Activities in Central Mongolia
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Mandshir Khiid to Ulaanbaatar Hike
This approach to Tsetseegün from the south side is the easiest route by far. As you face the monastery, cut over to your right (east) until you get to the stream. Just follow the stream until it nearly disappears and then head north. About three hours' walking should bring you out over a ridge into a broad boggy meadow, which you'll have to cross. If you've walked straight to the north, the twin rocky outcrops of the summit should be right in front of you.
When you start to see Ulaanbaatar in the distance, you're on the highest ridge and close to the two large ovoo (a shamanistic pyramid-shaped collection of stones as an offering to the gods) on the summit (GPS: N47° 48.…
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Stepperiders Camp
Horses are available from Stepperiders Camp, just off the main Ulaanbaatar-Zuunmod road. Stepperiders is run by Minde, a recommended local horse guide who can give lessons, instructions and support to independent travellers planning their own expedition. This is a perfect place to test ride a Mongolian horse before a longer trip. Rides are great value at US$35 to US$50 per day and include pick-up, drop-off, guides, horses, food and even entry fees to the national park.
As this camp is something of a hang-out for dedicated horse riders, you may be able to find partners for a trip.
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Fly Mongolia
Adrenaline junkies may want to spend an afternoon at the base camp of Fly Mongolia, a burgeoning adventure centre run by local aviation enthusiast, Alex Amiya. Tandem paragliding (US$35) and ultralight aircraft tours (US$100) are two popular activities. With more time you can take a four-day paragliding lesson (US$180). Alex can teach in English, French, Russian or Mongolian. Note that spring is a dangerous time to paraglide in Mongolia because of the unpredictable winds. September is best for beginners. Fly Mongolia also has 4WD go-carts (per hour US$15). The camp is off the main Gachuurt road, 1km before Hotel Mongolia (look for the wooden sign by the road). Be warned t…
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Horse Rides
Travelling on a horse is the perfect way to see a lot of the park, including Günjiin Süm and the side valleys of Tuul Gol. To travel long distances, you will need to have experience, or a guide, and bring most of your own gear. Horses can be hired through any of the ger camps, but you'll pay high tourist prices (around US$35 to US$40 a day).
A mob of horse boys hang around Turtle Rock offering horse riding at US$5 per hour, or somewhere between US$12 and US$20 for the day. Alternatively, approach one of the Mongolian families who live around the park and hire one of their horses, though they may not be much cheaper.
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Zaisan Route Hike
It is more of an uphill battle to Tsetseegün if you start from the Zaisan Memorial. From the memorial, head up the road past the ger camp and enter the forest. Look for the yellow trail markers, which veer left when you've reached the top. From here, the slope levels off and becomes an easy walk through a pleasant forest for the next two hours. If you stick to the yellow tags you'll follow the quickest route to Mandshir but will miss reaching Tsetseegün. All up, this is a 15km walk.
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Observatory Route Hike
This is the easiest route on the Ulaanbaatar side, mainly because you hit the fewest boulders. However, this route is also the least interesting. The walk to Tsetseegün and over to Mandshir takes about six hours. The problem is that getting to the Observatory ('Khureltogoot' in Mongolian) is difficult. You could catch a bus to Nalaikh and get out at the toll gate, then walk the last 6km up the hill. Otherwise, you'll have to take a taxi.
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Raft Trips
Tuul Gol, which starts in the park and flows to Ulaanbaatar and beyond, is one of the best places in the country for rafting. The best section of the river starts a few kilometres north of Terelj village, and wraps around the park until it reaches Gachuurt, near Ulaanbaatar. Nomadic Journeys in Ulaanbaatar runs rafting trips here for around US$45 per day (minimum four people).
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Xanadu
Frenchman Côme Doerflinger runs adventure trips through his outfit Xanadu, based in Gachuurt. He mainly runs horse trips, and has French, Russian and English saddles. Côme also has kayaks and canoes that you can use to float down Tuul Gol, and mountain bikes which are great for excursions up Gachuurt's side valleys towards Terelj.
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Old Man Reading a Book
For more sedate walks in the Terelj ger camp area, just follow the main road and pick a side valley to stroll along at your leisure. From the main road, look out for two interesting rock formations like Old Man Reading a Book, which can be spotted on the left side of the road when travelling south from Terelj village.
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Turtle Rock
For more sedate walks in the Terelj ger camp area, just follow the main road and pick a side valley to stroll along at your leisure. From the main road, look out for interesting rock formations like Turtle Rock, in a side valley to the south of Terelj, which really looks like one at a certain angle.
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Chinggis Khaan Country Club
If you want to play golf, the Chinggis Khaan Country Club is just off the road in Gorkhi valley. Green fee is around Tug600, a caddy is around Tug120 and club rental is around Tug240. A second course is at the UB2 hotel.
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Community-Based Tourism Project
A Community-Based Tourism Project at Khustain allows visitors to stay with nomad families, ride horses, learn felt-making and experience daily life in the countryside. See the website for details.
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Stone Monuments
A fun horseback trek takes you to some Turkic Stone Monuments southwest of the park and then on to Tuul Gol. Horse rental is US$12 per day. Contact the park for details.
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Aryapala Initiation & Meditation Centre
Heading north 3km from Turtle Rock you'll reach the Aryapala Initiation & Meditation Centre set on a spectacular rocky hillside.
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Volunteer Program
The park runs a three-week volunteer program where you can help with research. See the website for details.
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Spa Resort
Local Mongolians come and put on a pair of slippers and a bathrobe, enter a mud bath, dip into metal tubs filled with spring water and get some vitamin injections. This may not sound so inviting to foreign tourists but the Spa Resort does make for an interesting stop if you are travelling though the Khujirt valley.
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