Mongolia2 days

Terelj National Park & Chinggis Khaan Statue — 2 Days, 1 Night

Seventy kilometers northeast of Ulaanbaatar: Turtle Rock, ger camp stay, horseback riding, and the world's tallest equestrian statue.

This two-day excursion moves between the forested valleys and granite formations of Terelj National Park and the open steppe landscape of Tsonjin Boldog, where the Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue complex stands. The park sits 70 kilometers from the capital and holds populations of deer, foxes, wolves, and boars; the statue faces east toward the birthplace of Chinggis Khaan. The itinerary includes a night in a ger camp, time with a nomadic family, horseback riding through the park, and a guided tour of the statue complex. For those interested in active pursuits, the park offers trekking, rock climbing, ATV riding, and kayaking; the pace of this tour is moderate, allowing time to walk, rest, and observe rather than sprint between sites.

Highlights

Turtle Rock — a distinctive natural formation at the entrance to Terelj National Park
Ariyapala Meditation Center — a Buddhist retreat built after 1990, set within the park
Night in a traditional ger camp with nomadic family visit and horse riding in Terelj
Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue at Tsonjin Boldog — the world's tallest equestrian statue, facing east
Wildlife viewing in the northern zones of Terelj — deer, foxes, wolves, boars, and montane birds

Day by day

1Turtle Rock & Ariyapala Meditation Center to Terelj Ger CampTurtle Rock · Ariyapala Meditation Center · Terelj ger camp · Ulaanbaatar · Terelj National Park · nomadic family

Meet your local guide and driver in Ulaanbaatar for the drive northeast to Terelj National Park. The journey takes approximately one hour. Upon arrival, visit Turtle Rock, the park's signature landmark—a natural rock formation that resembles its namesake animal and marks the entry to the main valley. From there, continue to Ariyapala Meditation Center, a Buddhist facility established in the 1990s after Mongolia's shift to religious freedom. The center's grounds invite a quiet walk through the landscape. In the afternoon, check in at a ger camp and rest. Later, meet a local nomadic family to learn how they balance traditional pastoral life with contemporary circumstances. The day concludes with a short horseback ride through the park's terrain before returning to the ger camp for the evening. Clear skies and low light pollution are typical here; night often brings visible stars.

2Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue Complex & Return to UlaanbaatarChinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue · Ulaanbaatar · Tsonjin Boldog

After breakfast at the camp, depart for Tsonjin Boldog and the Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue complex. The equestrian statue is dedicated to Chinggis Khaan, one of the most prominent figures of Mongolian and world history. The statue is oriented eastward toward Chinggis Khaan's birthplace and carries symbolic weight—a nearby structure honors his mother, Oelun, embodying the image of a mother welcoming her son. Tour the complex grounds and ascend to the top of the statue for views across the steppe. Afterward, return to Ulaanbaatar, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening.

Where you go

Map: Terelj National Park & Chinggis Khaan Statue — 2 Days, 1 Night route — Numbers follow the itinerary order. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap

1Turtle Rock
2Ariyapala meditation center
3Ulaanbaatar
4Terelj National Park
5Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue
6Ulaanbaatar

Included

Hotel, all meals specified in the itinerary
Tickets and tours for attractions specified in the itinerary
All museums and attractions in the itinerary
2 bottles of mineral water per person per day

Not included

Air tickets and airport taxes
Luggage tips
Insurance
Personal expenses
Air tickets
Meals on the train