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A landscape from Northern Mongolia, the setting for the Northern Mongolia · 10 days.

Northern Mongolia · 10 days

Northern Mongolia · 10 days

Ten days: Amarbayasgalant Monastery, Uran Togoo, Khuvsgul Lake, Shine Ider, Terkh White Lake and Khorgo Volcano, Tsenkher Hot Springs, and Karakorum.

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Overview.

This 10-day Northern Mongolia tour combines the standard Khuvsgul route with two of the Khangai Mountains' iconic sites on the return – Terkh White Lake and Khorgo Volcano – plus Tsenkher Hot Springs and Karakorum. The trip starts north with Amarbayasgalant Monastery (one of the three largest Buddhist monastic complexes in Mongolia), Uran Togoo extinct volcano, and two days at Khuvsgul Lake. The return leg drives south through Shine Ider and into the Khangai for Terkh White Lake (a freshwater volcanic crater lake at 2,060 meters), Khorgo Volcano, the natural hot springs at Tsenkher, and Karakorum and Erdene Zuu Monastery. Travel is by Toyota Land Cruiser; group size is two to six guests.

Region
Northern Mongolia
Duration
10 days
Best season
June – September
Group size
2–6 guests

Pricing is tailored to your dates and group size. Final quote in USD, sent within 24 hours.

Departures

Departures run on request through the season, tell us your dates and we hold a date for you.

Quick facts

Total distance
~2,400 km
Driving days
9 of 10
Longest single drive
5–6 hours
Maximum altitude
~1,645 m (Khuvsgul Lake)
Start / end
Ulaanbaatar
Group size
2–6 guests
Languages
English (Buya); driver speaks working English

Day by day.

Day 1: Amarbayasgalant monastery

In the morning, drive to Amarbayasgalant Monastery, one of Mongolia’s most beautiful and historic monasteries. Arrive in the afternoon and check in at a ger camp. Visit the monastery and hike the nearby hills for panoramic views of the valley and the monastery.

Day 2: Uran togoo

Urantogoo Volcano is an extinct volcano in northern Mongolia. It became inactive about 800,000 years ago. The top of the volcano is reachable by a short trek, and from the summit, you can enjoy amazing panoramic views. Urantogoo is a great place for anyone who loves nature and adventure.

Day 3: Khuvsgul lake

Khuvsgul Lake, often called the “Blue Pearl of Mongolia,” stretches 136 km in length and 36 km in width, lying at an elevation of 1,645 meters above sea level. The lake and its surrounding region remain remarkably pristine and unspoiled. Stay overnight in a ger camp.

Day 4: Off driving. We have some activities hiking, climbing mountains, watching birds, riding horses etc

Day 5: Shine Ider

After staying in Khuvsgul lake early in the morning we will drive to Shine Ider picturesque place. Stay overnight in a tent and experience the area’s beauty.

Day 6: Terkh White Like & Khorgo volcano

Terkh white lake is a beautiful freshwater lake located in the Hangai Mountains. It was formed by the flow of Terkhin River and volcanic activity from Khorgo Volcano. The lake is 16 km long, up to 6 km wide, and 20 meters deep, sitting at an altitude of 2,060 meters above sea level. Khorgo Volcano, located on the shore of Terkh white Lake, is a dormant volcano that erupted around 8,000 years ago. The crater is 200 meters wide, 70-80 meters deep, and has slopes of 30-36 degrees. The solidified lava shows unique twisted and curved shapes, formed by the flow of molten rock and steam.

Day 7: Tsenkher hot spring

Drive to Tsenkher Hot Springs, located among forested hills, cliffs, rivers, and wide-open mountains. The mineral-rich water naturally emerges at 85.5°C and is cooled for bathing. Relax in outdoor hot pools while enjoying the surrounding natural scenery.

Day 9: Karakorim museum & Erdene Zuu monastery

Driving to Kharkhorin (Karakorum), the former capital of Mongolia in the 13th century, located in northwestern Uvurkhangai Province. Visit Erdene Zuu Monastery, the oldest surviving Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. The monastery functioned as a museum during the communist era and was returned to monks after 1990, becoming an active place of worship once again. The Karakorum Museum opened in 2011; the museum presents the history and culture of the ancient capital Kharkhorum and the Mongol Empire. Its exhibits include archaeological finds from the Orkhon Valley, shows Mongolia’s rich historical heritage.

