Optional

For every Social Cycles tour, all riders have AU$200 to direct to the NGO of their choice. 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.

Meals

All meals are included. 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.

Guide

Local guides/trip assistant, support van driver and mechanic is included on all trips

Accommodation

10 nights accommodation in hotels (4), ger camps (6)

Transport

We have Russian 4 x 4’s to take us to our destiinations when we’re not on the bikes. The bikes used are 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.

Not included:

Flights

VISA’s Mongolia is now visa free for most EU countries, UK, AUS, NZ and USA. FLIGHTS The following cities have direct flights to Mongolia, and all are major international transit hubs providing connections to many countries. The flight frequency does change based on season (below is the rough summer schedule for June to September. Winter schedules are often subject to reduced frequency and sometimes airlines remove routes depending on popularity). • Frankfurt MIAT fly direct 2 times per week. • Beijing MIAT and Air China both fly direct daily • Hong Kong MIAT fly direct 3-4 times per week • Istanbul Turkish Airlines fly ‘direct’ 3 times per week (refuelling en-route) • Moscow Aeroflot fly direct daily; MIAT fly direct 2 times per week with connections to/from Berlin as well • Seoul MIAT and Korean Air both fly direct daily • Tokyo MIAT fly direct 3-4 times per week

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Ulaanbaatar
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Ulaanbaatar

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 afternoon for a bit of a ‘get to know you’ chat, an overview of our upcoming adventure and we’ll fit you for the bikes. In the evening, we’ll head out for a feast of local culinary delights for dinner.

Optional Activities: Genghis Khan Statue Complex, Choijin Lama Temple Museum

Cycling: NULL

Meals: Dinner

Transit: Airport transfer

Sleep: Nine Hotel (or equivalent)
Day 2 Khustain Nuruu Np: City Walk, Asral Ngo & Family Lunch
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Khustain Nuruu Np: 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. Asral works in partnership with community leaders to develop self-sustaining options through education, training, medical care and family support. Their core aim is to keep families together and prevent children from going onto the streets. The afternoon is dedicated to getting you to Khustain Nuruu National Park for the evening, to spend the night in your first Ger!

Included Activities: Guided City Tour

NGO presentation- Asral

Cycling: NULL

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Transit: 235km

Sleep: Tourist Ger
Day 3 Khustaain National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Khustaain National Park

Khustain National Park is one of Mongolia’s top conservation success stories. It is the only National Park to be run as a dedicated NGO and it works to protect Mongolia’s wild Takhi horses as well as the surrounding environment.

We’ll spend some of the day biking around the National Park and find some time to speak to the Park Biologist as part of an organised tour.

Included Activities: NGO Presentation

Cycling: 20km to 40km, gravel roads on small jeep trails

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Transit: 20km

Sleep: Ger camp
Day 4 Khogno Khan Nature Reserve
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

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 specialized 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.

Included Activities:

Cycling: NULL

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Transit: 240km

Sleep: Family Ger
Day 5 Khogno Khan Nature Reserve:
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

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: NULL

Sleep: Low impact ger camp
Day 6 Tsetserleg
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Tsetserleg

Drive through Arkhangai Aimag to the provincial capital of Tsetserleg where there is a vibrant local market that’s great to explore. On the north eastern slopes of the Khangai Mountains, the town is dominated by the 1953m Bulgan Uul mountain with the Galdan Zuu Temple providing a viewpoint out over this alpine town.

Cycling: 40km to 80km

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Transit: Up to 220km

Sleep: Hotel
Day 7 Tsetserleg
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Tsetserleg

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. This incredible landscape is filled with yaks and herders that receive abundant rainfall compared to all other parts of Mongolia. We spend a second night in our hotel, so today’s adventure is about meeting local NGO Ar Arvidiin Yak herding co-op, drinking hot yaks milk with a local nomadic family and enjoying the valleys by bike.

Cycling: Up to 60km

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Transit: NULL

Sleep: Hotel

NGO: Ar Arvidjin Delgerekh Co-Op family beneficiary
Day 8 Kharkhorin And The Orkhon River Valley
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

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: Cycling the Orkhon valley

Cycling: Up to 80km

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Transit: 150km

Sleep: Family Ger camp
Day 9 Orkhon River Valley & A Traditional Mongolian Bbq
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

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: Optional

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Transit: Minimal

Sleep: Ger camp
Day 10 Ulaanbaatar
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Ulaanbaatar

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.

Cycling: NULL

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Transit: 355km (all day)

Sleep: Dream Hotel (or equivalent)
Day 11 Day 12: Departure Day
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

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: NULL

Meals: Breakfast

Transit: Departure transfer

Sleep: NULL

11 days tour

Cycling Mongolia -11 Days

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Cycling Mongolia -11 Days

Ulaanbaatar

Khustain Nuruu Np: City Walk, Asral Ngo & Family Lunch

Khustaain National Park

Khogno Khan Nature Reserve

Khogno Khan Nature Reserve:

Tsetserleg

Tsetserleg

Kharkhorin And The Orkhon River Valley

Orkhon River Valley & A Traditional Mongolian Bbq

Ulaanbaatar

Day 12: Departure Day

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