The Mongolia Express Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: The Chingis Khan Statue & the Terelj National Park

Stop At: Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, Ulaanbaatar
Day 1. The Chingis Khan Statue
Located 90 km to the east of the capital, the Chingis Khan Equestrian statue is 40 meters high and made of stainless steel. There are museums in the basement, exhibitions in the in the first floor, restaurant in the second floor. Then, you can take the stairs all the way up to the main of the horse, where you can see the panoramic view of the surrounding area. The Terelj national park is located 70km to the west of Ulaanbaatar. It is the most popular holiday resort for the people living in the capital city. Terelj is part of the Khan Khentii mountain range, and is famous for its granite rock formations, with peaks reaching 2600m above sea level. The mountains have Siberian larch, pines and birches. There are many summerhouses and tourist camps in this region. Hiking, bird watching; horse riding, camel ridings are fun activities to do in Terelj. The park is also accessible during winter. Dog sledding, skating and sledging are the most common trend in this area during winter. Some highlights of Terelj: Turtle rock, hundred lama cave, and Aryapala meditation center.
The general timetable for Day-1 is as follows:
08:00 - 09:00 am Pick-up service / Supermarket stop
10:00 - 12:00 pm Driving to and visiting the Chingis Khan Statue, entering Terelj National Park
12:00 - 13:00 pm Lunch at the camp in Terelj
14:00 - 15: 00 pm Free time & Rest
15:00 - 17:00 pm HIking to Aryapala temple
18:00 - 20:00 pm Free time & Dinner
Past 20:00 pm Free time & rest

Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a camp in Terelj National Park

Day 2: Kharkhorin city

Stop At: Erdene Zuu Monastery, Kharkhorin, Ovorkhangai Province
In 1220 Chinggis Khaan established the capital of Mongolian empire on the fertile plains along the Orkhon River. This is called Kharkhorin, 373 km from Ulaanbaatar city. Kharkhorin is located at the lower end of the upper valley of the Orkhon River, which is part if the World Heritage Site Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape. The location marks the eastern foothills of the Khangai Mountains. It was a busy spindled city with high civilization built by the best artists and masters of antiquity. But it was completely destroyed in the fierce battles of the internecine war. The foundations of Karakorum's buildings are all underground and little has been excavated, so you need lots of imagination when contemplating the grandness of it all. The plain was littered with bricks, ruined walls and pillars until the mid-16th century. The stone, blocks and other building materials from ruins of Kharkhorin were used in the construction of Erdene Zuu monastery. Highlights of Kharkhorin: the Erdene Zuu monastery, the Kharkhorin museum, and the stone turtles.
The general timetable for Day-2 is as follows:
08:00 - 09:00 am Breakfast
10:00 - 12:00 pm Driving / interaction with the guide & driver
12:00 - 13:00 pm Lunch
13:00 - 15: 00 pm Driving and reaching Kharkhorin
15:00 - 17:00 pm Visit Kharkhorin museum
18:00 - 20:00 pm Reaching accommodation / dinner
Past 20:00 pm Free time / watch traditional folk concert if available & rest
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a ger guesthouse in Kharkhorin

Day 3: Khugnu-Tarni National Park

Stop At: Erdene Zuu Monastery, Kharkhorin, Ovorkhangai Province
Khugnu-Tarni National Park is located in Rashaant sum, Bulgan province. This area was taken under state protection in 1997. It offers amazing scenery with river, mountain, trees, and sand dunes all in one place. Wild animals like vulture, deer, foxes, hares, eagles, wolves and migratory birds like swans and cranes inhabit here.The Elsen Tasarhai is one of the main characteristics of the national park. Also known as the Semi-Gobi, it is part of the great Mongolian sand dunes, which extends about 80 km. Hiking or riding camel in here makes one feel like they are in the Gobi desert.In the northern side of the park, lies the impressive mountain range of Khugnu-Khan. These granite rock mountains can get as high as 2000m above sea level.
The general timetable for Day-3 is as follows:
08:00 - 09:00 am Breakfast
10:00 - 12:00 pm Visit the Erdene Zuu monastery, stone turtle, souvenir and antique shops in Kharkhorin
12:00 - 13:00 pm Reaching the dunes / Lunch
13:00 - 15: 00 pm Driving to Khugnu Tarni National Park
15:00 - 16:00 pm Camel riding
16:00 - 19:00 pm Reaching the nomad family, and interacting with them
19:00 - 21:00 pm Special dinner- Khorkhog
Past 21:00 pm Free time & rest
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at local family ger camp

Day 4: Horse riding & Arrival to Ulaanbaatar

Stop At: Ulaanbaatar Railway Station, Ulaanbaatar
08:00 - 09:00 am Breakfast
09:00 - 10:00 am Horse riding
10:00 - 12: 00 pm Driving / interaction with the guide & driver
12:00 - 13:00 pm Lunch
13:00 - 16:00 pm Getting to Ulaanbaatar / drop off the hotel
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.