of the year and there is the potential that very cold weather could be experienced on these trips.
This is a moderate/challenging cycling trip and is classified as off-road. We advise that you be reasonably fit and a confident cyclist, with some off-road cycling experience. Please also take the number of nights camping into consideration; hotels are only used while in Ulaanbaatar. We believe that camping allows you to experience the wonderful remoteness of Mongolia.
Average daily distance: 50km (31 miles)
No. of days cycling: 11 (including 2 half days)
Vehicle Support: 100%
Terrain and route: good quality, vehicle width, hard-pack dirt tracks across undulating forest and steppe. Roads vary from being tarmacked to rocky in places with some short steep passes.
Two vehicles will support the trip (depending on group size) including a 4WD/standard minivan for people and a separate one for bikes and equipment. You may ride as much or as little as you like. The only things you need to carry with you on the bike are your valuables, sun cream, extra top, camera and water bottle, etc. One vehicle will travel at the front and one at the rear of the group. The bikes will return from Karakorum with the support vans at the end of the trip.
The terrain is best described as undulating, as the rolling steppe grasslands of Mongolia are. Our route mostly follows jeep tracks along river valleys and over ridgeline mountain passes, with some better quality sealed tarmacked roads in the early stages of the trip. Trails are mostly hard-packed dirt tracks, however, mountain passes often have loose gravel on the descent, requiring extreme caution. Sandy patches are hazardous in places, particularly at the base of small dips in the road. Our route passes through some more mountainous areas where roads follow rivers upstream and occasionally cross up and over into the neighbouring watershed. The passes referred to in the itinerary are universally low - usually requiring just 100-200m of vertical rise/descent. Some of the descents can be rocky. Typically there are 4 to 7 hours of riding each day.
This trip will appeal to anyone who is physically fit, enjoys riding off-road and is happy to camp in beautiful and wild places (we use good quality camping equipment, but home comforts are not a feature of this trip). Our tented camps include a kitchen tent, communal dining tent, wash tent and toilet tents. Mongolia is a country with just 1500km of sealed roads and these tend to be heavily trafficked and in poor condition. By far the most appealing travel is away from the main transit corridors and this is where our route takes us.
If you are bringing your own bike, please ensure that suitable off-road tyres are fitted - if in doubt please contact our office for clarification. Due to the open nature of the country and fully supported trip, flexibility to adjust the daily itinerary according to circumstances is best. The exact location of campsites can be changed, as circumstances require, but weary cyclists are free to join the support vehicle. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to call us.
Please note that the route and distances described in the itinerary are fluid and depending on the local conditions and how the group feel as well as potential encounters with locals along the way on any particular day we may cycle further or less far that day.
By accepting our offer in writing, you/you confirm that our terms and conditions have both been read and understood and that cancellation fees may apply if the trip is cancelled.
| AVAILABLE DATES | PRICE (1 ADULT) | PRICE (1 CHILDREN) | Single room supplement | TRAVEL STATUS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, 27 Jun 2024 / Sat, 13 Jul 2024 | NOK 46 610 | On request | NOK 4 660 | Available |
| AVAILABLE DATES | PRICE (1 ADULT) | PRICE (1 CHILDREN) | SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT | TRAVEL STATUS | |
| Thu, 27 Jun 2024 / Sat, 13 Jul 2024 | NOK 46 610 | On request | NOK 4 660 | On request |
We will get back to you with an offer on the requested trip / package within 48 hours. All offers are non-binding and are usually valid for 7 days. Please note that reserved services can be canceled within these 7 days and that price may change until a final order is received.
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