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A landscape from Eastern Mongolia, the setting for the Ulaanbaatar and Terelj · 2 days.

Eastern Mongolia · 2 days

Ulaanbaatar and Terelj · 2 days

Terelj National Park, the Chinggis Khan statue, and a city tour of Ulaanbaatar – Sukhbaatar Square, Zaisan Hill, the Chinggis Khan Museum.

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Overview.

This 2-day Ulaanbaatar-and-Terelj tour pairs a morning city tour of Mongolia's capital with an overnight visit to Terelj National Park. Day 1 covers Ulaanbaatar's central sites – Sukhbaatar Square, the Chinggis Khan Museum (opened 2022), Gandantegchinlen Monastery (the working centre of Mongolian Buddhism), and Zaisan Hill for panoramic views – before the afternoon drive to Terelj for an overnight at a ger camp. Day 2 covers Terelj's signature sites (Turtle Rock, Aryabal Meditation Temple) plus the Chinggis Khan equestrian statue at Tsonjin Boldog on the way back to Ulaanbaatar. Travel is by private vehicle; group size is two to six guests.

Region
Eastern Mongolia
Duration
2 days
Best season
Year-round
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

Driving days
1 of 2
Maximum altitude
~1,800 m (Terelj)
Start / end
Ulaanbaatar
Group size
2–6 guests
Languages
English (Buya); driver speaks working English

Day by day.

Day 1: Ulaanbaatar city tour

Morning city tour of Ulaanbaatar: Sukhbaatar Square (the central plaza with the parliament building and the seated statue of Chinggis Khan), the Chinggis Khan Museum (opened 2022; covers the empire from prehistory through the modern republic), Gandantegchinlen Monastery (the working centre of Mongolian Buddhism, with the 26-meter Megjid Janraisig statue), and Zaisan Hill (a Soviet-era memorial on a hill with panoramic city views). Afternoon drive to Terelj National Park (around 70 km, 2 hours). Overnight at a Terelj ger camp.

Day 2: Terelj & Chinggis Khan statue

Morning at Terelj: Turtle Rock (the 24-meter granite formation), Aryabal Meditation Temple (30-minute walk up), free time at the ger camp (optional horseback riding). Lunch. Afternoon return drive with a stop at the 40-meter Chinggis Khan Equestrian Statue at Tsonjin Boldog (museum visit and the platform on the horse’s head). Arrive in Ulaanbaatar in the evening.

Why this trip.

This 2-day tour is the right choice for travelers with limited time in Mongolia who want both Ulaanbaatar's main sites and a night in the countryside. The city tour focuses on what most travelers want to see in Ulaanbaatar without filler: the central square, the new Chinggis Khan Museum, the working Buddhist monastery, and the Soviet-era memorial. The Terelj overnight at a ger camp – sleeping in a traditional felt tent, dinner in the camp dining ger, the night sky over the rocky park – gives a genuine first taste of the Mongolian countryside.

For travelers comparing options: the 1-day Terelj tour skips the city tour and the overnight. The 3-day Semi-Desert and Terelj adds Khugnu Khan, Bayan Gobi sand dunes, and Hustai National Park (Przewalski wild horses) – more landscape, less city. The 4-day Naadam Festival tour fixes the schedule to July 11 to 13 and centers on the festival in Ulaanbaatar. Choose this 2-day for the balanced city-plus-park combination; choose the longer tours if you want more landscape time.

What's included.

Included

  • Private vehicle and experienced local driver
  • English-speaking guide for the duration of the tour
  • All accommodation: one night at a Terelj ger camp
  • All meals on tour (lunch and dinner Day 1, breakfast and lunch Day 2)
  • All entrance fees: Chinggis Khan Museum, Gandantegchinlen Monastery, Terelj National Park, Aryabal Temple, Chinggis Khan statue museum
  • Bottled drinking water throughout

Not included

  • International flights to and from Ulaanbaatar
  • Mandatory travel insurance with medical evacuation cover
  • Optional activities not in the itinerary
  • Personal expenses, alcoholic beverages, laundry
  • Gratuities for guide and driver (appreciated but not required)
  • Museum camera fees where applicable
  • Optional horseback riding at Terelj (paid locally)
  • Pre and post-tour Ulaanbaatar hotel nights (not part of this tour)

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

Where you stay.

One night at an established ger camp in Terelj National Park – a traditional felt tent with private bedding, communal dining, and shared shower and toilet blocks. Terelj has good ger-camp infrastructure (the most-visited park in the country). Bedding is provided. The first day starts and Day 2 ends in Ulaanbaatar – your pre-tour and post-tour Ulaanbaatar hotel nights are not included; we can recommend or arrange.

