Mongolia Cycling Expedition
Mongolia Cycling Expedition: Seven Days Riding the Wild Orkhon Valley
There are very few places left in the world where you can ride for hours without seeing another soul — where the landscape stretches further than you can imagine, and the sky feels twice the size it does at home. Mongolia is one of them.
This eleven-day adventure takes us deep into the Orkhon Valley — one of Mongolia's most celebrated regions, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of rolling grasslands, sacred rivers, ancient ruins, and nomadic herders living as their ancestors have for centuries. We ride jeep tracks and open steppe for seven days, with a fully equipped support crew setting up camp ahead of us each evening — hot showers, a proper meal, and cold drinks waiting as we roll in.
This is remote, genuine adventure. It's also far more accessible than it might sound. The terrain is more forgiving than our Kyrgyzstan trip — rolling rather than mountainous — making it achievable for a wider range of riders, while still feeling properly wild.
Highlights
✔ Ride a seven-day loop through the UNESCO World Heritage Orkhon Valley
✔ A night hosted in a traditional Ger (yurt) camp
✔ Fully crewed camp — hot showers, three-course dinners, and cold drinks waiting at the end of each day's riding
✔ Optional visit to the Orkhon hot springs & camel ride
✔ Big sky scenery all around
✔ Fully supported by a local team
View Dates & Book
| Start Date | End Date | Days | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 July 2027 | 24 July 2027 | 11 | £2695 | Book Now |
| 26 July 2027 Sold Out | 05 August 2027 | 11 | £2695 | Join Waitlist |
Booking Info
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Click on your preferred trip date to be directed to our secure booking partner WeTravel who will process and manage your booking.
£600 deposit to secure your spot
Full balance due 90 days before the trip
💡 Tip: We recommend paying with bank details to avoid card processing fees.
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Bike hire £200-£300
Single Supplement (UB nights only) £100
Tent hire
Sleeping mat hire
Navigation device hire
All add-ons can be selected at booking or added later.
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⚠️ Important: This trip requires a minimum of 10 participants to run.
Please do not book your flights until we've confirmed the trip is running.
Your deposit is fully refundable until we confirm this number has been met.
You will see a guaranteed badge next to those dates we have already guaranteed to run.
Itinerary
Meeting Point: Ulaanbaatar
End Point: Ulaanbaatar
The trip begins and ends in Ulaanbaatar, with a long but scenic transfer to our ride start in Tsetserleg. We spend seven days riding a loop through the Orkhon Valley before transferring back to UB for a final night and farewell dinner.
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Arrive into Ulaanbaatar and check in to our hotel — comfortable en-suite twin rooms with air conditioning in the city. Once everyone has arrived, we gather for a welcome dinner: a chance to get to know your fellow riders, meet the SITW team, and build bikes ready for the days ahead.
🍽 Welcome dinner, included
🏨 Hotel, Ulaanbaatar (en-suite, AC)
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We set off west across the Mongolian steppe in our comfortable bus — seatbelts and air conditioning throughout. The journey to Tsetserleg takes around eight hours, broken up with scenic stops and a relaxed lunch along the way. It's your first taste of the sheer scale of this country. We arrive in time for dinner and a good night's sleep before our first day in the saddle.
🍽 Dinner, included
🏠 Guesthouse, Tsetserleg
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This is what you came for. Over seven days, we ride a loop through the extraordinary Orkhon Valley — a landscape of open grassland, sacred rivers, ancient volcanic formations, and nomadic families going about their day as people have here for thousands of years.
We ride jeep tracks and open steppe, crossing rivers (wet feet guaranteed!) and navigating rolling terrain that rewards with wide, sweeping views at every turn. Each day, our support vans leap-frog ahead to set up camp — so when you roll in at the end of the day, there are post-ride snacks, a shower tent, and dinner underway. Evenings are spent in the mess tent, swapping stories and watching the stars emerge over the steppe.
Highlights along the way include a night hosted in a traditional Ger camp, a chance to visit the Orkhon hot springs mid-route, and the possibility of a camel riding encounter. Our seventh riding day brings us back to Tsetserleg, ready for a real bed and the comforts of civilisation.
