General advice
People taking part in this trek must be aware that there are inherent risks in riding horses. Medical facilities are limited and not to the standard we expect in the UK. People must be adequately insured, declare all medical conditions honestly and accurately for their own safety and consideration of being part of a group. This event is considered a challenge and everyone should be fit to undertake it.
Inner Mongolia General
When talking about the area where we will trek it is important to distinguish between Inner Mongolia (the Chinese province) and Mongolia, the independent country to the north formerly called Outer Mongolia.
China is one of the world’s greatest travel experiences. It is a unique destination with customs, cultures, architecture and landscape different to anywhere else. One of the main reasons to visit China, and more specifically Inner Mongolia, is because there is still a real sense of adventure. There is so much to see and so little of it has been visited by hordes of tourists. Inner Mongolia is a vast territory that stretches in a great crescent for some 1700 miles / 2700 kilometres across northern China. The full name of this area is the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region although in reality it enjoys little or no autonomy at all. The authorities in Beijing like to keep a tight control over any potential independent activists.
There are over 20 million people of various ethnic groups living in Inner Mongolia. The Mongols are a people with unique customs. Their traditional home is the “gher”, a circular tent of felt supported on a framework of poles. Mongolian songs and dances are well known, as are their brightly coloured costumes.
For most foreigners, the big attraction of Inner Mongolia is the chance to view the grasslands, which are home to sheep, goats, cattle and the famous Mongolian horses and Bactrian camels. There are almost a thousand rivers of which the Yellow River is the longest. An 8000km section of this mighty river flows across the region. We cross it on our way to the Kubuchi desert where we will be trekking. Much of the Inner Mongolia region comprises vast areas of natural grazing land. However, the far north is forested – the Greater Hinggan range makes up about one-sixth of the country’s forests and is an important source of timber and paper pulp. Inner Mongolia is also rich in minerals such as coal and iron ore.
We’re going to a place where things change on a daily basis. You should be prepared for some last minute changes, which may be out of our control.
A few facts and figures about Inner Mongolia:
• Area 1,183,000 sq km
• Population 23.1 million
• Capital City Hohhot
• People 15% Mongolian, 85% Han Chinese
• Time GMT plus 8 hours
• Telephone 00 86 when dialling from the UK
Mongolian Horses
Mongolian Horses are small, tough and very fit. They are used to being ridden by tourists Mongolian style. They are used to harsh conditions and survive on grass as staple diet. The first days riding is 20km, second day 45km and the last three days 50km approximately in length, with about 7 hours in the saddle (including breaks and refreshments for both horse and rider!) The routes will be both exciting and a challenge for riders.
Once horses are fed and watered at the end of a tiring day, riders can feast on traditional Mongolian dishes and enjoy the beauty of near daylight night skies. Warm days, cold nights and the possibility of unpredictable weather add to the challenge, whilst stunning scenery, Mongolian horses and culture, steeped in history make for an unforgettable experience. The Mongolian hosts are very hospitable and friendly and love entertainment. Inner Mongolia is not a normal horse riding holiday destination, which makes it somewhat different. Facilities are basic while on the ride; however on the last evening of the ride we have a celebratory dinner and dance at the Mongolian Gher camp and the last two nights are spent in a hotel in Beijing. |
