This is an adventurous and challenging tour for fit adventure cyclists. It is 100% off road travelling through remote areas of central Mongolia. From the capital, Ulaanbaatar, we will take the train to Erdenet where the cycling begins. The route to Karakorum, in the centre of Mongolia, will traverse mountains and vast open plains, still home to the remaining traditional nomadic people.
Riding surfaces will be improved single vehicle dirt roads with some rocky ascents and descents over passes, and vehicle tracks through the grass steppe. Cycling distances are between 40 and 80kms. Accomodation outside of Ulaanbaatar will be tents or tourist gers (Yurts) with the possibilty of occasional hot water. There will be full 4x4 vehicle support, an experienced English speaking Mongolian guide, and camp/cook team.
Itinerary
Wed 6 July / Fly from London Heathrow on Turkish Airlines flight TK1980 to Istanbul, departing 1125. Arrive Istanbul at 1715. Onward flight TK342 to Ulaanbaatar, departing at 1905.Thurs 7 July / Arrive Ulaanbaatar at 1005. Vehicle transfer to hotel. Assemble bikes. Bikes will be transferred by road to the start of the cycling. Stay 1 night. (hotel).
Fri 8 July / Guided city tour and cultural concert. Dinner and board the sleeper train to Erdenet.
Sat 9 July / Arrive in Erdenet at 7am. Meet with the support team and transfer to top of Inget pass for breakfast. Descend the pass and ride across sparce woods to the valley of the Selenge river. Stay 1 night. (Tent).
Sun 10 July / Cycle to Bugat via a wooded valley, cross Chuluut pass (1884m) then descend to camp. Stay 1 night (Tent).
Mon 11 July / Cycle across open river valleys scattered with nomadic herders and their large flocks of sheep, goats, horses and cattle to the camp at 1810m in the valley of the Urmiin river. Stay 1 night. (Tent).
Tues 12 July / Cycle to Mogoin river via lush valleys and flower meadows. There are two passes on the way, one at 1883m and the other at 1583m. Camp on a small river bank, a popular summer camp of local nomads. Stay 1 night. (Tent).
Wed 13 July / Cycle to Khunuin river valley passing through the town of Khairkhan. The river valley is home to numerous historic monuments dating back to the Bronze age, mainly burial mounds and artistically carved grave stones also known as the "deer steles". Stay 1 night. (Tent).
Thurs 14 July / Cycling alongside the Khunuin river, we enter the Tamir river valley and the foothills of the Khangai range which covers most of central Mongolia and reaches 4000m at its highest point, an area of lush vegetation and dense woods. Stay 1 night. (Tent).
Fri15 July / Crossing several high passes, cycle to Tsenkher hot springs. Soak in a pool of hot mineral water. Tonight you sleep in a traditional Mongolian felt tent known as a Ger. Stay 1 night. (Ger)
Sat 16 July / This is one of the best days of the tour with some challenging climbs, amazing downhills and good track surfaces. We reach the Orkhon valley where there are many ancient graves and historic sites, the story of which can be told by your guide. Stay 1 night. (Tent).
Sun 17 July / Cycle to Karakorum - the site of the Mongol Empire capital in 1200s. Visit the monastery and museum of Erdene Zuu established in 16th century by a Mongol khan. Stay 1 night at a local Ger camp.
Mon 18 July / All day drive back to Ulaanbaatar arriving approx. 4pm. Pack bikes. Farewell dinner. Stay 1 night (Hotel).
Tues 19 July / Vehicle transfer from hotel to Ulaanbaatar airport. Fly from Ulaanbaatar on Turkish Air flight TK343 to Istanbul, departing 1205 and arriving Istanbul at 1720. Onward flight TK1983 to London Heathrow departing 1850, arrives Heathrow 2100, where tour ends.
Luggage carrying
Support vans, adapted to carry bikes, for the transfer of bikes and luggage will accompany the group on all moving on days. Camping equipment will be transferred by 4x4 truck.
Accommodation and meals
2 nights are spent at a 3* hotel in Ulaanbaatar, half board, based on two sharing. 1 night is spent on the sleeper train in 4 berth sleeping compartments.7 nights are spent in tents, two people sharing a tent and 2 nights are spent in Ger Camps, two people sharing. All camping kit will be supplied with the exception of sleeping bags. Breakfast, lunch and evening meal are included on all cycling days.
