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Charity horse ride in Mongolia

country:Mongolia
departures:2009: 18 Jun
price:From £365 deposit + £2675 fundraised (55% to charity) (11 days) including flights from the UK. Self funders pay £365 deposit + £1304 including flights from the UK & £100 donation to chosen charity. This trip can also be booked without flights
 
the amazing things you'll be doing
Your riding challenge begins in Mongolia's capital, Ulaanbaatar where you will spend a day visiting the Gandan Monastery and the Bogd Khan Palace.

Mongolian horses are renowned for their speed, strength and dexterity. This outstanding challenge will take you toward the Bayangol River through wide-open plains and thick forests of Siberian larch, home to deer, wolves, and moose. You will ride along the slopes of the Ikh Yan Mountain, where you will see rock paintings of ancient Gods.
Finally, you will ride up to the Nuramt mountain of Gachuurt, heartland of the Khenty mountain range on the banks of the mighty Tuul River.

You can hike along the forested hillsides or visit a local village to find out about traditional ways of life. A stranger is immediately a friend and the comfort of the ger is remarkable, making Mongolia a true gem for the intrepid traveller.

3 day extension to Karakoram (min. 4 persons): Travelling west of the capital, Ulaanbaatar, you will feel rather than see what the once glorious capital of Mongols looked like. The same vast steppes, the same smell in the air, and people leading just the same lifestyle as their legendary ancestors. Visit Karakorum, Mongolia’s old capital and its ancient monastery. Return to Ulaanbaatar via the Khustai National Park where the Wild Horses or “Takhi” have been reintroduced after becoming nearly extinct in the mid 20th Century. This magnificent animal now roams its homeland again.

From £295 per person (4 extra days) based on twin share accommodation, including 2 nights hotel in Ulaanbaatar, 3 day expedition to Karakoram (including accommodation), all meals and water, and airport transfer. Please contact us for details.
day-by-day itinerary
Day 1:International Departure
Day 2:International Arrival
Day 3:Ulaanbaatar to Mandal Station - 8kms ride
Day 4:Bayangol to Sanzai – 30kms
Day 5:AcrosSanzai to Burkhantyn Zuu – 20kms
Day 6:Burkhantyn Zuu to Terelj River – 30kms
Day 7:Terelj River to Shilj Ovoo – 30kms
Day 8:Shilj Ovoo to Ogoomor valley - 30kms
Day 9:Ogoomor to Gachuurt
Day 10:Gachuurt to Ulaanbaatar
Day 11:International Departure / UK Arrival
Highly Commended

This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.

Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
Our responsible commitment extends to helping the local communities we visit.

We employ a local Mongolian speaking nomad guide and a local Mongolian interpreter to lead this trek. They have worked as a team with us for 8years and are well loved by all participants.

Each evening after horse riding you camp with your small team and your horses close by, helping to feed and cool down your pony. Your final nights trekking is spent in traditional a nomadic ger style tented camp, with stories of nomadic life told around the camp fire.

We donate approx US $500 per trek to various projects including Cambridge Mongolian Disaster Appeal (CAMDA). CAMDA was created in July 2000 to raise public support for the nomads of Mongolia in the wake of the worst winter - in many parts of the country - for more than 50 years. The aftermath of that disaster and of two succeeding ones brought about by equally harsh winters, makes the appeal every bit as relevant today. Husbanding herd animals provides the nomads, effectively, with their sole means of support. In the winter of 1999-2000, 3.5 million of them died and as many more in the two winters following. The aim of CAMDA is to introduce measures in some of the worst affected districts and improve the summer grazing environment.

As a company we have drastically reduced the carbon footprint of our UK operations, and are making a huge effort to do so in their destination countries too. We are also investing to offset the emissions from the international flights required to take part in our challenges.

We also provide travellers with a responsible tourism policy detailing ways in which you can be an ethical traveller. From packing conscientiously to advice on local customs & environmental awareness overseas to maintaining contact with your new international friends upon your return – our policy is a comprehensive document providing all the info you need to trek, climb, ride or cycle responsibly.

Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people.

We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel.

'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

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