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Cycling in Mongolia

Rating: 5
Rating: 5/5 Read 6 reviews

Activity Level

Moderate & Challenging

See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you.

Comfort Level

Simple

Activity

Cycling

Overview

Cycle off-road across the vast expanse of the Mongolian steppeland

Mongolia remains a mysterious presence in the heart of Central Asia, a traditional country where visitors are still an unusual sight. Nomads wander the grasslands, setting up their white gers (tents) where the pasture is lush for their horses. On our bikes, we follow good trails across wide-open steppe, into expansive mountain scenery and through larch and pine forests. Camping wild under the wide skies adds an adventurous edge to what is one of our most intrepid cycle tours.

 

Cycling in Mongolia

Key Information

What's Included

  • All breakfasts, 13 lunches and 15 dinners included
  • All accommodation
  • All transport and listed activities
  • Tour leader throughout
  • Arrival and departure transfers
  • Local bike hire

11 days of Cycling

Terrain:

Low altitude; 100 percent good-quality dirt tracks

Highlights

  • Discover a variety of landscapes as we cycle through open steppe and forests
  • Visit Erdene Zuu Monastery and Genghis Khan's ancient capital
  • Camp wild and stay overnight at hot springs

Itinerary

Cycling in Mongolia
  • First Destination: Ulaanbaatar
  • Next Destination: Ulaanbaatar
  • Meals included:Dinner
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
  • Meals included:None
  • First Destination: Ulaanbaatar
  • Next Destination: Ulaanbaatar

Our cycling adventure starts in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital city. There are no activities planned for today to allow for different arrival times. If you have time to explore some of the sites we recommend visiting Sukhbaatar Square, the National Museum and the landmark State Department Store.

Around 6pm, say hello to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome by arranging a group dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Want more time in Ulaanbaatar? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation: Bayangol Hotel (or similar)

  • Meals included:Dinner

We start the day after breakfast with the trip briefing and then strike out on an introductory tour of Ulaanbaatar, including Sukhbaatar Square (the main square in the city) and Gandan Monastery. In the afternoon, you have free time before boarding the overnight train to Erdenet in the early evening. Erdenet is the third largest city in Mongolia and home to one of the largest copper mines in the world. We stay in comfortable sleeping compartments on the train.

Accommodation: Sleeper train

  • Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Our train arrives early in the morning. Upon arrival, we are joined by our crew and support vehicles. After breakfast, we set up the bikes and head out towards the wilderness. The small township of Bugat makes a convenient lunch stop. After lunch, our route takes us over Chuluutiin Davaa, a long pass on which care must be taken as the surface is loose in parts. With a steep descent, we arrive at a long plain leading to tonight’s camp near Tal Tolgoi Well.

Accommodation: Wild camping

  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After our first night near local herding families, we cycle through rolling country before descending to a bridge over the Altaan (Golden) River. Rock formations in the area hint towards a volcanic past. The riverbanks make an idyllic spot for a picnic lunch. It is a long, steady climb to Tuluugiin Pass, where the scenery changes dramatically as the forests give way to open steppe, at least for a while. Today is our longest cycling day on the trip.

Accommodation: Wild camping

  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we pass through rolling hills, past small lakes and herds of horses. Steppe eagles can be seen in this area. We stop for lunch with views across the steppe. After lunch, we continue on tracks around the southern side of Khairkhan Mountain (6,108ft/1,862m) and make camp in an open, green valley beneath the Kholbooriin Pass (5,410ft/1,649m).

Accommodation: Wild camping

  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We begin with a bit of exertion as we make the short climb in the morning up to the pass, giving us far-reaching views across the countryside. Down the other side, we wind along gentle river valleys before emerging at the township of Khairkhan. After lunch on the outskirts of town, we pass a series of small lakes before choosing a camp for the night.

Accommodation: Wild camping

  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we follow the Khunjiin River as it rises gently towards its headwaters. River valleys like this provide fertile pasture for grazing livestock and are popular campsites with local herders. Wetlands near the river attract birdlife, including demoiselle cranes. We stay overnight in the upper reaches of the river valley, beneath Chingeltei Mountain.

Accommodation: Wild camping

  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a short climb to the headwaters of the Khunjiin River at the Uran Khutul pass, it is downhill to the Tamir River where we have lunch on the banks. Near the river, we pass burial grounds dating to the eighth century. We camp tonight on the banks of the Tamir, not far from Ikh Tamir or Great Rock. Locals say that if you can throw a rock over the rock, it will bring you good luck for the rest of the journey.

Accommodation: Wild camping

  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is a half day of cycling and we make a good start to make the most of the afternoon for a chance to rest. The Gurviin Dava Pass is a long but steady ascent through forest for the most part, with a short, steep climb at the end. Arriving at the provincial capital of Tsetserleg makes the effort well worthwhile. Tsetserleg means garden and this township has one of the most attractive settings of any in Mongolia. We pitch camp by the Tsetserleg River. The afternoon is free to relax, enjoy a hot shower and experience staying in a traditional Mongolian ger.

