When we got on top of the hill and were enjoying the surrounding natural scenery, we spotted a local horseman approaching us from a distance. I don’t know why, but initially we felt slightly ill at ease, maybe because we were otherwise alone in a complete wilderness.

Mongolia’s long history owes much to a certain gentle beast of burden – the horse. Contemporary tourism has not been blind to the appeal of horses in Mongolia, which outnumber humans almost seven to one. Cultural activities such as overnight stays with nomadic herdsman are popular among travellers, while horse races capture the imagination of locals and foreigners alike. Of course, the pristine landscape of vast steppes, dunes and mountains is heaven on horseback for anyone looking to get away from it all.