Tour itinerary

Traditional yurts, an exclusive immersion in Mongolian culture and horse rides alongside the last nomadic horsemen…
Enjoy a unique experience in Mongolia: a luxurious, mobile yurt camp that we will move through the dunes of the Bayan Gobi and the valleys of the Khangai.

The ultimate luxury of an African safari lodge recreated in Mongolia
Have you ever enjoyed the ultimate luxury of a horseback safari in Africa? We have recreated the equivalent of an African lodge in the dunes and steppes of Mongolia.
Our founder, Sabine Grataloup, has tried almost every horseback safari available over the past 30 years (Okavango, South Africa, Namibia, Kenya…) and has put her experience to good use in this unique project.
You’ll find the luxury and immersion in the great outdoors that characterise African lodges, combined with Mongolia’s ancient equestrian culture.

Our mobile yurt camp
Your richly decorated yurt offers you the best of Mongolia: private shower and toilet, comfortable beds with cashmere blankets, traditional furniture…
Attention is paid to every detail: a morning wake-up call with coffee and warm towels, heat packs for a warmer bed in the evening, a hot shower, the traditional ‘sundowner’ at sunset, wine with meals, Starlink connection…
Our chef will treat you to dishes blending Mongolian, Asian and international cuisine. Under the large traditional tent, tables set with tablecloths and fine crockery add an unexpected touch of magic in the middle of the steppe.
When it comes to horse riding, comfort is also a priority with our English saddles adapted for Mongolian horses, fitted with seat savers.

Exclusive experiences for a true Mongolian initiation
Beyond the comfort of our camps and the exhilarating horse rides, this trip offers you many special experiences that will prepare you to enter the court of the Great Khan like a 21st-century Marco Polo.
An introduction to archery, the beauty rituals of Mongolian queens, a photo shoot in traditional royal costumes, hot springs, an insight into the nomadic way of life, a private concert of traditional music, Mongolian cooking workshop, a visit to the Erdene Zuu Monastery in Karakorum and the Tovkhon Monastery, perched 2,400 meters above the Orkhon Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site…
Of course, nothing is compulsory; you are always free to take part in these activities or not, as you wish.

This programme is so varied that your companions who do not ride will enjoy the trip just as much as you. A dedicated guide will be on hand to accompany them on walking treks and visits whilst you are on horseback.

Day 1: Ulaanbaatar – Bayan Gobi Desert

NIGHT IN LUXURY YURTS

Meet your English-speaking guide on arrival of the Turkish Airlines flight TK236 (usually scheduled to land at around 7.20 am in Ulaanbaatar), or at the 4* Khubilai Hotel at 9 am if you were already in Mongolia the previous days*.
Immediate departure for the Mongolian steppe!

Comfortable 4x4s with drivers (Land Cruiser or equivalent) will take us across the vast steppes towards Khogno Khan Park, nicknamed the Bayan-Gobi, the ‘Rich Gobi’, a northern extension of the Gobi Desert in Central Mongolia.
Lunch at a restaurant en route.
In the middle of the afternoon, we arrive at our first private yurt camp, amidst the dunes of the Bayan Gobi.

Our richly decorated yurts combine comfort and tradition: large travel beds with comfortable mattresses and cashmere blankets, traditional furniture and private shower/toilet facilities.
Enjoy a refreshing shower in the traditional tent adjoining your yurt, which houses your private bathroom facilities.

The late afternoon is set aside for some relaxation in this splendid setting.
You can settle into the comfortable deck chairs in the restaurant’s lounge area to browse through the books provided on Mongolia, its history, wildlife and culture… whilst enjoying a cup of tea, coffee or a cold drink.
You can also rest for a while in your yurt or set off to explore the dunes surrounding the camp.

Dinner is served in the large dining tent decorated with traditional patterns.

Approximately 4½ hours’ drive excluding stops.
* If you are arriving from Europe or America, we recommend staying one night at the Khubilai Hotel before the start of the trip, to help you adjust to the time difference.

