[TourKorea = Hordon Kim, International Correspondent] Beoreoseo Segye Sogeuro, a tour operator specializing in forest-trail walks both at home and abroad, has unveiled its Mongolia Olle Trail walking itinerary for this year. The June departure is priced more than ₩600,000 (about $450) cheaper than summer peak-season rates when airfares and local prices climb.
The walk runs Thursday, June 18 through Monday, June 22. Each day features a different Mongolian Olle trail, fresh, cool air, and two relaxing massages. The trip tops off with stargazing—the Milky Way seen from a ger on the steppe—which makes this a rare gem for trekking and walking fans.
Course 1 covers a 14 km (8.7-mile) stretch that starts in Hengher village—the closest village to the capital, Ulaanbaatar. The route crosses four low ridgelines and is the only section where you can walk village lanes and glimpse everyday local life. Expect about four hours on the trail.
Along the way, shady trees, a bubbling stream, and a campsite break up the route and keep things interesting. The green rolling hills, wide sky, and drifting clouds feel more vivid than any desktop wallpaper.
Course 2 traverses the vast steppe near Terelj National Park and is an out-and-back route. It’s the gentlest of the three Olle trails. Before you know it, the 11 km (6.8-mile) walk slips by as you stop to photograph black yaks and dark oxen grazing across the plain.
The sweeping view from wind-blown Chinggis Hill is nothing short of breathtaking. A short rest at the stone mound—an owor—on the hilltop delivers a picture-perfect panorama of Mongolia’s endless blue sky and grasslands.
Course 3 is the longest at 16.8 km (10.4 miles), but wildflowers scatter across the trail so abundantly you’ll lose track of time photographing them. Edelweiss and other blooms you rarely see back home appear in clusters all along the way.
On this route you’ll pass cozy, familiar-feeling forested hills and streams—almost like Korea’s small mountain slopes—and cross a small tributary of the Tol River. Soft mountain tracks and pockets of birch groves create varied terrain so you’ll never get bored.
The participation fee is ₩1,940,000 (about $1,455). Bottled water and fruit are provided daily. Groups of six or more receive a commemorative banner, and every participant gets a pair of camel-wool socks that stay fresh and dry even after three days of wear.
Sunset on the steppe is a highlight of the trek. Unlike Korea, where mountains and buildings crowd the skyline, the open horizon here has a sweeping clarity that instantly washes away city stress.
The most unforgettable moment arrives after 10 p.m., when the steppe becomes a shower of Milky Way stars. For people in their 60s, that sight often reawakens memories of star-filled rural nights from childhood.
Sleeping in a ger on the steppe adds to the trip’s magic. You can try a traditional Mongolian ger or opt for one of the newer luxury gers. Waking at dawn to the sound of horses grazing and morning birdsong is a rare, peaceful blessing you’ll only get on the Mongolian plain.
The itinerary also includes two traditional massages and cultural programs like traditional performances. Travelers who join this Mongolia Olle Trail and also sign up for next year’s Caucasus three-country trek (Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia), scheduled Wednesday, June 2 through Friday, June 18, will receive a ₩170,000 (about $128) discount off the ₩7,870,000 (about $5,903) participation fee.
Written by Hordon Kim, International Editor
