2-Day Kharkhorin & Orkhon Valley Tour from Ulaanbaatar: Private

A private guide who knows the country like a friend, not a stranger reading notes.

A 2-day private tour from Ulaanbaatar to Kharkhorin (Mongolia's ancient capital) and Orkhon Valley, with hotel pickup, English-speaking guide, camel ride through Elsen Tasarkhai semi-desert, one night in a modern ger camp with private toilet and shower, visits to Erdene Zuu Monastery and Kharkhorin Museum, all meals, and return drive to the city. The guides are UNLV graduates who lead the tours themselves, bringing western cultural understanding and a focus on safety and comfort.

The experience

You start from your Ulaanbaatar hotel and head south toward the semi-desert. On the way, you stop for lunch at a nomadic family's home in Elsen Tasarkhai, then spend the afternoon riding a two-humped camel across the sand dunes and exploring the Orkhon River Valley. The landscape shifts from city to open steppe as you drive, and by late afternoon you reach the ger camp where you'll sleep. The accommodation is modern: a private ger with its own toilet and shower, not a shared facility. Dinner is served at the camp, and afterward you can step outside for star gazing across the plains with almost no light pollution.

Day two moves through Kharkhorin itself. You tour the Kharkhorin Museum to understand the city's role as Karakorum, the 13th-century capital of the Mongol Empire, then visit Erdene Zuu Monastery, one of Mongolia's oldest and most important religious sites. You explore the modern town and return to the Orkhon Valley civilization sites before the 4-5 hour drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Breakfast and lunch are included. The guide handles all logistics and driving.

The tour runs as a private booking, which means the guide and driver are yours alone for the two days. The operator has run this route since 2018 and works with established ger camps in the region. If you prefer a hotel room in Kharkhorin instead of the ger camp, that swap is available at checkout.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return drive from Ulaanbaatar.
• English-speaking private guide and driver for both days.
• lunch at a nomadic family home on day one.
• dinner at the ger camp and breakfast on day two.
• lunch on day two.
• one night in a modern ger with private toilet and shower.
• camel ride through Elsen Tasarkhai.
• entry to Kharkhorin Museum and Erdene Zuu Monastery.
• bottled water throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (1 to 11 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 8 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Nomadic Hospitality Mongolia

Is this one for you?Choose the private version if you want your guide and driver to stay with you both days and adjust the pace to your questions. Pick the shared group tour if you'd rather split costs with other travelers.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 11 years).

What is Kharkhorin and why does it matter?

Kharkhorin, also called Karakorum, was the capital of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. The Kharkhorin Museum tells that history, and Erdene Zuu Monastery, built on the site, is one of Mongolia's most significant religious structures. The tour visits both on day two.

Do I ride a camel on this tour?

Yes, you ride a two-humped camel through Elsen Tasarkhai, the semi-desert area south of Ulaanbaatar. This happens on the first afternoon after lunch at a nomadic family's home.

What is the ger camp accommodation like?

The ger is modern with a private toilet and shower inside, not shared facilities. You sleep one night there on day one, and the camp is located in the Orkhon River Valley. If you prefer a hotel room in Kharkhorin instead, you can choose that option at checkout.

What meals are included?

Lunch on day one (at a nomadic family home in the semi-desert), dinner on day one at the ger camp, and breakfast on day two are all included. Lunch on day two is also included before the drive back to Ulaanbaatar.

How long is the drive back to Ulaanbaatar on day two?

The return drive takes 4 to 5 hours. You leave Kharkhorin after exploring the valley and visiting the sites, and arrive back in the city in the late afternoon.