5 Days • 4 Nights
Ulaanbaatar & Terelj Short Break
Tour Includes
About the Trip
You'll explore Ulaanbaatar's monasteries and museums, stand beneath the colossal silver statue of Chinggis Khaan, ride horses across the Terelj steppe, and sleep in a traditional ger beneath a sky ablaze with stars. Nomad families, cultural shows and open grasslands fill the days.
With a comfortable hotel and ger camp, a private guide and the highlights arranged, it is the essence of Mongolia in a few days.
Trip Highlights
- Ulaanbaatar's Gandan Monastery and National Museum
- A Mongolian throat-singing cultural show
- The colossal Chinggis Khaan equestrian statue
- Horse riding across the Terelj steppe
- Turtle Rock and the Aryabal meditation temple
- A night in a traditional ger camp
- A visit to a nomad family
- Vast steppe under starry skies
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 5-day journey.
Arrive in the capital and settle in, with a welcome dinner of Mongolian flavours.
The Gandan Monastery, Sukhbaatar Square, the National Museum and a cultural show of throat singing and contortion.
Drive to the giant silver Chinggis Khaan statue, then into Terelj National Park, settling into a ger camp among the rock formations.
Explore Terelj — the Turtle Rock, the Aryabal meditation temple and a horse ride across the steppe, visiting a nomad family in their ger.
Return to the capital for your transfer and onward flight, with time for the cashmere shops.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- Private airport transfers and a private guide and driver
- 2N Ulaanbaatar, 2N Terelj ger camp
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner and full board at the ger camp
- An Ulaanbaatar city tour with Gandan Monastery, the National Museum and a cultural show
- The Chinggis Khaan statue and Terelj National Park
- Horse riding and a nomad family visit
- All entrance fees per the itinerary
Exclusions
- International airfare to and from Mongolia
- Any visa fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (essential, with evacuation cover)
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional activities and horse riding where not stated
- Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa: Many nationalities can now visit Mongolia visa-free for up to 30 days; others need an eVisa or visa in advance. Your passport should be valid at least six months — we can advise
- Currency: The currency is the Mongolian Tugrik. Cards work in Ulaanbaatar, but the countryside is a cash economy with almost no ATMs, so carry enough cash for the whole trip beyond the capital
- Best season: Mongolia is a summer destination — June to September brings warm days and green steppe. The famous Naadam festival is in mid-July; winters are extremely cold and most camps close
- Ger camp life: You stay in traditional felt gers (yurts) with beds and a wood stove. They are comfortable but simple, with shared or private bathroom blocks; bring layers, a headlamp and a sense of adventure
- Long distances: Mongolia is vast and roads are often rough tracks, so expect long, scenic overland drives, with domestic flights for the Gobi and the far west, all arranged for you
- Big temperature swings: Even in summer, days can be warm and nights cold, so pack warm layers, a windproof jacket, sturdy shoes, sunscreen and sunglasses
- Nomadic etiquette: When visiting a nomad family's ger, enter with your left foot, never step on the threshold, accept offered food or drink with your right hand, and move clockwise inside
- Connectivity: Mobile signal is limited or absent outside Ulaanbaatar and the main towns — embrace the digital detox and the vast, silent landscapes
- Health: Drink bottled or boiled water, and note that facilities are basic in remote areas. Comprehensive travel insurance with evacuation cover is essential
- Power: Ger camps often have limited, generator or solar electricity for a few hours a day, so bring a power bank and a universal adapter (Mongolia uses type C/E plugs at 220V)
Frequently Asked Questions
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included throughout, with full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) at the remote ger camps where there are no restaurants, plus a welcome dinner in Ulaanbaatar. It is hearty, home-style cooking.
Are transfers and touring private?
Yes — you travel with your own guide and a 4WD driver across the countryside, with domestic flights for the Gobi and far west, all arranged for you.
Do I need a visa for Mongolia?
Many nationalities now visit visa-free for up to 30 days; others need an eVisa or visa in advance. We confirm the requirements for your passport before you travel.
When is the best time to visit?
June to September is the season — warm days, green steppe and open camps. The Naadam festival falls in mid-July, and the Golden Eagle Festival in early October. Winters are extremely cold.
What is a ger camp like?
A cluster of traditional felt tents (gers) with real beds, rugs and a wood stove, plus a central dining ger and a shared or private bathroom block. Comfortable and atmospheric, if simple — a magical way to sleep on the steppe.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. Durations, regions, camps and experiences can all be tailored, and we can add the Naadam festival, eagle hunters, Lake Khovsgol or a luxury camp. Just tell us what you have in mind.
How much driving is involved?
Mongolia is huge with few paved roads, so expect long, scenic 4WD journeys across the steppe and desert, broken by stops. Domestic flights cover the longest legs to the Gobi and the west.
Is Terelj close to the capital?
Yes — Terelj National Park is around 60-70 km from Ulaanbaatar, roughly a 1.5-2 hour drive, making it the easiest way to experience Mongolia's steppe, gers and horse riding on a short trip.
Is this good as a Trans-Mongolian stopover?
Perfectly — four nights gives you the capital and the steppe, ideal for breaking the Trans-Mongolian or Trans-Siberian railway journey between Russia and China.
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