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UlaanbaatarOutdoor activities

Our most recommended Ulaanbaatar Outdoor activities

Ulaanbaatar: Small Group 3-Day Best of Central Mongolia Tour

1. Ulaanbaatar: Small Group 3-Day Best of Central Mongolia Tour

Day 1: Start your day with pick up at your hotel in Ulaanbaatar and drive to Karakorum (360 km away), the past capital of Great Mongolian State. Enjoy a half-day Karakorum tour to visit the signature Erdene Zuu Monastery, and Karakorum Museum to learn about its regional history. After a local dinner, spend a night at the traditional ger guesthouse. Marvel at the clear sky filled with stars and spot milky way. Day 2: After breakfast, drive to Elsen tasarkhai (70 km away), known as semi-gobi for its similar natural features to the famous Gobi desert. Ride 2-humped camels for the ultimate desert experience over endless sand dunes. Have a local-style lunch and drive to Khustai National Park (270 km away) to visit a nomadic family, experience their daily life, and taste organic dairy products. Spend the night in the nomadic family home after dinner. Day 3: Explore Khustai National Park to have lunch and observe wild horses, known as takhi horses, in their natural habitat. Try traditional cooking, the core traditional activity of Mongolians. Drive to Ulaanbaatar (76 km way) and transfer to your accommodation directly. Your arrival at Ulaanbaatar city would be at around 5-7 PM.

Ulaanbaatar: Semi-Gobi Desert Day Trip & Camel or Horse Ride

2. Ulaanbaatar: Semi-Gobi Desert Day Trip & Camel or Horse Ride

After getting picked up in the morning from your hotel in Ulaanbaatar, drive to Elsen Tasarkhai, known as Semi-Gobi because of its resemblance to the famous Gobi Desert. Immerse yourself in the stunning landscape. Discover hundreds of birds, deer, and gazelle that call this mountain home. Take some time to hike around the area and then ride a camel or horse to the small sand dunes.  Stop for an authentic lunch at a suitable spot along the way. Later, visit a local nomad family where you will have an opportunity to experience their way of life, their culture and traditions. Take a look at how some Mongolians are still keeping their traditional lifestyles. Get dropped off at your hotel in Ulaanbaatar by 5:00 PM.

Genghis Khan Statue plus bonus Terelj National Park

3. Genghis Khan Statue plus bonus Terelj National Park

Leave the city early in the morning to beat the crowds and arrive at Chonjinboldog area, where the Genghis Khan Monument is located, within an hour. Genghis Khan Statue Complex is the largest equestrian statue in the world. Take an elevator ride up to the horse's neck and relish spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. Pay a visit to a small archaeology museum in the base of the statue, stop for a pick-me-up in the restaurant, and shop at the many souvenir shops. You can even try on traditional Mongolian costumes at the museum. Head then to Terelj National Park, the most accessible natural attraction from Ulaanbaatar. The park has many beautiful rock formations including Turtle Rock, Melkhii Khad (meaning "the Old Man Reading a Book"), and Praying Lama Rock. Savor a tasty, traditional lunch at Turtle Rock. After lunch, hike to Aryabal Monastery on a pleasant path and take in the gorgeous scenery along the way. In the evening, visit a nomad food place to experience Mongolian lifestyle and hospitality before returning to Ulaanbaatar by approximately 4:30 PM. Extend your tour by choosing to add an overnight stay in a traditional nomadic home in Ger, and have local dinner and breakfast prepared on the site.

From Ulaanbaatar: Day Trip to Hustai National Park

4. From Ulaanbaatar: Day Trip to Hustai National Park

Meet your English-speaking guide and driver at your downtown Ulaanbaatar hotel at 9 AM, then drive approximately 95 kilometers (60 miles) west of Ulaanbaatar to Hustai National Park. Travel on asphalt roads in good condition for a couple of hours and see nomadic tents sprawling across the beautiful landscape along the way. Upon arrival at Hustai National Park, take your time to explore extraordinary scenic spots where Asian wild horses graze, a result of the conservation program reintroduced by a group from the Netherlands in the framework of an international project. Later, a simple local lunch will be provided. After lunch at the park, visit a local horseman family and discover their nomadic way of life, their culture, and traditions. Take a horse for a ride yourself, if you want, and experience how traditional Mongolians traveled and how many modern Mongolians still do. Afterward, you'll be transferred back to your Ulaanbaatar hotel where this loving day trip ends.

From Ulaanbaatar: UNESCO Bogd Khan Mountain & Monastery

5. From Ulaanbaatar: UNESCO Bogd Khan Mountain & Monastery

Rise early in the morning and head to Manzushir Monastery, established in 1733 and located in the south of Bogd Khan Uul Mountain, a sacred mountain with UNESCO World Heritage tentative status. Over time, the monastery has grown into a complex of more than 20 temples with over 300 resident monks. Locals love to hike, picnic, and hang out at the monastery site. Learn about the history behind the area while enjoying a walk in the Bogd Khan Uul National Park or a short horseback riding experience. You will love the surrounding nature and beautiful landscapes. In the evening, you will be transferred back to your Ulaanbaatar hotel.

