In 1224 man of the millennium Chinggis Khaan set up the world's first long-distance postal transmission system. Using a massive network of horse stations - morin urtuus in Mongolian - his hardy messengers could gallop from Kharkhorin to the Caspian sea in a number of days.

For ten days each August, the Mongol Derby recreates this legendary system, building a network of urtuus at 40km intervals along the entire 1000km course. Each urtuu will consist of a small collection of gers (canvas and felt tents which the nomads live in), a supply of fresh horses, a vet team and a few nomads. While you don't by any means have to stay at the urtuus each night, this is a chance, should you want to take it, to get some rest, hang out with the nomads, imbibe some airag (mare's milk) and eat an awful lot of mutton.

If you want to streak ahead and sleep wherever you find yourself at moonrise, then the steppe is your oyster and you and your horse can enjoy a romantic night out under the diamond-studded vault.