Accommodation: Ger camp

  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We are now close to the Khangai Mountains and a short ride takes us to the foothills. The rolling country of Arhangai has been replaced by forested hills of larch and pine with dramatic alpine peaks in the distance. There are three short passes today, with lunch on the third before descending to tonight’s camp.

Accommodation: Wild camping

  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our route now takes us into the heart of the Khangai Mountains, following well-marked 4×4 trails. Herders still inhabit the valleys, yet yaks have replaced cows as the milk-producing animals. We follow picturesque valleys and camp beneath Ondor Khairkhan Mountain (7,585ft/2,312m). This a relatively long day that can be challenging if conditions are windy.

Accommodation: Wild camping

  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we cross the Khangai mountain range on good jeep tracks and drop down to the Orkhon River on the longest, smoothest descent of the journey. The Orkhon River flows to the ancient capital, Karakorum, then to Lake Baikal in Russia and further northwards to the Arctic Ocean. After lunch, we continue downstream to our overnight camp on the banks of the Orkhon River.

Accommodation: Wild camping

  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We ride from camp following rolling terrain, crossing and recrossing the Orkhon River as we head for the fertile plain chosen by Genghis Khan as the location for the capital city of his empire. ‘Karakorum’ is derived from a Turkic language and means black rock. Arriving in the ancient capital in the early afternoon, we check into the ger camp for hot showers and a well-earned rest. This afternoon, we explore Erdene Zuu Monastery, the largest and most famous monastery in Mongolia. Built in 1586 under the direction of Abtai Khan on the ruins of the ancient capital, much of the monastery was destroyed during Stalinist purges of the 1930s, but an impressive wall with 108 stupas and several temples remain.

Accommodation: Ger camp

  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We make a good start this morning for the 250mi (400km) drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Travelling at an easy pace, we stop at Mongol Els to view the dunes with a picnic lunch en route. We check into our hotel on arrival in Ulaanbaatar – hot showers and cold beers! This afternoon, we enjoy a performance of traditional Mongolian song and dance by the renowned Tumen Ekh troupe.

Accommodation: Bayangol Hotel (or similar)

  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The trip ends after breakfast and we begin our return journeys home. If you’d like a little more time to explore, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Dates & Prices

Cycling in Mongolia

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  • Saturday 27 Jun 2026 to Monday 13 Jul 2026

    Availability
    Sold Out

    This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.
    Optional Single Supplement
    +£ 400
    Available upon Request

    £ 3699 (excl. flights)

    Contact Us about departure on 27 Jun 2026

    Nadaam Festival

  • Sunday 02 Aug 2026 to Sunday 16 Aug 2026

    Availability
    Guaranteed (Limited)

    This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 2 spaces left. Do not delay your booking!
    Only 2 spaces left!
    Optional Single Supplement
    +£ 230

    £ 3999 (excl. flights)

    Book with £ 999 deposit

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Accommodation

Cycling in Mongolia
Cycling in Mongolia
Cycling in Mongolia

Camping, hotels, Mongolian gers and sleeper train

Most of the trip is spent wild participatory camping and you will be asked to put up and take down your own tents. A toilet tent is put up at lunch and in the evening and a shower tent is put up when not camping near a stream (you should bring bio-soap for washing in streams and wet wipes). On the sleeper train, you may be sharing a compartment of four mixed-sex beds with members of the public depending on how the seats are allocated.

There may be occasions when we replace a night camping with a ger stay should local circumstances, such as the weather, dictate it.

Single supplement

If you prefer to have your own room, please request a single supplement at the time of booking. Availability is limited and these cannot be guaranteed; however, when available a single supplement covers all nights of the tour with the exception of the sleeper train, which is shared with four berths per cabin.

Essential Information

This is an Activity Level 4 (Moderate & Challenging) cycling trip classified as off-road. For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

We advise that you have reasonably good fitness and are a confident cyclist, with some off-road cycling experience. Please also take the number of nights camping into consideration; hotels are only used in Ulaanbaatar. We believe that camping allows you to experience the wonderful remoteness of Mongolia.

  • Average daily distance: 31mi (50km)
  • Number of cycling days: 11 (including two half days)
  • Vehicle support: 100 percent

Terrain and route: We take good quality, vehicle-width, hardpack dirt tracks across rolling forest and steppe. Roads vary from paved to rocky in places with some short, steep passes.

Two vehicles support the trip (depending on group size) including a 4×4/standard minivan for people and a separate one for bikes and equipment. You may ride as much or as little as you like. The only things you need carry with you on the bike are your valuables, sunscreen, extra top, camera and water bottle etc. One vehicle travels at the front of the group and one at the rear. The bikes return from Karakorum with the support vans at the end of the trip.

