Mongolia, the Land of the Eternal Blue Sky, offers vast steppes, the Gobi Desert, and nomadic culture unchanged for centuries. Experience horseback riding across endless grasslands, stay in traditional gers, and witness the ancient traditions of eagle hunting and throat singing.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
Terelj is the closest true steppe-and-mountain scenery to Ulaanbaatar, a valley of granite outcrops, pine-covered slopes and open grassland where nomadic families still graze livestock a short drive from the capital. It works as a single day trip because the main sights cluster along one road, but most visitors who stay overnight in a ger camp come away wishing they had built in more time. The pace is slow and outdoor: walking, horseback riding, and sitting with the landscape rather than moving between attractions.
Highlights: Turtle Rock formation · Aryabal Meditation Temple · Horseback riding on the steppes · Traditional ger camp lunch
Chinggis Khan Statue Complex (Tsonjin Boldog)
This is a 40-metre stainless-steel equestrian statue of Chinggis Khan on horseback, built on the spot where legend places him finding a golden whip, and it is the single most photographed modern monument in Mongolia. The statue sits on top of a large circular visitor building shaped like a museum base, and the experience is really two things: the statue itself and the museum and viewing platform underneath it. It suits a half-day rather than a full day, and pairs easily with other stops along the same road east of the capital.
Highlights: World's largest equestrian statue (40m) · Museum of Mongol Empire artifacts · Panoramic views of Tuul River valley
Hustai National Park
Hustai is a rolling steppe and forest-steppe reserve set up specifically to reintroduce the takhi, or Przewalski's horse, the only truly wild horse species never domesticated, which had gone extinct in the wild before captive-bred animals were released here starting in the early 1990s. A day here is about wildlife watching on open grassland rather than monuments or buildings, and sightings depend on driving or walking the park's tracks at the right time of day. It rewards visitors who come specifically for the animals rather than expecting a scenic drive-through.
Highlights: Przewalski's horse (takhi) herds · Deer stone monuments · Red deer and wolves in natural habitat
Manzushir Monastery Ruins and Bogd Khan Mountain
Manzushir was once one of the larger monasteries in the Bogd Khan Mountain area, home to several hundred monks, before it was destroyed during the political purges of the 1930s that eliminated most of Mongolia's monastic institutions. What remains today is a partially restored temple building housing a small museum, surrounded by the stone foundations of the many buildings that once stood there, set against the forested slope of Bogd Khan Mountain itself, one of the oldest officially protected natural areas in the world. It is a quieter, more contemplative stop than the region's other attractions, mixing a short history lesson with an afternoon of hiking.
Highlights: Ruins of 1733 monastery destroyed by Soviet forces · Small museum with Buddhist artifacts · Hike through Bogd Khan Strictly Protected Area
Nalaikh District and Nomadic Family Homestay
Highlights: Authentic ger district life · Nomadic family hospitality · Traditional airag (fermented mare's milk) tasting · Local market
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organized day tours from Ulaanbaatar guesthouses from ₮90,000-200,000 ($25-56) per person including transport and guide
- Private
- Private car hire with driver from ₮150,000-280,000 ($42-78) per day for a 4-seat vehicle covering Terelj-area trips
- Public
- Bus to Nalaikh from Dragon Bus Station (₮500). Shared minibuses to Terelj from Dragon Bus Station (₮3,000-5,000 each way). Limited public options for other destinations.
- Rental
- Car rental with 4WD from ₮150,000-250,000 ($42-70) per day — International Driving Permit required. Self-drive not recommended for first-time visitors on dirt tracks.
Multi-day tours from Mongolia
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
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Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Start early — Terelj and Hustai National Park are best visited at dawn for wildlife viewing and before tour group buses arrive
Bring cash (tugrik) for park entrance fees, horse rentals, and food at ger camps — card payment not available in national parks
Weather can change dramatically — carry a warm layer even on warm summer days, especially at altitude