Wild Horizons: Central Heartland Mountain Cycling Tour | 9 Days

Mongolia’s Central Heartland brings together an extraordinary range of landscapes within a single journey — historic river valleys, rolling green steppe, forested mountains, hot springs, sacred granite outcrops, and the sand dunes of Elsen Tasarkhai.

For those who enjoy cycling across a mix of terrain — sand, gravel tracks, dirt trails, and open steppe — this region offers both variety and space in equal measure.

Wild Horizons: Central Heartland Biking Experience allows you to move through this landscape in the most immediate way possible — by bike — with the reassurance of a support vehicle travelling alongside. Ride open tracks across the steppe, follow winding valley routes, navigate sandy stretches near the dunes, or climb gently towards mountain views. When the terrain shifts or you’re ready for a pause, the vehicle is there.

This is not a rigid cycling itinerary. It is a landscape-led journey shaped day by day in conversation with your team. You decide how far to ride, when to stop, and how to balance time on two wheels with walking, resting, visiting families, taking a camel ride, or simply sitting within the vastness.

Accommodation reflects this layered experience. A homestay with a local herding family offers insight into daily life in rural Mongolia. Family-run ger camps root you in the landscape. A few nights in smaller standard camps provide the comfort of hot showers and space to reset.

What emerges is a journey that combines movement, culture, and elemental scenery — freedom with structure, independence with support.

This is Mongolia’s heartland experienced at ground level.

You’ll find the key locations below. For the full day-by-day flow (and the why behind it), please email us. We share the detailed itinerary by email so we can explain the pacing, driving days, and options in context. We also keep a few moments back as a quiet surprise.

• Ulaanbaatar
• Khustai Nuruu National Park (wild horses!)
• Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes
• Khogno Khan sacred mountain
• Kharkhorin including Erdene Zuu Monastery
• Tsenkher Hot Springs
• Ulaan Tsutgalan (Orkhon Waterfall)
• Orkhon River Valley
• Chinggis Khaan Statue Compex & Terelj National Park (complimentary day tour

Support

• Your journey is fully supported by an EL Mongolian team — typically a female trip assistant and an experienced driver. Our 4x4 vehicles travel alongside the route, transferring luggage and equipment, monitoring road and river conditions, and providing vehicle support whenever needed.

• If at any point you’d prefer four wheels to two — whether due to terrain, weather, or simply energy levels — the option is always there.

Safety

• Wearing a helmet is compulsory while riding. If you’re using an EL bike, a helmet is provided at no extra cost.

• Your trip assistant is trained in first aid, and each support vehicle carries a simple medical kit. Walkie-talkies are also used on tours with two vehicles to maintain communication when necessary.

• That said, independent riding requires personal responsibility. Riders must feel confident managing their own pace, balance, and decision-making on mixed terrain.

Pace & Experience

• You set your own pace.

• Daily distances are outlined in the itinerary but remain flexible. This is not a technical mountain biking trip, though experience riding on dirt trails and uneven terrain is an advantage.

• Depending on the route, there will be climbs — some sustained and physically demanding — balanced by open stretches where rhythm and flow come more easily.

Terrain

• Expect primarily hard-packed dirt tracks across open steppe and valleys, with sections of loose gravel, sand, occasional rocky descents, and mountain passes. Weather conditions — particularly wind — can influence the difficulty of any given day. Strong headwinds are not uncommon and can slow progress.

• On some itineraries, there may be river crossings. As always, the support vehicle is available if you prefer not to ride a particular section.

Bikes

• We use Giant XTC 800 mountain bikes with lightweight alloy frames, Shimano components, and front suspension — well suited to Mongolia’s varied terrain.

Repairs & Maintenance

• All EL bikes are fully serviced prior to departure.

• Basic tools and spare parts are carried in the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee replacement parts for every possible issue. 

Map Of Route

Sliding Price Scale: 

Group of 2 discount 5% each, 3 or more 10% each

• Final group size of 2 guests US$ 3,395 pp
• Final group size of 3-4 guests US$ 2,895 pp
• Final group size of 5 guests US$ 2,715 pp
• Final group size of 6 guests US$ 2,525 pp

During this journey, you’ll experience a variety of accommodation styles, each offering insight into daily life in Mongolia and shaped by the season and setting:

Kazakh Family Homes

During this experience, you’ll be welcomed into the homes of Kazakh families with whom we’ve developed long-standing, community-based partnerships.

