Gorkhi Terelj and Khan Khentii are the most picturesque national parks close to Ulaanbaatar. At Gorkhi Terelj, you will enjoy the picturesque scenery and cozy traditional dwelling ger stay. And, Khan Khentii National Park is a place to enjoy the wilderness, emptiness, and beauty of Mongolia within a short period not traveling far from the city. The regular trekking, you can do almost everywhere. Even though, yak cart supported trekking itself is a fun, lifetime experience, and the feel of an authentic Mongolia. You also visit nomad families and see Genghis Khaan Statue, considered the largest statue of an equestrian in the world. Wilderness camping and evening bonfires are other highlights of the tour.
Itinerary
Day 1: Giant statue of Genghis Khaan and the trekking starts
Meet with your guide and driver. Launch the tour to Khan Khentii National Park. On the way, we will visit the Genghis Khaan Statue Complex. This 40 m tall statue of Genghis Khaan is considered the biggest statue of an equestrian in the world. See the Tuul River Valley and Khan Khentii Mountains from the observation deck. The journey continues further and we visit a nomad family where we will meet our local yak cart guide. Learn first-hand about the nomadic life and start the adventure. Our adventure continues along the beautiful valley of the Baruunbayan River, today and next couple of days. In the evening, we will have an authentic Mongolian barbecue for dinner and enjoy evening bonfire.
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: The hiking continues
We will continue the hiking through the Baruun Bayan River Valley. A picturesque green valley edges with forest-covered mountains on one side and the river on the other side is the best pastureland and summer area of the nomads. Nomads’ traditional dwelling gers and their peacefully grazing flocks of sheep, goats, horses, and cattle including yaks is today’s scenery. (18 km hiking) Overnight in a tent near Gylalzahiin Adag.
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Hiking into depths of the mountains and visit ruins of Gunj temple
Our today’s destination is ruins of the 17th-century Gunj/princess temple. The hiking takes place on trails of coniferous tree-covered mountains. When you trek more into depths of the mountains, nature turns into pristine and wild. We will continue our trekking back to Gylalzahiin Adag after exploring the temple ruins and the surrounding picturesque areas. (17 km hiking)
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Half day trekking and tour to Gorkhi Terelj National Park
Today is our last day to trek in Khan Khentii National Park. The trekking continues along the Baruun Bayan Valley. Have a field lunch and meet the vehicle. Drive to Gorkhi Terelj National Park. The picture of Gorkhi Terelj is an outstanding granite stone mountains tower in spectacular shapes and natural landscapes. On the way, we will see legendary Turtle Rock. Check-in a ger camp and be refreshed from the adventures while having running water shower and dinner at the ger camp restaurant. (7 km hiking)
Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Drive back Ulaanbaatar
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar after 1.5 hours driving. Check in a hotel and free day to discover the city your own.
Accommodation: 3* Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Background
Is this trekking tour suitable for me?
This is a moderate tour suitable for travelers of all age categories. The average daily hiking distance is 15 to 18 km. A yak cart loads the kitchen, camping gears, and possibly our luggage will be following us all day long. As the tour is suitable for everybody, the trekking can be shortened riding the yak cart depends on your physical condition and age. It is fun for small kids. However, it is shaky when riding the yak cart on the bumpy roads. You will stay 3 nights in the tent and 1 night at a ger camp. An average altitude of the hiking area is 1500 to 1600 m above sea level. Another advantage is you will be in the picturesque national park just after 2 hours driving from Ulaanbaatar. So that you will spend more time in nature rather than drive long.
Meals
Tour meals are included according to the itinerary. In the countryside, ger camps serve occasional European but mainly Mongolian meals. Meat is the main ingredient for meals and is served for lunch and dinner along with vegetables, salads, and soups. There will be more meat in traditional Mongolian meals. A typical breakfast is tea or coffee, bread, jam, butter, eggs and sausage. There are some cookies, cheese, cereals, pancakes and more at some of the ger camps for breakfast. For lunch, meals include salads, Mongolian soups and a main course (pasta, rice, vegetables, beef/mutton/chicken/fish near lakes/rivers), and dessert and tea. Salads, a main course, a dessert, and tea will be served for dinner. With nomads, you will try authentic Mongolian meals. Different types of meals offered simultaneously are not customary in Mongolian tradition. If you are a vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions, please inform us in advance, and we will make arrangements accordingly. About lunch, it will be packed as a picnic. More information on traditional Mongolia meals and ger camps meals
Accommodation
The tour includes 1 night in Ulaanbaatar in a traveler type 3* hotel, 1 night at a ger camp and 3 nights in the tent. The company provides good quality camping gears and cooking equipment including 2 layer waterproof tents have floors, humid mats, air mats, sleeping bags suitable as low as -3°C, kitchen tent has a capacity of 8 people, camping table and chairs. The hotel category will not be limited by the 3* hotel. We could change it to higher or lower categories. However, there will be a price difference. For more detailed information about the main accommodation ger camp, please visit Mongolia Ger camps and Mongolia hotels
Guides
Most of our company guides are English speaking. We also have some guides who speak German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and Japanese. They are all friendly, helpful and most of them were born and grown in the countryside. Therefore, they have good knowledge about every aspect of Mongolia, good at horse trekking and have at least three years or more years of guiding experience. Except for your interpreter-guide, one or more nomad men will be your equestrian depends on the riders’ number.
Transportation
Most of our tours were designed with four wheels driving Japanese van Mitsubishi Delica or Toyota Hiace. The drivers are experienced, friendly, and good mechanic-drivers. For bigger groups, the Russian van will be used due to its capacity and load availability or used solely for luggage and kitchen. You may check the travel vehicle details at Mongolia transportation
When to take the tour?
The most suitable time to take the tour is between 15 May and 15 September. The weather will be warm this period of the year. In Mongolia, the weather fluctuates a lot; hourly, daytime and at night. The average day temperature of summer is +27°C and the highest +36°C in June, July, and August. The average day temperature of May and September is +21°C and the highest 28°C. The temperature drops by 15°C to 20°C in the evenings and at night. The temperature could dramatically fall if it rains. There are occasional chill wind and snowfalls in May, September, at the beginning of June, and at the end of August. July is the hottest, as well as the wettest month of the year. Get monthly weather outlook here. For your pre-departure preparation and an idea to prepare for this inflexible weather condition, you may check our detailed packing list of the trekking tour.
To plan your dream holiday or customize the tour exclusively for you, what to do and see in Mongolia page may help you.
As well as, please check attractions in Central Mongolia
