Enduro Tours Through Mongolia

Day 1: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

After the long flight, you arrive at Ulaanbaatar airport in the morning. Experience shows that jet lag is a problem, so we first take a taxi to the accommodation and have a coffee.After all participants have arrived, a short city tour awaits you with visits to the Gandan Monastery, the Winter Palace, the Soviet Monument with an overview of the city and the Chijin Lama Monastery in the city centre. In the evening we will have dinner together and discuss the tour.

Day 2: Start of the enduro tour into the Gobi Desert

We get our motorbikes and support vehicle ready early in the morning and leave the city heading east. We ride around the Bogd Khan Uul Mountains to Zuunmod and head off the tarmac into the vastness of the steppe landscape. A short stop at the Eej Khad earth mother stone shows us the Buddhist culture. From now on, we head southwards at full speed through the steppe to the surreal rocky landscape of Ikh Gazariin Chuluu, where we set up camp.

Day 3: Ikh Gazariin Chuluu - Tsagaan Suvraga

The next day we continue southwards until we reach a rugged range of hills, the landscape of Tsagaan Suvraga. The landscape is characterised by red remnants of erosion. With a little imagination, you can recognise the many shapes that gave the area its name.

Day 4: Zombie town and dinosaur bones 

On this day, we drive quite a way west until we reach the zombie town of Mandal Ovoo. A short refuelling stop forces us to pull over, but then we head south to the Flaming Cliffs. The area literally starts to burn in the evening light due to the reddish clay soil, hence the name. After every rainfall, new dinosaur bones are unearthed and scientific teams from all over the world search for new species.

Day 5: The huge Khongoriin Els sand dune 

We first drive eastwards to the Zuun Saykhany Nuruu Mountains, where the vulture gorge is located. There are indeed many vultures flying through the air and we take a half-hour walk into the sheltered gorge. Then we head west again over a pass where it's worth stopping. A challenge with our enduro bikes, but an obstacle for the locals in their cars, which they try to overcome by any means necessary. The effort is worth it, the gorge that follows is spectacular. After overcoming the mountains, we drive along the huge Khongoriin Els sand dune. Those with sand dune experience will get their money's worth, newcomers will be able to enjoy their first sand dune experience in peace. We will camp in a beautiful location in the middle of the dune.

Day 6: Enduro action in the Gobi Desert

In the morning we first have to cross the dune, but the 15 kilometres will be conquerable for all participants. If more sand riding is required, we can also head west over the dune. Otherwise, we ride back into the mountains, along an ancient valley to Gurvantes. From here, the most south-westerly point of the journey, we head north again until we set up camp near Gojoot. Perhaps we will find the spring that is marked on the maps but is mostly dry.

Day 7: The Gobi Desert in all its variations 

Today we drive northwards through all the variations of the Gobi Desert. The sand becomes stonier and dried-up river valleys need to be crossed. After Bayanlig, the route takes us back up into the mountains until we cross one of the most beautiful gorges of the tour. After crossing the mountains, we will spend the night on the northern edge of the mountains.

Day 8: On the way to the ruins of Ongiin Khid

A long day awaits us, but the following day's break at the Ongiin River spurs us on to drive eastwards through the steppe landscape on a good track. After leaving a few small towns behind us, we reach the Ongiin Gol river. Crossing the river is easy for motorbikes thanks to the footbridge; the support vehicle will successfully cross the river. The last few kilometres become more hilly until we reach the huge ruins of Ongiin Khid, where a ger (Mongolian yurt) camp with all amenities awaits us.

Day 9: A day we can spend with or without a motorbike

Today we have earned a rest day. Time to explore the monastery ruins, swim in the river and explore the interesting surroundings.

Day 10: Enduro adventure across green deserts and through volcanic landscapes

With renewed vigour, a fast ride through the steppe to the north awaits us until we experience a stark change of scenery in the Khangai Mountains. From Uyanga we ride up the green meadows in a gold rush valley. We pass through lush green pre-Alpine landscapes and there is even forest again. At Bat Olzij we turn into the Orchon Valley, which has been beautifully formed by volcanic eruptions. We cycle further and further up the river, past black lava boulders until we reach the Ulan Gol waterfall.

Day 11: By motorbike to the famous Erdene Zuu monastery

Today we ride downstream through the bizarre lava and basalt landscape of the Orkhon Valley until we reach the former capital of Mongolia, Kharkorin. Kharkorin was founded in the time of Djingis Khaan and is famous for the imposing Erdene Zuu monastery. This huge monastery complex is a must-see on any trip to Mongolia and allows you to delve deeper into the country's history. We will spend the night in a beautiful ger camp located above the city.

Day 12: Chasing our motorbike through the sand one last time

After the shock of the green Orchon Valley, we drive through the steppe one last time and take the opportunity to practise the sand experience we have gained in the Mongol Els dune field. We camp on the edge of the dunes and enjoy the endless expanse of the steppe.

Day 13: From the steppe back to civilisation in Ulaanbaatar 

Today we travel north-east through the steppe until we reach the Tuul River. We will continue along this river until we reach the civilisation of Ulaanbaatar. In the evening we will experience the city life of Ulaanbaatar once again at a farewell dinner and then say goodbye to the country and the drivers in a cosy get-together.