Mongolia

Distance

300km +

Next tour

24th May

Duration

12 days

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Mongolia

Itinerary

Price from

£2120

Mongolia

Mongolia Cycling Holidays

Life Changing Adventures

The rugged landscapes of Mongolia lure true adventurers from all over to come and experience a land like no other. The Mongolian wilderness boasts spectacular countryside, lush green valleys, remote arid desert, vast steppes, rocky mountain ranges and clear blue rivers. There’s good reason Mongolia is known as the land of the eternal blue sky.

In our adventure, we learn from three to four different NGOs that are all connected with the reality of life, faced by Mongolia’s herders in the 21st century. In tourism, Mongolia is frequently sold as a stereotype (nomads and a way of life untouched since Ghengis Khan). This idealised, or even romanticised view is far from the harsh reality and challenges faced by local herders.

Social Cycles will take you on a journey to interact and connect with local Non Government Organisations (NGOs) to find out more about this lifestyle, the opportunities they have and the challenges they must overcome. Research what really happens on the ground and out in the rural communities with Social Cycles in a holiday that carefully balances ethical research and local impact with cycling and site seeing.

Confirm your place with a $100 deposit.
You can choose your dates following the above button

£ 2120 Prices set in AUD ($3650)

7 of 12 days cycling
Approx 300-400km
Terrain: Gravel roads, mountain areas, flat(ish)
Start: Ulaanbaatar
Finish: Ulaanbaatar

Confirm your place with a $100 deposit.
You can choose your dates following the above button

Send me the itinerary

Cycle Mongolia

12 days; £2120

Approximately 300km to 400km, 6 of 12 cycling days, moderate level of ability, mostly flat(ish) and off road.
Tour is charged in AUD ($3650)

Features & Inclusions

Tour Inclusions

11 nights accommodation in hotels (4), family ger camps (5), tourist gers (1) and homestays (1)
Full Bicycle hire (Trek and/or Giant 24 speed mountain bikes)
Local guides, support van driver and mechanic
Full support vehicle for the ride with water and fruit
Minimum three NGO presentations with local staff across Mongolia
Multiple field trips to villages and communities
Meals as indicated on the itinerary
Airport transfers for arrival

Tour Exclusions

International flights
A$200 donation to NGOs (pay locally, optional)
Personal expenses
Tips and Gratuities (US$0 to US$100)
Drinks with meals
Travel insurance
Airport departure transfer
Visa’s (if required)
Other items

Social Impact

For every Social Cycles tour, all riders are requested to contribute a nominal sum for the purpose of a donation. Usually AU$200 per rider. During the course of the tour, you are given the chance to engage with, and learn from, local NGOs. We visit no less than three NGOs during the Mongolia tour and spend some time learning about their projects, strategies and challenges. At the end of the tour, the riders are then empowered with new found knowledge and have the opportunity to combine the allotted donation money and make an impact towards a project of their choosing. In addition to building a profile for our impact partners, Social Cycles also pays each NGO for their time and resources. We spend 1-2 hours with each NGO. You can read more here

Sleep

We stay in a combination of hotels, ger camps and guesthouses on this adventure. We specifically avoid the tourist based ger camps, as they’re generally overcrowded and impersonal. Instead we support locally and family run smaller ger camps, where the experience is so much closer to reality and personal to the life of a herder. The ger camps can sometimes share small groups (think up to 6 people) but we will endeavour to keep sharing to two people. This is the true local experience of Mongolia and one to be savoured!

Hosts

Social Cycles partners with local experts to give you the most authentic experience possible. Each adventure will have a driver for the van. We’ll use one of only 8 drivers that we regularly work. Their English may not be fluent, but they’re quick to help, understand more than you think and will be there when you need them. They also fire up a mean Mongolian BBQ! There’ll also be a female tour manager on the trip to answer your questions, show off their home lands and give you a perspective on growing up in Mongolia that only a local can have. We’re proud to empower young women as our trip leaders and developing their careers in an emerging tourism market. As with all Social Cycles adventures, there will also be a mechanic to ensure you’re ride is as smooth as possible.

