Khasar's North Mongolia Khuvsgul Loop

A self-drive loop out of Ulaanbaatar in a Toyota Land Cruiser the operator provides, running north to Lake Khuvsgul and the Taiga before turning south through the Gobi. It is sold in twelve, sixteen and twenty-two day versions covering roughly 2,500 to 3,200 kilometres.

The first few days work west and north. A national park outside the city has wild horses and a night with a nomadic family, then the dunes at Elsen Tasarkhai with a camel ride and a camp, then Kharkhorin for Karakorum and the Erdene Zuu Monastery, built on the ruins of Genghis Khan’s capital. The Orkhon Valley waterfalls and the hot springs at Tsenkher follow, then a volcano hike near White Lake.

Lake Khuvsgul is the turning point, a vast freshwater lake near the Russian border with kayaking and boat trips. On the longest version the Land Cruiser is left at the foot of the Khoridol Saridag range and the group continues on horseback up onto the Taiga plateau to stay in a Tsaatan reindeer herder’s teepee, then walks back down to it. Very little else in the catalogue asks you to abandon the vehicle for two days.

Explorer.Company supply the Land Cruiser for up to four travellers, camping equipment, airport transfers, the prearranged route with navigation support, and the accommodation and activities along it. The operator does not publish a nights count, departure dates or a formal inclusions list, so those are worth settling at enquiry. For drivers who want Mongolia without shipping their own vehicle, this is the most complete loop they offer.