Terelj National Park: Tour with horse riding and hiking

6. Terelj National Park: Tour with horse riding and hiking

Terelj 999 Day 1 Ulaanbaatar – Terelj National Park Meet us at your hotel. Drive to Terelj national park for 1 hour drive. Come and visit at the Turtle rock nature formation and Aryabala meditation temple. You will enjoy from nature beauties and optional hiking, horse riding and taking photo of Eagles with trainers. Overnight at ger camp. Accommodation: Ger camp Day 2 Terelj National Park - Ulaanbaatar After breakfast, you will have some hiking round places and Chingis khan's big statue. Experience nomadic daily life and visit local herders. Then we drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Khangai 888 Day 1: Ulanbaatar – Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes Tour will start from airport pick up or hotel where you are staying. After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive west out of the city to the beautiful Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes. Elsen Tasarkhai is one of the most picturesque places of Mongolia and is part of the 80 km long Mongol Els Sand Dunes. This place is a wonderful combination of pretty sand dunes, majestic granite mountains, grassy green land, a clear fresh spring and a tiny lake. Indeed, here you can enjoy seeing the combination of Gobi and Khangai Natural Zones. On arrival at Elsen Tasarkhai, check-in at the local Mongolian ger camp. After lunch, enjoy walking and climbing on the sand dunes and riding a two-humped camel. In the late afternoon there is a short drive to Erdene Khamba Temple Ruins in the picturesque Khugnu Khan Mountain. Return to your ger camp for dinner and overnight stay. Day 2: Tsenkher Hot Springs/Khangai Resort After breakfast at the camp, we will drive to Kharkhorin, the ancient capital of Mongolia. Kharkhorin was the capital city of the Great Mongolian Empire of Chinggis Khan in the 13-14th centuries. Visit one of Mongolia’s two largest monasteries, “Erdenezuu”. Erdenezuu Monastery has a complex of 108 stupas and over 10 temples that contain rich displays of Mongolian Buddhism. The Erdenezuu Monastery and ruins of Kharkhorin were registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1996. Visit the museum of Kharkhorin and surrounding sites of Kharkhorin: the Great Khan’s monument, the legendary Turtle of Kharkhorin and the Phallic Rock statue. After lunch at a local restaurant we head to Khangai Resort, a natural hot springs resort in central Mongolia. Dinner and overnight at the resort. Tsenkher hot springs, the largest of Mongolia's 42 hot springs, is at an elevation of 1860 meters above sea level, located 500 km from UB, or 35 km south-west from Tsetserleg city, Arkhangai province. The water temperature is 86 C. It has high alkalinity and relatively high amounts of fluoride. The hot springs are mostly used to treat rheumatism, and diseases of the nervous system. This is also perfect for relaxing and restoring your health. Relaxing and indulging in the carefully designed indoor and outdoor hot pools under the bright stars of big Mongolian sky is a unique experience. Enjoy a half day for you to relax and visit a nomadic Mongolian herder family to observe their daily life activities. After lunch we will drive to Ugii Lake Day 3: Ugii Lake After breakfast at the resort, we head to Ugii lake. On arrival at Ugii lake check in to a local ger camp and relax for the rest of the day. The lake is located in the territory of Arkhangai province and is one of the biggest lakes of Mongolia. It has 27 km/sq area, average depth is 6.64m, in some sections 15.3m, coastal length is 23.5m. Ugii lake abounds in various types of fish and birds, which creates an incredible natural beauty. Ugii Lake also provides a favorable condition for research work and traveling. Ugii Lake attracts travelers, tourists and nature researchers from Mongolia as well as from foreign countries. More than 150 types rare species of birds dwell in Ugii lake. Lunch/Dinner and overnight at the camp. Day 4: Terelj National Park, Tsonjin Boldog/Chinggis Khan Statue After breakfast we travel east to visit the big Chinggis Khan Statue located at Tsonjin Boldog 54 km from UB. This giant 40 meters tall statue was built in a legendary place believed to be where the Great King found a golden whip. You walk to the head of the horse through its chest and neck, and on the top you can enjoy a panoramic view. Also, you will be guided to the museum showing exhibits relating to the Bronze Age and Xiongnu archaeological cultures in Mongolia, as well as the Great Khan period in the 13 and 14th centuries. The museum has ancient tools, golden objects and some Nestorian crosses and rosaries. You can try wearing the nomads’ and warriors’ outfits and take some selfies too. Afternoon we will ride Mongolian horse for 1 hour. Stay in Ger camp in the Terelj. Day 5: Departure to UB In the morning we come back to UB and shop at the Gobi Cashmere factory store where you can shop for beautiful Mongolian cashmere products. State department store you can buy some souvenirs for your family. End of the trip.

