Top 5 Places for Horse Riding in Mongolia

Mongolia has vast and varied terrains where you can enjoy horse riding. What makes horse riding in Mongolia more special? The riding style is different and the horses are shorter compared to European horses, but they have high stamina and are very strong, making them among the best breeds in the world. If you want to experience horse riding in Mongolia, here are the top five places where you can go and arrange a horse trek.

Altai Mountains
Head to the rugged peaks of the Altai Mountains, which include the sacred Holy 5 peaks of Tavanbogd National Park. Ride through stunning Mongolian mountain landscape - see glaciers, petroglyphs, Kazakh culture, eagle hunters, Lake Khoton, Hovd River and other unique highlights of this predominately Kazakh region of Mongolia.

Khovsgol
Mongolia’s northernmost province of Khovsgol contains some of the country’s most inaccessible but stunning scenery and riding trails, as well as being home to the remote ethnic group of reindeer herders – the Tsaatan. The lesser visited eastern shores of Lake Khovsgol also provide a start point to some wild landscapes and stunning routes through unexplored terrain.

The Sacred Rivers
The area between the Sacred Rivers consists of the Tuul river valley, Terelj National Park, Kherlen Valley, and the Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve. It's a fantastic and wonderful place for horse riding because of the wide verdant steppes that feature small hills, lined by river valleys, and fringed by majestic mountains. A deep blue sky adds a breathtaking background that makes the scenery and your entire surroundings more enjoyable and beautiful.

Central Mongolia
Explore the Khangai Mountains, Orkhon Vallley and the 8 Lakes region around Naiman Nuur. Head to the hilltop monastery of Tuvkhun Khiid and explore unique natural and cultural highlights. You'll also get to camp in the wilderness, meet nomads, and experience their hospitality, plus visit Karakorum, the ancient capital city of Genghis Khan..

Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve & Khustai National Park
These 2 locations are ideally suited to short trips. Trail horse riding can be arranged in the Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve, making it an ideal place for beginners to enjoy horse riding in Mongolia. The nature reserve is a two-hour drive from the capital, Ulaanbaatar, so it's great if you're on a holiday for a few days but would like to experience riding a horse in Mongolia. Local horse wranglers will accompany you and an English-speaking guide.Khustai National Park is also an ideal place for horse riding if you are a beginner. The trail rides are scenic and well organised. Khustai National Park is an hour and 30 minutes by car from Ulaanbatar, making it a suitable horse riding destination if you're staying in the capital for a short period. You can also see the Takhi, the world's last wild horse.