Gorkhi-Terelj National Park is within the Hangai region and within close proximity to Ulaanbaatar. Terelj proper is a village at the end of the 80 km tarmac road stopping at the Terelj River, a tributary of the Tuul River. The landscape is spectacular with rock formations in forested areas. There are also a large number of tourist camps at Terelj proper, which is only a 2h drive out of Ulaanbaatar.

How to travel there:

It is a taxi ride out of Ulaanbaatar to Terelj proper. Beyond this, Nomadic Journeys operates Jalman Meadows Ger Camp in the interior parts of this national park, on the border with Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area. It is a 3½ hours drive out of Ulaanbaatar

Amarbayasgalant Monastery was not totally destroyed destroyed during the purges of 1937-38. However, all its senior monks were brutally executed.  Today this spectacular monastery has some 60 novices and ordained monks who practice dharma in residence. Amarbayasgalant is located at the foot of the Burenkhan Mountain on a flat green plain. It was built 1726-1736.  In September 2002 the elaborate Tsam Dance ceremonies were restored after 65 years of silence.

How to travel there:

The Onon River originates in the deep taiga of the Khan Khentii, flows into the Amur River, which empties into the Pacific Ocean at Primorskii province in the Russian Far East. The Amur/Onon is the longest free flowing river in Eurasia.  It is also here where Genghis Khan is said to have been born, either at Binder or at Dadal.  To reach the source of the Onon one need to go by pack horses for at least two days.  At Nomadic Journeys we have done expeditions to the upper parts, loading luggage, including foldable canoes, onto pack horses and then we have paddled our way out.

The Buryat Mongols who inhabit this part of Mongolia (northern Khentii and Dornod), plus the eastern side of Lake Baikal in Russia, traditionally live more in log houses and move around in the summers with a ger (yurt). They traditionally harvest hay in preparation for winter and lead a more settled lifestyle than other Mongols. During the purges of the 1930s, many Buryats moved into Mongolia, thus introducing hay-making, Today all Mongols harvest hay in September.  The communities at Batshireet, Binder, Dadal Bayan Uul, and Dashbalbar are mainly Buryat, whereas the community at Bayan Adraga are Khalkha Mongols.

Nomadic Journeys strongly supports WWF Mongolia for its conservation efforts in this area, as it is part of the larger Amur-Heilong Eco-region, shared with China and Russia. We have partnered with WWF and the riverside communities to provide jobs and to support its life-sustaining resources.

How to travel there:

The Onon River does not have regular flight schedules. It is a 9-10 hours drive from Ulaanbaatar.  It is possible to travel on parts of the journey and overnight at a ger camp by the Herlen River, 2 hours out of Ulaanbaatar.

Khangai Mountains bisects the Arhangai and Övörhangai provincens. Ar means “north”, and “övör means “south.  Khangai Mountains have been established as a national park in recent times. The most well known area is the famous Orhon Valley, which is in the Mongol heartland, just west of the ancient capital of Karakorum (Harhorin). Orhon Valley has a small water fall – Ulaan Tsutsgalan – and nearby is also the remote Tövhön monastery, high up on its sides, founded by Zanabazar as a retreat.  In the buffer zone of the Khangai Mountains to the north is Horgo National Park, with the Terhiin Tsagaan Lake and Horgo extinct volcano in Arhangai province.

On the far western end is the eternally snow-capped sacred mountain of Otgontenger. The interior of the Khangai Mountains is uninhabited and locals use it for hunting only.

How to travel there:

Nomadic Journeys offers a four day trek pack-yaks supported trek across the Naiman Nuur (Eight Lakes) area of Khangai National Park for small groups. If you are a Dutch speaker you can check out www.snp.nl out of Holland which takes in this trek. The Dutch are very good English speakers. You must book these trips with our overseas partners.

We occasionally also offer treks supported by yak carts at Ihtamir, which is the northern side of the Khangai Mountains.

Terhiin Tsagaan Nuur and Horgo volcano are accessible today as there are several summer ger camps located there. . It is on the overland four day trail to Lake Khuvsgul. Unfortunately, there is no airport close to any of these locations.