Zavkhan Taster, September 2012 (10 days)
Price : $2200 NZD
For most people a shorter trip to Mongolia means a visit to Terelj National Park, a short drive from Ulaanbaatar. You get to stay in the 'tourist zone' and ride a pony for a few hours with all the other tourists. The scenery is nice, but if you want to experience authentic Mongolia and Mongolians, don't go there!
A 10-day trip with Zavkhan Trekking still allows you to get off the beaten track and experience the fantastic riding and fascinating culture of the real Mongolia. We begin by flying to Moron. This is the starting point for the well-beaten track to Lake Khovsgol in the north - we take 'the road less travelled' and head south to Zavkhan. The drive takes 7-8 hours, but the landscape is beautiful and is well worth it in order to leave the crowds behind.
We meet the horses in the evening and the following day we head for the hills, for five and a half days riding. Since this is the first time we have run a short trip, it is 'exploratory' in the sense that we will be trying riding routes not taken before. The area where we ride will be the same as for our longer Zavkhan rides, so for a full description of what to expect see our Zavkhan Classic trek.
After a final half-day ride we will drive to the south of Zavkhan, ready for our flight back to Ulaanbaatar.
If you think five and a half days of riding is not enough for a ten day trip, we can point you to something closer to Ulaanbaatar. But be aware that you are likely to get quantity at the expense of quality - we specialise in getting to remote areas untouched by tourism, and that does unfortunately take time!
NOTE: This trip may be guided by one of our local guides.
Trip Outline
Day 1 (12th Sept) Meet for dinner in Ulaanbaatar
Day 2 Fly to Moron, drive to Zavkhan and meet the horses
Days 3 to 7 Ride through steppe and forested foothills of the Tarvagatai Mountains
Day 8 Final half day ride, drive south
Day 9 Fly back to Ulaanbaatar
Day 10 (21st Sept) Transfers to airport
Highlights
As for the Zavkhan Classic, but we will not make it to the hot spa, or Khar Nuur, the desert lake. But we still experience the varied scenery, the great riding country and horses, and the unspoilt local culture.
Great plains, endless green pastures, rocky deserts, mountains, wild forests, high mountain passes, wading through snow, crossing streams, riding in the moonlight, a great team, exceptionally sturdy horses - I got everything!
Gabor, from Hungary