Day 2:Horse riding in the Bayan Gobi dunes

PRIVATE TRADITIONAL MUSIC CONCERT – NIGHT IN LUXURY YURTS

A gentle first wake-up call – one of our rituals you’ll soon come to love!
A member of the team will knock on your yurt and leave a cup of coffee or tea of your choice, along with warm towels, at your door, so you can ease gently out of your dreams. You can then enjoy a hearty breakfast in the dining tent.

The horses are ready for our first ride through the dunes of the Bayan Gobi.

Imagine a ribbon of golden sand winding for nearly 80 kilometers through the vast Mongolian steppes. That is exactly what the “Bayan Gobi”, the “Rich Gobi”, has in store for you. Located about 280 km west of Ulaanbaatar, in Bulgan Province, this site forms part of the protected landscape around the Khogno Khan Mountains.

It offers a rare spectacle: dunes that suddenly rise up amidst green meadows, winding rivers, small lakes and rocky hills.
This is not the vast southern desert, but an isolated patch of desert that seems to have been deposited there by a whim of nature, creating a contrast that is both surprising and harmonious.

Here, the fine sand forms undulating ridges that sometimes reach several meters in height, fringed with bushes and tall grasses. Unlike the Southern Gobi, this area receives more rainfall, allowing rich vegetation to coexist with the dunes.

The result? A unique ecosystem where the desert meets the steppe, ideal for nature lovers and photographers in search of exceptional light.

You’ll enjoy these exceptional and exotic landscapes as you ride alongside the nomads who look after the horses, offering a first glimpse of these legendary horse people.

You’ll likely come across Bactrian camels, which are numerous in the region, foraging for food in the hollows of the dunes.
Return to camp for lunch.
We then continue our equestrian exploration of this rich ecosystem, where the desert meets the steppe.

Return to camp in the late afternoon for a well-deserved hot shower!

Before dinner, traditional musicians introduce us to Mongolian music during a private concert in the large traditional tent.

Traditional Mongolian music is characterised by a deeply nomadic identity, intimately linked to the vast steppes of Central Asia, where the melodies evoke the wind, the galloping of horses and the immensity of the landscape.

Among its iconic instruments, the morin khuur takes centre stage: this two-stringed fiddle, carved with a horse’s head at the top of the neck, is traditionally made from pine wood with a soundbox covered in leather.

Its rich and expressive sound perfectly mimics the neighing, the gallop and even the breath of the wind, symbolising the sacred bond between the Mongolian people and their mounts.

The morin khuur lends Mongolian music an evocative power and emotional depth that spans the centuries, preserving Mongolia’s nomadic and shamanic spirit.

Dinner under the large traditional tent, before returning to the comfort of your yurt for your second night under the starry Mongolian sky.

Day 3: Horse riding through the dunes and cliffs of the Bayan Gobi

ERDENE KHAMBIIN KHIID MONASTERY - MONGOLIAN COOKING WORKSHOP - NIGHT IN LUXURY YURTS

After another gentle wake-up call amidst the sands of the Bayan Gobi and a refreshing breakfast, we explore a new, more mountainous area on horseback, reminiscent of the rocky formations of Arizona or Wadi Rum in Jordan.
We ride to the Buddhist monastery of Erdene Khambiin Khiid.

At the foot of Mount Khögnö Khan (1,967 m), the Erdene Khambiin Khiid monastery invites visitors to pray. Partially restored in the early 1990s following the end of Mongolian communism, it consists of three small buildings clinging to the cliff: a temple for services and two pagodas. One houses a large prayer wheel, the other is dedicated to a deity reputed to grant wishes.

Below lie the ruins of the monastery founded by Zanabazar, the first Bogdo Gegeen, born in 1635 nearby. Recognised as a saint, he was trained in Tibet in Lamaism, a 13th-century Buddhist tradition. As the first representative in Mongolia of the Yellow Hat sect, he founded numerous monasteries, including this one, named Erdene Khambiin (‘jewel of the Khamba’) in honour of his beloved master.

First destroyed by his rival Galdan Boshigt, an Oirat chieftain and supporter of the Red Caps, and then razed to the ground during the Soviet purges of the early 20th century, the site is now looked after by a Buddhist nun.

After lunch, we head up on horseback into the mountains to enjoy spectacular views of the dunes mingling with rivers and cliffs, creating a unique landscape.

