Day 1 – Arrival in Ulan Bator (I)
After arriving in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia. Transfer from the airport to the upscale Bayangol**** hotel. A lovely city, a mix of new and old. In Ulan Bator, the most convenient way to get around is on foot. Welcome dinner and travel orientation. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 – Khan Khenty National Park (A, L, I)
After a delicious breakfast in the morning, we will be transferred to the 40-metre-high silver statue of Chinggis Khan in the eastern part of Ulan Bator (travel time about 1 h 30 min). Upon arrival, while our bikes are being pre-packed, we will have time to visit the statue, which is over 40m high, and climb to its observation deck to admire the surrounding hilly aromatic landscape.
We set off along the Tuul River, one of the largest rivers in Mongolia, eventually descending into Lake Baikal in Russia. Set on the edge of the Siberian mountains, we cycle through undulating hills and lush meadows with the forested mountains looming in the background. We cycle on flat ground in the gutters of occasional tyre tracks made by cars. The road may also be softly sandy or muddy in places, depending on the amount of rain.
When we cycle, we see a world that has clearly not changed in a few hundred years. Newcomers and fellow travellers large herds of yaks, sheep and goats and camels roaming the area, as well as local shepherds and their round yurts. With the morning’s short climbs acting as a warm-up, after lunch we are faced with a wooded ascent to 1 887m. The effort, however, is rewarded with spectacular views over rolling valleys and forested mountains, followed by a long descent down to the ridge on the banks of the River Tuul. We camp, pitch our tents and shower before dinner.
Distance 47 km, total ascent 737 m, tented accommodation.
Day 3 – Altanbulag Valley (A, L, I)
After breakfast, we cycle upstream along the River Tuul to Bulnai on a gentle but muddy route. Today we also cross a few flowing rivers, so you’re sure to get your feet wet. At lunch time we reach the highest peak of the day. The road here is rockier in places than before.
After lunch, we enjoy the exhilaration of the descent into the Bayangol Valley and the 20 km of easy pedalling across the valley that will eventually bring us to our next campsite. We will stay with a local pastoralist family, where we will have an intimate and familiar introduction to Mongolian traditional life. We will drink the famous milk tea and taste other traditional Mongolian dishes. We will camp, pitch our tents and have a shower before dinner.
Distance 49 km, total ascent 632 m, tented accommodation.
Day 4 – “13th century Mongolia” theme park (A, L, I)
After breakfast, we continue our journey south through the flat grass plains and by 11am we arrive at the “13th Century Mongolia” theme park. It consists of several yurt camps, each of which presents views of medieval Mongolia. At the “Guard Camp” you can get photographed in traditional Mongolian costumes and armour. The “Craftsman’s Hut” showcases traditional blacksmithing, wood and leather products. The “Teacher’s stall” will showcase traditional calligraphy and various games. The last camp is the “Khan’s Palace” – a large ornate yurt decorated with medieval costumes and military equipment. Here you can try on royal costumes and test archery. Each yurt is about 500 metres apart and we will visit each of them, pedalling a short distance. After our new experiences in the park, we climb to the campsite of Nagalkhaan, the highest local mountain, to admire the 360-degree panoramic view it offers. The route on the grassy slope is 9 kilometres of gradual ascent. Later, we will enjoy dinner. Overnight in tents.
Distance 63 km, total ascent 610 m, tented accommodation.
Day 5 – Last day of cycling and return to Ulan Bator (A, L, I)
The last day of cycling. We gradually turn back north via Uvur and Ar Janchivla to the Nalaikh River. We will again encounter ups and downs on the grass plains on our way. We enjoy a snack before our next challenge to climb the highest ascent of the whole trip to 1 830 metres above sea level. Weather permitting, we will have lunch at the top while admiring again the magnificent panorama of Mongolia’s aromatic landscape.
We’re driving down a steep rainwater canal for three kilometres, so this is where the brakes come in handy. After a dizzying descent, we pedal another 20 kilometres across the plain to complete our journey. We pack up our bikes and are transported back to Ulan Bator and our hotel (journey time about 2 hours). In the evening we all gather together for a farewell dinner.
Distance 35 km, total ascent 470 m, hotel accommodation.
Day 6 Unforgettable Ulan Bator (A)
Breakfast. Full day free to relax and explore the quaint capital. Handicrafts and especially clothes made of Kashmiri wool are great souvenirs to bring back.
On a city tour, you should visit at least the following places:
- Sukhbaatar Square, the central square of Ulan Bator and the heart of the city.
- The hill of Zaisa, with a stunning view over the whole city.
- A natural history museum that takes you through different decades of Mongolian history. You can also find real dinosaur bones and fossils.
- The city’s largest Ganga Monastery, Choijin Lhama Temple Museum and Bogd Khan Winter Palace.
- The local “black market” is worth a visit.
- Local throat singing and dancing is worth a visit
Self-catering lunch and dinner.
Day 7 – Arrival home (A)
Transfer to the airport and flight back to Finland.
