Horseback riding near Ulaanbaatar: Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes

Ride across sand dunes while herds of deer and gazelle roam the slopes

Horseback riding near Ulaanbaatar takes you to Elsen Tasarkhai, a semi-desert landscape of sand dunes in central Mongolia, where you spend a couple of hours in the saddle exploring the smaller dunes nearby. Hotel pickup and lunch are included, and the day ends with a visit to a local nomadic family to see how they live. Children from age two are welcome, and an English-speaking guide travels with you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Semi-Gobi tour with camel ride and lunch

• Pick up from Ulaanbaatar hotel
• Drive to Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes
• Have lunch at a suitable spot
• Hike with camel around sand dunes
• Visit local nomad family
• Return to Ulaanbaatar

The experience

Elsen Tasarkhai sits about an hour's drive from Ulaanbaatar, and the day starts with pickup from your hotel. The landscape is open and sparse: big sand dunes rise from the semi-desert, and the slopes are home to hundreds of birds, deer and gazelle. You'll spend a couple of hours riding through the smaller dunes nearby, moving at a pace that suits the terrain and the animals. Lunch is served at a suitable spot on the way, so you're not managing hunger while you're in the saddle.

After riding, you'll visit a local nomadic family and spend time with them: seeing their home, learning about their daily routines and understanding the traditions that have shaped life on the steppe for generations. This is not a quick photo stop. It's time to sit with people and watch how they work and live. Then you're driven back to Ulaanbaatar, where the tour ends.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Ulaanbaatar.
• lunch served on the way.
• horseback riding for a couple of hours at Elsen Tasarkhai.
• visit to a local nomadic family.
• an English-speaking guide.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesMondayDepartures at 06:00 and 07:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (16 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 88 years) · Youth (11 to 15 years) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (2 to 5 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Amazing Mongolia

Is this one for you?The day runs seven to nine hours with a couple of hours in the saddle, so it suits someone who wants to ride but isn't looking for a full day of hard riding. The nomadic family visit and the drive time mean you're not spending the whole day on horseback.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 15 years); Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (2 to 5 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long do I actually spend riding horses on this tour?

You ride for a couple of hours around the smaller sand dunes at Elsen Tasarkhai. The full day runs seven to nine hours from pickup to drop-off, but that includes the drive there and back, lunch, and the time at the nomadic family's home.

What is Elsen Tasarkhai like when I get there?

Elsen Tasarkhai is a semi-desert landscape with big sand dunes and smaller dunes scattered across the slopes. The area is home to hundreds of birds, deer and gazelle, so you'll see wildlife as you ride. It's open country with little shade, so the terrain is exposed.

Do I need riding experience to book this?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and children from age two are welcome. No prior riding experience is mentioned as a requirement, so beginners can join.

What happens at the nomadic family visit?

You'll visit a local nomadic family and have the opportunity to experience their way of life, their culture and traditions. This gives you time to see how they live day to day on the steppe.

Is the ride difficult or strenuous?

A couple of hours of riding is moderate. You're moving at a pace suited to the terrain and the animals. The tour is marked as suitable for all physical fitness levels, so it's not designed as a challenging ride.