Food

When you get off the beaten track like we do, it truly means that you get out in the middle of what feels like nowhere. This means that the food is often prepared by the Social Cycles team. Breakfast on tour is typically eggs, bread and jam, dried or fresh fruit (where available). We provide muesli. Lunch is usually based on a variety of home-made salads, bread and crackers, local salami and cheese. Driving day lunches are kept simple; on free days, lunches will have more choice. Dinners will have a base of noodles, pasta, spaghetti or potatoes with usually a vegetable dish and/or a separate meat dish. We often prepare traditional Mongolian dishes – but there is usually a vegetarian option.

Bikes

In Mongolia we use Trek Marlin 5 Mountain bikes. They have a lightweight Alpha Silver aluminium frame, 21 speeds, a wide range of gearing so you never need to pedal too hard or gently on terrain that varies in elevation, hydraulic disc brakes that feel smoother than mechanical disc brakes and a suspension fork with 100 mm of travel – that’s the same amount favoured by most cross-country racers. You’re welcome to bring your own saddle, gel seat or pedals and we’ll gladly fit them for you. If you prefer a taller bike, you might consider bringing a riser. All bikes come equipped with a water cage, but for hygienic reasons, you’ll need your own water bottle.

Distance

When we embark on an 85km day, the distance can seem quite daunting. However, an early start and an ETA of 4pm arrival gives us 9 hours to get there. There is always a support van with us on this ride, so the amount you want to cycle on riding days is totally up to you. Travelling by bicycle is not about the destination, but the journey. When we are moving, the average pace is about 15km per hour but that is flexible depending on the confidence of the group. Our small group policy means it’s easier for all of us to stay together. You don’t need to be super fit for this ride, you just need to be positive.

Group size

We take a minimum of four riders and a maximum of 12. We strongly believe that when you travel with a group beyond 12, there is a risk that voices and opinions may be drowned out when we have the rare opportunities to visit NGOs and ask questions to local leaders. If you’d like to book a private tour with you and your friends, simply click here for more information.

NGOs

CAMDA is dedicated to supporting and bringing resources to Mongolia’s herders. Previous donations have contributed to their well-refurbishment project. In the words of CAMDA, funds are not spent on ‘handouts rather on a means to bring resources to low income herders.’ The Cooperative Ar Arvijin Delgerekh focuses on working with yak herders in Arkhangai Aimag in central Mongolia. Their members produce spun yak wool, providing them with an alternative to diversify and increase their income. Asral NGO was set up mainly to help keep families under extreme stress together to stop children from ending up on the street. A lot of these were herding families who were forced to migrate into the city after they lost their way of life in a severe weather event unique to Mongolia called a dzud. We often visit a variety of different organisations. If there is one in particular you would like to learn more about, please let us know and we’ll make it happen. Click here for a full list of our NGO network and partners.

Our Next

Mongolia Adventures

Reserve your place with a A$100 deposit.
Tours are charged in AU$. The below prices are indicative only and the current exchange rate will be applied at checkout. Tours start at AU$3650 (12 days).

If this is your second, third or even fourth Social Cycles adventure, then we’d like to welcome you back with a special SC Ambassadors rate. Just book as normal and we’ll apply the discount on your invoice. We’ll remember you!

Departure Date

Status

SC Ambassador

Price

Upcoming adventures

Reviews from our riders

Do it! Mongolia offers a unique experience on the road less travelled. The countryside is diverse and the local people welcoming. Visiting the NGOs gives greater exposure into understanding the real issues experienced by locals which are often missed when travelling for a short period of time. You leave with a greater insight into the country and the people. The cycling, hiking, nights in the gers and company were all fantastic.

DebMay 2019

Mongolia is a fascinating place, with a long and interesting history, kind and generous people, and landscapes that can seem otherworldly. If you've got an open mind and a willingness to see how it all turns out this tour will reward you enormously.

