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Mongolian Magic

Duration

14 Days

Ride Grade

4

Ride / Rest day

11 / 3

Sealed / Dirt

60% / 40%

Distance

2,070 km / 1,300 mi


Mongolia: One of the world’s last true wild frontier rides

Mongolia is an outstanding bikers destination, a country blessed with pure air and an incredible clarity of colour, there simply isn’t anywhere else on earth quite like it. If endless grassy steppes dotted with brilliant white Gers, vast rugged landscapes populated with wild horses, camels and yaks, Buddhist monasteries virtually wiped out under Stalinist rule, a wonderful retreat from our hectic pace of life is your thing, then Mongolia is your destination. It’s hard to imagine that this remote part of the planet once created the largest land empire the world had ever seen under Ghenggis Khan. Join us as we ride the “largest paddock on earth”.

This tour can be ridden back to back with our Kyrgyzstan Explorer tour to extend your Central Asian adventure.

Images courtesy of Ian Emmett.

No info kit available

Dates and Pricing

19th Jul 2024 to 2nd Aug 2024
Tour code: MM/190724
from US$8,660.00
View prices
19th Jul 2025 to 2nd Aug 2025
Tour code: MM/190725
from US$8,660.00
View prices

Tour Highlights


Itinerary



 

Day 1: Your Ulaanbaatar airport transfer will take you directly to our joining hotel, ready for a mid morning start tomorrow. Today you will meet your crew for your tour briefing and welcome dinner.
Day 2: A short ride today as we become accustomed to our bikes and riding in Mongolia. We visit the enormous Genghis Khan statue, the world's largest statue of a horse then onto one of the most stunning regions in Mongolia, the Gorkhi- Terelj National Park, a region of mountains, rivers and bizarre rock formations.
Day 3: A longer ride today as we head due north toward Russia and into the Selenge Aimag (province) through a vast unspoiled landscape of rolling green hills and distant valleys. We arrive at the gateway city of Darkhan for a night in another great hotel, our last for a few days.
Day 4: Today we ride into an incredibly remote part of Mongolia, an utterly silent landscape dotted with Gers, yaks and wild horses, before hitting the dirt via a series of tracks that roughly follow the Selenge River. We visit the Amarsbaysagalant Monastery where we have our first ger camp experience under an impossibly star laden sky.
Day 5: Today will offer some of the finest riding as we ride across the vast Mongolian Steppes and yawning valleys of green, bordered by distant mountains. Another wonderful ger camp experience.
Day 6: We ride a vast empty landscape dotted with nomadic gers and populated with wandering horses, yaks and goats. We ride onto what is known as the “blue pearl of Mongolia” Khovsgol Nuur (lake), an utterly stunning freshwater lake located in the shadow of a series of towering granite peaks and forested slopes.
Day 7: A day is spent off the bikes exploring this beautiful region; perhaps take a boat onto the lake, go fishing or horse riding, visit nearby reindeer farmers or simply wander the lakeshore.
Day 8: A short ride today as we return south stopping at the Meridian Line (that runs from the north to south poles) then go off road on wonderful empty single lane tracks across an expansive valley floor to visit UNESCO listed deer stones from the bronze age. We feel like we are the last humans on earth such is the silence and remoteness of these stones. We overnight in a ger camp north of Murun.
Day 9: Leaving the hospitality of the ger camp behind we continue due south into the most remote regions of the entire ride, crossing into the Arkhangai Aimag all on dirt. The scenery is breathtaking, riding spectacular & the silence stunning.
Day 10: Definitely the most challenging riding day today as we venture further into remote Mongolia; this is a region rarely visited, it is a region of mountain passes, epic Mongolian Steppe, pure air and a wonderful clarity of colours. We arrive at one of Mongolia’s scenic highlights Khorgo–Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur or Great White Lake. where we spend two nights allowing us time to soak in this idyllic landscape.
Day 11:We have a day to explore this magnificent scenic region of volcanoes and lava flows. First stop will be the amazing Yellow Dog Hell Cave then a ride to the near perfect volcanic cone and lava flow that ends at the lakes edge before returning to our beautifully located ger camp for a second night here.
Day 12: Today we ride through a landscape of more volcanoes and lava fields with occasional herds of grazing yaks to keep us alert. After so many days spent in superb wilderness it is somewhat of a shock to stay at a town again, but a stay at the Australian owned and run Fairfield Guesthouse is a must as is there legendary cinnamon rolls!.
Day 13: Leaving the Fairfield it isn't long before we are on the dirt again ascending into the remote Khangai Mountains only to ascend into the beautiful UNESCO listed Orkhon Valley. We eventually arrive at Kharkhorin, founded by Chinggis Khan in the mid 13th Century and former capital of Mongolia.
Day 14: We start our final day off with a visit to the wonderful Erdene Zuu Khiid Monastery, the oldest monastery in Mongolia dating back to 1585 that was spared the ravages of Stalin's religious purges in the 1930s. Our final ride, is on paved roads that progressively become busier, at least the roads seem busy compared to the last two weeks of empty track riding! We shall arrive into the capital of Ulaanbaatar mid afternoon.
Departure day: Spend some time exploring Ulaanbaatar or fly home or on to your next adventure.