Price - £2599
The price is based on a minimum number of 10 participants taking part in the tour and is calculated at a rate of $1.54 = £1 sterling (based on exchange rates published on www.x-rates.com on 2 November 2015; please note Booking Conditions, clause 4). If there are insufficient bookings by the closing date of 27 May 2016, we will contact you and return all monies paid, though in certain circumstances the tour may still run at below minimum numbers but at the same price.
Price includes:
- Return flight from London Heathrow to Ulaanbaatar
- Overnight sleeper train from Ulaanbaatar to Erdenet
- Vehicle transfers in Ulaanbaatar between airport and hotel and transfers as per the itinerary
- Support vehicles to transfer luggage and camping equipment
- 2 nights hotel accommodation, half board, sharing rooms
- 7 nights fully serviced camping, half board, 2 people per tent
- 2 nights camping in Ger Camps, half board, 2 people per tent
- 1 night spent on the overnight sleeper train, 4 persons per compartment.
- Supplies of mineral water, snacks and light lunches on cycling days
- The services of a Mongolian English-speaking guide plus support crew for cooking throughout the tour
- CTC Cycling Holidays & Tours costs
Price does not include:
- Travel to and from London Heathrow
- Meals in transit
- Drinks with lunches and evening meals
- Lunch on 1 day
- Turkish Airlines cycle charge (60 Euros each way)
- Gratuities for support crew – budget £30
- Any other personal expenses
- Travel Insurance
Payment schedule
A deposit of £250 per person must accompany the Booking Form. An interim payment of £500 per person will be payable by 29 February 2016 with the final balance of £1849 per person to be paid ten weeks prior to departure, by 27 May 2016. Cheques should be made payable to CTC Tours or complete the credit/debit card slip in the booking pack.
Cancellations
Should you be forced to cancel your booking for any reason you must notify us in writing. Cancellation charges are as follows:
Written notice received: / Cancellation charge:Before 29 February 2016 / Deposit / ( £250)
29 February to 27 May 2014 / 25% / ( £750)
28 May 2016 through to departure / 100% / (£2599)
To make a booking
Complete, sign and return the Booking Form, deposit section of the payment slip, and the relevant part of the Insurance Declaration Form, directly to the leader (address on Booking Form). For Bank Transfer payments, contact the leader for further information.
Why Mongolia
With the breakdown of the communist regimes in the early nineties, Mongolia chose to move towards a democratic government and a capitalist market economy. Improved connectivity with the west has fueled a desire to embrace this new culture. The capital Ulaanbaatar is now home to 45% of the population of the world’s least populated country and is a thriving but heavily polluted city. This migration of people from land to city may herald the beginning of the end of the iconic nomadic culture that attracts most travelers to the country.
Currently the urbanization is still all centered in or close to the capital. Less than a day’s ride from Ulaanbaatar the surfaced roads end. The remaining nomadic population have free reign of the vast interior steppes, mountains and deserts and continue the nomadic lifestyle. Many of the tracks that we will ride are the routes of their seasonal migration.
The area covered by the Tour
We will take the overnight train west from Ulaanbaatar to Erdenet and start cycling after a short vehicle transfer. Cycling south from Erdenet, crossing several high passes between 1500 – 1880m, traversing lush valleys and crossing small rivers and streams, we’ll reach the foothills of the Khangai mountains. From here, the route heads east to the hot springs at Tsenkher and onwards through the lovely Orhkan Valley. The vast steppe is scattered with nomadic people and their huge herds of yaks, goats, cattle and horses. The final ride will end at Karakorum, the site of the Mongol Empire capital in 1200s. There will be time to visit the monastery and museum of Erdene Zuu established in 16th century by a Mongol khan. Finally, we return by comfortable minibus to Ulaanbaatar. We will take every opportunity to interact with the pastoral nomads and, as this is festival time in Mongolia, we may come across a local mini Naadam festival.
This is a unique, adventurous and sometimes demanding tour best suited to experienced enthusiast adventure cyclists with a pioneering spirit.
Mongolia is comparatively undeveloped in terms of tourism and, despite the recent appearance of mobile phones and solar panels, has a basic infrastructure once outside of Ulaanbaatar. During this journey, the group will spend time in remote areas without home comforts or easy access to medical facilities. Although a very high level of physical fitness is not required, participants should be comfortable with the realities of a wilderness adventure, and be prepared for basic conditions in the countryside. Outside of the city you will be guests of people who are untouched by western values and standards.
