Mongolia: On the Trail of Chinggis Khan
Nearly 1,400 km of off-road riding from the old Mongol capital at Karakorum to the Great White Lake, camping wild by rivers most travellers never see.
Email this journey
Mongolia: On the Trail of Chinggis Khan
Tell us your trip details and we'll put together a complimentary Stradora Expedition Pack for the journey.
11 nights through Mongolia
Twelve days and about 1,370 kilometres of genuine off-road riding west out of Ulaanbaatar, camping wild most nights. The operator grades this one Extreme and asks for off-road experience, which is honest: there are days with no track at all.
The history is a large part of the appeal. Kharkhorin is Karakorum, the thirteenth-century Mongol capital, and the Orkhon Valley around it is a UNESCO site with a riverside camp and a hike up to the Tuvkhun Monastery. Bronze Age deer stones appear near the end of the route, standing where they were put four thousand years ago.
The riding is the substance. Beyond the Orkhon Waterfall the route crosses trackless terrain to a remote three-river crossing, then mountain ground to the hot springs at Tsenkher, then a camp on the edge of the Chuluut River canyon. Lava fields lead to the shore of Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur, the Great White Lake, and the Northern Pass climbs to a high mountain-saddle camp before dropping to Murun, with an internal flight back to the capital.
Extreme Bike Tours provide a Voge 300 Rally, tents and ger camps, all three meals a day, a guide, a mechanic, fuel and oil, spare parts, support vehicles, the airport transfers, the internal flight and a visa invitation letter. Flights, visa fee, insurance, riding kit and a cold-weather sleeping bag are separate. Groups run from eight to ten riders. For experienced off-road riders, Mongolia on a light rally bike is about as good as this kind of travel gets.
Mongolia: On the Trail of Chinggis Khan (2 of 11)
Mongolia: On the Trail of Chinggis Khan (3 of 11)
Mongolia: On the Trail of Chinggis Khan (4 of 11)
Mongolia: On the Trail of Chinggis Khan (5 of 11)
Mongolia: On the Trail of Chinggis Khan (6 of 11)
Mongolia: On the Trail of Chinggis Khan (7 of 11)
Mongolia: On the Trail of Chinggis Khan (8 of 11)
Mongolia: On the Trail of Chinggis Khan (9 of 11)
Mongolia: On the Trail of Chinggis Khan (10 of 11)
Mongolia: On the Trail of Chinggis Khan (11 of 11)
Images selected by Stradora to represent the journey.
Mongolia: On the Trail of Chinggis Khan
Ulaanbaatar, airport transfer and welcome dinner
Ulaanbaatar, airport transfer and welcome dinner.
west out of the capital onto the steppe to Khugnu Khaan, first night under canvas
west out of the capital onto the steppe to Khugnu Khaan, first night under canvas.
via Khujirt to Kharkhorin (Karakorum), the 13th-century Mongol capital
via Khujirt to Kharkhorin (Karakorum), the 13th-century Mongol capital.
into the Orkhon Valley, riverside camp and a hike to Tuvkhun Monastery
into the Orkhon Valley, riverside camp and a hike to Tuvkhun Monastery.
Orkhon Waterfall, then trackless terrain to a remote three-river crossing
Orkhon Waterfall, then trackless terrain to a remote three-river crossing.
mountain terrain to Tsenkher and its natural hot springs
mountain terrain to Tsenkher and its natural hot springs.
through Tsetserleg to a camp on the edge of the Chuluut River canyon
through Tsetserleg to a camp on the edge of the Chuluut River canyon.
past lava fields to the remote shore of Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur (Great White Lake)
past lava fields to the remote shore of Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur (Great White Lake).
the Northern Pass via Shine-Ider to a high mountain-saddle camp
the Northern Pass via Shine-Ider to a high mountain-saddle camp.
down to Murun via the Bronze Age deer stones, finishing at Tuult camp
down to Murun via the Bronze Age deer stones, finishing at Tuult camp.
flight from Murun back to Ulaanbaatar (included)
flight from Murun back to Ulaanbaatar (included).
departure
About 1,370 km, almost entirely off-road.
What's included
- Motorcycle
- tents and ger camps
- breakfast, lunch and dinner
- tour guide
- mechanic
- fuel and oil
- spare parts
- drinking water
- first aid
- support vehicles
- airport transfers
- internal flight Murun to Ulaanbaatar
- letter of invitation for the visa
Not included
- International flights
- visa fee
- personal medical insurance (required)
- excess baggage on the internal flight (about US $2 per kg)
- -10C sleeping bag and riding kit
- alcohol
Ready to drive it?
11 days, from £3,968pp
Other roads worth the drive.
Melbourne to Brisbane Self-Guided Motorcycle Tour
A 14-day self-guided motorcycle tour from Melbourne to Brisbane, about 3,653 km, with the bike and¦
Read the journey
Coral Coast Self-Guided Motorcycle Tour
A 12-day self-guided motorcycle tour from Perth up Western Australia's Coral Coast to the Pinnacles, the¦
Read the journey
Sydney to Melbourne and Return Self-Guided Motorcycle Tour
A 14-day self-guided motorcycle tour starting and finishing in Sydney, about 3,296 km, with the bike¦
Read the journey