Stepperiders

There are two things to consider: your experience with horses, and your fitness level. We think it is more important for you to be strong and healthy rather than have a lot of experience riding horses. You do not need to know how to ride a horse before coming to Stepperiders. We will teach you as you go. It helps if you are comfortable and calm around animals. Fitness is more important than specific riding experience. The more exercise you do on a regular basis, the more comfortable you will be on horseback. People who are not very fit will still have a great time, but they can expect some aches and stiffness the next day. 1 or 2 day treks are fine for anyone, but people who are not used to exercise may tire easily and become quite sore on a longer journey. If you fall into this category, but still want a long trip, we can schedule it so that we take a rest day every 3rd day. [Riding experience is required for the Naadam trek.]

We can accommodate 12 guests at our site. We have 3 traditional Mongolian gers with 4 single beds each. A ger is a round tent covered in felt and canvas. Blankets and sleeping bags are provided. Each ger has a stove if it gets chilly at night. We have a well-built, clean outhouse with western-style toilet seats. In the evenings we use candles for lighting. At our home it’s simple but very comfortable and very peaceful. On the trail, we provide tents, sleeping bags and sleeping pads. You may be sharing your ger with another party. Note: there is no electricity and no running water at our camp. That means that your nights will be star-filled but don't expect a hot bath in the morning. We can boil hot water for the occasional shower, but we try to conserve natural resources so we encourage you to go easy on the water usage when showering.

We serve fresh, homemade Mongolian food, prepared on site in our “kitchen ger.” While the traditional Mongolian diet is largely meat and dairy, we serve plenty of vegetables, as well as rice and noodles. We are happy to cook for vegetarians with prior notice, but if you stay with a local family and eat their food, this is usually not possible as all family meals are one-pot meals. In the morning a meal such as sweet rice pudding with bread and jam with hot tea. At lunchtime we serve a cold snack on the trail and at dinner we prepare a full hot meal. Meals include Mongolian specialities such as soups, dumplings, and fried meat pancakes. Basic refreshments like cookies and juice are available for purchase on site. We will provide some bottled drinking water. You can purchase more water from us if you want. If we’re on the trail and ride through a village, we will stop at local shops so you can buy water, juice and snacks.

The weather in Mongolia is dry, sunny and beautiful. June, July and August are about 7 C at night and 25 C during the day. It rains, but it usually does not rain for a long time. The sun shines frequently in Mongolia – we average 260 sunny days per year. It will definitely be cooler and more windy up on the mountains. We use Weather Underground's web site for weather forecasts. To see what the weather is like right now check current weather conditions. To see what the weather might be like when you are coming check historical weather conditions.

Please bring warm clothes and bring rainproof/waterproof clothes. Wear sturdy shoes. Long pants are required - jeans or other heavy pants are a good choice for being in the saddle. Bring a headlamp/torch/flashlight. Take sunblock, sunglasses, and hat. Some people like to bring some small gifts for local families they meet in Mongolia. We recommend postcards from home or something else that is small, lightweight, and inexpensive. We do not recommend batteries (after they are spent they just get tossed in the garbage pile and leech chemicals into the soil), candy (that will contribute to kids' tooth decay) or cigarettes. Definitely bring your camera, but don't promise to send photos. Most people have no fixed address, and even in those who do have an address don't have a mailbox.

Mongolian horses are smaller than most European horses but they are strong and sturdy and ideal for travelling long distances. We have a variety of horses suitable for total beginners or advanced riders. We provide Russian-style saddles which are comfortable over long distances.

Riding horses is dangerous and you need to understand and accept the risks involved. You will be hours or days from medical care. Falls from horses are unlikely but we want you to wear a helmet anyway, and we provide riding helmets. Pevent dehydration by drinking lots of water. Mongolia’s elevation, clear skies and just the fact that you’ll be in the sun all day mean sunblock/sunscreen is a must. Bring insect repellent, but don't worry, there is no malaria in Mongolia.