Mongolia Wilderness Conservation Adventure
Protecting the Wilderness Destinations we Travel to
Our horseback expeditions venture into wilderness areas of great scenery. The Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area is important wildlife habitat, holds historic and spiritual sites, and protects the watershed for the nation’s capital city. The lake we travel to lies like a jewel deep in the Khentii Mountains. Visitation is increasing and wilderness values are in need of protection. We work with park authorities to help with that. Protecting the wilderness destinations we travel to is part of our commitment to put responsible travel into practice. Reflecting a core value of Stone Horse Expeditions, its a continuation of our lifelong work in conservation.
A Fun Trip with a Purpose
Join our annual Mongolia Wilderness Conservation Holiday Adventure! This is a special expedition – as on other trips, we ride through Gorkhi Terelj National Park and enter the Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area. There, we spend two days at the Black Lichen Lake, a scenic lake deep in the mountains.
Camped at this lake with a sand beach for several days, there will be ample opportunity to relax, swim and explore the beautiful forest surroundings. During the time at the lake, the Stone Horse team works with park rangers who join this special expedition, as part of our contribution to protect the wild places we travel in. Guests have opportunity to join the effort.
It’s a great adventure and at a great time of year for a swim in the lake. With some luck, you’ll see moose grazing at the lake shore at dusk, as we did previously.The horses get a nice break too here and head to their favorite meadows for the days we spend at the lake.
National ENERGY GLOBE Award Mongolia 2017
Our Wilderness Conservation Adventure was awarded the National ENERGY GLOBE Award Mongolia 2017.
With more than 178 participating countries and over 2000 project submissions annually the Energy Globe Award is today’s most prestigious environmental prize worldwide. The aim of the Energy Globe is to raise global attention on sustainable, everywhere applicable environmental solutions and to motivate people to also become active in this area.
Energy Globe’s recognition explains that “The Wilderness Conservation Holiday Adventure Expedition protects the environmental management of one of the largest wilderness areas in Asia by supporting eco-tourism”. Learn more..
Previous Wilderness Conservation Adventures
For four seasons now, this horse trek with a purpose has seen us working with rangers of the Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area around the ake in the Khentii wilderness. Stone Horse team and guests cleaned up campsites and erected back country toilets – carried in by our pack horses in prefabricated pieces. Rangers worked on signage for waste and camping management at the lake. Still, there is enough time to relax, hike, and enjoy the scenery. In 2017, we explored more tracks on foot around the lake and in the surrounding mountains, placing wildlife cameras and catching great views from higher elevations – panoramas of forest clad mountains, and more lakes to the North.. Read more…
Conservation Work
The “Wilderness Conservation Adventure” takes place once a season as we continue to work with the administration of the Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area to improve wilderness conservation and visitor management. On previous trips, we placed signs and interpretive information boards at campsites and we are discussing expansion of our conservation activities with the park authorities.
The Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area
The Khan Khentii wilderness is one of Mongolia’s most treasured parks and enjoys the highest level of formal protection – as a “Strictly Protected Area”. The conservation values of the Khentii Mountains include important ecological functions, outstanding historical and spiritual significance – and inspiring scenic beauty. Learn more..