Day 1: Ulaanbaatar – Chinggis Khan Statue – Horse Riding
Depart Ulaanbaatar in the morning and travel east towards Tsonjin Boldog, home to the monumental Chinggis Khan Equestrian Statue Complex.
Standing 40 metres high, the stainless-steel statue of Chinggis Khan is one of Mongolia's most recognisable landmarks. Explore the museum to learn about the history of the Mongol Empire and climb to the viewing platform for a panoramic of the steppes. We will explore the surroundings with a short camel ride after our visit.
After lunch, continue into the countryside to meet a local Mongolian family. Your local horse riding guide will introduce you to your horse and explain basic riding techniques and safety before setting out into the surrounding landscape. Spend approximately 3 hours on horseback, riding across the open steppe and experiencing Mongolia in one of its most traditional ways. Breaks can be taken along the way to rest, enjoy the scenery and take photographs.
In the evening, we will go to a Terelj ger camp to have dinner and spend a peaceful night in a traditional ger.
Day 2: Gorkhi-Terelj National Park & Horse Riding
Meet another local family in Terelj before heading out for your second horseback adventure.
Ride for approximately 3 hours through the landscapes of the national park, following trails across valleys and open countryside with your local horse guide. This second ride offers a different setting from the open steppe of the previous day, with mountains, forests and granite formations surrounding you along the way.
There will be opportunities to stop for photographs and take breaks whenever needed. Return to the family in the afternoon to experience the traditional nomadic lifestyle before heading back to the ger camp for the night.
Day 3: Turtle Rock – Aryabal Meditation Temple – Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast, spend your final morning exploring some of the best-known landmarks of Gorkhi-Terelj National Park.
Visit Turtle Rock, a massive granite formation naturally shaped like a turtle and one of the park's most distinctive sights. Take some time to walk around the formation and enjoy the surrounding mountain scenery.
Continue to Aryabal Meditation Temple, a peaceful Buddhist retreat built on a hillside overlooking the valley. A short uphill hike and a series of steps lead to the temple, with beautiful views opening up as you climb. Explore the temple and enjoy the calm atmosphere before descending back into the valley.
Afterwards, begin the journey back to Ulaanbaatar, stopping for lunch along the way.