4-Day Mongolia Tour: Camels, Wild Horses & Chinggis Khan

Ride across sand dunes and through national parks to see wild horses and Mongolia's 13th-century capital in four days.

A 4-day private tour from Ulaanbaatar that visits the Elsen Tasarkhai semi-desert, the 13th-century capital Kharkhorin, Hustai National Park (home to reintroduced Przewalski's wild horses), and Gorkhi-Terelj National Park with its 40-meter Chinggis Khan Equestrian Statue. The tour includes an English-speaking guide, private vehicle, accommodations in tourist ger camps with hot showers and meals, camel and horseback riding, and all entrance fees. Departures run May through September.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Elsen Tasarkhai semi-desert

• Pick up from hotel in Ulaanbaatar
• Drive to Elsen Tasarkhai semi-desert
• Explore sand dunes and rolling hills
• Visit Uvgun Temple
• Experience nomadic family lifestyle in ger
• Ride camels across sand dunes
• Relax in natural surroundings

Day 2: Visit Kharkhorin and Ugii Lake

• Breakfast at tourist camp
• Drive to Kharkhorin, former capital
• Explore ancient ruins and stone turtles
• Visit Erdene Zuu Monastery
• Tour Kharkhorum Museum
• Drive to Ugii Lake
• Nature walk and birdwatching at lake

Day 3: Observe wild horses at Hustai Park

• Breakfast at tourist camp
• Drive to Hustai National Park
• Observe Przewalski’s wild horses

Day 4: See Chinggis Khan statue and Terelj

• Breakfast at tourist camp
• Drive to Chinggis Khan Equestrian Statue Complex
• Explore statue complex and museum
• Lunch near statue complex
• Drive to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
• Visit Aryabal Meditation Temple
• Horseback ride in Terelj Valley
• Drive back to Ulaanbaatar hotel

The experience

Ulaanbaatar is the starting point, and your guide picks you up from your hotel on day one to drive south to the Elsen Tasarkhai semi-desert. The landscape shifts from city to rolling hills dotted with rare shrubs and a river forest: a mix of mountains, forest and Gobi terrain compressed into one region. You'll visit the peaceful Uvgun Temple, spend time with a nomadic family inside a traditional ger, ride a camel across the sand dunes, and walk the quiet terrain before settling into your tourist camp for the night.

Day two takes you to Kharkhorin, the 13th-century capital Genghis Khan declared the center of his empire in 1220. The ruins, Buddhist stupas and stone turtle sculptures remain scattered across the site. You'll tour Erdene Zuu Monastery, the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia (built in 1586), and the Kharkhorum Museum before driving 70 kilometers to Ugii Lake, a freshwater expanse covering 25 square kilometers. The lake is a stopover for more than 150 species of migratory water birds and holds 14 fish species and 27 aquatic plant species: ideal for birdwatching and photography before you return to camp.

Day three brings you to Hustai National Park in the Khentii Mountain foothills, where the Przewalski's horse (called Takhi locally) roams freely. Nearly extinct in the wild for 40 years, these horses were reintroduced here and now number over 450 in the park: one of the world's best places to observe truly wild horses living independently. On the final day, you drive 160 kilometers to the Chinggis Khan Equestrian Statue Complex, a 40-meter stainless-steel monument built in 2008 that weighs 250 tons and holds the title of world's tallest equestrian statue. After lunch and a museum visit, you continue to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, where granite cliffs, forested mountains and river valleys frame a one-hour horseback ride through the Terelj Valley. The drive back to Ulaanbaatar takes about an hour, with arrival between 5 and 7 p.m.

What’s included

• Accommodations in tourist ger camps with hot showers and meals.
• private vehicle and professional driver.
• English-speaking guide for the full 4 days.
• all entrance fees and sightseeing costs.
• one hour of camel riding in the semi-desert and one hour of horseback riding in Terelj Valley.
• fuel and 1.5 liters of bottled water per person daily.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Ulaanbaatar.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 10:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (19 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 95 years) · Youth (13 to 18 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Green Clover

Is this one for you?The tour moves between four locations over four days with driving between each stop, so you'll spend time on the road, but the private vehicle and flexible pacing mean you can stop for photos and adjust the rhythm to suit your interests. Early starts are built into the schedule to maximize daylight at each site.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 18 years); Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

What's included in the 4-day Mongolia tour?

The tour includes accommodations in tourist ger camps, all entrance fees and sightseeing costs, private transportation with a professional driver, an English-speaking guide, one hour of camel riding and one hour of horseback riding, fuel, and 1.5 liters of bottled water per person per day. Meals are provided at the camps.

What are Przewalski's wild horses and where do I see them?

Przewalski's horses, known locally as Takhi, are a rare wild horse species that went extinct in nature for nearly 40 years. Hustai National Park successfully reintroduced them, and the population has grown to over 450 animals. Day three of the tour is dedicated to observing these horses living freely in their natural habitat in the park.

Do I need riding experience for the camel and horseback activities?

No riding experience is required. The tour includes one hour of camel riding in the Elsen Tasarkhai semi-desert and one hour of horseback riding in Terelj Valley on the final day. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and children from age 1 are welcome (infants sit on an adult's lap).

What is the Chinggis Khan Equestrian Statue?

The Chinggis Khan Equestrian Statue Complex stands 40 meters high, weighs 250 tons, and is the world's tallest equestrian statue. Built in 2008 to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the Mongol Empire's founding, it includes a museum and souvenir shops and is visited on the final day of the tour.

Where do I stay during the 4-day tour?

You stay in tourist ger camps each night, which feature hot showers, clean white linens, modern toilets, and meals included. Gers are traditional Mongolian dwellings, and the camps provide comfortable, clean accommodation throughout the journey.

When does the tour operate and how do I book?

The tour runs from May through September, with spots filling quickly during peak season. Hotel pickup in Ulaanbaatar is included, and you should book in advance to secure your preferred dates.