The terrain is best described as rolling. Our route mostly follows jeep tracks along river valleys and over ridgeline mountain passes, with some better quality paved roads in the early stages of the trip. Trails are mostly hardpacked dirt tracks; however, mountain passes often have loose gravel on the descent, requiring extreme caution. Sandy patches are hazardous in places, particularly at the base of small dips in the road. Our route passes through some more mountainous areas where roads follow rivers upstream and occasionally cross up and over into the neighbouring watershed. The passes referred to in the itinerary are universally low – usually requiring just 330ft-655ft (100m-200m) of vertical rise/descent. Some of the descents can be rocky. Typically, there are four to six hours of riding each day.

This trip will appeal to anyone who is physically fit, enjoys riding off road and who is happy to camp in beautiful and wild places (we use good quality camping equipment, but home comforts are not a feature of this trip). Our tented camps include a kitchen tent, communal dining tent, wash tent and toilet tents. Mongolia is a country with just 930mi (1,500km) of sealed roads and these tend to be heavily trafficked and in poor condition. By far the most appealing travel is away from the main transit corridors and this is where our route takes us.

If you are bringing your own bike, please ensure that suitable off-road tyres are fitted – if in doubt please contact us for clarification. Due to the open nature of the country and the fact this is a fully supported trip, it is best to be flexible and to adjust the daily itinerary according to circumstances. The exact location of campsites can be changed, as circumstances require, but weary cyclists are free to join the support vehicle.

Please note, the route and distances described in the itinerary are fluid. Depending on local conditions and how the group feel, plus the potential encounters with locals along the way, we may cycle further or less far that day.

Key information

Start hotel: Bayangol Hotel, Chinggis Avenue-5, Ulaanbaatar 14251, Mongolia
Phone: +976-11-312255
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing around 6pm this evening.
Airport: Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 1hr 30min drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN) from the end hotel.

Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Mongolia

Travellers from UK, US, CA and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Mongolia. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

In the countryside, our support vehicles carry the kitchen, food supplies and kitchen staff including a professional chef. Meals are Western style with a strong Asian influence. Breakfasts are typically cereals, toast and a hot dish. Lunches on the road are sandwiches, cheese, meats and salad. Dinners are a variety of vegetables, meat, rice, potatoes and pasta dishes. Filtered or purified drinking water is supplied on all cycling days, as are tea, coffee and fruit drinks. Dining in Ulaanbaatar is excellent and includes Mongolian, Indian, French, Chinese and Mexican restaurants. If you follow a vegan diet, expect that the variety of food may be limited on this trip. As this kind of diet is relatively uncommon in this region, we cannot guarantee the hotels and restaurants will provide meals that have the necessary variety to be considered satisfying.

June to August is summer in Mongolia, characterised by daytime temperatures of 20C-30C (68F-86F) and evenings around 15C (59F). Summer is also the wet season and rainy days are certain over a two-week journey. September is the start of autumn (fall), expect daytime temperatures of 15C-25C (59F-77F), nights 5C-10C (41F-50F). Mongolia is a land of tremendous seasonal change, as temperatures plummet to -40C (-40F) in winter. It can snow on any day of the year and there is the potential that very cold weather could be experienced on these trips.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

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Timothy Haughton

Rating: 5

Unforgettable ride through a fascinating country

From the night train from Ulaanbaator onwards, this was a trip packed full of memorable moments. Cycling across the steppes, up and down the "killer passes", navigating the river crossings, camping in the wilds and the savouring the culinary delights rustled up to satiate our appetites will all live long...

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling across the steppes with herds of horses racing you. They tend to beat you, but you can give them a run for their money ...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bata was all you want from a group leader. He was enthusiastic, organized, knowledgeable and attentive.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Even in the summer temperatures can drop after sunset so the fleece and three season sleeping bag are not luxuries but necessities!

Niall Campbell

Rating: 5

Mongolian Horizons

An amazing trip across the steppes of Mongolia. Each day revealed new horizons and a greater appreciation of the vastness of this remote country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Whilst slightly cliched the experience of cycling alongside running horses was amazing.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bata was an absolutely top notch leader with a great understanding of group dynamics. Always informative, a good sense of humour and a great ambassador for his country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Enjoy the opportunity for a digital detox although a local sim card does appear to work across most of the journey. If happy to wait though there is a chance to connect to WiFi half-way through the trip at a cafe in Tsetserleg. Although wild camping there is the 'luxury' of a cold shower at the end of a day's cycling but take some wipes to freshen up in the morning. The trip in August wasn't as cold as expected but take some warm clothes nevertheless. Take a power bank for your phone if taking lots of photos but there is the ability to power-up devices from the support vehicle or via the mobile generator.