Rides and rest days
There will be time at the start of the tour to explore Ulaanbaatar before boarding the overnight train to Erdenet. Riding surfaces will include improved single vehicle dirt/gravel roads, rocky ascents and descents and vehicle tracks through the grass steppe. There will be knee deep unbridged rivers and streams to cross. Daily mileages are reasonable to allow for the difficult terrain. Cycling distances are between 60 and 80kms. Although not technical mountain biking, good bike handling skills over a variety of terrains will be required. Vehicle assistance will be available. It may be necessary to change this itinerary should conditions dictate.
Accommodation / Meals
In Ulaanbaatar we will stay in a 3 star hotel, two per room, and for the remainder of the tour we will use tents on 7 nights, 2 per tent, and Ger camps (yurts) on 2 nights, 2 per Ger. 1 night will be spent on the overnight sleeper train. Hot water may not always be available. Breakfast and dinner are included on all days and lunches are included on cycling days. Vegetarians can be catered for but choice may be limited. All camping kit with the exception of sleeping bags will be supplied
Group information
The maximum group size will be 20 including the leaders.
Weather and Clothing
Mongolia experiences extremes of weather year round. When camping at altitude in the Khangia Mountains, night temperatures could be close to freezing. Rain cannot be ruled out. It is essential that you bring clothing suitable for all conditions plus a 3-4 season sleeping bag.
Cycles / Equipment
A lightweight mountain bike preferably with front suspension and minimum 50mm tyres will be most suitable but a sturdy tourer or cyclocross bike, with the widest tyres you can fit, will suffice. You will not need to carry luggage, but a bar bag or rack-top pack will be useful for spare clothing, camera, sun lotion, snacks etc.
Your kit and possibly your bikes will be loaded into vehicles and transported over rough ground. Please bear this in mind when packing. A Gucci suitcase will not be suitable and paint damage to your bike could occur. You could minimize this by the application of tape or pipe lagging to your frame.
You should be able to carry 2 water bottles. Clean drinking water is included. Each participant will be expected to carry sufficient spares and tools to deal with punctures and minor repairs. Once we leave Ulaanbaatar cycle spares will not be available. Helmets are not mandatory but if you do not intend to wear one, please check that your travel insurance will cover you in the event of a claim.
There are a small number of reasonable quality German built mountain bikes available for hire direct from the agent in Ulaanbaatar. Some participants hired bikes on our previous Mongolia tour and found them excellent but please note Cycling Holidays do not recommend cycle hire and accept no liability for participants using hire bikes. You are entirely responsible for the safety and suitability and maintenance of the bike you ride. Bike hire is not part of your holiday contract with CTC.
Money
There will be very few opportunities to spend money other than in Ulaanbaatar. Currency can be exchanged at Ulaanbaatar airport. Budget £30 per person for crew tips.
Maps and navigation
A map showing the outline route will be provided. Most of the tracks we will use are unmapped. Guidance will be given by our local cycling guide and the support vehicles. The route is an established cycling route but has not been completed by the leader. We covered a small part of this route on our tour to Mongolia earlier this year.
Travel Insurance and Advice
Make sure you have read Clause 8 in the Booking Conditions. Before booking you should check the Foreign Office ‘Travel Advice by Country’ at www.fco.gov.uk or on 0845 850 2829.
Note: Tour leaders will be travelling to Ulaanbaatar from Bishkek at the end of their Kyrgyz Republic tour. The group will be unaccompanied from Heathrow and will be met at Chinggis Khaan airport, Ulaanbaatar.
About the leaders
We are both enthusiastic cyclists and have been CTC members for 24 years. We have led tours to many worldwide destinations. This will be our second visit to Mongolia. Each year we look forward to the reunion with regular travelling companions but also get great satisfaction from introducing new members to the unique camaraderie of CTC holidays. We do not have a set style of leadership but adapt to suit the needs of the group. We encourage all prospective participants to contact us to talk through the tour prior to booking.
John and Pat Ashwell
2 The Retreat, Off Camp Road
Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, BS23 2EN
Tel: 01934 624986 - Mob: 07766 091627
www.comebiking.com