Mountain Biking to Khovsgol Lake

Guests will be greeted upon arrival at the airport, before being transported to a convenient, centrally located hotel. A 4-5h city tour can be arranged depending on your arrival time, which includes Bogd Khan's Winter & Summer Palace, a series of beautiful traditional buildings in which the eighth Living Buddha and the last king lived.

You will also explore the Gandantegchinlen Monastery, which is the largest and most important monastery within Mongolia, before visiting the magnificent 82-foot high statue of Migjid Janraisig. You will finish the city tour atop Zaisan hill for a view of Ulaanbaatar.

In the evening, your tour guide will give you a short briefing about the coming trip and answer all your questions, before taking you to a famous Mongolian restaurant for a first taste of Mongolian food.

Following a delicious breakfast, you will depart by vehicle towards the extinct volcano of Uran Uul, which is located 500 kilometers west of the capital city. Uran Uul and nearby Togoo Uul, located 60 kilometers west of Bulgan city, are now part of the 1600-hectare Uran-Togoo Tulga Uul Natural Reserve in the Khutag-Ondor sum (district).

The west side of the volcano has trails that lead to the summit, and there are some pleasant accessible camping sites available, as well as a breathtaking view to be experienced.

Upon waking up and enjoying breakfast, you will travel further west and north to visit the Uushgiin Uvur deer stone complex, before continuing on towards Moron, which is the provincial capital of Khovsgol.

Once in the city, you will stop at a nearby market to stock up on supplies and enjoy the comforts of a hotel and a restaurant meal before heading to the wilderness the next day.

After breakfast, you will start driving north and will eventually arrive in the charming Sumber village early in the afternoon. This is where your cycling tour will begin on the following day.

Today you will begin your seven-day cycling expedition in the remote Tsaatan and reindeer area. Once you have explored the region by bike and marveled at its beauty, you will arrive in the small village of Toom after a full day of cycling.

Day 6 of your cycling adventure will see you travel north to cross the Oliin Davaa Pass. Here, you will set up camp near Ulaan-Uul village for the night.

Today you will finally arrive at the Darkhadiin Khotgor Depression, which was once a glacial lake and is now surrounded on all sides by high mountains with a height exceeding nearly 3000 meters. The dramatic landscape here is also home to over 150 alpine lakes.

From here, you will continue north to Soyo village, where you will set up camp along the banks of the Khog River.

Day 8 of the tour will see you receive some much needed rest from the previous days of cycling. Fishing is available to those who are interested, so don’t forget to bring your fishing equipment! The lake and rivers here are home to over a dozen fish species such as Sturgeon, grayling, salmon, taimon. Accommodation in a tented camp.

You will spend the next three days exploring the alpine lakes area. The Mongolian minor ethnic group known as Tsaatan or Dukha lives in this remote and wild area, and are some of the world's last remaining reindeer herders.

Here, you will have the opportunity to visit the Tsaatan tribe, learn about their culture, and experience the impact of Shamanism on their everyday lives. On the final day, you will set up camp near Renchinlkhumbe village.

Today you will leave the Darkhadiin Khotgor Depression and head towards Khovsgol Lake. Depending on the weather and road conditions, the drivers will take either a shortcut straight through the mountains or a longer detour to arrive at the “Mongolian Blue Pearl,” a breathtakingly beautiful lake.

Khovsgol Lake is a massive alpine lake with a surface area of 2760 square kilometers (130 km long and 30 km wide), surrounded by mountain chains, dense pine forests, and green meadows with grazing yaks and horses. The lake receives crystal clear water from over 100 small rivers and streams.

We'll spend the whole day exploring the lakeshore and mountains surrounding it. Horseback riding, visiting reindeer families, hiking, and canoeing will be available to those who are interested.

Take advantage of your last morning in the Mongolian wilderness. Afterwards, you will travel to Moron, the capital of Khovsgol province, where you will catch your flight to Ulaanbaatar the next day.

The time has come to leave and fly back to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital. You can use your free afternoon as you see fit; a good option is to go see lovely cultural exhibitions and admire the contortionists while watching colorful and rhythmic Mongolian dances.

After breakfast, guests will bid farewell to Ulaanbaatar with an individual departure.