Back at camp, for those who wish, the early evening is devoted to a Mongolian cooking workshop with our chef.

You’ll discover the authentic delights of Mongolian cuisine, an explosion of nomadic flavours that warms the heart and soul!

Buuz, those soft, steamed dumplings generously stuffed with meat and fragrant onions, or vegetables in their vegetarian version, are a true celebration of conviviality.

Khuushuur, their crispy, perfectly golden cousins, offer an irresistible fried version: a light pastry encasing a tasty, spicy filling, ideal for a snack after a day of adventure on the steppes.

As for tsuivan, this comforting dish of stir-fried noodles with fresh vegetables and tender meat embodies Mongolian generosity with its delicious simplicity and flavours that invite sharing

These specialities, steeped in centuries-old traditions and available in vegetarian versions, will transform your dinner into an unforgettable experience, full of warmth and culinary discoveries that will stay with you long after your stay!

Day 4: Bayan Gobi – Karakorum – Khangai Mountains

ERDENE ZUU MONASTERY - ARCHERY INTRODUCTION - NIGHT IN LUXURY YURTS

Today, we leave the Bayan Gobi Desert, land of the camels, to head for the Khangai Valleys, land of the yaks!

Our team faces a real challenge: dismantling the yurts and our entire camp, only to reassemble it in a completely different environment, nearly three hours’ drive away.

After breakfast, we set off in 4x4s towards Karakorum, the former capital of the Mongol Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Karakorum, founded by Ögödei Khan in 1235, sits at the heart of the Orkhon Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that embodies over two thousand years of nomadic and imperial history.

A fascinating remnant of Mongolian grandeur, the city now offers the evocative ruins of its palaces and temples, dominated by the magnificent Erdene Zuu Monastery, built in 1586 using the very stones of the ancient capital and surrounded by 108 white stupas symbolising peace and Buddhist spirituality.

This region is considered the historical cradle of the nomadic way of life in Mongolia. Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2004 as the ‘Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape’, it is recognised for having been home, since prehistoric times, to successive nomadic cultures that shaped a unique nomadic pastoralism over more than two millennia, which remains alive today among Mongolian herders.

Thus, for UNESCO, Karakorum and the Orkhon Valley are not merely a historical site: they are the symbolic and geographical heart of Mongolian nomadism, where this millennia-old way of life took root and spread across successive empires.

You will visit Erdene Zuu Monastery and the Karakorum Museum, before having lunch at a restaurant in Karakorum.
We then set off again, first by road and then along a track, to reach the new location of our yurt camp in a secluded valley of the Khangai.

The Khangai Mountains, overlooking the Orkhon Valley, unfold a magnificent landscape of rolling steppes, green hills and forest-covered mountains. These vast expanses are still traversed today by numerous nomadic families with their yurts and herds of horses, yaks, cashmere goats and sheep.

This legendary region invites you on a journey back in time, where the nomadic spirit of Mongolia reveals itself in all its splendour and eternal serenity.
Once settled in your yurts, we invite you to try a quintessentially Mongolian experience: archery!

Our team will teach you how to hold the traditional bow made of wood and horn, how to place the arrow, and then how to aim and shoot at targets located a few dozen meters away.

In the steppe breeze, you’ll feel the adrenaline and precision of Genghis Khan’s ancient horsemen. A convivial experience offering a true cultural immersion.

Dinner under our large traditional tent.
First night amidst these vast historic landscapes, snug and warm in your yurt.
Approximately 3½ hours’ drive excluding stops.

Day 5: Horseback riding in the nomadic valleys of Khangai

NOMADIC LIFE - HOT SPRINGS AND THE BEAUTY RITUAL OF MONGOLIAN QUEENS - NIGHT IN LUXURY YURTS

This day is dedicated to an immersion in Mongolian nomadic life, in every sense of the word!

Indeed, our day on horseback will take us through the landscapes of Mongolia just as you’ve always dreamed of: yurts nestled on a carpet of lush green grass and flowers, herds of yaks and horses roaming free, and rivers whose meandering curves trace delicate patterns beneath the blue sky.

