Genghis Khan & Terelj Park: 2 Days Private Tour

This is the best tour I have ever taken, and I've done a few across the world. Absolutely loved it! The guide, the driver, the families all were fantastic. Mongolia is stunningly beautiful with such gentle people and this tour highlights both.

We were on the Trans-Mongolian Railway and made a stop at Ulan Bator for 2 days. We signed up for a 24-hour “Mongolia in 2 days” tour, which included a stop at the Chinggis Khaan Complex, an overnight stay inside a Ger at Terelj National Park, a horse-riding experience and a visit to a monastery. Based on the activities, the price seemed steep, but I’m not sure about the other tour operators and what else they would have offered in a 24-hour itinerary. It was end October (Autumn) and it was low season at the Ger camp that we were brought to. (The 2 of us were probably the only visitors as we didn’t see or hear anyone else in the camp). It was pretty cold for us, and at night the temperature outside dropped to -9 degC. Unfortunately, during the freezing night, the firewood ran out and the fire died inside the Ger. To add on to our misery, we realized the Ger wasn’t a properly insulated one – the cold wind could still enter the Ger (from the sides and from below!). I thought I would be a frozen body the next morning. The next day, we were brought to try out horse-riding. Lunch was traditional Mongolian food at the horseman’s Ger. This was when we realized how a proper Ger should be – well-insulated, comfortable and warm, and that no wind could enter! We wished we would have stayed at a more proper Ger like this one instead. But we were still happy with our guide Gunj. He had been to many countries and could speak really good English, was pretty entertaining and definitely knowledgeable about the places we visited and could answer our questions about the country.

I booked a two day Mongolia tour as I was on a pretty tight schedule but still wanted to see and experience Mongolia's 'key highlights' so it was a perfect option for me. It was surprising how many things we managed to see and do over the course of just two days - brief city tour of Ulaanbaatar, the iconic Genghis Khan Equestrian Statute, staying in a Mongolian ger overnight, visit of the the mountain temples, Tortoise Rock and a 2hr horse ride which was definitely the highlight! The guides Gunj and Tuvshinjargal were very informative and entertaining and extremely flexible in accommodating your preferences throughout the whole tour. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone travelling to Mongolia on a tight schedule.