US
6, 25 June, 2019
17 July, 2019
5, 24 August, 2019
17 September, 2019
Period 1 Jun 2019
- 31 Oct 2019
Adult NZD $4,290.00
Russian "Furgon". A very sturdy, go anywhere type of vehicle used in Mongolia.
Not included in trip fee:
Grade: D
Even though you are riding and not hiking - you still need to be fit to get the most out of this adventure. You will be camping most nights in very remote areas. There will be times when you need to get off and lead your horse, so you need to be in good enough shape for hiking on rough trails.
If you are not a rider we recommend you have a couple of rides or lessons with your local horse trekking outfit at home, it will be a completely different experience to riding in Mongolia - but it will help with your confidence when you climb on board a Mongolian horse for the first time.
If you weigh over 100kgs (220 pounds) please talk to us. It's not necessarily a problem if you are fit and active.
It is difficult to describe a typical day, as they vary so much. Around six hours is about the time spent in the saddle each day. A mix of walking, trotting and cantering, with galloping for the confident riders, eats up the miles and makes the day fly by, and is our preferred way to travel.
If we feel the group is up to it, we will offer you the chance to try completely new routes some days. You do need to be prepared for some longer days when doing this. On a ‘normal’ day we would cover around 30-50km, depending on terrain.
Two nights in an Ulaanbaatar hotel, two nights in ger camps (traditional-style 4-bed gers), 12 nights wilderness camping.
Your personal luggage will be carried on pack-horses. See below for a suggested packing list. Please bring only essential items in the interest of the horses! You will be provided with water-proof bags for your gear, which will be loaded in to special pack-bags for the horses. You will also be provided with personal saddle bags which are big enough to fit snacks, camera, water bottle, sun cream etc. A raincoat or warm jacket can be tied (securely!) to your saddle. Your own travelling bags will be stored in Altai.
You will need enough layers of clothing to allow for a wide range of temperatures, which vary widely between day and night and from day to day. In June/July/Aug it is likely to be warm during the day (15C to 30C), but can be down to 5C at night. By September it will start to get cool during the day, and can be well below zero at night (see sleeping bag choice below). It can get cold sitting around the campfire in the evening at any time of year. So you need to bring light clothing for warm days, and plenty of warm clothing for the evening, especially by September. A down jacket is good, because it squashes down when not being worn (makes a good pillow too).
Camping equipment:
Riding / camping clothes:
Personal first aid kit:
Other useful items:
* A pair of light hiking boots is ideal. They can be used for riding, wearing around camp, leading your horse over rough ground, and for wandering around the streets of Ulaanbaatar. No need for serious hiking boots, but trainers (sneakers) are really not serious enough. The stirrup irons we use are ‘plate-type’ and wide enough to take light hiking boots. Some people do prefer to take a pair of short riding boots, which are also fine (as long as they have some tread on the sole), and keep another pair of boots or trainers for around the camp.
A pair of sandals can also be useful (depending on the time of year). It may sound odd, but a pair of gumboots can be very useful around camp, when the grass is long and wet. We provide chaps, so there is no need to bring long riding boots.
We pride ourselves on the meals we create from the limited supplies available. We bring fruit and vegetables with us from Ulaanbaatar, along with staples such as rice, flour and pasta. We trade for delicious yoghurt, cheese and milk when we encounter local people. In the evening we cook fresh bread on the camp fire. In autumn we feast on blueberries, currants, pine nuts and other fruits of the forest. And the rivers hold some excellent eating fish, if you can catch them.
We typically have a vegetarian main dish, and a separate meat dish, so vegetarians will be fine. We can also cater for people on a gluten-free diet. However if you’re vegan, please talk to us! You are welcome to pitch in with cooking if you enjoy creating camp fire cuisine, so bring along your favourite yak (or chick-pea) recipe. We sometimes bring a cook along, but it’s also fun to work as a team.
John Williamson - Expedition Leader
John first came to Mongolia in 2000, bought a horse and spent 6 months riding through this amazing country.
He ran the first trip to Mongolia in 2004 by convincing a group of friends and acquaintances to join us on an exploratory trip. John now helps guide trips each year. He is a Member of The Long Riders’ Guild, the world’s first international association of equestrian explorers and long distance travellers.
Armangul - Local Guide and chief organiser
..or 'super-woman' as we call her. She is our local organiser and seems to know everyone. Her hospitality is boundless. She can turn her hand to anything, whether it's fixing an engine, singing and playing the dombra, milking a horse, or cooking up another tasty batch of borzig (a sort of Mongolian donut).
Wranglers
The wranglers are responsible for looking after the horses, watering them and staking them out at night. You are welcome to help once you work out the local techniques. Our wranglers will most likely be Bekan, Quartbek and Alois. They have been riding since before they could walk, and know the mountain trails like the back of their hand. They are great singers and will be expecting to hear you sing traditional folk songs from your own country...
Translator
In many respects, the translator has one of the most demanding jobs in the team. A good translator is able to break down the barriers between our very different cultures to let you enter the world of the local nomads. They must be familiar with countryside life so they can discuss what is going on around us when we visit families - and steer us through the mine-field of cultural etiquette. For those who are interested, they should ideally be able to discuss the current political situation and history of Mongolia with you around the campfire.
That's why we are extremely lucky to have Kulshaat in the team, a well educated local woman she is just as comfortable discussing the finer points of Mongolia's economy in excellent English, as she is milking a yak - a very rare combination. While she may look sweet and innocent, she has a wicked sense of humour - if she offers you a handful of berries to try, check they're not goat droppings!