🍽 All meals included
⛺ Wild camping (5 nights) · Yurt camp (1 night)
♨️ Optional hot springs
🐪 Optional camel riding
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We make the return journey to Ulaanbaatar with sightseeing stops and lunch along the way. Back in the city, there's time to freshen up before gathering for a farewell dinner — a proper celebration of the week's riding and the friendships made on the steppe.
🍽 Farewell dinner, included
🏨 Hotel, Ulaanbaatar
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Breakfast is included. After that, the trip is officially over — safe travels, and we'll see you on the next one!
🍳 Breakfast, included
What’s Included?
Included ✓
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Our trip will be hosted and guided by a British Cycling and First Aid qualified Sisters in the Wild cycling guide, alongside a local team and support vehicles.
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Our trip will be supported by a local team including cooks, drivers, and camp team. There will be three support vans (one follow vehicle, two leap-frog camp vans).
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During our wild camping nights we’ll have a mess tent, kitchen, toilet tent, shower tent
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Accommodation includes a mix of hotels, wild camping, guesthouse, and yurt camps.
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All meals, including a welcome dinner on arrival, and farewell dinner in UB are included. Note that vegans or those on restrictive diets may need to bring supplementary pieces from home. We can work with you on this.
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No need to carry all your own gear!
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Camping gear and navigation devices can be added to your booking, and we’ll have them ready for you on day one.
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Each participant will be provided with a specially curated collection of routes and route briefings via Komoot, and a free map bundle to access/navigate them.
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Transfers from Ulaanbaatar to our ride start point and back are included.
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We will arrange storage of additional luggage whilst we are riding, and meet it again at the end.
Not Included ✗
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Flight and transfers to our meeting point hotel in Ulaanbaatar are not included. Airport transport can be booked as an add-on through WeTravel.
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If not bringing your own bike, bike hire is available to book as an add-on.
We will not pass any bike shops on the ride, and riders should be equipped with basic spares and tools specific for their bike, to increase the chance that we can fix stuff on the trail. You should also carry basics like puncture repair stuff and multitools on your bikes. See packing list for info.
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Our meals will come with water and often tea, any additional drinks are not included.
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Travel Insurance that allows multi day cycling as an activity, and covers medical emergency, repatriation, cancellation and public liability is mandatory for all SITW trips and is not included.
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Most travellers are allowed to travel to Mongolia for up to 30 days without a visa.
Check info for your country before booking travel.
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If you are vegan or have a restricted diet it is advisable to bring some snacks from home as they will be difficult to find in Mongolia.
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You will need to bring a tent, sleeping mat, and sleeping bag. Tent and sleeping mat hire can be added as an add-on.
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Tipping is not mandatory but warmly appreciated. For those who wish to tip, a good guideline is around $100 per rider ($50 for the local team and $50 for the SITW team)
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Payable locally
About The Riding
Challenge Level
We’ve rated this trip as a 3-4/5 on challenge level.
This trip is achievable for a wider range of riders than our Kyrgyzstan adventure — the terrain is rolling rather than mountainous, with no big sustained climbs. That said, you should be comfortable riding off-road for several hours a day on consecutive days, and confident on loose and unpredictable surfaces. The riding is more accessible, but the remoteness and conditions are genuinely wild.
Terrain
Almost entirely off-road. The primary surface is hard-packed dirt jeep tracks, with some rockier sections and open steppe riding. Expect river crossings — wet feet are a given, so plan accordingly. Confidence riding off-road is required, though there is little that is technically demanding.
Climbing
The terrain is rolling, with individual climbs limited to around 300m. You can expect a couple of these most days, broken up by fast, open rolling terrain in between. Very different to the sustained high-mountain climbing of Kyrgyzstan — manageable for a fit rider who is comfortable in the saddle for a full day.
Daily Distances
Our average riding day is around 30-40 miles and 1,000-3,000 feet of elevation gain. These will be mostly off-road miles. Komoot suggests an average moving time per day of around 4-6 hours in the saddle depending on the day.
Remoteness, Altitude & Weather
You'll be riding above 1,600m throughout the route. Most riders adapt within a couple of days and altitude sickness is not a high risk at this elevation. That said, hills may feel harder than expected for the first day or two — take it steady and drink plenty of water.
