2 Day Horse trekking in Terelj national park

Mongolia gets wonderfully practical on horseback. This two-day trip pairs Terelj National Park’s wide grasslands with a night in a Mongolian ger, local meals, and time with a horseman’s family. I especially like the chance to ride through the park and sleep in a real ger rather than simply passing through by car. The main consideration is basic comfort: the ger has no shower, and one promised cooking lesson may not always take place.

The itinerary also covers Turtle Rock, Aryabal Meditation Monastery, the Chinggis Khaan statue, and Zaisan Hill. Guides and drivers have been praised for their kindness, with guide Bee receiving particular thanks for making the trip comfortable. At $310 per person, the price is reasonable if you value transport, meals, park entry, museum tickets, a guide, and a cultural stay in one package.

Key points at a glance

• Ride across Terelj’s open grasslands: Horseback travel gives you a slower, closer look at the national park than a quick drive between viewpoints.
• Sleep in a Mongolian ger: The overnight stay offers a direct taste of local hospitality, but there is no shower.
• Meet a local horseman’s family: Lunch and the overnight stop connect the park visit with everyday Mongolian life.
• See Turtle Rock and Aryabal Monastery: These are the trip’s main natural and spiritual stops.
• Finish with major Ulaanbaatar sights: The Chinggis Khaan statue and Zaisan Hill add well-known landmarks to the park visit.
• Plan for simple logistics: Meet at Max Mall, or arrange hotel pickup in advance, and bring cash, snacks, and a charged phone.

Why this two-day Terelj trip is worth considering

Terelj National Park is close enough to Ulaanbaatar for a short trip, yet it feels far removed from city streets. The park is known for open grasslands, unusual rock formations, and broad views. Seeing it on horseback changes the pace. You are not just stepping out of a vehicle for a photograph. You are moving through the park in the same practical way that has long mattered in Mongolian life.

I like the balance here. The first day gives you sightseeing and riding, while the overnight stay adds a cultural side that a standard day trip cannot provide. The second day continues on horseback before returning to the city for two important landmarks.

The schedule is active but not overloaded. You get time in the park, a meal with a local family, an evening in a ger, and several city sights. Still, you should not expect a luxury lodge or a polished cooking school. This is a simple, locally focused outing, and the plain facilities are part of the bargain.

Leaving Ulaanbaatar for Turtle Rock

The trip begins with a meeting at Max Mall in Ulaanbaatar. Your guide waits with your name or a TourGobi sign. Hotel pickup is also available if you provide the address ahead of time, which is useful if you are carrying luggage or staying away from the central meeting point.

A driver takes you toward Terelj National Park. The exact drive time is not provided, so I would leave room in your day and avoid scheduling a tight appointment after the return. The road portion matters because this is not a quick city excursion. You are making the journey out to the park, then spending the night before coming back.

Turtle Rock is one of the first major sights. Its shape is the attraction, and it is easy to understand why the formation has become a symbol of Terelj. It is a natural stop rather than a museum visit, so your time there is likely centered on views and photographs.

Bring a camera, but also keep your phone charged. You may want it for photographs, directions, and communication with your guide. Cash is recommended, and snacks are not included, so buying something before departure is sensible.

A quiet stop at Aryabal Meditation Monastery

Aryabal Meditation Monastery gives the first day a calmer turn. The monastery is included as one of the park’s main sights and is described as a meditation monastery, making it different from the more playful stop at Turtle Rock.

This part of the day suits visitors who like a little quiet built into an outdoor trip. You can see a spiritual site, take in the setting, and then continue to lunch. The supplied details do not give a visit length or describe the walking conditions, so ask your guide what the stop requires when you arrive.

The pairing of Turtle Rock and Aryabal works well. One is a striking natural formation, and the other offers a reflective cultural visit. Together, they keep the morning from becoming a string of identical viewpoints.

Lunch and local hospitality with a horseman’s family

Lunch takes place with a local family and horseman. This is one of the most valuable parts of the trip because it connects the riding with the people and routines behind it. You are not simply hiring a horse for an isolated activity. You are spending time in a setting where horses are part of local life.

Meals are included on both days, and the overnight host serves breakfast in a Mongolian style. Expect the food to be part of the cultural exchange, not a restaurant-style meal with a long menu. If you have dietary needs, ask about them before departure, since no special meal information is provided.

The program also says you will be taught how to make a traditional Mongolian lunch on the second day. One important caution: this cooking lesson may not happen. A Japanese visitor who booked the trip specifically enjoyed the local food and ger stay, but was disappointed that the promised lesson was not provided.

That does not make the trip poor value, but it does affect expectations. Treat the cooking activity as a possibility rather than the main reason to book. If it matters to you, remind your guide at the start and ask when it is supposed to happen.

What riding in Terelj may feel like

The horse riding begins after lunch on the first day and continues around the national park on the second. The program says you will learn how to ride, making it appealing to people without much riding experience. It does not state how long you spend in the saddle, how many people are in each group, or what riding equipment is supplied.

That missing detail is worth noting. If you are new to horses, tell the guide clearly. Ask about the pace, the route, and how the horse is handled before setting out. If you already ride, you may want to ask how much control you will have and whether the group moves at a walking pace.

The reward is the setting. From horseback, you get a ground-level view of the park’s grasslands and rock formations. The Japanese visitor who gave the trip five stars particularly remembered riding across the Terelj grasslands. That detail tells you what the central pleasure is: not a fast horseback excursion, but the feeling of crossing open country on a Mongolian horse.

Wear clothes you can move in and bring a change of clothes. The supplied advice does not list riding boots or helmets, so ask the operator what is provided before you go. Do not assume this is a polished equestrian center. It is a cultural riding outing in a national park.

