Wild Terelj Trails – Mongolia Horse Trekking Tour – 6 Days

Gorkhi-Terelj National Park is one of Mongolia’s most visited landscapes. Its dramatic granite formations, forested slopes, river valleys, and open grasslands sit within easy reach of Ulaanbaatar, which means many travellers experience it as a short day trip or a quick stop on a wider itinerary.

But Terelj also has a quieter, wilder side. Our Wild Terelj Trails horse trek is designed to take a slower, more personal approach to this well-known region — moving beyond the standard day-trip circuit and into the working herding landscapes that still shape daily life here.

Your journey begins at Naraa’s home in the Baruun Bayan Valley of Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. Naraa is a local herder and one of our long-term community partners, whose family herds livestock in the wider Terelj area. He lives here with his wife, Bujee, and offers a simple slow-travel homestay. You’ll spend your first night here, giving you time to settle into the landscape before the trek begins.

You’ll then ride with Naraa. In his words, the herding way of life “has a very big freedom,” and this journey offers a glimpse of that freedom as you travel through the landscape with him.

Unusually for a herder, Naraa speaks English, which gives the experience a more personal and direct feel. Rather than following a fixed or staged route, he chooses the trail according to the weather, ground conditions, and your riding experience. No two treks are quite the same.

It is a chance to travel at the pace of the horse, follow local trails through steppe, woodland, river valleys, and seasonal pastures, and spend time in a landscape that is both a national park and a place of everyday work, movement, freedom, and seasonal change.

Terelj may be one of Mongolia’s most accessible national parks, but experienced in this way, it still offers space, silence, and a more layered understanding of the region.

Riding here is a mix of wide-open country and more demanding terrain that rewards patience and presence. You should feel confident on horseback — able to mount and dismount, control your horse at different paces, and remain comfortable during long hours in the saddle. If you are a beginner and keen to join this trek, we recommend checking with your travel insurance provider to ensure you are fully covered.

The horses

The horses are as much part of the journey as the landscape. Small but powerful, they live semi-wild for much of the year and are independent, tough, and responsive rather than polished. They take time to understand, but that relationship often becomes one of the highlights of the experience.

Tack & equipment

You’ll ride in Russian or Mongolian saddles with felt pads for support. Stirrups are basic but wide-set, with no safety release, and bridles are simple and functional. This is everyday working equipment used by herders — practical, reliable, and very different from what most riders are used to.

What To Expect

This journey suits travellers who are comfortable trading convenience for experience. You’ll sleep in simple tents, sit on the ground, eat straightforward meals prepared by the team (there are no chefs), and spend time dealing with horses, equipment, and the practicalities of travel. Days can bring heat, rain, or strong winds, and plans may shift. If you’re patient, adaptable, and happy with a hands-on, lived-in kind of adventure, you’ll feel at home here.

Altitude & terrain

Gorkhi-Terelj National Park sits at a moderate elevation, with much of the landscape around the main valleys and riding areas at roughly 1,500–1,700 metres above sea level. The surrounding hills, ridges, and forested slopes rise higher, but this is not a high-altitude trek in the same way as journeys in western Mongolia or Altai Tavan Bogd National Park.

Most days you’ll be riding through river valleys, open pasture, woodland, and gently rising terrain rather than over high mountain passes. You may notice the thinner air slightly, especially if you are coming straight from sea level, but altitude is not usually the main challenge here. The bigger factors are time in the saddle, changing weather, river crossings, uneven ground, and the physical rhythm of travelling by horse.

During this journey, you’ll experience a variety of accommodation styles, each offering insight into daily life in Mongolia and shaped by the season and setting:

Mongolian Gers

On your first night, you’ll stay in a traditional Mongolian ger provided by our partner herding family. The family typically sets up 4–5 guest gers, thoughtfully adapted for the season. While the setup is simple, you’ll always have your own bed and a comfortable personal space.

Facilities: Showers are available every 2–3 days at the local public shower house. Toilets are traditional outdoor short-drop latrines.

Tent Camp

During the horse trek, you’ll sleep in camping tents carried by pack horses. Due to the limited weight the horses can carry, these camps are intentionally simple—offering a minimalist and close-to-nature experience in the heart of the wild.

Ulaanbaatar

Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar on Day 6  is not included although we provide recommendations and can help with booking.

• Final group size of 2-3 guests USD 1765 pp
• Final group size of 4 guests USD 1685 pp
• Final group size of 5 guests USD 1560 pp
• Final group size of 6 guests USD 1450 pp

• All meals outside of the city of Ulaanbaatar unless otherwise stated: These are mainly prepared and cooked by your local team so they are fresh and it means we offer more flexibility for any dietary requirements. We also provide filtered drinking water (not bottled), tea, and instant coffee.
• You’ll be supported by one of our experienced intergenerational teams—made up of a male Mongolian driver and one of our English-speaking female trip assistants—helping create an immersive and well-supported experience. Jess and Tuya are also available throughout your journey via WhatsApp.
• Our complimentary 'Intro To Ulaanbaatar' experience including a local lunch and welcome drink
• Entrance fees to monasteries, temples, and museums are included when you are with the local team. Please note this excludes camera tickets.

Not included in the experience

International airfare to and from Mongolia

Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar: Our trip pricing excludes the price of accommodation in UB though. Why?  Everyone is different is the standard of accommodation they prefer at the start and end of a trip. As there is now such a variety of hotels in UB it is easier to exclude this cost. I provide a list of ideas covering varying standards and budgets and I can also help with booking. There’s everything from a homestay through to Airbnb, US$10 guesthouses and the Shangri-La!

Domestic flight where/if applicable including any fees for excess luggage

Passport and visa fees: Let us know your nationality at the time of booking and we’ll confirm whether you need to apply for a Mongolian visa. It is a relatively easy process depending on your nationality and we can help with some of the formalities.

Travel insurance (mandatory)

Gratuities: Each member of the local team receives a responsible but fair salary and none have to rely on receiving gratuities to supplement their income.  In addition, we make sure that everyone who works with us or helps us is fairly rewarded for their work and the service they provide. At the end of the tour, if you wish to make a gratuity to the local team then thank you – it is not compulsory but it is appreciated when given. We give detailed information on booking.

Alcohol: Alcohol is available to buy in shops and supermarkets throughout your trip, and your team will make regular stops.