Maximum Elevation: 3000m
Proficiency: Moderate to demanding
Day 1: Arrival to Ulaanbaatar
Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar (UB) you will be met by your guide and transferred to a hotel in the city centre. Time permitting you will be taken on a guided tour to some of the city’s highlights, including a giant Buddha statue at Mongolia’s main Buddhist centre, the National Museum and the central square. A traditional throat singing and contortion performance will be presented at the end of the day. At a welcome dinner, you will be given an informal introduction to the tour ahead of you.
Distance: 0KMS
Accent: 0M
Descent: 0M
Meals: D
Day 02: Contingency day
Day in Ulaanbaatar for rest and contingencies.
Distance: 0KMS
Accent: 0M
Descent: 0M
Meals: B
Day 03: Fly western Mongolia and Begin Cycling
Transfer to airport and fly to the westernmost province of Bayan-Olgiy where the country’s highest mountains lie. We will meet our support crew with our bikes and equipment at the airport from where we shall mount our machines and begin our ride heading directly to the mountains where we begin to acclimatise to the dry air and altitude. The initial 55km tarmac stretch is the only sealed part of the entire 550km ride across the Altai mountain range. Tonight we camp not far from the Mongolian-Russian border in our three-person dome tents provided on a twin share basis. The campsite also boasts a mess tent, a hot camping shower, and a toilet tent with a seat placed over a cat hole.
Distance: 55KMS
Accent: 960M
Descent: 540M
Meals: BLD
Day 04: Cycle to Khaishintsar Mt.
Two-thirds of the way is a gradual ascent along the Russian borderline on desolate mountain roads and faint tracks until reaching the day’s highest point at 2575m. Vast numbers of domesticated animals, mainly yaks and goats grazing on steep slopes and rugged ridges can be often seen. They belong to local Muslim Kazakhs whose felt-walled tents known as gers or yurts can also be seen dotting the landscape in twos or threes. An occasional encounter with a curious shepherd or local children always offers a chance for taking some good photos. The last 20km is downhill to a grassy campsite by a small stream. We sleep at almost 2200m.
Distance: 70KMS
Accent: 620M
Descent: 540M
Meals: BLD
Day 05: Cycle to Baga Oigor petroglyph gallery
We cycle further west across the mountainous desert with terrain that requires more climbing than the previous days. Although the riding surface is dominated by packed soils rocky tracks and loose soil are also present especially near the tops of mountain passes. The destination is the Baga Oigor valley, the site of an extensive petroglyph gallery included in the UNESCO "World Cultural Heritage List. Stone and Bronze Age rock carvings here are scattered across an area 15km long and 500m wide. Images depict wild and domestic animals and scenes of human life such as hunting, herding, worship etc. Here we set up our tented camp and explore the rock art gallery.
Distance: 65KMS
Accent: 1570M
Descent: 1430M
Meals: BLD
Day 06: Ride to Tavan Bogd National park
We continue a short while along the rugged folds of Baga Oigor valley and stop at a border patrol station to settle formalities. The road then climbs up a grassy shoulder between two dome-shaped mountains. This brings us to an enormous V-shaped mountain valley with clear streams running down from glaciers that cover the ridge top. The main feature of the mountains here is the alternation of grassy slopes with massive walls of loose scree. Here we cycle by some alpine lakes, a summer base for local Kazakh herdsmen. They live in large mushroom-like yurts and tend their massive flocks of yaks and goats. It will be interesting to visit them and learn about the way of life which seemingly hasn’t changed for many hundreds of years. At the day’s end, we arrive at Tavan Bogd NP gate, a few yurts - home of local rangers at the foothill of even bigger mountains.
Distance: 55KMS
Accent: 700M
Descent: 320M
Meals: BLD
Day 07: Ride to Tavan Bogd Viewpoint and descend to White River
We pedal and push the bikes on the high mountain terrain strewn with running streams and patches of snow. The day’s halfway point is an elevated hill from which there opens a panoramic view of Mongolia’s highest peaks and largest glaciers. We have picnic lunch while enjoying the magnificent views before heading down towards a deep V-shaped valley at the bottom of which rumbles a torrential river full of glacial silt. This is the White River. Its lush valley is the summer pastureland of herding nomads. We free-wheel down a steep slope and arrive at our campsite by the glacial river.
