Classic Mongolia Cycling Tour

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Arrival and Ulaanbaatar City Tour

   Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, you will be transferred to the group hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may join a half-day city tour to discover the highlights of Mongolia’s vibrant capital. Visit Sükhbaatar Square, home to the striking marble colonnade and statues of Chinggis Khaan, his successors, and mounted generals. Continue to the National Museum of Mongolia, where exhibits trace the nation’s story from prehistoric times to the modern era.
   
   In the evening, enjoy a captivating traditional folk performance featuring throat singing, live music, and contortion, followed by a warm welcome dinner with the group.

   • Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
   • Dinner
2. Day 2Transfer to the starting point of the cycling tour

   You load into 4WD expedition vans equipped with special racks for carrying bikes and head west of UB, driving over rough tarmac that cuts through vast, open steppes with rolling hills in the distance. Along the way, you’ll see countless flocks of sheep, goats, horses, and cattle, herded by nomads near their traditional homes, known as gers. By late afternoon, you’ll reach a provincial capital and settle into a hotel. If you're up for it, you can explore the town on foot before dinner.

   • Hotel
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
3. Day 3Bike to Asgat Valley

   A 2-hour car transfer brings you to the foothills of the Khangai mountain range, where your ride begins after a snack break. Today is an acclimatization ride, with a gentle incline across grassy valleys fed by small streams that flow toward the arid plains of the Gobi Desert, which you can catch a glimpse of if you look back.

   In the afternoon, you’ll spot a few homes of nomadic herders and their enormous herds. Curious about bike travellers, they might pause their daily chores to greet and wave at you. You'll set up your first tent camp soon after crossing the day’s highest point at 2,450m. Most nights on this trip will be spent in comfortable tent camps, set up every afternoon after the day's biking. The camp includes tents for dining, showers, and bathrooms, along with delicious meals prepared by a chef.

   • 19.3 miles
   • Tent
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
4. Day 4Bike to Shargaljuut Valley

   For most of the day, you’ll gradually gain altitude along well-established car tracks carved into the mountainsides, offering sweeping views of a lush river valley filled with yaks and horses. The stunning scenery more than makes up for the rocky sections of the road, which eventually leads to the Shargaljuut mineral springs, many of which are boiling hot. A massive Soviet-era health spa sits on the mountainside, gushing with hot mineral water known for its healing properties, widely used in traditional Mongolian medicine. During the summer, the area is bustling with locals who spend a week or two seeking relief from various ailments. You’ll have time to explore and test the water temperatures.

   After another hour of pedaling along the valley, you’ll leave civilization behind. Your tents will be set up by a picturesque riverside, with a few gers and the herders' animals nearby.

   • 24.9 miles
   • 1,102.4 ft
     1,781.5 ft
     679.1 ft
   • Tent Camping
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
5. Day 5Crossing the Khangai Mountain Range

   Today marks the start of your journey across the Khangai’s watershed, which separates the southern basin from the northern basin. You’ll traverse less-travelled paths, taking in stunning, untouched landscapes that shift as the day unfolds. Each ascent, though sometimes challenging, rewards you with a panoramic highpoint, followed by an exhilarating downhill. The evening brings you to your campsite near the homes of local herders, offering a chance for interaction and cultural exchange.

   • 27.3 miles
   • Tent Camping
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
6. Day 6Crossing of the Khangai Mountain Range

   On this second day, you’ll continue to explore the hidden corners of the Khangai range, where beautiful new landscapes greet you at every turn. After each climb, a breathtaking view awaits, followed by thrilling downhill stretches. The road then flattens, allowing for a leisurely ride through peaceful terrain, surrounded by the vastness of unspoilt nature.
   

   • 26.1 miles
   • 1,072.8 ft
     2,903.5 ft
     1,830.7 ft
   • Tent Camping
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
7. Day 7Crossing of the Khangai Mountain Range

   The final day of this segment offers more of the Khangai’s diverse beauty. As you pedal along, the shifting landscapes continue to impress, each ascent opening up to new, sweeping vistas.
   

   • 23.6 miles
   • -210 ft
     2,424.5 ft
     2,634.5 ft
   • Tent Camping
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
8. Day 8Bike to Tsetserleg Town

   After crossing to the northern side of the Khangai, you’ll bike toward Tsetserleg, a charming provincial capital nestled beneath a stunning granite ridge. The day starts with a short but steep pass, followed by a fast-paced ride on smooth, packed surfaces. As you approach the town, the final climb rewards you with a view of traditional residential districts, neatly aligned with vibrant rooftops. You’ll have plenty of time to explore, including a visit to the bustling market, where locals sell pine nuts, wild berries, and other natural products from the Khangai region. After just half an hour of pedaling, you’ll arrive at a traditional-style guest accommodation that offers the comforts of a hotel, including running water, showers, and bathrooms. Your room for the night will be an authentic Mongolian ger.

   • 41 miles
   • Ger Resort
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
9. Day 9Ride to Tsenker Hot Springs

   You’ll spend half the day riding across a few short but steep passes before reaching Tsenkher Valley, renowned for its mineral hot springs. While it can get busy with both locals and tourists during the short summer season, the soothing hot water is a perfect way to relax your muscles, especially with a cold beer in hand. If you like, you can also enjoy a relaxing massage or make use of the laundry service. For the night, you’ll stay once again in traditional Mongolian gers.

   • 15.5 miles
   • Ger Resort
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
10. Day 10Cycle to Tsagaan Sum Valley

    Set out once more in the crisp morning air, invigourating and full of promise. A series of steady climbs leads to high passes, revealing sweeping views of forested mountains, open valleys, and sparkling streams. The rhythm of traditional herding life is ever-present along the route: expansive livestock herds graze peacefully, horses run freely, and nomads are settled in their autumn camps.
    
    Along the way, mares and foals may be seen tethered near the gers, hinting at the chance to sample airag, the traditional fermented mare's milk. Today’s riding is a pleasure, with smooth, well-packed trails throughout. As evening falls, the final wilderness camp is established, offering a tranquil night under the vast steppe sky.

    • 34.2 miles
    • Tent Camping
    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
11. Day 11Bike to Karakorum - Medieval Capital of Genghis Khaan

    You’ll cycle downstream along the Orkhon River, gradually losing altitude throughout the day. Your destination is the town of Karakorum, once the capital of the Mongol Empire in the 1200s. Its glory was short-lived, eventually falling into obscurity before being destroyed by invading Chinese armies in the late 14th century.

    Today, the main attraction is the Erdene Zuu Monastery, established in the 16th century by a Mongol khan during the introduction of Buddhism as the main religion. Although nearly destroyed during the anti-religion campaigns of the 1930s, a dozen temples still stand today. You’ll visit the monastery and the local museum to glimpse the few surviving artifacts from the old capital before heading to a ger camp to celebrate your ride.

    • 44.7 miles
    • Ger Resort
    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
12. Day 12Return to Ulaanbataar and Farewell Dinner

    You’ll load your bikes and drive back to Ulaanbaatar, stopping for a scenic picnic lunch along the way. Once you arrive, you'll settle into your hotel and later gather for a farewell dinner to wrap up the journey.
    

    • 44.7 miles
    • Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
    • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
13. Day 13Departure

    After breakfast, you'll be transferred for your onward journey
    

    • Breakfast