Ryanmay 2019

Reviews

Debmay 2019

ryanmay 2019

12 day itinerary

Day 1: Ulaanbaatar

Arrival day and welcome dinner

Welcome to Mongolia! Check in to the hotel is any time from 2pm. If you’re flying in to Ulaanbaatar today, we’ll arrange your airport transfer for you. Spend your day exploring this great city at your leisure until the group arrives and we’ll meet up in the evening for dinner.

Optional Activities: Genghis Khan Statue Complex, Choijin Lama Temple Museum
Cycling: None
Meals: Dinner
Transit: Airport transfer
Sleep: Dream Hotel (or equivalent)

Day 2: UB - Baga Gazriin Chuluu

Ulaanbaatar – Baga Gazriin Chuluu:

City walk, Asral NGO & family lunch

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll begin a walking tour of the city, taking you to the Monastery district. From there, you’ll visit Asral NGO, which works in partnership with community leaders to develop self-sustaining options through education, training, medical care and family support. The afternoon is dedicated to getting you to Baga Gazriin Chuluu for the evening to send the night in your first Ger!

Included Activities: Guided City Tour, home cooked family lunch
NGO presentation- Asral
Cycling: None
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Transit: 235km
Sleep: Tourist Ger

Day 3: BGC - Mandalgovi

Bagaa Gazriin Chuluu – Mandalgovi:

Our first cycle and a rock temple

We’ll depart by bike and head off to explore the rock formation. Baga Gazriin Chuluu is characterised by extensive granite rock formations and surrounded by steppe and semi-desert habitat. The amount of cycling is up to the group and can be very dependent on the direction of the wind. In the evening, we’ll get to the home of the Gobi Oasis project, a small, family run, non-profit conservation project that has been operating since 1975. Their main conservation work is the planting of seedlings and nurturing them into established trees. The trees that are planted help bind the loose soil and thus help against erosion, help reduce wind, dust and desertification.

Included Activities: 1 hr hike
Cycling: 40km to 60km, gravel roads on small jeep trails
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Transit: 20km
Sleep: Ger camp

Day 4: MG - Erdenelai

Guides home town, CAMDA well project

Erdenedalai is Mongolian for ‘Jewel Ocean’ and although far from the ocean this small town located in the middle of the Gobi steppe provides a genuine insight into everyday life in Mongolia. It is also the hometown of a majority of the SC team and a very tight knit and traditional community.
CAMDA NGO is dedicated to supporting and bringing resources to Mongolia’s herders. One of their most important projects is their well-refurbishment project. By the refurbishing old wells or constructing new wells, herders can access the wells in the winter when the streams and rivers are frozen.

Included Activities: Visit the wells and meet the herders via CAMDA NGO
Cycling: Up to 80km, gravel/loose dirt roads
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Transit: 30km-50km
Sleep: Family Ger

Day 5: EL - Khogno Khan Nature Reserve

Khogno Khan Nature Reserve:

Drive to explore this sacred granite mountain. within an area of secluded valleys, fresh water springs, open steppe and the Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes. Khogno Khan Nature Reserve was taken under state protection partly due to the specialised taiga and steppe plants that grow in this area. The small but vital Tarna River provides an essential water source for the herders in the region.

Cycling: None
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Transit: 240km
Sleep: Low impact ger camp

Day 6: Khogno Khan Nature Reserve

Khogno Khan Nature Reserve:

Once we’re in the heart of Khogno Khan Nature Reserve, there’s an option to explore the hidden interiors of the mountain on an easy 2-3 hour hike to the small working temple of Erdene Khambiin Khid and the ruined Ovgon Khiid Monastery. A birch bordered path leads to this location and offers one of the most beautiful panoramas of the region. There’s also an option for for a camel trek along the Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes. Davaasuren is a at his happiest on showing off his home landscapes of Khogno Khan. He’s a bit of a entertainer as well and his camel treks can include sand sculpting, impromptu wrestling matches and singing. And of course, this is a spectacular region to explore by bike with its mix of landscapes.

