Wild Mongolia
with Tugi
← 2026 Season
Khan Khentii taiga · horseback only
KhagiinKhar Nuur
Six days on horseback into the Khan Khentii taiga to the Pearl of the Taiga — a hidden alpine lake reachable only by horse. No road in. No phone signal. Just trail, river, fire.
TourJun 22 – 27Days6Group5 – 7Price$900
Reserve a SpotPearl of the Taiga
Two days in. One night by the lake.
Dates
Jun 22 – 27, 2026
Days
6
Group
5 – 7
Region
Khan Khentii taiga
Start / end
Ulaanbaatar
Price
$900
A letter from Tugi
A lake only the horses know how to reach.
Khagiin Khar Nuur — the Pearl of the Taiga — sits at the southern edge of the Siberian forest, deep inside the Khan Khentii strict protected area. There is no road in. The only way is on horseback, and that is the point.
I love this tour because it slows everything down. Your legs stop checking for phones, your breath evens out, and by day three you're asleep by the fire with a dog using your jacket as a pillow.
It's real riding — two long days in the saddle each way — but the horses are patient and the pace is easy. If you've ridden a few times before, you'll be fine. Come for the country you can only reach by horse.
— Tugi
Itinerary
Six days in the saddle.
01
UB → Terelj
📍Ulaanbaatar·Turtle Rock·Aryabal Meditation Temple·Family ger
🚐🛕🛖🍴
Leave UB in the morning, drive to Gorkhi-Terelj. Turtle Rock, a visit to Aryabal Meditation Temple, crossing the Terelj River. Night in a traditional family ger.
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Morning drive out of UB to Gorkhi-Terelj. We stop at Turtle Rock for a stretch and the Aryabal Meditation Temple for the climb (the elephant-trunk staircase). Cross the Terelj River into the family's land — they'll have dinner waiting. This is the soft start; tomorrow gets real.
02
Into the taiga
📍Family ger·Khavirga Pass·Taiga tent camp
🐎🏕️🌅
Pack the kitchen and bags onto the horses. Ride out across Khavirga Pass into the quiet taiga. Long day in the saddle. Tents set up for the night under the stars.
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Up early to load kitchen and bags onto the pack horses. The trail climbs into the Khentii taiga — birch and larch, no people. Khavirga Pass is the high point of the day; then a gradual descent. We set up tents in a clearing by water before dark.
03
Arriving at Khagiin Khar Lake
📍Taiga trail·Khagiin Khar Lake·Lake camp
🐎🌊🏕️🏔️
By late afternoon we reach the Pearl of the Taiga — the southern edge of the Siberian forest. Camp by the lake with mountains all around. A short canter along the shore if the ground allows.
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Second day of riding, into the heart of the Khentii. By late afternoon the lake opens up below — glacial-fed, slate-coloured, surrounded by larch. Camp on the shore. Cold water, but if you've made it this far you'll swim.
04
Return ride to Khavirga camp
📍Khagiin Khar Lake·Taiga trail·Khavirga camp
🐎🏕️🍴
Back along the same trail through the taiga. Reach the area below Khavirga Pass in the afternoon and set up tents. Campfire, stories, quiet wilderness after a long day.
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Same trail, different light, different mood. Saddle-time is real by now. We make a fire at the Khavirga area, have a proper dinner — vodka if anyone brought some, stories whether you brought any or not.
05
Back to the family
📍Khavirga trail·Family ger·Ger kitchen
🐎🛖🍴
Pack up and ride back to the family camp. Night in gers, cooking traditional dishes with the local women — a warm evening, a taste of everyday nomad life.
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Final ride out of the taiga. Reach the family camp by late afternoon. The women of the family will be cooking — buuz, khuushuur, things you didn't know you needed. Hot wash if the camp has the setup. Real ger bed for the first time in four nights.
06
Chinggis Statue & UB
📍Family ger·Chinggis Khaan Statue·Ulaanbaatar
🚐🛕🏙️
Drive back to the city. Stop at the iconic Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue on the way. Arrive in UB late afternoon.
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Goodbye to the family and the horses. The statue is on the route back — 40 metres of stainless-steel Chinggis on a horse, with a viewing platform on top. UB by late afternoon.
The taiga
What a horse week looks like.
“By day three the horses know your name before your people do. You catch yourself talking to them.”
Co-host on this tour
A local horse guide joins the group.
Horses don't follow GPS, and neither does the taiga. Tugi is with you from UB, but on the ride itself we travel with a local horse guide who knows the Khavirga Pass trail by heart, lives with these horses, and can read the forest like a map. You're riding with the people who do this for real — not rented hands.
In the ger
Your first ger visit.
Your first ger visit
- ·Enter right foot first, move clockwise inside.
- ·Never touch the two central columns — they hold the sky up.
- ·Receive food and drink with the right hand.
- ·Don't step on the threshold; don't whistle indoors.
- ·Accept the bowl of milk tea — a sip is enough.
Practicals
What’s included, what to bring.
✓Included in $900
- ·UB ↔ Terelj transfers (private car)
- ·Horses, tack, and local horse guide for 4 riding days
- ·Family ger stays (nights 1, 5)
- ·Tent camps (nights 2, 3, 4) — tents, sleeping pads, kitchen
- ·All meals on the trail — cooked fresh at camp
- ·English/Mongolian guide (Tugi)
- ·Chinggis Khaan Statue entry on the way home
- ·Khan Khentii protected-area permits
◇You bring
- ·Hiking boots + riding-friendly trousers (long + stretchy)
- ·A padded seat-pad if you want extra cushion (I can lend one)
- ·Sleeping bag rated to 0 °C
- ·Rain shell — summer showers happen
- ·A light riding helmet if you prefer (we have a few to lend)
- ·Head torch, sunhat, bug spray, blister tape
- ·Cash — no ATMs after UB
Horse experience isn’t required but 2–3 prior rides helps. We pair you with a patient horse and go slow on day 2.
Before you apply
Answers to the usual questions.
How many hours in the saddle per day?+
Days 2 and 4 are ~6 hours with breaks. Day 3 is shorter, ~3–4 hours. Day 5 is ~2 hours. It's real time on a horse — expect to feel it.
What if I can't keep riding?+
Our support 4×4 stays near the trail on the first and last rides. If you genuinely can't continue, we swap to the vehicle. We've never had to on this tour, but the option is there.
How cold at night?+
Late June in the taiga: 5–12 °C overnight. The campfire helps. Your 0 °C bag will be comfortable.
Are there bugs?+
Yes — June is mosquito season in the forest. Long sleeves + Deet-based repellent is essential. After day 2 you stop noticing them.
What's the trail like?+
Soft forest floor, stream crossings, one real pass (Khavirga, ~1,800 m). Gentle elevation. The horses do the work — the riding is sustained but not technical.
Can solo travellers join?+
Absolutely. Most riders come solo. The group bonds fast on this one.
Come with me
June 22 – 27, 2026 · $900
Small group of 6 – 8. Limited horses — reserve early. Bring a friend and save 15% each.