Hustai National Park

Hustai National Park, home to the Takhi (Przewalski wild horses), to see the endangered horse species roaming freely on rolling hills of beautiful Mongolia along with other wildlife animals. The Park covers a vast area providing visitors a variety of outdoor activities to enjoy, including Takhi and bird watching, hiking, horseback riding, photography, and ancient ruin sight-seeing.

The main road separates Elsen Tasarkhai sand dune into two parts, Mongol Els on the south and Khugnu Tarnyn Els on the north. Elsen Tasarkhai sand is sodden under its surface, so shrubberies such as willow, elm and dogwood, grow in the area. There are many tourist camps around Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes. Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes is surrounded by Mount Khugnu Khan on the north and Mount Ikh Mongol on the south. From Ulaanbaatar to Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes it would take approximately 6-7 hours by car.

Genghis Khan's legendary city was founded in 1220 in Orkhon Valley, on the Silk Road. In 1235, his son Ogoodei built the city and raised around it a surrounding wall with four doors. The Mongolian Empire was governed from this city, until Khubilai Khan settled the capital in Beijing. Kharkhorin (Karakorum in English) was at the same time a political, economic, administrative and religious centre, and one of the largest forum of civilizations. The surrounding wall of the city surrounded a 400 metres square area. The city had fourstone turtles, whose some are still visible. The city was completely destroyed by Ming troops in 1380. A few relics still remain, notably two granite turtles, the base of a palace, some stone lions, two columns and a few traces of irrigation channel. The site is protected since 1961. In the ruins of Kharkhorin, archaeologists discovered 230 coins coming from around ten different countries.

Back to Ulaanbaatar

You will be leaving the city early in the morning to take advantage of the better asphalt road to arrive at Chonjinboldog area where Chinggis Khan Monument is located within an hour. You will see true nomadic lifestyle as soon as you travel outside of the city of Ulaanbaatar. Chinggis Khan Monument is an extremely tall stainless steel statue of Ghengiis Khaan approximately 1 hour drive away from Ulaanbaatar. You may take an elevator ride up to the horse neck with spectacular view of the surrounding countryside. There is also a small archaeology museum in the base of the statue as well as a decent restaurant along with ubiquitous souvenir shops. You may try on traditional Mongolian costumes at the museum. After Chinggis Khan Monument, you will head to Terelj National Park which is the most accessible natural attraction from Ulaanbaatar. Hiking, horseback riding, and rafting are the most popular activities in the park. Terelj National Park has many excellent rock formations for rock including two famous formations named for things they resemble: "Turtle Rock" or "Melkhii Khad" in Mongolian and "the Old Man Reading a Book" or "Praying Lama Rock." You will enjoy lunch at Turtle Rock. After lunch, hike to Aryabal Monastery via a decent path and enjoy beautiful scenery along the way. In the evening, you will visit a nomad family to experience Mongolian lifestyle and hospitality before returning to Ulaanbaatar.