2 Day Horse trekking in Terelj national park

The best part of this two-day trip is the change of pace. You leave Ulaanbaatar for Terelj National Park, trade traffic for open grassland, and travel on horseback between major sights. It is not just a photo stop at Turtle Rock. You spend the night in a ger, eat local food, and meet a Mongolian horseman’s family.

I like the mix of horse riding and cultural contact. I also like that the price includes transport, meals, park fees, tickets, a guide, and a night in a ger, which makes the $310 cost easier to judge. The main drawback is practical: the ger has no shower, and the advertised cooking lesson may not always happen.

• Turtle Rock and Aryabal Monastery give you two very different views of Terelj, one strikingly natural and one quiet and spiritual.
• Horse riding begins with instruction, making the trip suitable for people who want to learn rather than arrive as expert riders.
• A local family meal and ger stay give you a closer look at daily Mongolian customs.
• Guide Bee has been praised for being kind and helpful, a useful point for first-time visitors.
• The $310 price includes the basics, from transport and meals to entrance fees and accommodation.
• No shower is available at the ger, so pack with simple overnight comfort in mind.

Leaving Ulaanbaatar for Terelj National Park

The tour begins at Max Mall in Ulaanbaatar, where your guide waits with your name or a TourGobi sign. Hotel pickup is also available if you provide an address in advance. That is handy if you have luggage, are staying away from central Ulaanbaatar, or simply do not want to navigate a new city before breakfast.

A driver takes you toward Töv Province and Terelj National Park. The exact starting time depends on availability, so you should check before booking. Since the experience lasts two full days, it is best suited to someone with enough room in a Ulaanbaatar itinerary to spend one night outside the city.

I like this route because the park visit is not compressed into a few hours. You have time to see the main sights, ride a horse, eat with a local family, and sleep in a traditional ger. The tradeoff is that a two-day road trip requires flexibility. This is not a quick city excursion with every minute controlled.

Turtle Rock: Terelj’s memorable first stop

Turtle Rock is one of the clearest visual markers in Terelj National Park. Its shape is the kind of natural feature that works immediately in photographs, but it also gives you a first sense of the park’s unusual rock formations and wide-open surroundings.

You will likely have time to get out, look around, and take photos before continuing. Bring a charged smartphone or camera, as the tour specifically recommends both. Cash is also worth carrying for personal purchases, since snacks and private-use items are not included.

Turtle Rock is a sightseeing stop, not a long hike according to the supplied plan. Keep that distinction in mind. If you want a demanding walking tour, this experience may feel gentle at the sightseeing points. Its real appeal comes from the full combination of stops and the ride through the park.

Aryabal Monastery and a quieter side of the park

The itinerary next includes Aryabal Monastery, also described as a meditation monastery. This visit adds a calm, reflective stop to a day otherwise built around driving, meals, and horseback travel.

The monastery is valuable because it gives the park more depth than a series of scenic viewpoints. You are not only looking at rocks and grassland. You are also seeing a place connected with meditation and Mongolian spiritual life. The information provided does not promise a formal meditation session or a long guided religious program, so you should treat it as a cultural and sightseeing visit.

Comfortable clothes and sensible shoes will help here, especially if the ground around the site is uneven. The tour is not presented as a strenuous walking program, but you should still be ready to move between the vehicle, the monastery, the family home, and the horses.

Meeting a local horseman over lunch

After the morning visits, you have lunch with a local family and horseman. This is one of the more personal parts of the trip. Instead of eating only at a standard restaurant, you sit with people connected to the horses and the countryside you are visiting.

The value here is simple. Food becomes a way to meet local people and see how hospitality works outside Ulaanbaatar. The tour includes meals, but it does not promise a particular menu, so you should expect local food rather than familiar Western choices.

There is one important qualification. The plan says you will be taught how to make a Mongolian lunch in a traditional way, but that activity may not always be available. One confirmed experience specifically found that the cooking lesson did not take place. I would book this for the meal and cultural contact, not on the assumption that you will receive a full cooking class.

Learning to ride before crossing the park

After lunch, the horse riding begins. The itinerary says you will learn how to ride a horse before riding around the national park. That makes this a useful option for beginners who want an introduction rather than a technical riding course.

You should be honest about your riding experience when you meet the guide. The supplied information does not state how many hours you spend in the saddle, how large the group is, or what riding equipment is provided. Those details can affect comfort, so ask before departure if they matter to you.

The riding is the heart of the experience. Moving across Terelj on horseback gives you a slower view of the park than a vehicle can provide. You have time to notice the open grassland and the feel of the terrain instead of simply checking off viewpoints.

This is also where expectations matter. The tour promises riding around the national park, but it does not describe galloping, advanced trails, or long-distance endurance riding. I would see it as a guided cultural ride through scenic surroundings, with basic instruction included.

Sleeping in a Mongolian ger

At the end of the first day, you eat dinner and sleep in a Mongolian ger. A ger is a round traditional dwelling used across Mongolia, and spending the night in one gives the trip a stronger local character than returning to a city hotel.