Night in a Mongolian ger, with simple comforts

After the first ride, you have dinner and sleep in a Mongolian ger. A ger is the traditional round dwelling used across Mongolia, and spending the night in one gives the trip its strongest cultural character.

The accommodation is included in the $310 price, but it is basic. There is no shower. Pack accordingly, and bring personal-use items that you will need overnight. A change of clothes is specifically recommended.

The ger stay is a good fit if you care more about place and hospitality than hotel comforts. You get to experience a traditional form of lodging and local food in the same trip. It is less suitable if a private bathroom is essential or if you need hotel-level facilities after a day on horseback.

The positive reports about the guide and driver matter here. A foreign country, rural lodging, and a new riding activity can feel uncertain. Having a helpful English-speaking guide can make the simple setting much easier to enjoy. Bee, one of the guides, was singled out for being kind and making the stay comfortable.

Day two brings more riding and a traditional meal

The second morning starts with Mongolian-style breakfast at the local host’s home. You then ride again around the national park before stopping for lunch and returning to the car.

The second ride is useful because one short session can feel like an introduction, while a second session gives you time to settle into the activity. You can compare how you feel after the first day and tell your guide if you need a slower pace or a different approach.

The lunch portion is also meant to include instruction in traditional preparation. As noted above, this is not guaranteed in practice. I would value it if it happens, but I would judge the trip mainly on the riding, local meals, ger stay, and park visits.

The program does not state the exact return time to Ulaanbaatar. Keep your evening flexible, especially if you have a train, flight, or dinner reservation. Rural road conditions and the day’s schedule can affect timing.

Chinggis Khaan and the view from Zaisan Hill

After returning to the vehicle, the route includes a visit to a Chinggis Khaan statue. This adds a major national symbol to the trip. The included package covers museum tickets, although the details do not specify which museum ticket is used at this stop, so ask your guide for clarification.

The final sightseeing stop is the Zaisan Hill memorial statue, where you can see a broad view over the national park area and surroundings. Zaisan is a good way to close the trip because it gives you a high viewpoint after two days spent close to the ground on horseback.

These final stops also make the outing more useful for a first visit to Mongolia. You get a rural park stay and several headline sights without arranging separate transport. The tradeoff is that the second day combines riding, lunch, the statue, Zaisan Hill, and the hotel drop-off, so the pace may feel more like a full touring day than a relaxed morning in the countryside.

What the $310 price includes

At $310 per person, this is not a bare horseback transfer. The package includes:

• Driver
• English-speaking guide
• Meals
• One night in a Mongolian ger
• Terelj National Park entrance fee
• Museum tickets

Japanese, Korean, and Mongolian language support is also listed, with English available for the guided experience. Pickup is optional, which can make the arrangement easier if you prefer not to find Max Mall on your own.

The price makes the most sense when you use the full package. Transport from Ulaanbaatar, two days of guiding, multiple meals, park entry, the overnight stay, and horseback riding would be awkward to arrange separately. You are also paying for the local connection with a horseman’s family, not just admission to a park.

You should budget extra for alcohol, snacks, and personal-use items. Alcohol is not included and is not allowed under the stated rules, along with drugs. Baby strollers and carriages are not permitted, and the trip is not suitable for babies under one year or people over 95.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now while paying later. Those terms help if your Mongolia plans are still moving, but the practical details of pickup and start time should still be confirmed before booking.

Who will enjoy this trip most

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a short introduction to Mongolia that combines nature, horses, local food, and traditional lodging. It is especially suitable for first-time visitors who want a guide to handle the transport and cultural details.

It also fits people who prefer active sightseeing. You do not need the trip to be only about photographs. You need to be willing to ride, sleep simply, and accept a schedule that moves between rural and city sights.

You may want another option if you require a shower, need a fully confirmed cooking class, or want a long, specialized horse trek. The information does not give a guaranteed cooking lesson, detailed riding distances, group size, or exact departure and return times.

Before you go, ask three direct questions: What riding pace is planned? What equipment is provided? Can the cooking lesson be confirmed? Those answers will tell you more about the fit than the headline attractions.

Should you book the Terelj horse trek?

Book it if the heart of your Mongolia trip is riding through Terelj, eating with a local family, and sleeping in a ger. The kindness of the guides and driver, including the praise for Bee, adds confidence to a trip where clear support matters.

At $310, the package offers solid value for a two-day outing with transport, meals, lodging, entry fees, and guiding. Just treat the shower-free ger and uncertain cooking lesson as part of the deal. If you can handle basic comfort and want a practical taste of Mongolian culture rather than a polished resort visit, this is a strong choice.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet in Ulaanbaatar?

The meeting point is Max Mall. Your guide will wait with your name or a sign showing the TourGobi logo.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is optional, and you should provide your pickup address in advance so a driver and guide can be sent to you.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts two days.

Which languages are available?

Live guiding is available in Mongolian, English, Japanese, and Korean.

What accommodation is provided?

You spend one night in a Mongolian ger. The accommodation does not have a shower.

Are meals included?

Yes. Meals are included, including lunch, dinner, and breakfast during the trip. Snacks are not included.

What sights are visited?

The itinerary includes Turtle Rock, Aryabal Meditation Monastery, Terelj National Park, a Chinggis Khaan statue, and Zaisan Hill.

Is horseback riding included?

Yes. Horse riding takes place on both days, and the program says you will learn how to ride.

What should you bring?

Bring a change of clothes, a camera, cash, and a charged smartphone. Personal-use products and snacks are not included.