Drone view of a golden sunset over the Orkhon Valley and its winding river in Mongolia

Mongolia Horse Trekking · Orkhon Valley & Eight LakesRide Into the
Endless Steppe

Nine days of horseback riding in Mongolia, across the vastness of the steppe, living alongside nomadic families. Small groups, beginner and intermediate riders welcome.Nine days of horseback riding in Mongolia, through the vastness of the Orkhon Valley and Eight Lakes, living alongside nomadic families whose way of life is still attuned to the steppe. Small groups, local horsemen, beginner and intermediate riders welcome.

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Now booking

The 2027 season, May–September

Fortnightly departures in small groups of up to 8. 2027 founding rate: $1,999 per person until 31 December. From 1 January, the price is $2,199.

$1,999Total per personGroup rates apply
9 daysOrkhon & Eight Lakes
Beginner friendlyLocal horsemen guide
Max 8Guests per departure
See dates & book
Suma — Your Guide
What This Is

Mongolia
Beyond Tourism

This is a chance to step out of everyday life and into the vastness of the steppe. You'll wake up in a ger, ride open country with local horsemen, and live alongside a family whose way of life has been attuned to this land for generations.

The steppe moves to her own natural rhythms. Ride, eat, rest, laugh, drink tea, look at the sky, and remember what simplicity feels like. For some people that is the whole point.

Plans can change, so come open and flexible. You may be invited outside your comfort zone, but nothing is ever forced. You can always say no, rest, or spend the day closer to nomadic life, and there is always a gracious and helpful hand on the steppe.

Beginner

Riders Welcome

Max 8

Guests Per Departure

16+

With a Parent or Guardian

Direct

Family Partnership

Our Local Partnership

The Family
Behind It

I met Ganbold while travelling through Mongolia on horseback. I meant to pass through, but his family opened their ger to me, as nomadic families have done for travellers for generations. We didn't speak the same language, but we shared an appreciation for the steppe and the way of life out there, and it didn't take long to feel like family. We rode together, cooked, drank tea and laughed a lot.

Suma, Ganbold's son, loves horses. He has ridden and worked with them his whole life, and he still herds his own horses and yaks across this valley. He likes guiding too, taking people out and showing them the land he grew up in. When the idea of bringing small groups here came up, he was up for it straight away.

This isn't a company hiring local staff. It's a collaboration, built on mutual respect and their own wish to share the way they live. Coming here means living alongside them: their gers, their meals, the pace of their days. The local portion of every booking goes directly to the family, and I want this to stay good for the people who make it possible.

— Robert, Founder

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 cold plunges
  • 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

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What's
Included

Your group rate covers the full experience. No hidden costs.

Before
You Arrive

A few essentials to arrange and pack before you arrive.

Suggested Packing List
  • Optional: your own sleeping bag, mat or tent — warm camping gear is provided, so only bring yours if you prefer it
  • 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
  • Sports bras if you wear them — the trotting is a lot on long riding days
  • Sun hat or cap
  • Sunglasses with secure strap
  • Swimsuit for daily river 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, chapstick 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

Getting there

  1. Fly into UlaanbaatarArrive at Chinggis Khaan International Airport.
  2. Bus to Bat-Ulzii, UvurkhangaiAbout 8 hours on a public bus through open countryside.
  3. Family pickupYour hosts meet you in Bat-Ulzii and bring you to the ger village.

Once your bus is booked, our team coordinates the timing and pickup with you.

This is a real expedition. Plans shift with the weather, the horses and the land. Guests who love it come ready for simple conditions, long days and shared space — and leave with something no itinerary could promise.

Check dates & reserve
From Past Guests

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: the vastness and freedom of the steppe, and a nomadic way of life still attuned to it.

“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

✦

Reserve your spot

The trip is $1,999 per person, and group rates apply for 3–8 guests.

Scheduled departures
$1,999
Per Person · 9 Days / 8 Nights

2027 founding rate: $1,999 per person until 31 December. From 1 January, the price is $2,199.

Pay online$999 pp

Reserves your place with 8 Lakes Tours.

Pay locally$1,000 pp

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

See group rates (3–8 guests)
1–2 guests
$1,999 pp$999 online + $1,000 locally
3–4 guests
$1,949 pp$974 online + $975 locally
5–6 guests
$1,899 pp$949 online + $950 locally
7–8 guests
$1,799 pp$899 online + $900 locally
How payment works

Online: reserves your place with 8 Lakes Tours. Scheduled departures are paid in one Stripe checkout for your whole group (1–8 guests); only a private custom date is confirmed before payment.

Locally: clean USD cash paid directly to your host family, who can't reliably receive online transfers. Group discounts are split evenly between both payments.

Cancellation policy

More than 21 days before departure: the online payment is refunded, minus unrecoverable Stripe/payment processing fees.

Within 21 days: you get 50% of the online booking payment back, minus unrecoverable Stripe/payment processing fees.

Either way, we'll help with a date transfer or replacement traveller where we can.

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

Not sure if this fits?

Ask Robert a question or book a call 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 or book a call

Prefer to stay with the host family and ride daily, without the full camping trek to Eight Lakes? We can plan a custom riding stay around your dates.

Ask about a riding-only stay
Booking Details

Secure
Your Place

Select a departure date and tell us who's coming. Every scheduled date books and pays the same way: groups of 1–8 pay the exact group amount in one checkout after submitting. Only private, custom dates are confirmed before payment.

Your departure

Want dates of your own? Talk to us about a private group date — we'll confirm availability before any payment.

1 traveller section ready.

Private group pricing

$1,999 per person1–2 guests · standard rate
1 guest total$1,999$999 online · $1,000 cash to family

Personal information

Date of Birth

Anything else

Sign with your full legal name, as the lead booker (18 or older). Every other rider signs their own waiver from the link in your confirmation email.

Founding rate — rises to $2,199 on 1 January.

Add your email above to continue.

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

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Common
Questions

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

No. Countryside toilets are simple outhouses with squat toilets, and there are no regular showers. Ger stays are warm and welcoming in a rural way, but the facilities are basic. Wet wipes cover you between river washes, and a cold plunge in the river is part of the rhythm when conditions allow.

Yes. Basic first aid is on site and experienced local guides — including Suma, who has led many groups through this terrain — are with you throughout. Ground transport is on call for emergencies and can reach the ger village within a few hours. Travel insurance with emergency evacuation cover is required before departure.

All official prices are in USD. Price depends on group size: $1,999 per person for 1–2 guests, $1,949 for 3–4, $1,899 for 5–6, and $1,799 for 7–8. Bookings of 1–2 guests on a fixed date pay the $999 per-guest online booking payment straight after the form. Groups of 1–8 book together and pay the exact group online amount in one secure Stripe checkout. Group discounts are shared evenly between 8 Lakes Tours and the host family, so the online payment runs $899–$999 per guest and the local family cash runs $900–$1,000 per guest. The family portion is paid directly in clean USD cash to the nomadic host families in Mongolia.

Cancel more than 21 days before departure and the online payment is refunded, minus unrecoverable payment processing fees. Within 21 days you are entitled to 50% back on the same terms, and we will still try to move you to another date or accept a replacement traveller, which can recover more than the 50%. If we cancel your departure, your online payment is refunded on the same terms.

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.

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Need the full practical details?

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

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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.

Emailinfo@8lakestours.comInstagram@8lakestoursAsk a question or book a callTalk it through with Robert before you book

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