Day 10: Back to Ulaanbaatar

After breakfast, enjoy a camel ride and explore this unique natural area. And, back to Ulaanbaatar.

Why this trip.

This 10-day Northern Mongolia tour is the right itinerary for travelers who want Khuvsgul Lake plus the more varied return through the Khangai Mountains and the imperial capital. It is the most balanced of our Northern tours: enough time at Khuvsgul (two days, including the off-driving day for hikes or horseback riding), plus the volcanic landscape of Terkh White Lake and Khorgo Volcano, plus Tsenkher Hot Springs as a soak day, plus the cultural anchor of Karakorum and Erdene Zuu Monastery. Most travelers booking this tour are on a second or third Mongolia trip and want to see Khuvsgul in combination with the Khangai – not the Gobi.

For travelers comparing options: the 7-day Northern is the same trip without the Khangai return (Terkh, Khorgo, Tsenkher, Karakorum). The 12-day Tsaatan tour replaces the Khangai return with three days of horseback riding into the East Taiga to live with the Tsaatan reindeer-herding families. The 20-day grand tour combines Northern, Central, and the Gobi. The 10-day is the right choice for travelers who want Khuvsgul plus the Khangai – the lake-and-volcano landscape rather than the desert.

What's included.

Included

  • Private Toyota Land Cruiser or equivalent vehicle for all transfers
  • Experienced local driver and English-speaking guide (Buya)
  • All accommodation on tour: ger camps and one or two nomadic family overnights
  • All meals during the tour (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
  • All entrance fees: Amarbayasgalant Monastery, Uran Togoo, Khuvsgul National Park, Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park, Tsenkher Hot Springs, Erdene Zuu Monastery, Karakorum Museum
  • Bottled drinking water throughout
  • Tsenkher Hot Springs entrance and bathing

Not included

  • International flights to and from Ulaanbaatar
  • Pre and post-tour Ulaanbaatar hotel nights (we can recommend or arrange)
  • Mandatory travel insurance with medical evacuation cover
  • Optional activities not in the itinerary (kayaking on Khuvsgul, etc.)
  • Personal expenses, alcoholic beverages, laundry
  • Gratuities for guide and driver (appreciated but not required)
  • Museum camera fees where applicable

Travel insurance is required. We recommend SafetyWing or World Nomads, see the Before-you-go guide.

Where you stay.

Eight of your nine nights on this 10-day Northern Mongolia tour are at established ger camps – traditional Mongolian felt tents at tourist camps with private bedding, communal dining, and shared shower and toilet blocks. One or two nights are with nomadic families – simpler, no shower, but the most authentic experience of the route. Khuvsgul has the best ger-camp infrastructure of the Northern stops; Terkh-area camps are smaller and more remote. Bedding is provided. The first and last nights of the trip are at your Ulaanbaatar hotel.

What to bring.

After booking, we send a detailed packing list customized to your dates. Northern essentials: layered clothing for cool nights and warm days, a full rain shell (the lake region attracts thunderstorms in July and August), sturdy walking shoes for the Khuvsgul ridges and the Uran Togoo crater, a small daypack, headlamp or torch (ger camps have limited lighting), a reusable water bottle, hand sanitiser, and any personal medications. Khuvsgul nights cool sharply at 1,645 meters elevation; bring a warm fleece even in July. Sun protection (broad-spectrum SPF, brimmed hat, sunglasses) is important at high altitude. A power bank is useful as backup; most ger camps have power outlets but availability is limited.

See packing notes in our Before-you-go guide →

Common questions.

What does the 10-day Northern tour cover?

Day 1 to Amarbayasgalant Monastery (Selenge basin). Day 2 to Uran Togoo extinct volcano. Day 3 arriving at Khuvsgul Lake. Day 4 a free day at Khuvsgul. Day 5 to Shine Ider (Bulgan-Arkhangai region). Day 6 to Terkh White Lake and Khorgo Volcano. Day 7 to Tsenkher Hot Springs. Day 8 a buffer/transfer day. Day 9 visiting Karakorum and Erdene Zuu Monastery. Day 10 the return to Ulaanbaatar.

