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ITINERARY

SECRETS OF EIGHT LAKES

DAY 1 – WELCOME TO ULAANBAATAR

Pick-up from the Airport and transfer to the hotel will be arranged. (Trip to The Genghis Khan Statue, which is the biggest Equestrian statue in the world, can be arranged if you arrive early)

Safety briefing at the office, try our gear and bikes(We will help you make adjustments like handlebar height, change fork & rear shock springs for bigger riders). Followed by a welcome dinner that will be at the restaurant with all the riders

DAY 2 – SAND DUNES(350 KM)

Breakfast at the hotel.

We will start the trip by heading west, first thing in the morning. You can see that even close to the city, people still live the traditional lifestyle. The outer city road will transition from blacktop to dirt as we cross the green rolling hills of Töv(Central) province. Ride on to Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes. The name Elsen Tasarkhai literally means "an isolated, torn-off piece of sand" and it is a small sequence of real desert in the midst of green steppes. It stretches 80 kilometres long and 5 kilometres wide.

Riding through this beautiful part of Mongolia is made even more exciting with the addition of breathtaking sand dunes, hills covered with rare bushes, a small gobi forest, and even a river crossing. This will be one of the most memorable experiences of this tour. We will stop for a lunch break about halfway through each day of riding, where everything will be taken care of by our SOR chef.

Today will be the day to enjoy the sand, the perfect place to test our enduro bikes over the edge of the dunes! You have an opportunity to experience the nomadic lifestyle of camel herders. Go ahead and take some photos! And while you’re at it, why not switch from riding a motorcycle to camelback? I’m sure you’ll love it!

Freshly made dinner will be served by our chef after we arrive at the ger(Yurt) camp. Enjoy some cold beer and snacks under the starry skies.

DAY 3 – UYANGA(220 KM)

We will ride South West through the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire - Karakorum and the Erdene Zuu Monastery. It is surrounded by 108 magnificent white stupas, which once counted as almost 100 temples, 300 gers, and around 1,000 monks. Erdene Zuu was built in Mongolia 436 years ago. Karakorum dates back to 12th century.

The Uyanga district of Övörkhangai province. Home to natural landscapes such as the Red Rock cliffs, Eight Lakes, and many mountains elevated 3230 metres above sea level, rich in resources like gold and precious stones.

We will rest in our tent camps under the starry nights.

DAY 4/5 – EIGHT LAKES(100 KM)

We ride towards Eight Lakes or Khuisiin Naiman Nuur, they were formed by volcanic eruptions centuries ago and are a part of the 11,500 hectares of Khuisiin Naiman Nuur Nature Reserve. These scenic lakes are not easily accessible, that’s why they stayed undisturbed and untouched by the people. Even the locals have a hard time accessing the true beauty of the Eight Lakes. The Eight Lakes are called Shireet, Mukhar, Khaliut, Bugat, Khaya, Döröö, Khuis, and Onon, they are located from 500 metres to 3 kilometres from each other, but the track is impassable. This way is only open to hikers, horse-riders, and motorcycles who will enjoy exceptional nature, whereas the jeeps will have to skirt around the mountains by Bat Ölzii(130 km) and in case of rain by track to Khujirt(260 km).

The area is extremely beautiful surrounded by coniferous tree-covered mountains and the forest clearings have multitudes of wildflowers, is a famous horse-riding destination in central Mongolia. Shireet is the largest among the Eight Lakes and is accessible by sturdy 4WD from the southern side.

The area is relatively cool in summer with an average temperature of +20°C during the day and +15°C at night. It is advisable to bring fly spray both for the hikers and horse riders as the grassy area attracts flies. 

We will have an extra day to adventure around the Eight Lakes riding our motorcycles.

DAY 6 – ORKHON WATERFALL(265 KM)

We start heading towards the Orkhon Waterfall, it is one of the picturesque sights in the historically significant Orkhon River Valley, which requires bumpy and muddy driving through the lava-covered scenic valley with several freshwater streams and small river crossings full of nomads and their herds of sheep, horses, and cows. We will have lunch right next to the waterfall.

We will continue our trip to the hot springs where you can enjoy the hot spa at the camp. Hot Springs have skin-healing and muscle-relaxing properties, owing to their mineral-rich water. The waters here clock up to 85,5 degrees Celsius. Arkhangai Province has many old volcanoes, which explains the constant flow of hot springs in many locations all year long. In ancient times nomads used to cook their hunted prey in these hot waters. Hot springs have an abundance of minerals including sodium carbonate, hydro carbonate, sulphate, fluorite, and hydrogen sulphide. We will enjoy the hot springs and replenish our energy to continue our trip.

DAY 7 – ÖGII LAKE(90 KM)

We will ride through the endless steppe towards Ögii lake. It is one of the biggest freshwater lakes in Mongolia and has an area of 27 square kilometres with an average depth of 6.64 metres, in some sections 15.3 metres, and coastal length of 23.5 metres. Ögii lake abounds with various types of fish and birds, which creates an incredible natural beauty. It also provides a favourable condition for research work and travelling. It attracts travellers, tourists, and nature researchers from Mongolia as well as from foreign countries. Also, it is enthusiastic about swimming, sunbathing, and horse/camelback riding around the lake. Don’t forget to take your swimming shorts when you visit Ögii Lake as the water is very warm during summer.

Ögii lake is worshipped by the locals, so they prohibit women from getting into the water. In 1971, it was registered as a protected water ecosystem. Make sure to keep your phone and camera handy for spotting and documenting rare birdlife.

DAY 8 – KHUSTAI NATIONAL PARK(250 KM)

Last but not least we will ride to Khustai park. Located about 100 kilometres from the capital city, it was declared a National Park in 1993. Initially established for the first reintroduction of the wild Takhi or Przewalski’s horse, the park covers more than 50,600 hectares. We will see the endangered horse species roaming freely on rolling hills of beautiful Mongolia along with other wildlife.

We will visit a nomadic family along the way and experience the true nomadic way of life. You can bring the kids some sweets to make their day even better. We will spend the night at one of the ger camps at the park.

DAY 9 – ULAANBAATAR

As we head back to Ulaanbaatar, the landscape becomes greener and more mountainous, and there are more horses and fewer camels than we encountered in the Gobi. After returning to Ulaanbaatar, we will have a break and shower at the hotel. There will be time to do some cashmere shopping if desired. Later we will take you to Ulaanbaatar’s best restaurant for a farewell dinner.

DAY 10 – DEPARTURE

Transfer to the airport.

Bon Voyage, we hope to see you again!