What to bring.

After booking, we send a detailed packing list customized to your dates and the season. Standard essentials: layered clothing for cool nights and warm days, sun protection (broad-spectrum SPF, brimmed hat, sunglasses), a rain shell for summer thunderstorms, sturdy walking shoes, a small daypack, headlamp or torch, a reusable water bottle, hand sanitiser, and any personal medications. For shoulder-season trips (May or September), add a warm fleece, gloves, and a hat. A power bank is useful as backup; ger camps have power outlets but availability is limited.

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

Common questions.

What does the 2-day Ulaanbaatar-and-Terelj tour cover?

Day 1 morning is a city tour of Ulaanbaatar: Sukhbaatar Square, the Chinggis Khan Museum, Gandantegchinlen Monastery, and Zaisan Hill. Afternoon drive to Terelj National Park and overnight at a ger camp. Day 2 morning at Terelj: Turtle Rock, Aryabal Meditation Temple. Afternoon return to Ulaanbaatar with a stop at the Chinggis Khan equestrian statue at Tsonjin Boldog.

What is the Chinggis Khan Museum?

The Chinggis Khan National Museum opened in 2022 in central Ulaanbaatar – an eight-story modern museum covering Mongolian history from prehistory through the Mongol Empire (under Chinggis Khan and his successors), the post-imperial period, and the modern republic. The museum holds around 11,000 artifacts and is the most full Mongolian history museum in the country. Allow 2 to 3 hours for the visit.

What is Gandantegchinlen Monastery?

Gandan (the short name) is the working centre of Mongolian Buddhism in Ulaanbaatar – one of the few large monasteries that survived the 1937 communist purges. The complex of seven temples and the 26-meter Megjid Janraisig statue (rebuilt in the 1990s after the Soviet-era original was melted down) is the daily centre of monastic practice in Mongolia. Visiting hours include morning chanting; the visit takes 1 to 1.5 hours.

Can the 2-day tour run in winter?

Yes – it is one of our few year-round Eastern tours. Winter (November to March) Terelj is quieter and dramatic under snow. The Ulaanbaatar city tour runs in any season; Gandan and the Chinggis Khan Museum are indoors. Pack winter outerwear for the Terelj portion; the ger camps are heated with coal stoves but require warm bedding.

Where do you stay at Terelj?

An established ger camp in or near Terelj National Park – a traditional felt tent with private bedding, communal dining, and shared shower and toilet blocks. Terelj has good ger-camp infrastructure (the most-visited park in the country). Bedding is provided; you do not bring a sleeping bag.

Can I add horseback riding?

Yes – local horse stations near the Terelj ger camps offer 30-minute to 2-hour rides. Pricing is paid directly, typically around $20 to $30 per hour. Tell your guide if you want to add a ride; helmets are usually available.

What is included in the 2-day tour?

Specific inclusions confirmed at booking; typically: private vehicle and English-speaking driver and guide, one night at a Terelj ger camp, all meals on tour (lunch and dinner Day 1, breakfast and lunch Day 2), all entrance fees including the Chinggis Khan Museum, Gandan, Terelj, and the Chinggis Khan statue museum, bottled drinking water. Excluded: international flights, pre and post-tour Ulaanbaatar hotel nights, optional horseback riding, gratuities, museum camera fees. Final inclusions are confirmed in writing before any payment.

Is the 2-day tour suitable for families?

Yes. The pacing is moderate, the walks are short and gentle, the giant statue and rock formations engage younger travelers, the ger-camp overnight is usually a highlight for children, and the city tour gives parents enough cultural content to balance the outdoor portion. The Aryabal Temple climb is the most physical part; younger children can stay at the base.

How does the 2-day differ from the 1-day Terelj?

The 2-day adds a morning city tour of Ulaanbaatar (Sukhbaatar Square, Chinggis Khan Museum, Gandan, Zaisan Hill) and an overnight at a Terelj ger camp. The 1-day skips both. Choose the 2-day if you want both the city and the park with an overnight; choose the 1-day if you have a single day or are passing through Ulaanbaatar between flights.

How does the 2-day differ from the 3-day Semi-Desert and Terelj?

The 3-day adds a second day in the country – Khugnu Khan and Bayan Gobi sand dunes – plus a third day at Hustai National Park to see the wild Przewalski horses. The 2-day stays close to Ulaanbaatar and includes the city tour. Choose the 2-day for the city-plus-park combination; choose the 3-day if you want more landscape time and the wildlife morning.

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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