Autumn Colors in the Khentii – 12 Days

Itinerary

Day 1 – Pick up from the airport and transfer to hotel by a Stone Horse Expedition driver. We will meet you at the hotel, individually or the whole group of guest riders, and over lunch or dinner discuss last minute preparations, ensure you have the right clothing and gear to be fully equipped and ready to start the trip.

Day 2 – Pick up at the hotel and travel by van to the Stone Horse Expeditions staging area NE of the city, a little over an hour drive. After coffee and snacks, you repack your gear into saddle bags carried by your trail horse, and into dry bags that go onto the packhorses. You meet your trail horse and have time to get familiar with him, our Western style trail saddles and tack. After an early lunch, we set out. Today we ride over a pass and into the Terelj valley; we cross the river to reach our campsite for the night.

Day 3 –  Today’s ride is over two forest passes and in the afternoon down a valley with a series of winter camps of nomadic livestock herders; reaching the Tuul valley, we turn left into the Baruun Bayn (river) Valley and make camp near the river.

Day 4 – We continue up the Baruun Bayn Gol valley and take a turn East where a monument for a park ranger sits at a promontory marking a picturesque valley. We make our way up the valley, with rock formations to the left and forest clad hills on our right. We take our picnic lunch in the shade at the forest edge after we have dropped over a saddle. In the afternoon we ride down into the Tuul valley, cross the river and make our camp above the banks of the Tuul river. Weather permitting, the Tuul river campsites are great for a dip in the river.

Day 5 – We ride up the Zuun Bayn Gol Valley, the first part on the valley floor, probably passing hay makers at work. The small river cuts deep into the peat like grassland soil and runs in beautiful meanders, we stop to let the horses drink from the clear water and take a rest. We continue on the West side of the valley, mostly without a trail, riding cross country in the open grasslands, several times crossing ravines and stands of forests. For lunch we ride to a high point, where horses and riders enjoy the breeze and shade in the forest. The afternoon takes us over a saddle and into the Dund Gol valley. We have reached the grasslands from which the massif of Altan Ulgii mountain rises; we make camp in a meadow at the forest edge, with a rock formation rising as a back drop.

Day 6 – Both horses and riders are likely ready for a day of taking it easy, with a shorter day ride from the scenic site, or for those who wish with a day of rest, exploring the rock formations on foot, or spending time near the creek. Upstream from here, the landscape is forest wilderness and eventually transitions into steep scree slopes not suitable for horseback travel. For those keen to explore further and get a glimpse into the high mountain Khentii wilderness, we can also take a day ride up to Khavirga Pass from this campsite. It’s 1 – 2 hours to the bottom of the pass, then a steep ascent on horseback before we emerge onto a plateau with spectacular views across the Khentii ranges. This trip is not advisable in bad weather though. On return, walking down on foot is easier for horses and riders; it’s a full day’s trip.

Day 7 – Our return journey begins. We ride down the Dund Gol valley, passing some boggy stretches, and following the track through forest and brush. Finally we emerge into the grasslands, we pass the Trail Head and Information board for the Khentii Wilderness and Hagiin Har Nuur trail and ride down the open valley, with high ridges of scenic rock formations to our right. After lunch, our trekking team splits up. Two of our horsemen take the pack horses on a shorter route to the camp site near the Khukh Chuluun Gol (Blue Rock River), to set up camp in advance. The riders take the scenic route across the hills, ascending to some high points to get sweeping views of the autumn landscape before reaching camp where tents are ready and snacks and drinks prepared.

Day 8 – From our camp near the Blue Rock River we take a day ride leading us to high rock formations; at this time of year the stands of aspen groves at the foot of the rocks glow in orange hues, and the view from up there is onto the warm colors of the autumn grasslands and the golden larch forests on the Northern mountain slopes. After a picnic lunch near a high point, we descent and follow a forest trail to the ruins of the Princess temple. Having visited this historic site, we ride out on a well marked track, and in a big arc return to our campsite, which we reach after a short ride through dense alder brush.

Day 9 – We leave the Blue Rock River, riding out back into the Baruun Bayngol Valley. We may stop at a herder family’s ger for traditional tea and snacks; this depends on were the nomad families we know are camped during that time. Again we split up our team, the horsemen going ahead to establish camp in the lower reaches of the Baruun Baynol valley, at a sheltered site with river access. The riders take a last trip onto the high ridges before reaching camp in the afternoon.

Day 10 – We cross the Baruun Bayn Gol (river) to emerge onto the grasslands where likely now many herds of livestock graze. After a short ride down the Baruun Bayngol Valley we turn West to ride up the Southside of the Horhyn Gol valley. Again, we are likely to have encounters with herds of free roaming horses here. We have lunch at the forest edge where there is good grazing, and later drop over a forest pass to ride down into the Terelj Valley. In early September, we find still numerous gers of herder families and their herds here. The big open expanse of the Terelj valley invites a trot and its here that we often make good speed, saddle and pack horses trotting fast, knowing a good camp with grass and water is ahead. Reaching the cotton wood groves of the lower Khurkhree Gol (river) near its confluence with the Terelj river, we take a last break for the day. From here its less than thirty minutes to our camp site near the Khurkhree river.

Day 11 – The last day’s ride is easy terrain, in the morning following the upper Terelj valley upstream, crossing the Terelj river several times. We stop for lunch before beginning our ascent to the last pass, Davatiin Davaa, from where it is about an hours ride back to the Stone Horse cabins in the Darkhid Valley. We usually arrive mid to late afternoon. Drinks and snacks await you at the cabin. Our driver has brought your luggage and after snacks and over a beer or other drink you repack your gear; in the meantime the horses are unloaded, checked and let go to run free and graze in their home valley. You can say farewell to your trail horse before he takes off, to have a good role and then galloping off to join the rest of the herd. Our drivers are waiting to take you back to the city when you are ready; arrival at the hotel is usually in time to freshen up and go out for dinner.

Day 12 – Departure day, with transfer to the airport. Or for those who stay another day of two, day tours, a city tour can be arranged or guiding for shopping be provided. And if time permits, opportunity for a farewell dinner with Stone Horse team members.

Note:

While September is mostly sunny, with warm days and crisp nights, there can be cold snaps and a first snow fall or a 24 hour storm may move through. In this case, we adjust the itinerary, staying in camp, or choosing sites that are particularly sheltered. So there can be slight changes to this itinerary to make it the best experience for our guests, with safety being the highest priority.