DIFFICULTY LEVEL: ADVENTURE

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1 Wild The Wild Spirit Spirit of Steppes Of Steppes - Mongolia - Mongolia days days (8 Full days board of riding) Best Best time: time: June June to to September mid September Program Full board 2013 HIGHLIGHTS o The legendary Royal Enfield 500cc motorbike, o Breath-taking nature: Mongolian steppes, sand dunes, hilly forests, o Glimpse at the life of nomads: a night stay with a local family, o Complete freedom of riding: live your adventure as a real pioneer. DIFFICULTY LEVEL: ADVENTURE This tour is ideal for bikers who want to discover Mongolia and enjoy a wonderful ride through the wilderness. The route varies from small paved roads to beautiful trails through the steppes. Also, some roadblocks or heavy rainfall could alter our route during the journey, thus, the Adventure difficulty level of the tour. ROYAL ENFIELD 500cc Divided between India and Mongolia, our fleet consists of 16 Machismos 500cc (2010 models) and 19 Royal Enfield Classics 500cc (purchased in 2012 and 2013). The bikes have a European style gear shifting system (left side, first gear down) to ensure the comfort and safety for our riders. The Machismos are also equipped with a tailor made 21l tank, which is very helpful for longer-distance trips, especially in the Himalayas and Mongolia. P a g e 1

2 LOGISTICS & ORGANISATION Your tour leader is a very experienced rider who speaks English and is familiar with the area you will visit. He is in charge of coordinating the support team (mechanic, driver, helpers ) and makes sure that the group travels safely. The tour leader is not a local guide, so, for your convenience, we advise you to bring a pocket guide with you to make the most out of your journey! The entourage comprises of a tour leader and a well experienced mechanic. For groups of more than three, a support vehicle will be provided to carry the luggage and the mechanical equipment. The van can also accommodate participants (who must be registered with a pilot) if they choose to enjoy the ride in the comfort of a van. To guarantee a safe and pleasant tour, we recommend a maximum of 8 participants, including riders and pillions. P a g e 2

3 AT A GLANCE This itinerary of 10 days will take us to the heart of the steppes region: the foothills of the Khangai massif, the hills of Orkhon valley and the Sand Dunes of Khogno Khan - discovering the amazing central Mongolia to the fullest! Even more, you will have a unique chance to learn about the Mongolian culture by staying with local hosts for a night, interacting with nomads and learning about their daily lives in the steppes. Finally, a day ride on horses will allow you to fully immerse into the Mongolian culture everything to make sure you have an unforgettable experience. We have created this tour to allow more bikers to discover the natural wonders of Mongolia. Even if some parts of the tour might feel a little bit tiring, we have carefully planned some time for you to relax and regain your energy. The itinerary itself was formed in such way that two days of more difficult riding would be followed with a morning sleep-in to allow you to rest. In this itinerary, around half of the trip will be spent riding on small paved roads. We will enjoy the wild trails across the vast steppes during the other half of the tour. Because of the high altitude of the country, the route could become more difficult because of strong rainfalls - in such cases; we would make some adjustments to the route to make sure you have a wonderful ride. Travelling across Mongolia on a motorbike with a real character is a truly unforgettable experience. The sound of roaring Royal Enfield engines attracts the curiosity of local people and makes the interaction easier and warmer everything contributing to your experience of a lifetime! P a g e 3

4 YOUR ITINERARY P a g e 4

5 ITINERARY (Subject to change depending on circumstances) Day 1.Arrival in Ulaanbaatar Depending on your flight schedule we will be receiving you at the airport and transferring you to the hotel. Visit of the city. Ulaanbaatar (1350 m) is located in the valley of the Tuul River, flowing south. The city stretches nearly 30 km from west to east and 15 km from north to south. Ulaanbaatar, with its million inhabitants, is composed of nine regions (or districts). At the centre you have a very mixed architecture mixed with chaos of urbanism and on the other hand you can experience something totally different, from riding horses, meeting nomadic families, enjoying fine dining, or simply relaxing in a luxurious spa. Day 2.Oulan-Bator Dashinchilen [230 km 5/6H of riding] After having breakfast early in the morning, we will meet our Tour Leader and will make a transfer trip of around 30 kilometres to reach our motorbikes, to the place of the main departure. We will then start our journey, riding through the steppes with the majestic mountains in the background. We will pass herds of cows and sheep, sometimes seeing eagles taking off in the far. Overnight stay at the only guest house village a simple luxury! Day 3.Dashinchilen OgiiNuur [130 km 4/5H of riding] In the morning, we ride on a beautiful road across the steps throughout the day, until reaching a small track road and changing the states. A little bit of adventure before arriving at the yurts camp, situated on the shores of the lake OgiiNuur, in the early afternoon. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy a tour around the lake or have a rest at the yurts. Overnight stay in a yurt camp. On the route, the yurt camps are most often the very best accommodation available for travellers. We will live in pairs in yurts identical to the ones we will pass on the road, will sharing a common bathroom. Most of the time you will be available to take a hot shower there, the toilets are up to the European standards, too. The charm of these yurts is mostly due to the basic comfort they offer: two simple beds and a stove a truly pioneering experience! P a g e 5