This is remote riding with limited infrastructure and no mountain rescue service. Our entire route is accessible by our support vehicles, which will be the primary point of assistance in any emergency. Access to emergency medical care will take considerably longer than you'd be used to in Europe. Comprehensive travel insurance covering emergency medical evacuation is mandatory. Riders should be comfortable with genuine remoteness and self-reliance between support points.
Our whole route is accessible by our support vehicle, which will be our main point of help in case of an incident. There is no Mountain rescue in Mongolia and access to emergency medical care will take much longer here than we would be used to in Europe.
Accomodation & Food
Accommodation
Accommodation on this trip reflects the journey itself — varied, characterful, and memorable. You'll start and end in comfortable hotels in Ulaanbaatar, and spend a night in a guesthouse in Tsetserleg at either end of the ride. Out on the steppe, it's a mix of wild camping and one special night hosted in a traditional Mongolian Ger.
On wild camping nights, you'll pitch your own tent and pack it down each morning — this is part of the experience. Our camp crew handles everything else: the kitchen, mess tent, toilet tent, and shower tent are ready and waiting when you arrive into camp each day.
2 nights — Hotel in Ulaanbaatar (en-suite, AC)
2 nights — Guesthouse in Tsetserleg
1 night — Traditional Ger (yurt) camp
5 nights — Wild camping on the steppe
Single supplement available for the Ulaanbaatar hotel nights only (limited to 4 rooms). Wild camping and the Ger night are communal by nature.
Food
All meals are included throughout — from the welcome dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on departure morning. Our experienced camp cooks know how to keep hungry cyclists fuelled: evenings typically bring a three-course dinner, and breakfasts include eggs, porridge, cereal, fruit, tea, and coffee. Lunches on riding days are simple and satisfying — carried in the follow vehicle and ready out on the route.
Vegetarians can be fully accommodated. Vegans can be accommodated with some planning, and we recommend bringing a small selection of supplementary snacks from home. Please note that specialist dietary items may not be available locally — let us know your requirements at the time of booking and we'll work with you ahead of the trip.
Support Style
Our SITW Bikepacking trips aim to strike the perfect balance of freedom and support. Riders are free to ride the routes at their own pace or with the guide and group, and we will set regroup points along the route.
Guiding
Our SITW guide rides with the group, moving back and forth. All our guides are qualified first aiders and experienced mechanics. Riders should be equipped with their own navigation device and should not rely on following a guide for directions. Routes and full briefings are shared via Komoot, and navigation devices are available to loan from us.
Support
In addition to the bike based guide, this trip will have a follow vehicle that travels with the group each day, carrying water, lunch, first aid, and comms. Two further vans leap-frog ahead with the cooks and camp crew so that camp is set up and ready when you arrive. The support vehicle is not a daily shuttle option, but is there for mechanicals, injuries, and anyone who needs to hop in.
Two experienced cooks and an English-speaking camp coordinator ensure every campsite is a proper base to recover from. Expect a fully equipped kitchen and mess tent, a sit-down toilet tent, and a gas-heated shower tent available most nights.
Bikes & Bike Hire
Riders can bring their own bike or choose to hire locally. There'll be space to rebuild the bikes at our starting hotel, and we arrange storage of bike boxes whilst on the trip to meet us at the end of our trip.
Recommended Bike
A hardtail mountain bike is the ideal choice for this trip. A gravel bike with chunky tyres (minimum 50mm) can work if you are experienced riding off-road terrain — including loose and unpredictable surfaces.
Please ensure your bike is in safe, reliable working order before departure. We'll share a recommended spares and tools list ahead of the trip.
Bike Hire
Hire is available through us via our local partner. Please note that your height is mandatory information when booking hire — make sure to include this on your booking form.
Simple Hardtail (Trek Marlin 5) — recommended, good availability
Carbon Full Suspension (Savva) — limited availability, book early
Read our Complete Guide To Bikes On Sisters in the Wild Adventures for tips on travelling with your bike, recommended spares, and more.
FAQs
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Please do not book your travel until we have confirmed the minimum trip number has been met.
Ulaanbaatar's Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN) is served by connecting flights from major European hubs, typically via Istanbul, Frankfurt, or Seoul. Flight times are usually 10–14 hours. Airport transfers are not included but can be arranged as an add-on in your booking. Do not book flights until the trip is confirmed as running.
