To Khakhorin with a little off-roading and a little unexpected fall

Arvaikheer was a simple stop. Reach in the evening, found a good hotel and dinner before bed. The next day push off and we ride towards Khakhorin. It was supposedly an easy 150km ride to Khakhorin but I should have known better. Every time I think it would be easy, something would go wrong.

At the 100km mark, the road branching off to Khakorin was dirt road. It was time to finally do some off-roading in Mongolia and based on the quality of the path, it was to be a good off-road condition when compared to Central Asia. 50Km off-road, easy.

Slip & Skid & Fall - Towards Khakorin

I don’t know how and I don’t know why but somehow on a perfectly flat and wide off-road path, I managed to slip – skid – and fall. I concluded that I have lousy off-roading skills. I thought I had developed a pretty good riding skills after going through Pamir Highway but apparently my off-roading skills were crap.

That fall hurt me a little especially my pride. Bike was ok, I seemed fine other than some chest pain which seems to be from my own elbow that compressed toward my chest when falling down but no visual bruise could be observed. After the fall I had to go down a gear and ride even slower, so we reach Khakhorin fairly late in the evening.

Little Detour to visit Shankh Monastery

The Vast Open Land of Mongolia 

Two nights in Khakhorin it was decided and the free day was spent exploring Erdane Zuu monastery. We thought that there would be the ancient capital of Mongolia to be explored as well. Karakarum City or what is left of it turns out to be totally gone. Nothing remained.

All the expectation built up, since Khakhorin was allegedly a popular tourist day trip destination from Ulaanbaatar and one of the most tourist visited place in Mongolia turn out to be very disappointing. 

Erdane Zuu Monastery 

Erdane Zuu Monastery

Erdane Zuu Monastery

It could have been a one-night stop and 2 hours sightseeing before hitting the road type of destination, but I guess we also needed the rest day, and I was also recovering from my fall.

Two days later it was time to finally make a mad dash of 360km to Ulaanbaatar. Roads were boring and once we hit the city, traffic was mad crazy. Mad Crazy. 

I have no idea how to describe the mix of still standing Mongolian traffic jam coupled with crazy driving habits that each of them just seems to use their vehicle like a wedge suddenly jerking out a junction after having locked eye contact for five seconds knowing very well that you are riding through.

We reached hostel by late evening and the three nights in Ulaanbaatar was spend walking around which was way faster than any bus or car or bike. I have a mixed feeling of Ulaanbaatar. It was a vibrant city, but traffic makes it annoyingly distasteful. 

People ware more vibrant and stylish and there were things to see and do but at the same time it was also a city that one could chill and do nothing

Travelled on: Nov 2024