Over the course of the tour, you’ll stay with several different families—including eagle hunters and their households. September is a transitional season, so your accommodation will vary depending on the weather. Some nights will be spent in Mongolian or Kazakh gers, shared as a group, while others will be in traditional, hand-built adobe brick homes at the families' winter encampments.

As a guest, you’ll likely share a private ger or room with fellow group members. Sleeping arrangements are simple and culturally authentic—most families sleep on the floor, and you’ll likely be provided with a comfortable floor mat, in keeping with local traditions.

Facilities are basic: showers are taken at the local public shower house every 2-3 days, and toilets are traditional outdoor short-drop latrines.

Showers

Running water is rare in rural Mongolia, so showers are limited. On this itinerary we use town shower houses—simple cubicles with plenty of hot water, which many travellers describe as a highlight! You will need to bring a towel.

We also provide bowls and soap powder for hand-washing clothes if needed. Just to be clear: there are no washing machines.

Toilets

Think: a loo with a view!

Mongolia has very few public toilets, so on drives it’s a case of finding a private spot in nature (your trip assistant will give what we call “the toilet talk”).

At host family homes, expect Asian-style squat or long-drop toilets.If squatting isn’t second nature, you may want to practice before travelling—several of our guests recommend it.

These toilets aren’t designed to shock you; they’re simply part of everyday rural life. We provide toilet paper (though not the aloe vera variety!).

Ölgii | Khovd

During your first night in  Ölgii, you’ll be hosted by our trusted Kazakh partners, Jako and Bovka, at their family home. Again, this is a shared space, and sleeping arrangements will be on floor mats. Shower access is at the town shower house, and toilets are outdoor sit-down long drops.

For the second night in Ölgii and the one ht I Khovd. you'll stay in a twin-share en-suite hotel room.

Ulaanbaatar

Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar on September 4th and 15th  is not included although we provide recommendations and can help with booking.

Meals

Each EL team travels with a simple kitchen, and most meals are prepared by your trip assistant. We don’t ask rural families—with limited access to shops—to provide meals, especially given the number of travellers with dietary needs. However, during each trip you’ll also share some meals with host families, stop at guanz (roadside cafés), and eat in local restaurants.

Our trip assistants are not trained chefs, but they know how to keep you well-fed. Meals are based around local, seasonal produce with a focus on food miles. You won’t find elaborate international dishes, but you can rely on hearty, filling food that sustains you. If five portions of fruit a day are a must, you may find this challenging in remote Mongolia.

We can cater for vegetarians, some dietary restrictions, and food allergies—but only with advance notice. Please share your requirements when booking so we can advise what’s possible and set realistic expectations.

Drinks

We provide filtered drinking water, tea, and coffee throughout. Alcohol and soft drinks are not included but can be purchased en route. Choice is limited in the countryside, so if you enjoy a good bottle of wine or whisky, we recommend stocking up in Ulaanbaatar before departure.

Since rural areas lack running water and recycling is minimal, we avoid bottled water. Each team carries large containers and filters water from town stations. Please bring a reusable bottle (a filter bottle is even better). A detailed packing list is provided on booking.

Included in the price

• All meals outside of the city of Ulaanbaatar unless otherwise stated: These are mainly prepared and cooked by your local team so they are fresh and it means we offer more flexibility for any dietary requirements. We also provide filtered drinking water (not bottled), tea, and instant coffee.
• You’ll be supported by one of our experienced intergenerational teams—made up of a male Mongolian driver and one of our English-speaking female trip assistants—helping create an immersive and well-supported experience. Jess and Tuya are also available throughout your journey via WhatsApp.
• Our complimentary 'Intro To Ulaanbaatar' experience including a local lunch and welcome drink
• Transportation to and from the airport on arrival and departure days
• Entrance fees to monasteries, temples, and museums are included when you are with the local team. Please note this excludes camera tickets.
• Festival tickets are provided if listed in the itinerary.
• Horseback or camel rides (please note, riding helmets are not provided)
• Thoughtful Extras – We add a few gentle surprises—small touches that express our thanks for choosing to travel with us.