Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar, Sand Dunes & Terelj National Park (Self-Launched)
8 days · Mongolia
G Adventures charges £1,840
No-markup version: ~£740 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 8-day Mongolia loop from Ulaanbaatar covering Gandan Monastery, Zaisan Hill and the Bogd Khan Palaces, the Elsen Tasarkhai 'Mini Gobi' dunes and Khugnu Khan monastery ruins, a stay with a nomadic family in Terelj National Park, and the giant Genghis Khan Statue. Book your own hostel in the capital, join a small local guesthouse/ger-camp shuttle or shared 4x4 for the countryside stretches, and self-book guided day tours in Ulaanbaatar. Costs are approximate per person in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar
Fly into Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN) and take a metered taxi or shared airport shuttle to your hostel in the city centre (around 25-35 minutes, ~£8 taxi, ~£2-3 shared shuttle). Settle in, walk to Sukhbaatar Square for an easy orientation, and pick up a local SIM/data eSIM. In the evening join a free capital walking orientation or grab dinner at a local khuushuur (fried dumpling) spot near the State Department Store. Use today to confirm your onward countryside transport at your hostel's front desk or via a local tour agency.
🚌Airport taxi or shared shuttle to centre
🛏Central Ulaanbaatar hostel (dorm ~£10-14/night, private ~£25-35)
- →Arrival and hostel check-in
- →Walk Sukhbaatar Square and city centre
- →Local dinner and eSIM/SIM setup
Explore Ulaanbaatar highlights
Ulaanbaatar
Do the capital's cultural highlights at your own pace. Start at Gandan Monastery (entrance ~£3) to see the 26m gold-leafed Migjid Janraisig statue, then take a short taxi to Zaisan Hill for panoramic city views and the Soviet-era memorial. After lunch, visit the Bogd Khan Winter and Summer Palace (~£5 entry) to see Buddhist artworks and royal treasures. Local guides can be booked through GetYourGuide or a Ulaanbaatar tour agency as a small-group city tour (~£25-40) or you can walk/ride the city solo for a fraction.
🚌Taxi between sites (~£1.50-3 per ride)
🛏Central Ulaanbaatar hostel
- →Gandan Monastery and Migjid Janraisig statue
- →Zaisan Hill viewpoint and Soviet memorial
- →Bogd Khan Winter and Summer Palace
Ulaanbaatar to Elsen Tasarkhai (Mini Gobi)
Elsen Tasarkhai
Head west across the steppe to Elsen Tasarkhai. The cheapest option is a shared minivan/4x4 transfer arranged through your hostel or a local guesthouse (roughly £25-45 each way depending on numbers); allow 4-5 hours. Alternatively take a public bus towards Kharkhorin and ask to be dropped near Elsen Tasarkhai, then arrange a pickup. Spend the afternoon hiking among the sand dunes that rise from the open grassland. In the evening check into a ger camp (~£18-30/night) and eat a traditional Mongolian barbecue (khorkhog), then watch the stars over the steppe.
🚌Shared 4x4/minivan or public bus toward Kharkhorin
🛏Ger camp at Elsen Tasarkhai (~£18-30/night, shared ger)
- →Cross the open steppe
- →Hike the Elsen Tasarkhai dunes
- →Ger camp evening and khorkhog barbecue
Khugnu Khan hike and nomadic family stay
Khugnu Khan / Terelj area
After breakfast at the ger camp, hike through pine forests and rocky ridgelines around Khugnu Khan Mountain, taking in sweeping steppe views. Visit the mountainside ruins of Övgön Khiid Monastery. In the afternoon join a nomadic family for a cultural experience — learn to fold traditional buuz (dumplings) in their working ger and share a home-cooked lunch. Many ger camps run this as an add-on (~£15-25) or you can arrange it directly through your camp host. Spend the afternoon observing daily nomadic life (herding, milking, felt-making) before a quiet evening at camp.
🚌Local 4x4/walking around the region
🛏Ger camp or nomadic family stay (~£18-30/night)
- →Khugnu Khan forest and ridgeline hike
- →Övgön Khiid Monastery ruins
- →Buuz-making and lunch with a nomadic family
Transfer to Terelj National Park
Terelj National Park
Travel east toward Terelj National Park. The practical route is back through Ulaanbaatar and then out to Terelj via a shared transfer or bus toward the park entrance (combined travel day, ~£20-35). Budget around 4-6 hours with a lunch stop. Arrive in the afternoon, check into a ger camp or guesthouse in Terelj (~£18-30/night) and take an easy walk to see the famous Turtle Rock (Melkhii Khad) and the surrounding granite formations. Dinner and a relaxed evening at camp.
🚌Shared transfer via Ulaanbaatar to Terelj
🛏Terelj National Park ger camp or guesthouse (~£18-30/night)
- →Scenic transfer through the steppe
- →Turtle Rock walk
- →Evening at a Terelj ger camp
Terelj hiking and Aryabal Monastery
Terelj National Park
Spend a full day exploring Terelj on foot. Hike to Aryabal Meditation Monastery, set on a hillside with a boardwalk of prayer wheels and views over the valley, then continue on trails among the granite boulders and open meadows (a local guide/porter can be arranged for ~£15-20 if you want company). Optional add-ons include horse riding with local herders (~£8-15/hour) or a short visit to a nearby nomadic family. Return to camp for the evening.
🚌Walking; optional local horse hire
🛏Terelj ger camp or guesthouse
- →Aryabal Meditation Monastery hike
- →Granite valley trails
- →Optional horse riding with herders
Genghis Khan Statue and return to Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar
On the way back to the capital, stop at the towering Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue complex (~£8 entry + small museum) — climb to the horse's head for the classic finale view. Continue into Ulaanbaatar with a shared transfer (~£15-25 total for the day). Check back into your city hostel, then spend the evening at leisure — a good chance for a final dinner of Mongolian dishes or a folk music/throat-singing performance (~£8-15 if you book a show).
🚌Shared transfer from Terelj to Ulaanbaatar
🛏Central Ulaanbaatar hostel
- →Genghis Khan Statue complex
- →Return to the capital
- →Optional folk/throat-singing performance
Departure from Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar
Depending on your flight time, do some last souvenir shopping at the State Department Store or a local cashmere/market stop, then take a taxi or shared shuttle to the airport for your departure. No fixed group schedule means you can flex the morning around your flight and squeeze in any capital sights you missed on Day 2.
🚌Taxi or shared shuttle to UBN airport (~£8)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Last-minute souvenir shopping
- →Airport transfer and departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£740 | £1,840 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,100 per person (60%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£740
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar, Sand Dunes & Terelj National Park (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £740 per person for 8 days in Mongolia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,840 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £740 — a saving of roughly £1,100 (60%) per person.
How long is the Mongolia trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Mongolia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, budget trip through Mongolia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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