Michael Hanrahan

Rating: 5

Once in a lifetime experience

Awesome trip, a unique experience. Every aspect felt special from start to finish. Bata and his support team did everything possible to give us the best Mongolian experience. A great blend of cycling, culture and freshly cooked traditional food along the way.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling alongside and being in the presence of groups of wild horses, pristine lakes and glorious sunsets.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bata was great. Friendly, knowledgable, hardworking and the best possible ambassador for his country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Definitely on the moderate/challenging scale but always allowed to cycle at one’s own pace. Most definitely worth the effort required. Pack some warm clothes and a good sleeping bag as evenings were chilly once the sun went down.

Stephen Yaxley

Rating: 5

An incredible, stunning, strange and wonderful experience

The organisation and support from the entirely local team running the trip was absolutely exceptional. NK, the group leader, was faultless - calm, fun, supportive, organised, knowledgeable, entertaining. He led an exceptional team of drivers, cooks, mountain bikers/mechanics/guides, who all made the trip utterly fantastic. Breathtaking scenery, well maintained bikes,...

Most Inspirational Moment

It is really difficult to choose one - the most inspirational moment was often every single morning, setting off after a hearty breakfast to (usually!) crisp blue skies, early morning sun, herds of animals across the Steppes, distant ger tents. Just magical. Staying up late one night to see the stars on a very clear night was very special. The lamb roasted in the traditional way with hot stones from a fire one evening was very special too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

NK was himself an inspiration. He truly was mindblowing - great fun, extremely knowledgeable. methodical, efficient, well organised. I was in awe of him! Can’t thank him enough for making the trip so amazing.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It got very cold at night on this last tour of the season... down to -5 on occasions. But still up to 20 degrees sometimes in the day. So being equipped for the temperature change and range is critical for your enjoyment of the trip - I was pretty cold at night, and setting off in the morning I was dressed up like for skiing, and then rapidly had to strip off layers as the temperature shoots up in the mornings.

Steven GITTENS

Rating: 5

The land that time forgot

This was simply a magnificent holiday in a wonderful country. Cycling eleven days in a row is a bit tough and the terrain can be challenging, but it is worth the effort. The landscape is vast and photographs cannot do it justice. I never tired of seeing herds of horses,...

Most Inspirational Moment

I never tired of the horses running alongside us. The herds of yaks and cows and enormous flocks of sheep and goats are equally impressive. Large birds of prey can be seen regularly. The night skies are incredible.

Thoughts on Group Leader

NK was magnificent. His organisational skills, his pleasant manner and his love of Mongolia is inspirational. My luggage failed to arrive when we landed at Ulaan Baataar, but NK assured me that the luggage would arrive before we boarded the overnight train. He arranged this and my luggage arrived. The excellent Gala Dinner on our last night was a very pleasant surprise. Our team consisted of NK, two other cyclist guides, three drivers, a cook and cook's assistant.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a good quality sleeping bag. The camping is very good and nothing to fear. We all became very slick at erecting our tents and taking them down.

Suggestions

When wild camping, toilets can be a bit of a worry. In Mongolia we had a western style toilet in a tent.

Steve Hall

Rating: 5

Big skies and teeming herds

A great trip in stunning landscape. A good mix of easy riding with time to enjoy the views and more challenging ups and downs. It is quite something to see herds of horses running beside you while you ride, to watch eagles soaring above you as you camp by a...

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to pick just one, but all these are great memories: watching the sunset over lake from our camp site, running herds, herdsmen on horseback, the "performance of contortion by springy girls" in Ulan Baatar.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our trip leader was young but very good, with excellent communication skills, thoughtful and engaging. This was his first trip as leader, though he had assisted on many more. The rest of the support team were clearly experienced and very good at keeping the trip on track, both on the road and at the overnight stops.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Compared with our only previous Exodus cycling trip (Myanmar in 2014, level 3) this trip had much more cycling and less sightseeing. When we booked it was level 3 but has since been re-graded from level 3 to 4. We found the trip notes were pretty accurate, but beware the short days - less distance but plenty of height gain. The trails were generally pretty good, but variable surface conditions (slippery mud, sand, rocky descents) added an extra element of challenge in places, and a strong headwind made for slow progress at times. Expect wet feet - there are lots of river crossings. The general description of "undulating with a few short steep climbs" is fair, but before the short steep climbs there is often a long not-so-gentle climb. The tents and bikes were very good, both in terms of specification and condition. We were happy to see that, having read about issues with bikes and tents in a review of an earlier trip. The support team checked all our group's bikes over regularly, most if not every evening. The sleeping mats provided were OK but not fantastic. If you have a good one that you trust, then bring it.

Suggestions

Bugs were not a major problem in the evenings but bug spray is essential, and we found a solar charger handy for keeping our cameras, etc. in service.

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£ 3999
15 Days Excluding Flights
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