Mongolia Horse Riding Tours

Mongolia Horse Riding Tours are becoming ever more popular. Visitor numbers to Mongolia are on the rise, a country where nomadic peoples have utilized and lived with horses for thousands of years. The horse in Mongolian culture and history has been important for its spiritual meaning as much as for its daily use in livestock husbandry, and its outstanding role in warfare. A herd of horses remains the pride of herders and horse owners, and of course horse racing is a passion and sport today as in ancient time.

The great landscapes of Mongolia, from the Northern Taiga forest to the mountainous forest steppes and to the vast expanses of the steppe grasslands, are best explored on horseback. Mongolia horse riding tours are part of many travel packages. Many operators market Mongolia horse riding tours, with one or several days of horse riding as part of the visitor experience during traveling in the counrty. Horses are rented from local herdsmen who will also help as guides for the riding trips of various length.

Stone Horse Riding Tours – Why “only” in two of Mongolia’s Protected Areas?

Mongolia horse riding tours by Stone Horse Expeditions take place in “only” two areas in northern central Mongolia – Gorkhi Terelj National Park and the Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area. With so many great landscapes throughout the country, and with over four million horses roaming the grasslands, why do we run our treks in these two parks? There are several good reasons.

Firstly, we own our expedition horses, and we are committed to using only our own horses for our Mongolia horse riding tours. Our herd currently counts forty horses, of which about thirty are active pack and saddle horses. The others enjoy their well deserved retirement in their home valley, the Darkhid Valley. Our base camp, from where we take guests on day rides and from where our Mongolia horse riding tours start, is located in the Darkhid Valley. The valley is in the Green Zone of Ulaanbaatar City, the capital of Mongolia. From here, we reach the entrance to Gorkhi Terelj National Park on horseback in about one hour. The relative proximity of our trek starting point from the city is another plus for our guests; they don’t waste time on long distance travel to reach the trail head for their Mongolia Horse Riding Tour.

Mongolia Horse Riding Tours with trained trail horses

At Stone Horse Expeditions we consider it an important safety and quality aspect of a Mongolia horse riding tour that all horses are used to their job, and that they know each other and are a well adjusted expedition team. An important point for human and equine teams alike ! Having horses from different herds on a trip together is asking for potential trouble or challenges managing pack and saddle horses on the trail, and keeping them together as a herd at camp sites.

Another very important advantage is that we can match horses and riders. Particularly for beginner riders it is reassuring that we can provide them with a trail companion that fits their preference in disposition and temperament to make their Mongolia horse riding tour a great experience. Oftentimes, beginner riders have left with much increased confidence in horse riding after riding with us. If we ran horseback expeditions in other parts of Mongolia, we would not be able to provide guest riding horses that we know are healthy and fit, well-cared for and experienced on the trail; we would not be able to assess which horse is the best match for each of our guests.

Mongolia Horse Riding Tours Destinations

Not only are we in close proximity to Gorkhi Terelj National Park, we have close ties to these landscapes from decades of horseback explorations. Its where we, the owner/operators of Stone Horse Mongolia, rode the trails that were to become the routes of Stone Horse Expeditions for more than a decade before we established our company offering unique Mongolia horse riding tours. We know the trails and their condition in different seasons and weather conditions, the river crossings and mountain passes, as well as many scenic campsites along the way from many years of our own horseback excursions in the beautiful grasslands, forests and mountains of the Khentii geographic region.

And of course our local team members who live as livestock herders in the areas we operate in have the most intimate knowledge of their home land. These local community connections make for truly authentic experiences and understanding of local culture. All our treks pass by the seasonal camp sites of nomadic herders. In autumn, we set up our “Autumn Riding Camp” amongst herder families, renting gers from them to make a comfortable camp along with our insulated tents, and wood stove heated shower tent.

Protecting Cultural Heritage, Landscapes and Wildlife

Within easy reach from our base camp with our own trail horses, the destinations of our Mongolia Horse Riding Tours are among Mongolia’s most revered protected areas. They represent different ecological zones including forest steppe, taiga forest and montane areas. They also harbor outstanding biodiversity, cultural and historical values. Gorkhi Terelj National Park is mostly in forest steppe. Wide open, un-fenced grasslands give riders the feeling of ultimate freedom; the scenic high country with picturesque rock formations make for fantastic horseback exploring. Gorkhi Terelj National Park is a cultural landscape used by nomadic herders. Here, the nomadic heritage of Mongolia is alive; riding and camping here is also a cultural learning and immersion experience.

The Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area, at higher elevation and in Northern taiga forest, is a key biodiversity area in Mongolia. The forests, mountains and wetlands are habitat for moose, bear, elk, wolf, foxes, marten and many more wildlife species. Here, Mongolia horse riding tours are true expedition style riding, with fast flowing, boulder strewn rivers to cross, mountain passes to traverse and bogs to find a way through. The Khan Khentii Strictly Protected area is of spiritual significance to the people of Mongolia; it safeguards sites that are connected to the life of Chinggis Khaan including Burkhan Khaldun mountain where Chinggis Khaan would retreat to in solitude. This is the most sacred mountain in the country, with access restricted and managed by the park authorities.

At Stone Horse Expeditions, we have worked closely with park authorities to contribute to conservation and visitor management in these magnificent areas. Before we established Stone Horse Expeditions, our jobs were in park management and community development. With our Mongolia horse riding tours, we have continued these efforts through Wilderness Conservation Adventures and with supporting our local team of staff.

Mongolia Horse Riding Tours – Meaning and Purpose

The feedback from our riding guests over the years has been encouraging and rewarding. The many testimonials reflect what we wish to give to our guests. More than ever, we all need rejuvenating for mind and body by disconnecting from the world of social media, constant internet connection, noise and electronic signals. And to connect to nature, listen to a creek, or a rushing river – and to the silence.. To sleep on the ground, on the earth, and hear the soothing sound of grazing horses in the night. To see a star filled sky and a brilliant milky way, not city lights and the ever encroaching light pollution.

Guest testimonials of our Mongolia horse riding tours speak of this connection, of life changing experiences in nature and with amazing horses that are teachers to make you see and feel the natural world. It may take a few days, but eventually you realize how happy and content you are, traveling through beautiful landscape, just focussing on your horse, camping under the stars, enjoying good food and company. Its abundance experienced, and realization that this is all that’s needed to feel happiness.

On our “Autumn Colors of the Khentii” trek last season, a guest gave us a big compliment when she said “Please keep doing what you are doing – you make people happy.” That is a very nice reward for our team’s hard work – and of course we will! 😊