Cook
The key to any successful expedition is good nourishment, so the role of cook is a very important one! Our local cook will prepare breakfast and dinner each day over either an open fire or a wood stove when we are at the ger camp. It's a demanding job and we are lucky to have some very talented Mongolian cooks available in the Altai area.
Drivers
Adilkhan is our main driver in the Altai, with his Russian jeep, he will be joined 2-3 other drivers, driving similar vehicles or the Russian "Furgon". A very sturdy, go anywhere type of vehicle, that is easy to fix, compared to the computerised Japanese 4wds.
Do I need to be a ‘hard mountain-man’ (or woman) to come on a trip?
Not really. But you do need to have a well-developed sense of adventure, and be prepared to rough it when necessary. And a sense of humour always helps. You will be driving off-road, hiking over rugged terrain, camping every night and going places few westerners have ever been. If this sounds like you then let’s go. If not, we can suggest a couple of other operators who will give you an excellent tour, if a little less adventurous than travelling with us.
What will the weather and temperatures be like?
July/August is the height of summer so you can expect warm days at this time of year. Sometimes hot enough to throw yourself in the nearest river at the end of the day, but usually just a pleasant hiking temperature. The evenings can be cool, so you do need warm clothes for sitting around the camp fire. It can get down to below zero Celsius even in summer. In Zavkhan, summer does tend to be the rainy season although don't be thinking English rain, it's more the odd brief shower. Early summer is a good time to visit to see the spectacular wild flowers.
By September we are heading back in to autumn, so the days are crisp and sunny and there is always the chance of an early cold snap, particularly in the Altai. Autumn brings a touch of colour to the forests and perhaps a dusting of snow to the mountains, and nomadic herders are busy preparing for the coming winter. By late September-early October it is not uncommon to wake to a world of white, making for challenging but beautiful riding conditions.
Where can I leave luggage I don’t require on the trek?
You can leave gear locked up at your hotel in Ulaanbaatar, if you decide to leave the clothes you flew in.
What type of tents do we use?
We use spacious 2-3 person tents, shared by two people. You will not be required to share with someone of the opposite sex (unless by mutual consent). Individual tents will be provided for those who would prefer not to share (a single supplement is not required). Our tents are very easy to put up, but there will always be someone to assist if necessary. If you have a favourite tent of your own, feel free to bring it along with you.
What will the 'facilities' be like?
Each time we stop and set up camp we dig a simple Asian-style squat toilet, with surround. During the day while riding there is always somewhere to wander off to for a bit of privacy. You might like to practice squatting at home to strengthen your legs (there is no need to go all the way).
Will there be the opportunity to wash (myself and my clothes too)?
Mongolia has a dry climate, so you won't be getting hot and sweaty as you do in places such as South East Asia, but we always camp by a water source, so there will be water for a wash, and plenty of firewood to heat it up a little. There are also opportunities to swim in the rivers and lakes if the weather is warm enough (there are no nasty creatures to worry about). We provide washing bowls and soap powder to wash clothes if necessary.
Is the water safe to drink?
Where you hike you can drink the water straight from the streams. Unlike in the West, local people have enough sense not to foul their own water supply, and there are no water-borne diseases. Having said that, we do provide boiled water each day for those who need it. You may also like to bring water purifier tablets with you so you can treat your own drinking water.
What emergency back-up do you provide if something goes wrong?
We travel in remote areas, so we take your health and safety very seriously. We do everything in our power to avoid accidents, but they can happen, and it may be some time before you can get adequate hospital treatment in the event of an emergency.
Our trip leaders are trained in Wilderness First Response, and will provide medical care to the best of their abilities until you are able to reach a hospital.
The support vehicle is available if necessary. It is vital that you have your own travel insurance which includes repatriation.
What vaccinations should I get?
We strongly recommend that you consult a specialist travel doctor well in advance to get the latest information on what vaccinations to consider for Mongolia. There are no legally required vaccinations, but the following are standard for any developing country:
Typhoid, Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Polio
Rabies is present in Mongolia (as it is in the US and Europe) and some travellers do get vaccinated for it. Consult your doctor and don’t pat the dogs!
Do I have anything to fear from rabies, the Black Death and other nasties?
Mongolia is a relatively safe and healthy country due to the low population density and cold winters. Regarding rabies, we can't advise you to not get vaccinated. However from our experience in Mongolia, we believe the risk is low. We have never been menaced by a dog, rabid or otherwise. Since their main job is protecting livestock from wolves, it is good policy to not approach any dog, unless the owner has 'introduced you'. Then they tend to be perfectly friendly.
If a dog does approach you - they sometimes come around camp - pretending to throw a stone at them sends them on their way.
The Black Death does occur now and then. We call it the 'marmots revenge' since it tends to be marmot poachers who catch it. These days it can be treated quite easily and is not a threat.
Single Traveller
Please advise at the time of booking if you require single occupancy tent/room.
Payment
For bookings 4 or more months in advance of the departure a 25% deposit can be paid with the remainder due 65 days prior to your trip. For bookings within 4 months of the departure, full payment is required.
Cancellation
More than 8 weeks prior to departure – 80% refund if full amount paid
4 to 8 weeks prior to departure – 50% refund of the trip cost
Less than 4 weeks prior to departure – NO REFUND
Transfers
Your deposit can be held and put toward a re-booked trip for the following year (but only if your current trip is not yet fully booked and therefore people have not been turned away).
We suggest clients take out a comprehensive travel insurance.
World Nomads Travel Insurance provides online quotes.
Notes
For more great pictures and insight information visit our Active Earth Adventures Pinterest or Facebook page.
© 2024 Active Earth and Hiking New Zealand Limited. All rights Reserved.
