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Trip Rating Details
Challenging: Includes expedition style camping or stays with local families, where formal washing and toilet facilities may not be available. May include full-day hikes or rides (4 to 6 hours) over moderate terrain and occasional steep trails, or long driving distances on rough roads.
Packing List
This is a suggested packing list, which you should feel free to adjust to suit your needs. Please refer to our travel guide for more detailed information.
- backpack or soft bag
- sleeping bag (-5C)
- waterproof bag cover
- day pack
- head lamp/flashlight
- spare batteries/bulb
- personal medications
- towel
- waterproof hiking boots
- waterproof jacket with hood
- waterproof overpants
- fleece jacket or wool jumper
- cotton t-shirts
- long sleeve shirts
- lightweight trousers
- shorts
- warm hat
- long underwear
- socks
- underwear
- sun hat
- gloves
- sandals
- sun glasses
- sun cream
- spare glasses
- spare hiking shoes
- insect repellent
- resealing (ziploc) plastic bags
- water bottle
- binoculars/camera
- hiking stick
- wet tissues
- watch/ alarm clock
- money belt/ pouch
- insurance confirmation copy
- emergency contact number
See our packing tips for detailed information.
Trip Information - Trekking the Orkhon Valley
Day 1. Arrival (D)
Arrival to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to hotel. Depending on time of arrival, you may have a short city sight-seeing tour. Evening welcome dinner. Overnight in hotel.
Day 2. Ulaanbaatar/Kharkhorin (B,L,D)
Built by order of Chinggis Khan and completed by his son Ogedei about 800 years ago, Kharkhorin, better known as Karakorum, was famed throughout Asia as the capital of the Mongol Empire. Within the walls of this spectacular city kings were chosen, laws made and the fate of the next city to be conquered were determined. You will visit the ruins of the old city, the Erden Zuu monastery and other historical monuments in the area. Overnight in a ger camp by the Orhon River.
Day 3. Trek to Tuvhon Monastery (B,L,D)
On this morning we will drive along the Orkhon River to the starting point of our trek. On this first day of trekking we will reach Tuvhon Monastery , establ ishe d during the 1650’s by Zanabazar, one of the greatest leaders of Mongolian Buddhism, who was enthroned as a Living Buddha and Head of the Faith in 1639. The monastery’s wooden buildings are integrated with a natural system of caves perched hear a hilltop, from which you have beautiful views of the Orhon Valley and the surrounding pine forests. With its unique natural features, it was a perfect location for the great religious leader to meditate. During the 1680’s the monastery was destroyed in battles between various Mongolian warlords, but in 1773 it was restored by the provincial rulers to commemorate Zanabazar and his contribution to Mongolian culture. During the communist purges of the 1930’s the monastery was again destroyed, so reconstruction works started again in 1971. Today the monastery is a beautiful and relaxing site to visit, with
its unique combination of meditation alcoves in the limestone caves, the incomparable location, and the rock womb where many Mongolians come to purify themselves and to be ‘reborn’. Camping overnight.
Days 4 -5. Trek to the Red Waterfall (B,L,D)
From Tuvhon, we descend from the mountain top and return to the Orkhon River, along which we continue our trek until we reach the Red Waterfall . The path of our trek is dominated by volcanic scenery, and many nomadic families have their summer camps in the valley, where grazing can be found relatively close to water for the animals. As we near the waterfall, we will even see herds of yak grazing. Below the falls there are excellent pools for swimming. Camping overnights.
Days 6-9. Trekking Through the 8 Lakes (B,L,D)
We now turn away from the Orkhon River will be leaving the Orkhon River and follow one of its tributary streams uphill, through a thick pine forest. For the next couple days we will trek through the area of the EightLakes national park. Located in the Hangai Nuruu, Mongolia’s second largest mountain range, the Eight Lakes lie 2800 meters above sea level and are scattered over two big valleys. Very few families inhabit the area, and it is a perfect secluded spot for trekking. At night we will camp near the lakes and enjoy perfect sunsets.
Day 10. The Eight Lakes/The Hot Springs of Tsenher (B,L,D)
After 6 days of hiking, we get back in our 4X4 vehicles and head to the hot springs for a well deserved treat. Driving through the ‘paradise of the horse herders’, we reach pine forests and then the Tsenher hot springs , where water flows out of the ground at 82° C, and where we can enjoy a relaxing soak, and you can even get a massage. Overnight in a ger camp.
Day 11. Tsenher/Tsetserleg/Mongol Els (B,L,D)
After having a morning hot bath, we will drive to Tsetserleg (Kindergarden) - the provincial center. Here we will visit the local market and before continuing to the Mongol Els (The Mongol Sands) - a beautiful sand dune where we will spend the night in a ger camp.
Day 12. Elsiin Tasarhai/Ulaanbaatar (B,L,D)
Marking the northern edge of the great Gobi Desert, Elsiin Tasarhai is a sand dune that stretches over 130 km north into the heart of Central Mongolia. In the morning we can take an easy hike around Jaakhan Lake, a great place to see numerous species of birds, or visit the ruins of the Two Lams Temple, which has both a glorious and frightening history. We have lunch at the ger camp and then return to UB, arriving in the early evening. Overnight at 4* hotel.
Day 13. Ulaanbaatar - Gandan Monastery (B,L,D)
We will go for a full day of city site seeing in Ulaanbaatar, observing the morning ceremony at the "Gandan" monastery, then we will visit the national history museum and the main square. After dinner we will drive to the Zaisan Observatory when you can see the city lights of Ulaanbaatar at night. Overnight at 4* hotel.
Day 14. Departure (B)
Transfer to the airport for your departing flight.
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