The accommodation is included, but there is no shower. That is the biggest comfort issue to plan for. Bring a change of clothes, as recommended, and pack personal hygiene items that do not depend on a full bathroom. The tour also suggests carrying a charged smartphone and cash, both sensible for a night away from the city.

The ger stay may appeal most to you if you value a cultural experience over hotel comfort. It may be less suitable if you need private bathroom facilities, dislike simple accommodation, or expect a polished lodge. The description does not specify bedding arrangements or room sharing, so ask the operator if those details are important.

A Mongolian-style breakfast and a second ride

Day two begins with breakfast in the local host’s Mongolian style. This gives you another chance to try food in a family setting rather than treating the ger as a place only to sleep.

After breakfast, you ride again around the national park. I like the second riding session because it keeps the trip from becoming a one-time photo opportunity. You get another chance to settle into the horse, see more of the park, and enjoy the slower pace.

The supplied details do not state the exact riding distance or duration. If you are nervous around horses, tell the guide early. If you are an experienced rider hoping for challenging routes, ask what level of riding the day includes before paying.

Lunch follows, then you return to the car. The plan again mentions learning to prepare a Mongolian lunch in a traditional way. As with the first day’s cooking activity, treat this as a possible part of the visit rather than a guaranteed class.

Chinggis Khaan’s statue and Zaisan Hill

After the park portion, the tour includes a visit to a Chinggis Khaan statue and Zaisan Hill Memorial. These stops shift the focus from rural Terelj to major Mongolian symbols and broad city views.

The Chinggis Khaan statue is an important stop for understanding how central Mongolia’s most famous historical figure remains to national identity. The supplied information does not specify which statue complex you will visit or how long you stay, so ask your guide for the exact plan if this is a priority.

Zaisan Hill is included for its wide view over the surrounding area. It gives you a final high viewpoint after two days on the ground and on horseback. The stop is useful for photographs and orientation, especially if you are still getting your bearings in and around Ulaanbaatar.

The order of these final stops may vary with road conditions and the day’s schedule. You return to your hotel after the visit, ending a long two-day program rather than a short park outing.

What the $310 price really covers

At $310 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Terelj National Park. The value depends on how much of the trip you would otherwise arrange yourself.

The price includes:

• Driver and English-speaking guide
• Meals
• One night in a Mongolian ger
• Terelj National Park entrance fee
• Museum tickets
• Horse riding and instruction
• Visits to the listed sights

That bundle removes several common costs and planning tasks. You do not need to arrange separate transport, find a horseman, organize park entry, or book a rural overnight stay. For a first visit to Mongolia, that convenience has real value.

Still, the price does not include alcohol, snacks, private-use products, or insurance. Bring cash for extras and arrange your own travel insurance. Since the ger has no shower and some activity details are not fixed, the cost makes the most sense for you if the local stay and horse riding matter more than hotel comfort or a tightly programmed schedule.

Guides, language support, and the small details

Live guiding is available in Mongolian, English, Japanese, and Korean. An English-speaking guide is included, and hotel pickup can be arranged if you send the pickup address.

A guide named Bee has been praised for being kind and making the trip comfortable. That is worth noting because a rural overnight and horse ride depend heavily on clear communication. The guide’s job is not only to explain sights, but also to help you handle the change in pace, the horses, meals, and the practical limits of the ger stay.

The overall rating is 4.3 from five reviews, a small sample that suggests a generally positive experience but does not remove the need to check current details. The strongest praise centers on helpful staff, safe-feeling transport, local food, ger accommodation, and riding across Terelj’s grassland. The clearest criticism concerns the cooking lesson not taking place.

Who should book this two-day ride?

I would recommend this experience to you if you want several sides of Mongolia in a short period. You get a national park, horseback travel, local food, a ger night, a monastery, a major statue, and a city viewpoint without arranging each piece yourself.

It suits first-time riders better than people seeking advanced equestrian sport. It also suits visitors who can accept simple facilities and a flexible daily rhythm. Families with babies should note that the tour is not suitable for babies under one year, and people over 95 are excluded. Baby strollers and carriages are not allowed, and alcohol, drugs, and bachelor or bachelorette party groups are not permitted.

Bring a change of clothes, a camera, cash, and a fully charged smartphone. Leave room for the fact that the cooking activity may not happen and that no shower is available at the overnight stay.

Should you book the Terelj horse trek?

Book it if you want a practical introduction to Mongolia that combines riding with real local contact. The best value comes from the ger stay, included meals, transport, park access, and the chance to meet a local horseman’s family.

Skip it if you need a private bathroom, guaranteed cooking instruction, or a clearly stated riding distance and group size. For everyone else, the two-day format offers more than a quick park visit, with enough time to slow down, meet people, and see Terelj from horseback.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

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

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.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts two days.

What languages are available for the live guide?

Guiding is available in Mongolian, English, Japanese, and Korean.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. One night in a Mongolian ger is included. The ger does not have a shower.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a driver, English-speaking guide, meals, ger accommodation, the national park entrance fee, and museum tickets.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.