Central Mongolia: Kharkhorin, Khustai & Terelj — 7 Days

Arrival and transfer to hotel with local guide and driver. Welcome dinner provided.

Drive 200 kilometres west to Kharkhorin. Midway, stop at Elsen Tasarkhai, a sandy expanse within steppe terrain locally called the 'Mini Gobi'. Camel riding and landscape observation available. Upon arrival in Kharkhorin, once the capital of the Mongol Empire, visit the Kharkhorin Museum. Its collection spans the Orkhon Valley cultural landscape, with artifacts from successive periods of occupation spanning thousands of years. The museum provides historical context for the region. Next is Erdene Zuu Monastery, Mongolia's oldest Buddhist site, established in the late 16th century. Thousands of monks historically inhabited this complex, shaping Mongolian cultural and spiritual life. The 1930s political purges resulted in significant damage and loss of treasures. The monastic grounds and both historic and currently functioning shrines remain accessible to visitors. Overnight in standard ger camp.

Khustai National Park was established in 1992 to restore the Takhi, also known as Przewalsky horses, native to Mongolia. Takhi disappeared from the wild by the mid-1950s. International reintroduction efforts began in the 1990s, and the population has increased since. Depending on arrival time, drive into the park to observe the horses and learn details of their recovery program and current population status. Overnight in standard ger camp.

Drive 55 km northeast to Terelj National Park. After lunch at the ger camp, visit Turtle Rock, a natural rock formation that resembles a turtle. Trek through the park landscape at Ariyapala meditation center, then visit a local nomadic family to observe daily routines and pastoral life. Horseback riding concludes the day. Overnight in standard ger camp.

After breakfast, visit the Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue complex, which houses a large bronze equestrian statue. A museum occupies the basement level; visitors can ascend the statue for panoramic views of surrounding territory. Travel to Ulaanbaatar. Lunch is served in the southern part of the city. Optional visits to a cashmere factory store and state department store available. Evening features a traditional folk arts performance. Overnight in hotel.

Guided city tour begins at Gandan Monastery, the primary center of Buddhist practice in Mongolia. Tour the monastic grounds and learn about its history. Move to Sukhbaatar Square, the primary site of Mongolia's 1990 democratic revolution. The National History Museum sits across the square and displays artifacts from the Bronze Age through contemporary Mongolia. After lunch, visit Bogd Khan's Winter Palace Museum, the former winter residence of the Bogd Jebtsundamba VIII, Mongolia's last theocratic ruler. End the day at Zaisan Memorial Hill, which commemorates fallen World War II soldiers and offers views across Ulaanbaatar. Farewell dinner concludes the evening. Overnight in hotel.

Departure.