How is the 10-day different from the 7-day Northern tour?

The 10-day adds the return route through the Khangai Mountains (Terkh White Lake, Khorgo Volcano, Tsenkher Hot Springs, Karakorum) instead of the more direct return via Uran Togoo. The Khuvsgul portion is similar (two days at the lake). Choose the 10-day if you want both the lake and the Khangai-mountain volcanic landscape; choose the 7-day for a tighter Khuvsgul-only loop.

What is the best time of year for the 10-day Northern tour?

Mid-July through August is peak: warm days at the lake, all camps fully open. June is a good shoulder month. September is good for Khuvsgul itself (gold larches) but the Khangai portion (Terkh, Khorgo) can be cooler – the lake at Terkh is at 2,060 meters elevation. We do not run this tour from October through May.

What is Terkh White Lake?

Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur ("White Lake") is a freshwater volcanic crater lake at 2,060 meters in the Khangai Mountains. It was formed around 8,000 years ago when lava flows from Khorgo Volcano dammed the Terkhiin River. The lake is 16 kilometers long, up to 6 kilometers wide, and 20 meters deep. The eastern shore has the dormant Khorgo Volcano with a 200-meter crater you can walk the rim of in an hour.

Why is Amarbayasgalant Monastery significant?

Amarbayasgalant is one of the three largest Buddhist monastic complexes in Mongolia, built between 1727 and 1736 in honor of Zanabazar (the first Bogd Gegeen of Mongolian Buddhism). Most of the outer walls survived the 1937 communist purges – an exception in a country where most monasteries were destroyed. Reconstruction of the inner buildings has been ongoing since the 1990s. The complex of 28 temples sits in the Selenge basin north of Ulaanbaatar.

What is included in the 10-day Northern tour?

Specific inclusions confirmed at booking; typically: private vehicle and English-speaking driver, all accommodation (ger camps and one or two family stays), all meals on tour, all entrance fees including Amarbayasgalant, Uran Togoo, Khuvsgul National Park, Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park, Tsenkher Hot Springs, Erdene Zuu Monastery, and the Karakorum Museum, bottled drinking water. Excluded: international flights, Ulaanbaatar hotel nights, optional kayaking, gratuities. Final inclusions are confirmed in writing before any payment.

How much driving is on this tour?

Total driving is roughly 2,400 kilometers across ten days. The longest single days are Day 2 to 3 (Uran Togoo to Khuvsgul, around 5 to 6 hours) and Day 5 to 6 (Shine Ider to Terkh, around 5 to 6 hours). Days 4 (off-driving at Khuvsgul) and 7 to 9 (around the Khangai and Karakorum area) are shorter. Most of the route is dirt and gravel north of Murun and west of Karakorum.

Where do you stay on the 10-day Northern tour?

Most nights are at established ger camps – traditional felt tents with private bedding, communal dining, and shared shower and toilet facilities. Khuvsgul has the best ger-camp infrastructure of the Northern stops; Terkh-area camps are smaller and more basic. One or two nights are with nomadic families. The Karakorum-area camps are higher-spec. The first and last nights are at your Ulaanbaatar hotel.

Is the 10-day suitable for first-time visitors?

It can be – the 10-day is one of the more varied Mongolia trips for travelers with ten days available, covering Khuvsgul, the Khangai Mountains, and Karakorum in a single loop. Most first-time visitors do a Central or combined Gobi-and-Central tour, but if you have ten days and a specific interest in lake-and-volcano landscape (rather than the Gobi desert), this is the right tour.

Can I extend this 10-day tour into the Tsaatan or the Gobi?

Yes, in either direction. Adding the Tsaatan trek extends to 12 to 14 days (replace some Khangai days with the East Taiga horse trek). Adding the Gobi extends to 14 to 16 days. The 20-day grand tour combines all three regions (Northern with Tsaatan, Central, Gobi) – the most complete Mongolia trip we run. Talk to us about your dates and we will suggest the right combination.

Book this trip.

Baska replies personally, in your language, within 24 hours. We can adjust dates, routing, and pacing.

Chat on WhatsApp Baska replies within 24 hours, Mon–Sat (UB time). Or email us

Not sure which tour fits your dates? See the planning guide.

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