Day trip of Manzushir Monastery

7. Day trip of Manzushir Monastery

Manzushir Monastery is a perfect day tour area located in the south of protected Bogd Khan Mountain, 45 km by road from Ulaanbaatar, and 8 km northeast of Zuunmod town. Initially, the monastery was built for Manzushir, a Bodhisat of wisdom in 1773, among the picturesque natural settings of a pine-covered valley dotted with boulders and curved with streams on the altitude of 1800 m. The monastery suffered the same fate as the other monasteries in Mongolia. It had 20 temples housed by 350 monks when it destroyed during the communist purge in 1937. The main temple of the monastery partially restored in 1990, but others remain in ruins. Despite the fact monastery remained in ruins, the surrounding nature is still beautiful. Two objects indestructible were two-tonne huge bronze cauldron and Buddhist paintings on the rock behind the monastery museum. Except for the painting, you will have awe-inspiring views from the top of the rock. The bronze cauldron was designed to cook food for 1000 monks in a single sitting or said to boil up 10 sheep meat or 2 cow meat at a time. There is a small natural museum and a monastery museum display religious dance tsam mask, tanka religious painting, musical instrument, and the old monastery photo of how it looked like before the destruction. Besides, the Manzushir Monastery, the area is a starting point of a hike to Bogd Khan Mountain’s peak Tsetseegun 2256 m. There many trails to reach the Tsetsee Gun peak, but the hike from Manzushir is easiest while it is also the longest. The hiking requires one full day from early morning till evening. The weather on the flat top of the mountain is cool and windy, sometimes with unpredictable thunderstorms in summer. Therefore, bring food, water, hot tea, wind, and waterproof clothes in summer. On top of the mountain, you will see ovoos or cairns and Ulaanbaatar partially.

5 Day Central Mongolian adventure

8. 5 Day Central Mongolian adventure

Customer who has a short time to visit Mongolia this tour will be definitely a choice . One of the most sale tour from our company , More than +1000 are experienced and happy with this tour . In this tour you will visit a Terelj National park , Turtle rock , Meditation monastery , Khar Khorum , Elsen tasarhai sand dune , Tuvhun monastery , horse and camel ride. Day 1 Terelj National park Terelj National Park, one way is 75 km, On the way explore Ovoo-the pile of stones, which was set for the god of nature and blue sky. Exploring the beautiful granite rocky hills, nomads home-Ger and their livestock in the pasture, Visit to Protected area, Explore the Turtle Rock, Soft trekking on the green meadow, Hiking to hills, Explore the green valleys, Horse trekking in the surrounding: *Biggest Chinggis khans statue in the world. *Zaisan Hill *Meditation Monastery *Turtle rock Overnight stay with a Nomad family experiencing those nomad life style. If you want you also can join Nomad work make a milk product etc. Overnight in Local family Ger Day 2 Khar khorum Kharkhorin city Karakorum was the capital of Great Mongolia Empire in thirteenth century. It is located on the right bank of Orkhon river, 360 km south-west of Ulaanbaatar which is the current capital of Mongolia. In 1380, Karakorum was destroyed. But approximately two centuries later, on the same site, there arose the yurt of Avtai Khan, founder of the Erdene Zuu Monastery. Kharkorin city is full of sightseeing and historical Mongolia Ger Hostel.1 Hour camel riding included in price. (breakfast +Lunch+Dinner ) Day 3visit Orkhon valley waterfall Water fall Very close to the Orkhon the Ulaan Tsutgalan river features a waterfall, ten meters wide and twenty meters high. The waterfall is a popular destination for tourists . This is most famous area for tourist and local travelers . Nomad Ger Guest accommodation (breakfast +Lunch+Dinner ) Day 4 Visit Hugnu khan national park Visit Elsen tasarhai ride a camel and hike around in sand dune. meet with a locals DAY 5 Drive back to Ulaanbaatar city on the road we visit a local shop and souvenir shop .

Riverside tent trip and fishing, overnight

9. Riverside tent trip and fishing, overnight

Visit the Chinggis khan statue. Catch fish on the banks of the Kherlen River and spend the night gazing at the stars by the campfire with a special dinner.

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What people are saying about Ulaanbaatar

Finding the horses on a hot day was difficult, but the guide made the journey interesting by sharing information about Mongolia. We stopped from time to time to enjoy views. The drive looking for the horses had challenging roads in places. The guide did a great job navigating the roads. On the return, we stopped at a local restaurant for a nice lunch, which was included in the tour package. Thank you for a fun first day in Mongolia.

It was a real experience with Nomad family. The conditions were harsh and quite extreme, but I am glad I got to experience it. The tour guide is an awesome person, he explained so many things about Mongolian culture, religions, life etc. I am so glad that I he was our guide :)

가이드가 영어를 잘하고 재미있게 잘 설명해주십니다. 음식도 비린 것을 잘 못먹어 걱정하였으나 너무 맛있는 현지식당으로 안내해주셨네요. 전체적으로 매우 만족합니다.