10 Day Guided Enduro Motorbike Trip on the Endless Mongolian Steppe

Overview

This is the landscape that GoBeyond and its guests motorbike through each year. This Mongolian adventure is the only tour where the itinerary isn’t set in stone. While the route is carefully planned, the itinerary can change at a moment’s notice based on the weather and road conditions encountered, combined with the inconceivable size of the steppe. It’s easy to get lost, but luckily GoBeyond always travels with local guides. Based on their vast experience, the perfect route is planned and recalibrated accordingly. Of course, the trip’s highlights are maintained, no matter what. As the locals might say (and it’s the right kind of attitude for this trip): expect the unexpected. The itinerary includes some amazing stops. For example, in the hot springs of the Övörkhangai province, guests can relax their tired bodies. The group visits the former capital of Mongolia, Karakorum, where colorfu

Highlights

• Starts and ends in Ulaanbaatar
• Visit Zaisan Hill and explore authentic Mongolian cuisine
• Ride through Hustai National Park, home to the wild takhi horses
• Experience the Danshig Naadam festival and motorbike on desert dunes
• Discover the ancient capital of Kharkhorin and its Buddhist monastery
• Relax in the Tsenkher hot springs after a scenic countryside ride
• Explore Lake Ugii's natural beauty and diverse wildlife
• 9 nights accommodation

Itinerary

1. Day 1 - Arrival

   After arriving in Ulaanbaatar, guests check into the hotel and have some time to relax. In the afternoon, the group visits Zaisan Hill to see a World War II memorial and the eclectic skyline of the city. In the evening, everyone explores the local cuisine at an authentic Mongolian restaurant.

2. Day 2 - Pick up the bikes and start the tour

   After breakfast, the group collects the bikes and heads west to Hustai National Park, home to the world's only remaining wild horses, the takhi. A short warm-up ride gets everyone used to the bikes, followed by an evening in a private yurt camp near the national park.

3. Day 3 - Danshig Naadam and the sand dunes of the Little Gobi

   The journey continues to the Little Gobi Desert, where participants can experience riding motorbikes on real desert sand dunes. The group visits the largest Mongolian Buddhist religious festival, Danshig Naadam, enjoying the classic Mongolian national sports of archery, wrestling, and horse riding, as well as the ritual religious Tsam dance, performed in traditional costume. The night is spent in a yurt camp next to the desert.

4. Day 4 - Kharkhorin

   The group arrives in Kharkhorin, the former capital of the ancient Mongol Empire, and visits the Buddhist monastery built on the ruins of the ancient capital.

5. Day 5 - Orkhon waterfall

   After crossing creeks and visiting the magnificent Orkhon waterfall, the group stays overnight in a family’s yurt camp on the bank of the Orkhon River. Here, participants can try milking a yak, riding horses, tasting kumis, or even helping with building the yurts.

6. Day 6 - Tsenkher hot springs

   Today's journey takes the group through rolling countryside, with only a few yurts and wandering herds of yaks and camels in the distance. The camp is next to the Tsenkher spring, and everyone relaxes in the thermal water after arriving.

7. Day 7 - Lake Ugii

   The group drives along winding, tire-marked roads to one of Mongolia's largest lakes, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1998 for its diverse bird and fish populations.

8. Day 8 - Back to Hustai National Park

   The group returns to Hustai National Park on a mostly tarmac road, though some off-roading is still part of the day. On the western, sandy side of the park, everyone enjoys another night of local hospitality in a yurt camp.

9. Day 9 - Ulaanbaatar

   The group rides back to Ulaanbaatar, spending the last night in a comfortable hotel. A farewell dinner is a must, and for those with energy left, a visit to the local nightlife may follow before heading home.

10. Day 10 - Flying home

    Transfer to the airport for the flight home, leaving with everlasting memories and new friendships. The program is subject to change at any time. The final itinerary depends on current weather conditions and the endurance of the group.

Ride Details

Terrain

Varied terrain including dirt tracks, sand dunes, and rolling countryside

Bike

Suzuki DRZ 400 Enduro or GasGas – KTM 350

Mileage

1,200 kilometers / 745 miles

Daily rides

100-200 kilometers / 62-124 miles

Riding gear

Not included: motorcycle protective gear and helmet, durable high-top hiking boots, gloves, and thermal underwear recommended

Meals

Buffet-style breakfast in Ulaanbaatar; full board with three meals a day on the steppe, including lunch prepared by guides on shorter riding days and warm dinners from yurt camp owners.

Accommodation

Two nights in quality four or five-star hotel in central Ulaanbaatar with twin bedrooms, hot showers and wifi. Seven nights in comfortable yurt camps with 2-4 beds. The amazing hospitality of the locals makes up for all the inconveniences.

Food

In Ulaanbaatar, guests enjoy a buffet-style breakfast at the hotel, with multiple good and affordable restaurants available for lunch and dinner around the city. After heading to the steppe for eight days of full board, three meals a day are provided. On shorter riding days, the group stops for lunch somewhere on the steppe, and the guides cook for everyone. On longer days, food is brought from home or sourced from a local shop, including snacks and noodle soup. Dinner always consists of warm food, prepared by the owners of the yurt camps. Mongolian cuisine is based almost exclusively on meat and protein-rich animal products. In the case of special dietary needs, GoBeyond requests that guest

Getting There

During the tour, riders will explore a variety of stunning locations across Mongolia, starting with Zaisan Hill, where they can take in breathtaking views of Ulaanbaatar and its historical WWII memorial. The journey then leads to Hustai National Park, famous for its wild takhi horses. Participants will experience the vibrant Danshig Naadam festival in the Little Gobi Desert, witnessing traditional