2002 EXPEDITIONS 

Travel Resources
Horse Resources

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Western Mongolia Exploratory Horseback Trek
August 8-26, 2002

This exploratory trip is designed for EXPERIENCED riders and will be led by Christoph Schork, a well known endurance riding competitor.  We will be exploring a new riding route on the far western border of Mongolia near the Russian and Kazakhastan borders.  The trip will be vehicle supported for most of the time, so pack animals will not be necessary or slow the riding pace.  We anticipate two horses per rider. 

Western Mongolia (Bayan-Olgii "state") is home of the Kazakh minority in Mongolia.  While many aspects of landscape and culture are similar to Mongolia proper, others are quite different.  The landscape is more rugged and rocky, with glaciated peaks and less tree cover.  Kazakhs are Muslim unlike their Buddhist Mongolian countrymen.

The ride is designed to cover a lot of varied ground, traveling through river valleys, over mountain passes and along alpine lakes.  We will ride on tough, small local stock.  Horses in this region are 13-14 hands maximum so think in terms of ponies, albeit the toughest ponies in the world.  We will ride on local tack(see photos below) OR you may bring your own saddle but it must fit a pony (Christoph, what do you think about this option.. too much of a headache or should we allow for people bringing their own saddle?).  We will be camping out the entire time while on the ride but will often camp near nomad camps and will be able to share in their hospitality and warmth on a daily basis.  Meals will be quite basic; meat, potatoes, noodles and cabbage, carrots, turnips.  Mongolia is NOT a culinary experience, although the food is tasty and plentiful.

Itinerary:

August 9: Arrive Ulaan Baatar, capitol of Mongolia.  Transfer to hotel and afternoon sightseeing. (This schedule is designed to take advantage of the best route for reaching Mongolia, via Seoul, Korea on Korean Airlines.  You will need to leave the US TWO days prior because of the flight time and the date change.)
August 10: Full day in Ulaan Baatar for sightseeing including Suhkbaatar Square, Natural History Museum, Gandan Monastery, etc.  Hotel.
August 11: Early morning local flight to Olgii, capitol of Bayan Olgii.  This fllight takes about 5 hours.  Meet Canat, our local guide at the airport and drive to Tsengel.  Camp out.
August 12-23: Ride a 400 km loop from Tsengel, up the Tsagaan River valley to the base of Tavan Bogd Mountain ( highest in Mongolia straddling the Russian border), over a 3000 meter pass into the valley of the lakes Khoton Nuur and Khurgan Nuur and back to Tsengel.  On route we will meet numerous Kazakh nomads, a local shaman and local Kazakhs who hunt with trained golden eagles.
August 24: Return to Olgii.  Overnight in local hotel or apartment.
August 25: Return flight to Ulaan Baatar.  Hotel.
August 26: Free day in Ulaan Baatar or optional visit to Prezewalski Wild Horse Reserve.  Hotel.
August 27: Depart 

What’s Included: 
 Meals begin and end in Ulaan Baatar (dinner on August 9 through breakfast August 27) 
 All transportation upon arrival in Ulaan Baatar 
 Hotel in UB  (double occupancy)
 Tents and camping gear, horses and tack, guides 
 Not Included: 
 Roundtrip international airfare to/from UB , Airport taxes, Przewalski Horse Reserve day trip ($65 USD per person), Excess baggage fees 

Photos:
Christoph Schork and friends
Typical Horses with American riders
Typical Russian Cavalry Saddle
Map of Mongolia and detail of itinerary
Canat, our Kazakh guide with family
Images from our Eagle hunter trips (winter) in Western Mongolia