Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
Your flight lands at Ulaanbaatar airport and you'll get transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to do whatever works best after traveling, whether that's resting up, taking a walk around the neighborhood, or just settling in.
Optional Activities
- Walk and explore nearby areas (recommendations available from hotel reception)
- Day 2
Ulaanbaatar City Exploration
After breakfast, you head out at 9am to explore the city's cultural sites. First stop is Gandan Monastery where you can watch Buddhist rituals and see the striking gilded Migjid Janraisig statue. Then you'll walk through Sukhbaatar Square to check out the government buildings and the Great Khans memorial. Lunch happens somewhere in the city, and afterward you visit the National Museum to learn about Mongolian history, nomadic traditions, and historical objects. By evening you finish at Bogd Khan Palace Museum with its seven summer temples on the grounds.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Gandan Monastery - Mongolia's largest functioning Buddhist monastery with temples and monks' daily rituals
- Visit Megjid Janraisig Temple featuring 26-meter-high gilded statue
- Explore Sukhbaatar Square and Parliament House with Great Khans memorial statue
- Visit National Museum of Mongolia for overview of Mongolian history, culture, nomadic life, ethnic costumes, religious relics, and Stone & Bronze Age artifacts
- Visit Bogd Khan Palace Museum - 8th Bogd Javzandamba residence with seven Summer Prayer temples and Winter Palace
Landmarks/POIs Gandan Monastery Megjid Janraisig Temple Sukhbaatar Square Parliament House National Museum of Mongolia Bogd Khan Palace Museum - Day 3
Hustai National Park
After breakfast, you drive out to Hustai National Park to see Przewalski horses (takhi) in their natural habitat. A short drive gets you to the trailhead, then you hike to find these rare horses in the wild. If you're fortunate, you might also spot foxes, deer, marmots, and eagles around the park. The landscape shows typical Mongolian terrain with mountains and open steppe.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive to Hustai National Park
- Short hike to see wild Przewalski horses (takhi)
- Wildlife viewing - opportunity to see foxes, deer, marmots, eagles, and endangered horses
- Photography of wild horses in natural environment
Landmarks/POIs Hustai National Park - Day 4
Karakorum and Erdenezuu Monastery
After breakfast, you drive to Karakorum, the old capital of the Mongolian Empire and a major Silk Road hub, though it's quite small now. You'll go through the Museum of Karakorum to understand the ancient city's history and significance. Later you head to Erdenezuu Monastery, built in the 16th century with 108 stupas surrounding it, making it the oldest Buddhist monastery complex in the region. Monks chant Buddhist sutras there, and you can listen in on their rituals.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Museum of Karakorum to learn about ancient Karakorum
- Visit Erdenezuu Monastery - oldest Buddhist monastery complex with 108 stupas
- Listen to monks chanting Buddhist sutras
Landmarks/POIs Karakorum Museum of Karakorum Erdenezuu Monastery - Day 5
Bayan Gobi Desert Dunes
You head out to Bayan Gobi, an 80km stretch of desert dunes surrounded by hills with willow trees and small streams. A local camel herder family welcomes you to their ger to show how nomadic life actually works. Lunch is khorkhog, Mongolia's national dish, cooked and eaten with the family. In the afternoon, you ride two-humped Bactrian camels across the dunes, and these camels tend to be calmer and smoother to ride than other desert options.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Khorkhog - special national food at nomad family), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit local camel herder family in their Ger
- Experience nomadic lifestyle with local family
- Camel riding on Bactrian camels across the dunes
- Explore Bayan Gobi dunes
Landmarks/POIs Bayan Gobi Dunes - Day 6
Terelj National Park
After breakfast, you drive to Terelj National Park, one of the country's most popular spots. You explore the rock formations including Turtle Rock, then hike up to Ariyabal meditation temple set high in the mountains with large rock outcroppings all around it. The hike itself is considered spiritually cleansing. From the temple you get views across the park and the surrounding landscape. In the afternoon, you go horseback riding through the park for about an hour after getting basic riding instructions first.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Terelj National Park rock formations
- Visit Turtle Rock - distinctive rock formation
- Hike to Ariyabal meditation temple at mountain top
- Enjoy panoramic views from Ariyabal temple top
- One-hour horseback riding in national park with preliminary instructions
Landmarks/POIs Terelj National Park Turtle Rock Ariyabal Meditation Temple - Day 7
Genghis Khan Statue Complex and 13th Century Theme Park
After breakfast, it's a one-hour drive to the Genghis Khan Statue Complex, which holds the record as the world's largest equestrian statue at 40 meters tall. You explore the base area with shops, restaurants, and souvenir stalls, then take an elevator up to the horse's head for views across the region. After that, you drive 1.5 hours to a 13th-century theme park set up like a small kingdom with different camp areas representing Guards, Herders, Education, Craftsmen, Shamans, and the King's assembly.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Genghis Khan Statue Complex - world's largest equestrian statue (40m high)
- Ascend to horse head via elevator for panoramic views
- Explore base area with recreation facilities and shops
- Visit 13th-century theme park - micro kingdom with separate camps (Guards, Herders, Education, Craftsmen, Shaman, King's assembly)
Landmarks/POIs Genghis Khan Statue Complex - Day 8
Departure from Ulaanbaatar
Your last day is free to spend however you'd like until your airport transfer arrives for your departure flight. It's time to pack up and head home.
Optional Activities
- Free time to explore Ulaanbaatar or rest before departure
