Dramatic sunset over the Orkhon Valley and winding river in Mongolia

9 Days · Orkhon Valley & Eight Lakes · Mongolia

Ride Into the
Endless Steppe

A 9-day small-group horseback expedition in Mongolia — hosted with nomadic families and open to beginner/intermediate riders.A 9-day small-group horseback expedition through Mongolia's Orkhon Valley and Eight Lakes region — hosted with nomadic families, guided by local horsemen, and open to beginner/intermediate riders who want the real thing.

Reserve OnlineExplore the Journey

2026 expeditions open

Small-group Mongolia horse trek

€1,839Total per person
€919Pay online to reserve
€920Cash direct to hosts
Max 8Guests per departure
See dates
Suma — Your Guide
What This Is

Mongolia
Beyond Tourism

This isn't a curated tourist experience. You'll wake up in a ger, ride across open steppe with experienced local horsemen, and camp under skies that have no end. Every meal is shared. Every kilometer is earned.

8 Lakes Tours is built for people who want to be somewhere real, not just pass through it.

That means some flexibility is part of the experience. Weather, horses, roads, group rhythm, and traditional host-family food can shape the day. You may be invited to step outside your comfort zone, but you are never forced to do every challenge — saying no, resting, or taking a quieter day around nomadic life is always allowed.

Remote does not mean abandoned. On the steppe, uncertainty has always been part of life: travellers could lose their way between gers, so stopping at another family's home for tea, food, shelter, or directions became part of the culture. The same spirit runs through this trip — adapt to the land, accept hospitality, and let the day unfold without needing everything to go exactly to plan.

Beginner

Riders Welcome

Small

Intimate Group

Real

Family Partnership

Our Local Partnership

The Family
Behind It

I met Ganbold while trekking solo through Mongolia. I hadn't planned to stay — but his family pulled me in with the kind of warmth that's hard to explain and impossible to forget. We rode together, shared meals, and spent evenings around the fire talking about the land, the horses, and the life they've built here across three generations.

Ganbold's son Suma grew up in this valley and has been guiding riders through it for years — he knows every trail, every animal, every shift in the weather. When I floated the idea of bringing small groups out here, both of them lit up. This trip exists because they wanted it to.

You won't be staying near the family — you'll be living with them. Same meals, same gers, same daily rhythm. Every booking supports the local hosts directly. That part matters to me.

— Robert, Founder

Proof Before Promises

Built on
Real Relationships

Real people have already made the journey into this valley. These are early guest impressions from the same world you'll be stepping into: horses, host families, big weather, and a place that feels very far from ordinary life.

“Endless riding from one plain to the next, across the Steppe, by the lakes…. Magical. What more is there in life?”

Irik · USA

“So grateful to be able to stay with the loveliest family in Mongolia, experience life on the steppe and trek with horses through the most beautiful landscapes!”

Milou · AU

“It couldn’t be further from back home and that makes me so excited.”

Fin · UK

8Max guests
16+With parents
InsuranceRequired
DirectFamily partnership

Follow the route, camp life and behind-the-scenes buildout on Instagram @8lakestours.

The Journey

Nine Days,
One Lifetime

1–3Days 1 – 3

Nomadic Life Immersion

Travel from the capital into the countryside and be welcomed by your host family. Settle into traditional gers and begin learning daily nomadic life.

  • Traditional ger accommodation
  • Yak milking & daily routines
  • Horse handling & riding practice
  • Optional daily river ice baths
  • Cultural exchange & shared meals
  • Optional: van day trip to nearby historic sites & waterfalls
4–7Days 4 – 7

Eight Lakes Horse Trek

Four days on horseback through Mongolia's stunning Eight Lakes region. Remote camping under open skies, guided by experienced local horsemen.

  • Daily multi-hour horseback riding
  • Wilderness camping
  • Alpine lakes, rivers & cold-water plunges
  • Far from mass tourism
8–9Days 8 – 9

Village Return & Farewell

Return to the village for rest, shared meals, and reflection. Organized transportation back to Bat-Ulzii included.

