This 400 km mountain bike vacation passes through remote and beautiful scenery and provides an opportunity to see the real Mongolia: vast and varied landscapes, nomadic families, and historical sites. Starting with an internal flight to Bayankhongor on the northern edge of the Gobi Desert, you will cycle up into the Khangai Mountains, second highest range in Mongolia, on to Tsetserleg town, capital of Arkhangai province, and finish at Kharkhorin the site of Genghis Khan's capital in the thirteenth century.
The mountain bike riding is 75% off road, following rough jeep tracks as far as Tsetserleg town, then an improved road the rest of the way. The highest point is Khul Sayangiin Davaa at 2750 meters, and there are several technical downhill stretches. Daily cycling distance varies up to a maximum of 85km. Outside Ulaanbaatar most nights will be spent camping in Western-style tents. This itinerary is suitable for cyclists with a reasonable level of fitness and off-road experience and stamina.
АНХААРУУЛГА: Хэрэв та болон таны компани тухайн аялалын маршрутын чиглэл, текст үг өгүүлбэр, фото, газрын зургыг хуулбарлахаар төлөвлөж байгаа болон хуулбарлан санаа авч өөр арга хэлбэрээр дахин нэр өгч өөрчлөн боловсруулж ашиглахыг хориглоно!
Arrive in 'Ulaanbaatar' and go to hotel. Evening meet the tour leader and rest of group for Technical Briefing. The meeting talks about day by day itinerary and safety issues. Overnight in hotel.
Fly to 'Bayankhongor', province. Arrive and assemble bikes. Start riding into the mountains. Overnight camp beside a small river. See ancient 'Stone Monument'. Overnight camping.
Ride along the valley to 'Shargaljuut'. In the hills surrounding this small village are hundreds of hot and cold mineral springs. A health resort for local people has been established. Afternoon continue riding over the mountains to set up camp in the next valley. Overnight camping.
There are a couple of long slow uphill stretches followed by glorious 'Downhills !'. These valleys are inhabited only by nomadic families with their herds of sheep and yaks. They make passers-by very welcome, and you are sure to be invited into a 'Ger' for a bowl of "airag" (fermented mare's milk) and piece of cheese. Overnight camping.
Ride up to the highest point 'Khul Sayan' Davaa, through increasingly remote and wild countryside. Towards the end of the day the track gets rougher and there are several rivers to cross. Overnight camping.
At first the track continues along a 'Rocky River Bed'. Then the scenery starts to change, becoming greener with a few trees. There are magnificent views of the route that can be admired from each pass. Overnight camping.
Ride over one small pass to reach the first sign of civilisation since "Shargaljuut" hot spring. This is the "sum" (village) of 'Bulgan'. Ride through "Tsetserleg" town, the capital of Arkhangai province, to reach the camping spot beside the "Tamir" river. Overnight camping.
The track is now a rough road passing through much more open hilly 'Landscapes'. Overnight camping nearby "Khotont" village. Overnight camping.
Ride to "Kharkhorin" town in the "Orkhon" valley. At one time this was the centre of the great Mongol Empire. In the 16th century 'Erdene Zuu'. Buddhist monastery was founded here and there will be an opportunity to visit the monastery which currently houses about 40 'Monks'. Overnight ger camp beside the "Orkhon" river.
Return by jeep to 'Ulaanbaatar'. Overnight hotel.
Departure.
The route starts from Ulaanbaatar with a flight south to the Gobi Desert, then start riding from "Bayankhongor", over the "Khangai" Mountains to "Kharkhorin".
The route is remote and the terrain is rough.
In "Kharkhorin" at the end of the trail stay in a traditional Ger camp, but during the rest of the tour there are no facilities for tourists so we camp in the wilderness.
Khangai mountain bike trail description:
The following items are included in the price of the tour:
The following items will be in addition to the price of the tour:
The places you will see along the way:
The flight from Ulaanbaatar to Bayankhongor on the northern edge of the Gobi Desert takes one and a half hours. Driving overland would take one very long day, as most of the road is hard-topped.
The highest point of the trip is the mountain pass that marks the border between the Gobi region of Bayankhongor and the central region of Arkhangai. Khul Sayan pass lies at an altitude of 2750 meters.
This Buddhist monastery was founded in 1585 on the site where Genghis Khan established the capital of the Mongol Empire 300 years earlier. The temples are built in Tibetan, Manchurian and Mongolian styles.
The mountain bike riding is 75% off road, following rough jeep tracks for most of the way. The highest point is Khul - Sayangiin Davaa at 2750 meters, and there are several technical downhill stretches. Daily cycling distance varies up to a maximum of 85 km. This tour is for cyclists who have some off-road experience and stamina.
(PLEASE NOTE: This video is an old, low resolution and amateur video)
"I`ve just got back from taking part in the Mongolia cycling challenge with 'Macmillan' Cancer Relief and I would just like to say a massive thank you to all at 'Off The Map Tours'. You helped make the trip a fantastic experience which will stay with me forever"