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We’ll have a max group size of 14, minimum group size of 10 to run.
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Vegetarians can be fully accommodated. Vegans can also be accommodated, though we recommend bringing supplementary snacks from home. For serious allergies, please email us before booking to discuss what's possible given the remote supply situation.
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You should be comfortable riding off-road for 5-6 hours a day on consecutive days. The terrain is rolling rather than mountainous, but the conditions are genuinely remote and the riding is almost entirely off-road. Confidence on loose surfaces is important. Drop us an email at hello@sistersinthewild.com if you'd like to talk through whether this trip is right for you.
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Yes, you can book directly with our starting/ending hotel if you wish to stay earlier/late. We’ll share our hotel info once the trip is confirmed.
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We’’ll share a detailed packing list as part of the Trip Joining Info. Packing is a balance of keeping it light, but making sure you're equipped for changeable weather and supporting yourself out on the rides.
Bike Stuff
The basics
Off-road bike and helmet (hire available)
Navigation device (available to loan from us)
Bike lights (just in case!)
A secure bike lock for overnight (can be stored in support van)
Lightweight lock for the rides
Capacity to carry at least 1.5 litres of water.
Bikepacking bags or rucksack to carry what you need in the day
Basic first aid kit for your rides
Camping stuff
Tent (hire available)
Sleeping mat (hire available)
Sleeping bag
Headtorch
Cup/spork/bowl
Bike tools/spares to carry
Spare tube and patches
Small pump
Tubeless plugs/spare sealant if running tubeless tyres
Multitool with what you need for your bike e.g. allen keys, chain breaker
Chain quick link (these are specific for your bike)
Spare derailleur hanger (specific to your bike.) This website can help you
find the one you need for your bike
Brake pads (specific for your bike)
Small amount of chain oil
A few zip ties/bits of duct tape & electrical tape wrapped around your pump are always useful!
Personal Stuff
Travel insurance that covers off-road cycle touring/theft
Passport
Any personal medication needed
Mini toiletries (travel toothpaste, toothbrush etc)
Battery pack/cables to keep phone and nav device charged
Cash/card
Earplugs....just in case!
Lightweight towel for showers
Sun cream/SPF lipbalm
Electrolytes (optional but recommended)
Clothing
Clothing is a great place to slim down your packing list and get ruthless! However, this should be balanced with keeping safe and warm and dry if we have poor weather. Generally we could expect some very hot and sunny days, with the possibility of rain/thunderstorms and cooler temperatures.
Consider how you can double up uses of clothes for day/evening/sleeping, and embrace a bit of dirtbag spirit!
Cycling clothes
We recommend 2 sets that you can wash/swap through the week, plus a warm layer set.
Comfy shorts and quick dry t-shirts or cycling top
Shoes. We recommend only using clip in shoes/pedals if you’re already confident in off-road riding.
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof trousers
Extra layers in case of poor weather, especially o downhills e.g. leggings, long gloves, mid layer,
Windbreaker
Gloves - 1 warm and 1 waterproof
Glasses (optional but recommended - downhill bugs/gravel dust)
Socks
Cycling cap/hat to keep the sun off your face
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You'll need to bring (or hire) your own tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping mat. You'll pitch and pack your own tent each day. All communal infrastructure — kitchen, mess tent, toilet tent, shower tent — is provided and set up by our crew. Tent and mat hire is available as an add-on in your booking.
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We recommend checking country-specific health guidance at travelhealthpro.org.uk well in advance. Common recommendations for Mongolia include hepatitis A, typhoid, and tetanus. Your GP or a travel health clinic can advise based on your personal health history.
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UK citizens can currently enter Mongolia visa-free for up to 30 days. Requirements vary by nationality and can change — please check the current requirements for your country well in advance of travel.
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Bike boxes/bags can be left at the start of the trip, and we will meet them again at the end.
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Yes — travel insurance is mandatory for all SITW trips. Your policy must cover multi-day mountain biking, medical emergency, emergency evacuation and repatriation, cancellation, and public liability. Given the remoteness of this trip, evacuation cover is especially important.