Home | Cycle tours | CLASSIC MONGOLIA CYCLING TOUR
CLASSIC MONGOLIA CYCLING TOUR
OVERVIEW
The Classic Mongolia Mountain Biking Tour route traverses the Khangai mountain range, which covers nearly a fifth of the country’s territory. Dominated by dome-shaped mountains, mixed forests, clear streams, and lush grassy valleys, this region receives abundant rainfall compared to other parts of Mongolia. The Khangai mountain range is an immense cycling playground with fantastic packed soils, diverse terrain, and spectacular landscapes. The nomadic culture here is authentic; almost every day, you see flocks of grazing yaks, sheep, goats, and horses, meet hospitable herdsmen, and stop at their homes for a bowl of milk or a slice of yak butter.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Follow a carefully planned and proven route
- Cycle through and explore diverse landscapes
- Enjoy luxurious camping in serene natural settings
- Gain insightful experiences of the nomadic culture
- Relax at the mineral hot springs of Tsenkher Valley
- Visit Karakorum, the medieval capital of Genghis Khan
- Experience the vibrant atmosphere of modern Ulaanbaatar
ITINERARY
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Arrival transfer, Ulaanbaatar City Tour
Upon arriving in Ulaanbaatar, you will be transferred to the group hotel. Meet the other travelers and explore the highlights of Mongolia’s capital. The city tour includes a visit to the country’s main Buddhist monastery, where the awe-inspiring, gigantic gold-plated Buddha statue serves as the principal object of worship. You will also observe local believers engaged in various worship rituals and prayers, many of whom are wearing colorful traditional overcoats. Next, visit the central square adjacent to the parliament building, which features a façade adorned with marble statues of Genghis Khan and his successors. Rightfully regarded as the city’s signature photo point, it is always bustling with newlyweds, reunification parties, and the public in general. Consider hearing an overview of Mongolia’s history from the Stone Age to the modern era at the National Museum, and see a few but remarkably important dinosaur fossils—such as intact nests containing eggs, carnivores fighting herbivores, and embryos still in their eggshells—at the Paleontology Museum of Mongolia. A panoramic view of Ulaanbaatar from an elevated hill on the city’s edge provides insight into its size and topography. Finally, after watching a show of traditional music, songs, and famous throat singing, enjoy a welcome dinner with the rest of the group and receive an informal introduction to the exciting cycling tour ahead of you. Overnight at the group hotel (dinner, hotel).
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Transfer to the starting point of the cycling tour
We load in 4WD expedition vans which have special racks for carrying bikes and drive west of UB on rough tarmac across vast open steppes with rolling hills in the background. Countless flocks of grazing sheep, goats, horses and cattle herded by nomads and their traditional homes, known as ger, is a common sight. Around late afternoon we arrive to a provincial capital and settle in a hotel. If wished, you can explore the town on foot before dinner. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, hotel)
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Bike to Asgat valley (40km)
2-hour car transfer brings us to foothills of the Khangai mountain range where we start riding after a snack break. It is an acclimatization day at easy incline across grassy valleys fed by small streams that flow to arid plains of the Gobi desert, a glimpse of which you can get, looking back. A few homes of nomadic herders and their enormous herds will come in to your view this afternoon. Always curious about bike travelers, they may abandon their daily chores and come to greet and wave you. We establish our first tent camp soon after crossing over the day’s highest point at 2450m. On most of the nights on this trip you will sleep in a comfortable tent camp erected every afternoon upon finishing the day’s biking. It provides all amenities of a good wilderness camp including tents designated for dining, showering and bathrooms, not to mention great meals cooked by a chef. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent)
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Bike to Shargaljuut valley (40km)
Throughout the most of the day we gradually gain altitude on well established car tracks cut in and around mountain sides that provide a high angle views of a lush river valley teeming with yaks and horses. The great scenery compensates for some rocky sections of the road which eventually brings us to Shargaljuut mineral springs many of them boiling hot. A massive soviet era health spa dominates the mountain side gushing with hot mineral water famous for its curing qualities and widely used in traditional Mongolian medicine. Summer is a busy time here with lots local people spending a week or two getting rid off their ailments. We spend some time looking around the place and trying the water temperature. One more hour of pedaling further along the valley and civilization is completely left behind. We erect our tents on a pretty riverside with a few gers, the tents of herding locals, and their many animals in our sight. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent)
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Crossing of the Khangai mountain range (44km, 42km, 38km)
During these 3 days we cross the Khangai’s watershed that separates its southern basin from the northern basin. The whole route follows the least travelled and hidden corners of the range. It’s truly delightful to see beautiful landscapes change every single day. Each ascent, at times quite challenging, brings you to a panoramic highpoint which is then followed by a breathtaking downhill. The road is then usually replaced by a level portion where you pedal leisurely and absorb the appeasing beauty of the virgin nature. Local herders and their immense flocks of animals will be your only and silent spectators. Invariably, our campsites are located in the vicinity of their homes allowing you opportunity for more interaction and cultural experience. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent)