  • Final meals with host family
  • Rest & reflection
  • Return transport to Bat-Ulzii

Want more photos?

The homepage stays focused on the trip decision. The fuller Mongolia photo archive lives in the gallery.

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Prefer More Riding?

Host-Family Stay
& Daily Horse Riding

Some guests want the Mongolian horse experience without committing to the full camping trek to Eight Lakes. If you'd rather stay with the host family, be looked after at the ger camp, and focus on daily riding lessons or shorter rides, email Rob and the team. We can discuss a custom hosted riding stay around your dates.

Ask About Riding-Only Stay
Getting There

Your Journey
Starts in UB

From Ulaanbaatar, take a public bus to Bat-Ulzii, Uvurkhangai — about an 8-hour ride through stunning Mongolian countryside. Once you arrive, your host family meets you and brings you to the ger village.

Before arrival, Rob or the tour operator coordinates timing with you and the host-family pickup from Bat-Ulzii once your bus timing is confirmed.

01

Fly into UB

Arrive at Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar.

02

Bus to Bat-Ulzii

Roughly 8 hours through open countryside.

03

Family pickup

Hosts meet you and bring you to the ger village.

What's
Included

Your €1,839 covers the full experience. No hidden costs.

Before
You Arrive

A few essentials to arrange and pack before you arrive.

Suggested Packing List
  • Warm sleeping bag rated for cold steppe nights
  • Enough layers to handle all seasons in one trip — pack warmer rather than lighter
  • Comfortable riding boots or sturdy hiking boots
  • Light camp shoes or flip-flops
  • Rain jacket or waterproof shell for sudden weather changes
  • Warm base layer, fleece/down layer, hat and gloves for cold mornings and evenings
  • Riding gloves or lightweight outdoor gloves
  • Sun hat or cap
  • Sunglasses with secure strap
  • Swimsuit for daily river ice baths, lakes or hot springs
  • Headlamp or small flashlight
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Personal medication and basic toiletries
  • Personal first-aid kit, blister care and any painkillers/anti-inflammatory medicine you normally use
  • Wet wipes for cleaning hands and body when there are no showers
  • Hand cream or Vaseline for dry weather
  • Travel pillow if you sleep better with one
  • Universal adapter plug and power bank
  • Binoculars or camera if you want them

All participants must sign a liability waiver, provide proof of travel insurance, bring their own personal medical basics, and arrive mentally prepared for simple conditions, changing plans, physical discomfort, and group life in the wild.

Robert Zaher riding a horse across the Mongolian valley
Who You're Booking With

Robert, the Family
& 8 Lakes Tours

8 Lakes Tours is organised by Robert Zaher through a direct relationship with Ganbold's family in the Orkhon Valley. Online bookings, preparation, and payment communication are handled by 8 Lakes Tours, while the local family payment goes directly to your hosts in Mongolia.

All tour enquiries go through info@8lakestours.com.

Email the tour teamRob's Instagram
✦
Reserve Your Spot

Choose Your
2026 Expedition

Real guests have already made the journey. The 2026 8 Lakes Tours season is now open at €1,839 per person, with each departure capped at 8 participants.

Small groups only — each departure capped at 8 guests
2026 Season Rate — Limited Availability
€1,839
Per Person · 9 Days / 8 Nights · Europe pricing
Pay €919 online now to confirm your place. Bring €920 in cash for the host family.
Pay online€919

Reserves your place with 8 Lakes Tours.

Pay locally€920

Clean USD cash paid directly to the nomadic host family in Mongolia.

How payment works

Total trip price: €1,839 per person.

The online payment goes through 8 Lakes Tours to reserve your place. The €920 local portion is paid directly in cash to the nomadic host families because they cannot reliably receive online transfers.

