Trip overview
This Mongolia small-group trip begins with Ulaanbaatar city tour including visits to key spots in UB: Sukhbaatar’s Square – the city’s main square, Gandan Tegchinlen Monastery – the biggest Buddhist pilgrimage center in the city, Chinggis Khaan Museum which are about nomadic history, tradition, culture & religion and nomadic folk art performances. Then we head off from the modern-day crowds into Mongolia’s vast steppe. We visit a nomadic horse herder family in Orkhon River Valley and a camel herder family in Elsen Tasarkhai to experience Mongolians’ daily life and their centuries old tradition. At the end of the trip, we explore beautiful Terelj National Park and giant statue complex dedicated for Chinggis Khaan.
Itinerary
In Ulaanbaatar, you will join our trip group and explore must-visit places in Ulaanbaatar city including Chinggis Khaan Museum, Sukhbaatar Square, Gandan Monastery, Bogd Khan Palace Museum and if time permits, we will visit Zaisan Hill Memorial Statue. Overnight in hotel.
Meal(s): Lunch + Dinner + Drinking water.
Accommodation: Stay in a centrally located good-facility hotel – Holiday Inn Ulaanbaatar or similar. Accommodation is twin-based.
Today we pick you up from your hotel and drive out of Ulaanbaatar to visit Kharkhorin city. Kharkhorin was a capital for the world’s largest contiguous empire for over 40 years back in the 13th century. In Kharkhorin, we visit a local museum which is dedicated to exhibit artifacts for Mongolian history. After the museum, we visit Erdenezuu monastery, the biggest Buddhist Monastery Museum in Mongolia which has many precious Buddhist artworks from the 17th century including mould deities of gold and silver, thankas, split paintings and manuscripts. In the evening before sunset, you have time to wander along the bank of the Orkhon river. Overnight in a ger camp.
Travel time: Approximately 6 hours for on road drive, but have photo breaks en route to Kharkhorin.
Meal(s): breakfast + Lunch + Dinner + Drinking water.
Accommodation: Stay in a traditional ger camp on Orkhon river’s shore. The ger camp has shared flush loos & shower. Accommodation is twin/trip-based depending on your trip booking time.
Today we head for a though drive to the historical place Orkhon river valley. Once we reach the site, we explore the biggest waterfall in Mongolia, and welcomed by a herdsman family near the waterfall. We offer travellers to visit one of the nomadic families and experience their way of life in favour of learning about nomadic culture and traditions. You will be welcomed with open arms and you are invited to join in the milking, herding and general care of livestock. Overnight in a nomadic ger.
· Travel time: Drive for about 5 hours off road.
· Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner + Drinking water
· Accommodation: Stay in a nomadic family’s ger offered for guests. One ger shared with 3 to 4 people regarding the host family’s availability. No shower available today. The host family have Asian-style long-drop toilet.
We set off to Elsen Tasarkhay, also known as the mini gobi or semi gobi. We visit Khugnu Tarna Natural Reserve in Elsen Tasarkhai which is the place where the gobi desert and mountain grass land meet. We will visit there a nomadic camel breeder family and do camel trekking along the sand dunes briefly. After the camel trek, we experience the camel herdsman family’s daily life.
Travel time: approximately 5 hours driving on and off road. Driving time hugely depends on weather and road condition.
Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner + Drinking water
Accommodation: Stay in a traditional ger camp for tourists. Accommodation is twin or triple based regarding your trip booking time.
Today we visit Terelj National Park. The National Park is located 70 km east of Ulaanbaatar city. You visit Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue – 40m tall stainless-steel statue, it has a terrace on its 3rd floor for surrounding view, traditional restaurant on its 2nd floor, and a museum on its basement floor. After the giant statue complex, you will visit to Aryapala meditation temple surrounded by steep rock hills. In the afternoon, you will do horse riding in the national park about an hour. The beautiful combination of magnificent alpine scenery and pleasant weather is the reason that many travellers yearn to stay in Terelj NP.
- Travel time: approximately 4hours drive on road.
- Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner + Drinking water
- Accommodation: You will stay in a ger resort in Terelj NP. Accommodation is twin/triple-based regarding your trip booking time.
Today we get back to Ulaanbaatar. We arrive in Ulaanbaatar in the afternoon, and you have time for visiting the world’s number one cashmere store and Mongolian souvenir shops or relax in your hotel until dinner. In the evening, our farewell dinner will take place in a restaurant. Overnight in a hotel.
Travel time: approximately 2hours drive on road.
Meal(s): Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner + Drinking water.
Accommodation: On your own.
Group size: maximum of 8: $1330 US per person.
- Accommodation: 1night in centrally located, good-facility hotel in Ulaanbaatar, 2 nights in ger/yurt camps, 1 night in nomadic family’s ger/yurts, 1 night in tourist ger resort.
- Guiding and interpreting service
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary: Breakfast-5, Lunch-6, Dinner-5 + drinking water.
- Transportation: vehicle 4×4 or minivan with fuel and well-experienced tourist driver.
- Camel riding in mini gobi, horse riding in Terelj or Orkhon waterfall.
- Entrance fees to museums, protected areas and national parks mentioned in the itinerary.
- Entrance ticket to Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex.
- Pick up and drop off to/from airport.
- International airfare(s) to/from Ulaanbaatar
- Personal equipment
- Optional activity cost
- Excess baggage charges
- Alcoholic drinks
- Travel insurance
Mongolian Highlights Group Trip Dates for Summer 2025
Departure number | Departure date | Group size | Price [per person] in USD |
|---|---|---|---|
Group 1 | May 22, 2025 | 6 | $1220 |
Group 2 | June 08, 2025 | 8 | $1220 |
Group 3 | July 01, 2025 | 8 | $1300 |
Group 4 | July 14, 2025 | 6 | $1340 |
Group 5 | July 24, 2025 | 8 | $1300 |
Group 6 | August 06, 2025 | 8 | $1220 |
Please send email to us about available seats of your concerned departure date for this trip.
Pictures from this tour
Our tour group members exploring Terelj NP on horseback. Photo from 2024 trip.
Group travellers on top of a sand dune in Elsen Tasarkhai. Photo from 2024 trip.
A two-humped Bactrian camel we met on our way to Elsen Tasarkhai. Picture from 2023 trip.
Aryapala meditation temple in Terelj
SUBSCRIBE OUR MONGOLIA TRAVEL BLOG
REAL NOMADIC WILDERNESS IDEAS TO SOLO ADVENTURER
Sign up to our Mongolia travel blog & discover the travel experiences you will really want to try!