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Included


  • Airport Transfers
  • Motorcycle rental as per your selection
  • Fuel
  • Tolls
  • Support vehicle with passenger carrying ability
  • Breakfast’s everyday
  • Lunches and dinners as per itinerary
  • 14 nights accommodation
  • Services of Compass Expeditions ride leader
  • Services of Mongolian cook and mechanic
  • Pre-departure material and route maps
  • Access to satellite phone, pay per minute
  • Compass Expeditions polo shirt
  • Entrances to all national parks
  • Entrance to Kharkhorin Monastery

Not Included


  • International flights
  • Visas (if required)
  • Personal items
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Tips and gratuities
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Upgrades


All accommodation is twin or double share, if you would like a single room there will be a single supplement: US $1,080
(Please note, you may be required to share a bathroom at least once on this trip).

Our motorcycles are insured and have a damage excess of US$ 4000, you can reduce the excess by taking advantage of our Excess Reduction Policy: US$ 25 per day

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Ride Details


Ride Profile

40% of this ride is off road; Mongolia has an ever shifting network of dirt tracks that cross open pasture lands, valleys & mountain passes. These tracks can have deep potholes, washouts and rocks. They can become slippery if wet. On a small number of occasions we will cross creeks and shallow rivers with muddy entrance and exit points.
60% of this ride is on paved road, however on some paved roads we are better off riding on the dirt!! Expect huge potholes, tall shoulders and bad cambers. Some roads are, however, brand new and almost all are empty.
 

Tour Start/End

Tour Start: Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Tour End: Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia

Climate

We visit Mongolia  is in the summer from June to August when the average minimum is around 12°C (54°F) and the average maximum is around 26°C (80°F). Mongolia has 260 days of sunshine per year however afternoon thunderstorms are not uncommon. Around Khovsgol Nuur colder daytime temperatures can also be expected dipping to 0 Celsius overnight. 

Important Information

  • All riders must have a valid motorcycle license and at least two years riding experience.
  • It is a requirement that all clients have appropriate insurance for this type of expedition.

 
Ride Grade
4
 

Ride Distance
2,070 km / 1,300 mi

 

Sealed / Dirt
60% / 40%

Accommodation


  • 14 nights of accommodation: 5 nights in 3 to 4 star hotels, 9 nights in established ger camps.
  • A flexible attitude is needed, as services in these extremely remote regions of Central Asia will NOT be what you are accustomed to.
  • All accommodation is on a twin share basis. If you are traveling alone we will pair you up with another solo traveler. However, if you prefer single accommodation a single supplement is available: US$ 1,080.00 (please note that you may be required to share a bathroom at least once on this trip)
  • A note on ger camps; our ger camps are pre-erected traditional carpet floored & felt lined tents that are very large, each one with a log fire as the centerpiece. Each tent has has a number of beds with mattresses, pillows & linen.

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Dining


  • On every day of the tour we include breakfast: 14 Breakfasts
  • On mentioned ride days we provide a picnic lunch that we prepare ourselves from our mobile kitchen: 9 Lunches
  • We include mentioned dinners in reliable restaurants we have used before: 12 Dinners

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Bikes


 

Suzuki DR650
  • 650cc single cylinder engine
  • Seat height 85.5cm (33.6In) Approx.
  • Long range fuel tank (not pictured)
  • BMW style accessory 12v power socket
  • Dark Busters
  • Bash plate
  • Dual purpose tyres
 

 

 


BMW F800GS
  • 800cc Parallel twin cylinder engine
  • Seat height 88cm (34In) Approx.
  • Inner Leg Curve 193cm (76in) Approx
  • Heated Hand Grips
  • BMW style accessory power socket
  • Top Box
  • Engine protection bars
  • Bash plate
  • Dual purpose tyres 
 

Insurance


Accidents happen, luggage is lost and tour or flight cancellations can occur, so it is our policy that all participants of Compass Expeditions tours have an appropriate level of travel insurance to cover the unforeseen. This is not only compulsory when joining our tours, but it makes sense.

If choosing your own insurance – for motorcycle tours it is crucial the insurance policy you choose will offer a policy for riding a motorcycle OVER 250cc (including our bikes). This is a critical point to ensure when purchasing a policy.

Our experienced In-house travel team are happy to help with getting you the right insurance for your tour and for any other travel you might be doing before or after. Contact our in-house travel team.

So you’ve read all the info and think you’re ready?...