If your plans change more than 3 weeks / 21 days before departure, the online amount is refundable minus unrecoverable Stripe/payment processing fees. Within 3 weeks / 21 days, we'll still try to help with a date transfer, replacement traveller, or partial refund where costs have not already been committed.

We'll include exact cash instructions and timing in your confirmation notes.

Duration9 Days / 8 Nights
Group SizeMax 8 Participants
LocationOrkhon Valley, Mongolia
Riding LevelBeginner – Intermediate

Not sure if this fits?

Ask before paying. We're happy to check riding level, food restrictions, route expectations, dates, or whether this is the right kind of adventure for you.

Ask a question first

Available Tour Dates — 2026

Booking Details

Secure
Your Place

Choose your date, tell us who's coming, then continue to secure payment. Once the online payment is complete, your place is confirmed.

Contact details

Trip details

By typing your name you confirm you have read and agree to the liability waiver.

Online Reservation Payment

Submit the booking form with a valid email first, then pay €919 online to reserve your place. The host-family cash portion is handled in Mongolia.

Localized prices are estimates for browsing. Stripe checkout confirms the final charge before payment.

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Your booking is confirmed once the online payment is completed. If anything needs checking, we'll contact you directly.

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Get In Touch

Have a
Question?

We're happy to answer anything before you book — whether it's about the route, the horses, visa requirements, or packing. Reach out and we'll get back to you promptly.

✉

Email

info@8lakestours.com

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Booking guests can receive relevant trip preparation notes after booking. Newsletter subscribers receive occasional 8 Lakes Tours updates, offers, deals, blog posts, and field notes. No spam — opt out by replying to any email.

FAQ

Common
Questions

Yes. 8 Lakes Tours is organised by Robert Zaher through a direct relationship with Ganbold's family in the Orkhon Valley. Online bookings and preparation are handled by 8 Lakes Tours; the local family portion is paid directly to your hosts in Mongolia.

Yes. Email info@8lakestours.com with any questions before paying. You can also check Rob's Instagram at @robzaher108 while we keep tour email communication centralised through the info@ address.

You will receive confirmation and practical preparation notes by email. Before arrival, Rob or the tour operator will coordinate timing with you and the host-family pickup from Bat-Ulzii.

No experience necessary. Beginners are welcome — our local guides will teach you everything you need to know before the trek begins.

The 2026 season runs from June through September, with fixed small-group departures listed on this page and private group dates available on request through late September. Each departure is capped at 8 guests and final availability depends on host-family, horse, guide, and group logistics.

The current 2026 rate is $1,999 per person. You pay $999 online through 8 Lakes Tours to confirm your place. The remaining $1,000 is paid directly in cash to the nomadic host families in Mongolia, which keeps the local family portion transparent and direct.

Fly into Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar (UB). From there you'll take a public bus to Bat-Ulzii — about an 8-hour ride through stunning countryside.

Many travellers can enter Mongolia visa-free for tourism, but the allowance depends on your passport. US and South Korean passport holders commonly receive up to 90 days; UK/EU, Australian, Canadian, Japanese, New Zealand, and many other passport holders commonly receive up to 30 days. Rules and temporary exemptions can change, so check the current Mongolian consular or e-visa guidance for your nationality before booking flights.

Remote trek days are mostly offline, with little to no cell service. The host family camp has Starlink and solar-powered charging for phones, cameras, and essentials, so you can reconnect between riding days. For simple Mongolian communication, Grok has worked best for us so far; ChatGPT also works well for translation when you have signal.

Yes. Basic first aid is available on site and experienced local guides — including Suma, who has led numerous tourist groups through this terrain — are with you throughout the journey. Ground transportation is on call for emergencies and can reach the ger village within a few hours. All participants are required to carry travel insurance with emergency evacuation coverage before departure.

Need the full practical details?

Read the preparation guide for packing, weather, food, toilets, insurance, and cancellation terms.

Open preparation guide