The Essence of Mongolia is an activity-packed tour into central Mongolia. Visit the Khogno Khan Reserve, the dunes at Elsen Tasarkhai before venturing to the Hustai National park to see the wild Takhi horses and plenty of other wildlife. This condensed trip lets you experience as much of Mongolia as possible in a short time of four days. Overnight, stay at authentic guest gers next to local nomadic families and in a comfortable ger camp one night. Learn about your hosts’ culture and traditions, socialize with them, ride horses and Bactrian camels, hike and visit hilltop temples. This all-encompassing trip contains most of what Mongolia offers, including must do’s and must-see and is perfect for those with limited time in the country.
We can pick you from a prearranged location in Ulaanbaatar.
After meeting your guide at 08:30 am in your hotel or another Ulaanbaatar location of your choice, board the vehicle and head west to the northern part of Gobi onto Gurvanbulag, where you will be staying at a guest ger alongside a nomadic family. On arrival, enter the family ger and experience nomadic hospitality – sample milk tea, homemade yoghurts, and curds, learning about the nomadic way of life and your hosts’ traditions. In the afternoon, if you are up for it, ride a horse to the nearby dunes – or you can walk if you prefer. In the evening, enjoy a traditional nomadic meal of Buuz (steamed dumplings) or Khuushuur (fried dumplings) – you can also help with cooking if you want.
Today you head to the nature reserve of Khogno Khan, where you can explore the lower temple complex of Uvgun Khiid, see the reconstructed temples, a prayer wheel and look around the ruins. Then we recommend taking the 45-minute hike up to the old ruined temple complex in the hills - the scenery is fantastic, and depending on the time of year, wildflowers may be in abundance. Head back down to the valley floor and onto the dunes at Elsen Tasarkhai, a 30-minute drive away. Tonight you will stay alongside a family of camel herders - settle into your gers and head off on a Bactrian ride across the dunes for an hour, then enjoy a home-cooked dinner.
After a leisurely breakfast, board the vehicle for the journey back east to Hustai. The drive will take 3 hours (270km), and on arrival, visit first the park’s information centre, where you will learn about the plethora of wildlife roaming the National Park. Have lunch in the ger camp where you will be staying tonight, located right at the park’s entrance, then venture into the park to see the wild Takhi horses. Your guide will be in contact with the park rangers, who will relay the animals’ location, and you have a high chance of seeing them close up. You can also venture deeper into the park on foot if you wish, perhaps to track wild deer or foxes – Hustai offers wonderful wilderness hiking opportunities. In the late afternoon, return by vehicle to the camp, take a hot shower and enjoy a hearty dinner.
After breakfast set off for the remarkable Chinggis Khaan Statue complex, once you arrive, climb up inside until you reach the exterior staircase which runs up the mane of the horse to a viewpoint overlooking the Tuul River, Terelj & the hills of the Khan Khentii and visits the museum of horse culture in the complex. Then, will have lunch in the cosy restaurant of the resort. After lunch, return to Ulaanbaatar where you will be dropped at a location to suit you (we can do multiple drop-offs if required).
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Show more
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Your guide to the flawless travel experience