Distance: 30KMS
Accent: 380M
Descent: 740M
Meals: BLD
Days 08: Ride to Kharnoor Lake
We roll down the White River valley and visit a Tuvan family. Also known as the Uriankhai this ethnic people of Turkic origin have historically been moving around southern Siberia. Traditionally they practice shamanism, the worship of ancestral and natural spirits, but today this belief is blended with Tibetan Buddhism. We use the chance to learn of their way of life and to taste food and drinks offered by the unwritten local rules. After the visit, we climb back to the brim of the valley towards Holy Mt. Shiveet and cycle along its base. A massive flat rock-strewn with hundreds of images of wild beasts, cattle and hunting people lies at the mountain east end. From there we roll downhill into the widening valley for another 20km. After lunch, we leave the White River valley behind and climb to a highland tundra using seasonal migration roads. We spend the night at 2600m.
Distance: 55KMS
Accent: 1270M
Descent: 1090M
Meals: BLD
Day 9: Bike to Khoton Lake
Continue further south enjoying spectacular scenery: grassy uplands, alpine lakes and rugged hills. We will be travelling at an average altitude of 2500m but still depending on the time in the summer we might come across locals moving with antique Russian trucks fearlessly negotiating tricky mountain roads. We may also meet Kazakh hunters who train golden eagles and use them for hunting. Although actual hunting is done in winter you can still see the massive birds and have a photo taken holding one on your arms to impress your family and friends. At the day’s end, we arrive at Khoton, a spectacular alpine lake bordering China’s Xinjiang province.
Distance: 65KMS
Accent: 950M
Descent: 1360M
Meals: BLD
Day 10: Rest Day
We spend a well-earned rest day at ease. The Khoton lake campsite is truly idyllic. A snow-capped ridge marking the borderline with China and wooded slopes below reflect in the mirror-like surface of the lake. You can go swimming or explore some well preserved Bronze-age rock carvings just beside the camp.
Distance: 0KMS
Accent: 0M
Descent: 0M
Meals: BLD
Day 11: Ride to Black Lake
We cross a narrow strait linking the Khoton with its “sister” lake called Khurgan and ride along the latter enjoying views of the snow-capped ridge that marks the borderline with China and the pretty woods at its foot. Our camp tonight will be at another highland lake with the snow-capped Mt. Tsengel as the backdrop.
Distance: 75KMS
Accent: 1100M
Descent: 700M
Meals: BLD
Day 12: Ride to Sagsay Town
Ride north-east enjoying views of the 3943m Mt. Tsengel. Its rugged foothills and grassy slopes are perfect grazings for yaks and sheep of which you will see hundreds along the way. The morning riding is easy with a general downward inclination. Then after lunch, we climb to the top of a dry ridge at 2660m followed by a 15km fast downhill to our next campsite amidst the semi-desert landscape.
Distance: 70KMS
Accent: 900M
Descent: 1610M
Meals: BLD
Day 13: Return to civilization
The last 35km to Olgiy town are rather uneventful. The tour’s last challenge will be climbing 400m in 8km. Descending on a dusty road will bring us to the edge of the capital of the westernmost province and to a cosy hotel just in time for a shower and beers to celebrate the end to the cycling adventure. Tonight you will have a chance to enjoy some Kazakh songs and music and traditional delicacies.
Distance: 45KMS
Accent: 500M
Descent: 560M
Meals: BLD
Day 14: Fly back to Ulaanbaatar
Transfer to Olgiy airport and fly back to UB. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. Rest until we gather for a farewell dinner.
Distance: 0KMS
Accent: NA
Descent: NA
Meals: BD
Day 15: Departure
Transfer to the airport for your return flight back home.
Meals: B
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