6 Day 4.OgiiNuur Tsenher [140 km 5/6H of riding] Wake up in the morning to admire wonderful view of the lake OgiiNuur. We leave for a track that takes directly to the heart of the vast steppes with no end in sight. Riding through the plains and hills with just a few traditional yurts on our way, we arrive at the yurts camp to enjoy a relaxing bath at the hot springs in the evening. Overnight stay in a yurt camp. Day 5.Tsenher Orhon Valley [80 km 4/5H of riding] The road takes as to the wonderful valley of river Orhon where the landscape becomes more mountainous. We gradually leave the steppes and enjoy a wonderful sight of hills and the volcanic mountains of Khangai. By the afternoon, we arrive near the waterfalls of Orhon to stay at our Mongolian hosts and discover the charm of nomadic life in the most authentic way. Overnight stay in a yurt camp, 3-4 people per yurt. Day 6.Horse Riding Day in the Valley [50 Km 4/5H of riding] Today we change our motorcycles into a more traditional way of travelling horses. With a couple of guides, we will ride on the horses through one of the most beautiful valleys of the country a truly unforgettable experience! In the afternoon, we get back on the bikes for a short ride. Overnight stay in a yurt camp. Day 7.OrhonValley QaraQorum [120 Km 5/6H of riding] With great pleasure, we will leave for the North of Mongolia on our Royal Enfield motorcycles. Pass through magnificent offroads to reach the ancient capital of the empire of Genghis Khan. Overnight stay in a yurt camp. P a g e 6

7 Day 8.QaraQorum Khogno Khan [100 km 2H of riding] A chance for a long sleep in! Otherwise, you have a chance to visit archaeological museums and the temples of the city that tell stories about the glorious times of the Mongolian empire. After lunch, we take an off-road route for the direction of the sand dunes of Khogno Khan. The winds carry the sand up to the hills of the mountains so impressively that the area is often called the Small Gobi Desert. Overnight stay in a yurt camp. Day 9.Khogno Khan Oulan-Bator [280 km 5H of riding] This is the last day of your journey across the incredible Mongolia. We leave for Oulan-Bator, the capital of Mongolia, first riding through the plains and deserts and continuing across the steppes. After enjoying magnificent landscapes, we arrive to the city centre by the end of the day. Transfer to the hotel. We spend the evening at leisure. Day 10.Ulaanbaatar Airport Free day for those who have a late afternoon flight. We enjoy the unique atmosphere of this capital both rough and warm. Ulaanbaatar is a city that leaves no one indifferent. A taxi will pick you up at the hotel to take you directly to the airport. End of our services. P a g e 7

8 CONTINUE YOUR VISIT... You still have some more time or found an international flight with competitive prices, that allows you to spend a few more days in Mongolia...? Do not miss this opportunity, book an extension to visit the Gobi desert! For more information, ask your travel advisor. P a g e 8

9 PRICE & SERVICES* Fixed Departure Dates / pilot Passenger: Deduct 800 Standard hotels and yurt camps * Prices valid for all tours from 1 st June to 30 th September / pilot Passenger: Deduct 800 Standard hotels and yurt camps * Prices valid for tours from 1 st June to 30 th September 2016 PRICES INCLUDE: PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE: Royal Enfield motorcycle 500cc(2010 model along with spare parts) All land transfers as noted in the program by private vehicle Fuel English speaking motorcycle tour leader (from D2 to D9) A support vehicle with driver for groups with more than 4 participants. Backup vehicle assistance for carrying equipment for groups of 4 or more people, saddlebags for groups of less than 4 people Accommodation: hotel or yurt, double or Twin (two single beds). People not travelling in pair share a twin room with another participant. If you wish to be accommodated in a single room (extra charge), please inform your travel advisor about it. Meals: Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinners except on transfer days D1 and D10) Third party motorcycle insurance. Compulsory insurance, such as repatriation assistance, which covers you in case of a motorbike accident in India, and legal assistance; Visa Fees International flights and airport taxes A refundable security deposit of 400 for the motorcycles; Meals during the transfer days (D1 and D10) Drinks, personal expenses and tips; Admission fees to various monuments, temples, etc. P a g e 9

10 My checklist Appropriate equipment is a component of a successful journey! Travel lightly, TRY TO STAY UNDER 45LBS (20 KGS) BAGS: A sailor bag would be perfect, a walker's bag too (without steel bar). You can close it with a padlock if you want to (Don t forget to tag it with your address before leaving. Also with the address of Vintage Rides in India) A small backpack of 20 litres is advised for daily necessities, such as camera, sunscreen lotion SLEEPING BAG: For people sensitive to cold: a warmer sleeping bag, e.g., suitable for -10 ºC, or an extra duvet; Sleeping bag liner (recommended); For more comfort, bring additional foam mattress to complement the local mattress that will be provided for you; To know: beds, mattresses and duvets will be provided on the site. Other sleeping material is optional and depends on the individual needs of every traveller. CLOTHES AND PERSONAL EQUIPMENT: 2 light pants; 4 shirts (including some with long sleeves, to protect yourself from the sun); A swimsuit; Hot sweater or jacket for cold nights; Sun glasses; Hat; Light sport shoes; Flip flops; 1 liter canteen (flask) and a flashlight (don t forget the batteries); Some sweats and cereal bars. SPECIAL MOTORCYCLE CLOTHES: Motorcycle boots are strongly advised or trekking shoes (waterproof) Light motorbike jacket (leather or synthetic) A rain suit (just in case!) Gloves Helmet Bandana PERSONAL MEDICINE: Sun screen lotion Lip balm Broad-spectrum antibiotic Paracetamol Anti-diarrhea (Imodium) Elastoplast Skin disinfectant Bandages and special blisters bandage Any further questions? Please contact us at: info@vintagerides.com P a g e 10