Included activities: Three hour hike to temples and monastery, camel treks along sand dunes
Cycling: Optional, tracks are all off-road and mainly hard packed dirt .
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Transit: None
Sleep: Low impact ger camp

Day 7: KKNR - Tsetserleg

Markets, museums and temples

Drive through Arkhangai Aimag to the provincial capital of Tsetserleg where there its vibrant local market. On the slopes of the Khangai Mountains, the town is is dominated by the 1953m Bulgan Uul mountain with the Galdan Zuu Temple providing a viewpoint out over this alpine town. We’ll also visit Ar Arvidjin Delgerekh Cooperative. The cooperative works with local yak herders in Arkhangai Province to help sustain and improve their livelihood through Yak hair fibre export.

Cycling: 40km to 80km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Transit: Up to 220km
Sleep: Hotel

Day 8: Tsetserleg and surrounds

Yak herders, streams and lush valleys

The bike route now changes from the gravel plains of the vast semi-desert steppe to the foothills of the Khangai Mountains – dominated by dome shaped mountains, mixed woods, clear streams and lush grassy valleys filled with yaks and herders that receive abundant rainfall compared to all other parts of Mongolia.

Cycling: Up to 60km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Transit: None
Sleep: Ger camp
NGO: Ar Arvidjin Delgerekh family beneficiary

Day 9: Kharkhorin and the Orkhon River Valley

Kharkhorin and the Orkhon River Valley

Kharkhorin is the ancient capital of Ogodei Khan and the Mongol Empire in the 13th Century. From Tsetserleg, we’ll take the van out of town towards Tsenkher and start cycling on the dirt roads towards Kharkhorin. The beautiful valleys provide a great undulating ride. The remainder of the ride will be finished by van as we make to the home of Tumee and Jargaa, where we’ll spend the next two nights.

Activities: UNESCO World Heriateg Site- Orkhon Valley visit, Mongolia’s oldest monastery, Kharkhorin Museum
Cycling: Up to 80km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Transit: 150km
Sleep: Family Ger camp

Day 10: Orkhon River Valley

Orkhon River Valley & a traditional Mongolian BBQ

Spend the day with Tumee and Jargaa – a herding family we work with located close to the Orkhon River. They are modern-day herders, a strong part of the local community and move up to six times a year. There is nothing pre-planned as everyone is different in what they like to do. But there’s plenty of flexibility and options. Ideas include exploring the area on a horse trek, taking the bikes out to explore the Orkhon Valley, experiencing the way of life of Tumee and Jargaa – or more. The day will finish with a traditional Mongolian barbecue enjoyed with your hosts and the Social Cycles team.

Activities: Cycle, horse ride and BBQ
Cycling: 0 – 50km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Transit: Optional
Sleep: Family Ger camp

Day 11: Ulaanbaatar

The Great Donation Debate:

After we say goodbye to Tumee and Jargaa, we’ll head back to Ulaanbaata, but not before we go to visit Erdene Zuu – Mongolia’s oldest monastery.
On our last dinner together in UB, we’ll take the opportunity to reflect on our journey and discuss our opportunity of support. As a group, we’ll make a decision as to how we’ll divide the total money. It’s your money and your experience. It can, and will, go to whatever NGO touched you the most.

Activities: Erdene Zuu- Mongolia’s oldest monastery
Cycling: None
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Transit: 355km (all day)
Sleep: Dream Hotel (or equivalent)

Day 12: Departure Day

Departure Day!

It’s time to say goodbye to your new found friends and riding companions and head out on your own. Whether you’re off to the airport or sticking around for a bit longer, we’ll help you get to where you need to go!

Cycling: None
Meals: Breakfast
Transit: Departure transfer
Sleep: None

Mongolia 12 Day Itinerary