You’ll have the chance to meet a nomadic family who will show you how they live their daily lives in harmony with the herds and this magnificent yet sometimes harsh environment.
Lunch prepared by our chef.

You will continue on horseback to the hot springs that rise from the heart of a valley. Pools have been created within a yurt camp.
Our drivers will be waiting for you with your swimwear, which you will have packed in the morning before the ride begins. This will allow you to fully enjoy the benefits of these healing waters.

Return to camp by 4x4, relaxed and refreshed. This is just the first step in our beauty regime to make us worthy of entering the court of the Great Khan, as the early evening will be devoted to the beauty ritual of the Mongolian queens!

You’ll have the chance to try a selection of Mongolian beauty products, made from natural ingredients sourced from the local flora and nomadic traditions (mare’s milk, etc.). Your skin will thank you for it, after five days in the dry environment of the Mongolian desert and mountains. This moment of discovery and sharing is also a very convivial occasion.

In the evening, you’ll once again enjoy our chef’s culinary skills before drifting off to sleep in the cosy comfort of your yurt.

Day 6: On horseback to Tovkhon Monastery

TOVKHON MONASTERY - PHOTO SESSION IN TRADITIONAL ROYAL COSTUMES - NIGHT IN LUXURY YURTS

Today is a big day! You have completed many stages of your Mongolian initiation: the long rides and the yurts, of course, but also the cooking, the music, archery… and even a skincare session worthy of the queens of Genghis Khan or Khubilai Khan!

But you still have to follow the pilgrimage trails to Tovkhon Monastery, at the heart of Mongolian culture. Riding at your horse’s own rhythm, you will traverse the endless golden steppes and the untamed ridges of the Khangai, treading the same ancient trails once walked by nomads and pilgrims long ago.

Perched atop a sacred cliff, the monastery founded in the 17th century by the great Zanabazar, the first Bogd Khan, awaits you as a living sanctuary where Buddhist spirituality blends with millennia-old shamanic traditions.

You will feel deep within you the nomadic spirit that has shaped the identity of this legendary country. This adventure is not just a horse trek: it is a return to the very roots of Mongolia, a journey of discovery where every step your horse takes brings you a little closer to the eternal essence of its culture.
Return to camp in the late afternoon.

Tonight, you reach the end of this journey of discovery in Mongolia, and you are worthy of presenting yourself before the Great Khan, like a 21st-century Marco Polo!

To do so, you can choose from our richly coloured and decorated traditional costumes and headdresses for both women and men: dels (traditional coats) and dresses in every colour, belts, ceremonial armour, helmets, hats and spectacular jewellery…

Any extravagance is allowed, for a memorable photo shoot!*

Our chef will pull out all the stops for this final dinner on the steppe, before you drift off to sleep lulled by the legendary tales of the Great Khans.
*Photos will be taken by our team using your camera or mobile phone; there will be no professional photographer.

Day 7: Khangai – Ulaanbaatar

NIGHT IN A 4* HOTEL

Final breakfast in the steppe, a last look at the yurts that have been your home for a week out of time.
It is time to head back to Ulaanbaatar, a long journey made more comfortable by our 4x4s.
Lunch in a restaurant en route.

We arrive at the end of the day on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar, avoiding the city centre due to its chaotic traffic.

Your last night will be spent at the magnificent 4-star Khubilai Hotel, featuring a spectacular interior dedicated to Khubilai Khan, who forged the largest empire in human history.

An imposing statue of the Great Khan presides over the reception hall. You will therefore have the chance to stand before him in person… though we cannot guarantee that he will welcome you into his court!

The hotel has a swimming pool, a sauna and a gym where you can unwind from the fatigue of the journey, before a final dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Overnight at the 4* Khubilai Hotel (or equivalent).
Approximately 6½ hours’ drive excluding stops.

Day 8: Ulaanbaatar Airport

Breakfast and transfer to the airport according to your flight times.

PLEASE NOTE: On selected dates, this program may operate in the opposite direction, beginning with the Khangai Mountains and finishing in the Bayan Gobi Desert. The last night remains at the Khubilai Hotel (or equivalent) regardless.