Mongolia7 days
Mongolia: Gobi Desert, Wild Horses & Trans-Siberian Rail — 7 Days
Journey from Ulaanbaatar's grasslands through Hustai National Park and Terelj, then south by rail to the Eastern Gobi and back.
This seven-day itinerary traces a route through central Mongolia's cultural landmarks and into the Eastern Gobi Desert, anchored by two nights aboard the Trans-Siberian Railway. The tour moves between Ulaanbaatar (at 1,350 meters elevation) eastward to Terelj National Park, then south by rail to Sainshand, the capital of Mongolia's driest province, before returning overland to the capital. Days balance nomadic cultural immersion—herding demonstrations, horseback riding, and traditional performances—with wildlife observation at Hustai National Park (home to over 250 Mongolian wild horses) and geological exploration in the Gobi, including dinosaur fossil sites and volcanic formations. The rail portion covers 85 kilometers south from the capital, offering an accessible introduction to one of the world's longest railway routes while keeping the focus on the landscape and communities of Mongolia itself.
Highlights
- Stay with herding families at Mongolian Tribe Performance Resort and participate in traditional rope-making, archery, and horse-herding practices.
- Observe Mongolian wild horses in their native habitat at Hustai National Park, 120 kilometers west of Ulaanbaatar, where over 250 endangered horses are preserved.
- Climb the interior staircase of the Genghis Khan statue (60 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar) to the viewing platform atop the 30-meter horse head overlooking the steppe.
- Ride horses and visit Turtle Stone rock formations in Terelj National Park, located at 1,600 meters elevation in the Kent Mountains.
- Travel overnight by Trans-Siberian Railway between Ulaanbaatar and Sainshand (463 kilometers), experiencing the railway that connects Moscow to Vladivostok.
- Visit dinosaur fossil sites, 108 pagodas, and volcanic stone formations in the Eastern Gobi Desert near Sainshand at 938 meters elevation.
- Tour Sukhbaatar Square, the National History Museum, and Gandan Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital of 1.38 million residents.
Day by day
1Arrival in UlaanbaatarUlaanbaatar
You arrive in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital city, set at 1,350 meters elevation within the Tula River Valley. Home to 1.38 million residents across 4,707 square kilometers, the city presents a blend of Soviet architecture and modern development. After checking into your hotel and having dinner, the remainder of your evening is yours to rest and adjust to local time.
2Nomadic Culture and Wild Horses: Mongolian Tribe Resort and Hustai National ParkHustai National Park · Mongolian Tribe Performance Resort · Mongolian Wild Horse Museum
The day begins at Mongolian Tribe Performance Resort, where you observe and participate in the working life of Mongolian herders on the grasslands. You'll watch the raising of newborn lambs, herders collecting milk, and the traditional process of felt-making. Cultural demonstrations include herder wrestling, archery, and equestrian performances, alongside the playing of the horse-head fiddle. You have the opportunity to wear traditional Mongolian dress and attempt archery yourself.
After lunch, you travel 120 kilometers west of Ulaanbaatar to Hustai National Park, a nature reserve established in 1993 and spanning over 50,000 hectares. The park protects the Mongolian wild horse, a species native to these grasslands. The population here now exceeds 250 animals, making Hustai one of the world's primary research stations for the species. You tour the Mongolian Wild Horse Museum and observe the animals in their natural habitat, studying their ecology and behavior in the steppe setting.
You return to your Ulaanbaatar hotel for the night.
3Genghis Khan Statue and Terelj National ParkTerelj National Park · 13th Century National Park in Erdene County, Central Province · Genghis Khan statue, Central Province
After breakfast, you travel 96 kilometers to the 13th Century National Park in Erdene County, Central Province. The park reconstructs the military history and daily life of the Mongolian Empire of the 13th century through models and historical demonstrations, offering insight into nomadic customs and practices of that era.
You then visit the Genghis Khan statue, located 60 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar in Central Province. The structure stands 30 meters high, constructed from 250 tons of steel, with a 10-meter-high circular foundation. An adjacent yurt-style building, 50 meters in diameter and 12 meters tall, houses a two-story visitor center. An elevator inside the horse's tail carries you to the observation platform atop the horse's head, where you can see the surrounding prairie unbroken to the horizon.
You then proceed to Terelj National Park, 80 kilometers east of Ulaanbaatar at 1,600 meters elevation, situated at the end of the Kent Mountains. You settle into your accommodation there for the night.
4Terelj National Park, Horseback Riding, and Departure for the Gobi by RailTerelj National Park · Turtle Stone · yurt resort · Ulaanbaatar to Sainshand
Terelj National Park attracts visitors for its dense forests, clear rivers, and distinctive rock formations. You visit a herding family, participate in horseback riding across the grasslands, and view Turtle Stone, a natural rock formation. The park offers a working view of pastoral life in central Mongolia's forested highlands.
After lunch, you return to Ulaanbaatar and proceed to the train station. You board the Trans-Siberian Railway, the 9,288-kilometer line built between 1891 and 1916 that spans eight time zones from Moscow to Vladivostok, passing through pine forests, the Ural Mountains, and the Siberian tundra before reaching the Pacific. Your journey covers the Mongolian leg: 85 kilometers south to Sainshand, capital of the Eastern Gobi Province, where you board a local bus to a yurt resort for accommodation.
5Eastern Gobi Desert Exploration and Return by Night TrainGobi Desert · Hamulin Temple · World Energy Center · 108 pagodas · Lama's caves · dinosaur fossil sites · Danzanla Buza Museum · train station in Sainshand to Ulaanbaatar
Sainshand, at 938 meters elevation, is the driest and windiest location in Mongolia, with a population of approximately 21,000. Its name translates to "beautiful water" in Mongolian, referring to its origins as a desert oasis.
Your morning begins with a drive into the Gobi Desert to observe the sunrise over open terrain. You then visit the bell pavilion and white double Aobao (stone cairns) at Hamulin Temple, followed by the World Energy Center, where you sit on red volcanic stone formations to experience the geological landscape.
The day includes visits to 108 pagodas, Lama's caves, and dinosaur fossil sites—locations where dinosaur fossils and fossilized eggs have been found. These sites document the paleontological history of the region.
After viewing the Danzanla Buza Museum in Sainshandar during the afternoon, you return to the train station in the evening and board the overnight sleeper train back to Ulaanbaatar.
6Ulaanbaatar City Landmarks and Cultural SitesUlaanbaatar · hotel · Sukhbaatar Square · National History Museum · Gandan Monastery · Bogd Khan Winter Palace
You arrive in Ulaanbaatar in the morning, with time to shower and refresh at your hotel after breakfast. The afternoon includes a city tour covering Sukhbaatar Square, Mongolia's largest public plaza; the National History Museum; Gandan Monastery; and the Bogd Khan Winter Palace, a historical royal residence. In the evening, you have the option to watch a Mongolian folk performance, and may visit the Gobi Cashmere Shop and state-owned markets if time permits.
7Return to HomeGenghis Khan International Airport
After breakfast, you transfer to Genghis Khan International Airport for your return flight home.
Where you go
- 1Ulaanbaatar
- 2Hustai National Park
- 3Terelj National Park
- 4Ulaanbaatar
- 5Sukhbaatar Square
- 6National History Museum
- 7Gandan Monastery
- 8Genghis Khan International Airport
Included
- Hotel, all meals specified in the itinerary
- Tickets and tours for attractions specified in the itinerary
- All museums and attractions in the itinerary
- 2 bottles of mineral water per person per day
Not included
- Air tickets and airport taxes
- Luggage tips
- Insurance
- Personal expenses
- Air tickets
- Meals on the train