Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue Day Trip
See the world’s largest equestrian statue, visit a mountainside meditation temple, and get to know Mongolia on what I consider the best day trip from Ulaanbaatar.
There’s something truly mesmerizing about standing face to face with the world’s most notorious Khan. A man who needs no introduction and whose spirit still lives on today (just look at the currency, bottles of vodka, or statues around Ulaanbaatar for proof).
Just 70 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar’s city center, this day trip is popular for a reason. Where else in the world can you climb a 40 meter tall equestrian statue and stare out at the great Mongolian steppe?
Pair that with some of Gorkhi-Terelj’s other famous sites, including Turtle Rock and the Aryabala Meditation Center, and you have a great day spent outside of the chaos of the city.
Extend your visit to the area by booking one of these 13 popular Gorkhi-Terelj National Park hotels and stay even longer, and experience even more, of what the Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue and surrounding area have to offer.
Table of Contents
Everything you Need to Book for When You Land in Ulaanbaatar
Everything you need to book when you arrive in Ulaanbaatar.
🚕 Airport Transfer into the Ulaanbaatar City Center
Book your airport transfer before you land. Ulaanbaatar taxis are chaotic and this is worth the peace of mind.
🛌 Where to Stay
My picks at every budget, all within walking distance of Sukhbaatar Square:
→ Hostel One: best hostel in the city for solo travelers
→ Urgoo Hotel: locally owned boutique spot, great value and location
→ H9 Hotel Nine: steps from everything and great value (highly recommend!)
→ Best Western Premier Tuushin: 4-star hotel next to the square for a more comfortable stay and notable service (plus, a safe place to store luggage while you’re in the countryside)
👉 Make the Most of Your Time in the Capital
If you have extra days, these are the experiences I’d actually recommend:
→ Ulaanbaatar: Private Guided City Tour with Car
→ Cooking Class in a Local Home
→ Mongolian Traditional Dance & Music Concert Ticket
→ Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue & Terelj National Park
→ Ulaanbaatar: Private Nomad Horseback Ride + Homemade Lunch
The Best Day Trip from Ulaanbaatar
Book one of these day tours to the Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue and Gorkhi-Terelj National Park:
→ Private Tour to Chinggis Khan Statue & Terelj National Park (from $60 per person)
→ Genghis Khan Statue + Terelj Park + Camel Ride + Eagle (from $79.31 per person)
→ From UB: Chinggis Khan Statue & Turtle Rock & Aryapala Temple Day Tour (from $69 per person)
Statue to Steeds: What to Explore in Terelj National Park
From the Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue, you’ll also want to visit Turtle Rock before heading on an easy hike to Aryabala Meditation Center. The meditation center is a quiet meditation center tucked back in the mountains within the park. This is where your guide should walk you through the history of the area and explain how Mongolians were first introduced to Buddhism and how most of these incredible temples, centers, and monasteries were sadly destroyed during communist times.
Following your day at the statue and in the national park, head back to the city just in time for dinner.
What to Bring with You
For this trip, comfortable shoes and clothing are recommended. Please dress according to the weather, bringing a rain jacket if necessary. You will be spending a lot of this day tour outside.
Additionally, I recommend packing bottled water, tissues or wet wipes, hand sanitizer, and wearing sunscreen.
When it comes to having money on hand, I also suggest bringing at least 100,000 Mongolian Tugrik with you. If you’d like to do any of the optional activities, such as horseback or camel riding, or take a photo holding an eagle, you will need cash.
The price for horseback riding is usually around 50,000 tugrik per person. The price to hold a Golden Eagle for a photo is usually around 10,000 tugrik.
Other Popular Ulaanbaatar Tours:
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Fully recommend – book with Meanwhile in Mongolia! We had a fantastic day having a peek into life outside UB with Aagie. The Aryabal Meditation Center is a must, serene and uplifting, and our lunch homestay was one of the most delicious experiences of my life – definitely the best urum in the country with the sweetest family.
Also, we cannot say enough about the incredible driver – beyond impressed 🙂
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