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Bike to Tsetserleg town (66km)
Having made it to the northern side of the Khangai we bike to Tsetserleg town, a pretty provincial capital located in the shelter of a spectacular granite ridge. A short but steep pass is followed by an overall fast day on excellent packed surfaces. The last climb finally opens an interesting view of traditional residential districts, geometrically aligned and with a lot of bright rooftops. We will have ample time for exploring the town including its busy market where local people sell pine nuts, various wild berries and other natural produce of the Khangai region. In just half an hour’s pedaling, we settle in a traditional style guest accommodation with relative comforts of a conventional hotel such running water, showers and bathrooms. For a guest room you will be allocated a real Mongolian ger. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, ger resort)
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Ride to Tsenker hot springs (25km)
Half a day riding across a few short but steep passes and arrive to Tsenkher valley, famous for its mineral hot spring. Although somewhat crowded with both local and foreign travelers during short summer season, it certainly feels good to sooth your muscles with beer in your hand. Relaxing massage and laundry service is available too. Another night in traditional Mongolian tents. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, ger resort)
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Cycle to Orkhon river valley (76km)
Another fast day on great soils to reach Orkhon river valley littered with sponge like volcanic rock. This UNESCO designated historic heritage site contains many hundreds of ancient burial mounds that dot the landscape. We set up tented camp right beside the river and take a dip in its cool waters before dinner is ready. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent)
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Bike to Karakorum - medieval capital of Genghis Khaan (72km)
We cycle downstream along the Orkhon river loose altitude throughout the day. Our destination is the town of Karakorum - the site of the Mongol Empire capital in 1200s. However, its glory was short lived as it soon fell into obscurity and was eventually destroyed by invading Chinese armies in late 14th century. Today the main attraction here is the monastery museum of Erdene Zuu established in 16th century by a Mongol khan as part of introduction of Buddhism as the main religion. The monastery then suffered almost a complete destruction during the anti-religion campaign of 1930-ies with just a dozen of temples surviving till present. We visit the monastery and the local museum to take a glance at a few surviving artifacts of the old capital before heading to a ger camp to celebrate our ride. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, ger resort)
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Return to Ulaanbataar, farewell dinner
We load bikes and drive to Ulaanbaatar stopping for a picnic lunch at some scenic spot along the way. Upon arriving settle in your hotel and meet at a good-bye dinner. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, hotel)
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Departure transfer
Transfer for your return travel home. (Breakfast)
13th June, 2025
25th June, 2025
Available
Early bird 10% available
2,305 USD p.p.
Single occupancy + USD 182
27th July, 2025
8th August, 2025
Available
Early bird 10% available
2,305 USD p.p.
Single occupancy + USD 182
Price Includes:
- All accommodation: hotel (3 nights), tent (6 nights), ger camp (3 nights)
- Complete camping & cooking equipment
- Sleeping mattresses
- Indicated meals & drinking water
- All visits, sightseeing, national park and permit fees
- Overland transport
- English speaking guide
- Expedition cook(s)
- Advanced quality, well maintained mountain bikes
- Mechanical assistance and parts
Price Excludes:
- Travel insurance
- Sleeping bag
- Personal cycling accessories and clothes
- Meals not indicated
- Drinks & Alcohol
- Gratuities
REVIEWS
Tripadvisor Reviews:
Pat and John, UK
Just to thank you, once again, for a brilliant tour in Mongolia. We arrived home yesterday to grey skies and drizzling rain so already missing "Blue Sky Country". Some bikes and bags did not arrive from Istanbul (hopefully they will turn up next week) but otherwise the journey was uneventful (but long!) and it will take a few days for our body clocks to adjust to the time difference.
The arrangements you made on our behalf were faultless and we really appreciate everything you did to provide us with an unforgettable experience in a unique environment. We were impressed with the support, the meals were great, the drivers careful, cheerful and courteous and Nara and Turu very patient (particularly whilst waiting for me!!) and we know that everyone really had a great time. The events in the square on our last day were a fitting end to a fantastic two weeks.
We have requested everyone to send us their best photographs and will forward these on to you. It is difficult to capture the vast vistas of Mongolia on camera but perhaps some of these will be useful for promotional purposes!
If any of your prospective customers require a reference, please don't hesitate to pass on our contact details. We would be more than happy to recommend yourself and Mongolia Trekking!
Thank you and good luck with future ventures.
Tara M
Tdpeters4
Swie Lan Wiggins
Neil W
11 of us were brilliantly looked after by Mongolia Trekking in June 2019. We did the Gobi desert and Kangai mountain tour, followed by the Nadaam Festival and a National Park. We camped 11 nights in well maintained North Face tents, stayed in several good gear camps and the team of 7 that looked after us were out of this world. Everything was first class and I wouldn't hesitate to use this company again. In fact we are in 2021 for another cycling trip
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