National Park Khorgo-Terkh. Travel due west from Ulaanbaatar and you are very likely to find yourself in the small town of Tsetserleg. The town comes alive every Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year) when the whole town takes part in a candlelit climb up the holy mountain of Bulgan Uul that towers over the town.
The town is refreshingly pollution free and picturesquely situated among several peaks making it a good place to overnight on your way to Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur, the Great White Lake. This large placid lake is ringed by sandy beaches. There are a number of ger camps and hotels around the like, but camping is also very easy because of the sheer quantity of ideal sites to pitch up. The lake lends itself to swimming and is reputedly good for fishing, but the fish here are harder to catch than in other areas.
The lake has volcanic origins, something that is easy to figure out by the trail of solidified lava formations leading from the lake to nearby Khorgo Uul volcano. The volcano is worth climbing if only to walk around the crater it is easy to hire a horse and ride it up the volcano, which also gives you chance to visit of the more interesting lava formations on your way, or cars can be driven almost to the visit almost to the to the summit. Khorgo volcano is a dead volcano covered with basalt lying to the east of the lake Terkhiin Tsagaan in Arkhangai aimag. There are interesting bubbles of solidified lava, named “basalt ger” and it is possible to visit yak herders in this area.

Day1. Elsen Tasarkhai (Piece of Sand) & Natural Reserve Khugnu Tarna
pick you up from your accommodation - drive to Elsen Tasarkhai /250 km/ - lunch time - hike around small sand dunes - dinner - ride camel /2 hours/ - free time - overnight around Elsen Tasarkhai

Elsen Tasarkhai (in Mongolian language: Элсэн Тасархай) is the northern edge of the largest sand dunes in Mongolia. As well as, we will see to historical mountain Khugnukhaan where an Oirat‘s western Mongolian senseless military ruler gelded some lamas (Buddhist monks) during Mongolian tribes’ internal war in the 17th century. This rocky mountain is home to hundreds of birds, deer, and gazelle. While it is an arid area of largely homogenous scrubby steppe, it is dotted with camel breeders and some fascinating natural wonders.

Day2. Karakorum
breakfast time - drive to Karakorum /90 km/ - see Great Imperial Map - lunch time - visit to Erdene Zuu monastery complex and its turtle rocks - dinner - free time - overnight in Kharkhorin

Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia where today there is a small local township. On arrival you will notice the first and most obvious landmark which is the massive wall of monastery Erdenezuu. The monastery was built in 1586 by a well-known Mongolian king called Abtai Sain Khaan, and is surrounded by a vast 400m wall. Not a single nail was used in the construction of the ornate temples, only a few of which remain standing after the communist purges. In previous times the grounds held over 60 temples with 10,000 monks using them for their daily worship.

Day3. Khorgo-Terkh


Day4. Tsetserleg

Travel due west from Ulaanbaatar and you are very likely to find yourself in the small town of Tsetserleg. The town comes alive every Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year) when the whole town takes part in a candlelit climb up the holy mountain of Bulgan Uul that towers over the town. The town is refreshingly pollution free and picturesquely situated among several peaks making it a good place to overnight on your way.

Day5. Khustai Nuruu
breakfast time - drive to National Park Khustai /350 km/ - lunch time - horseback riding for searching wild horses Takhi /3 hours/ - dinner - free time - overnight in the National Park

National Park Khustai where re-introduction of the wild takhi horses (Przhevalsky's horses) has taken place since 1992. Takhi is last wild horse subspecies surviving in the 21st century. It was discovered in western Mongolia in the late 1870s by the Russian explorer N.M. Przhevalsky. Several expeditions since 1969 have failed to find this horse, which probably crossed with half-wild domesticated horses and lost its distinct features. Specimens have been kept and bred in zoos, and Mongolia in the late 20th century attempted to reintroduce them into the wild. The afternoon will be spent at leisure hiking in the surrounding mountains with an evening visit to the wild horses while they come to drink in the evening.

Day6. Drive to Ulaanbaatar
breakfast time - drive to Ulaanbaatar /90 km/ - transfer you your booked accommodation - end

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