Yeruu Lodge, the Best Place to Stay in Selenge Province
Take a peak inside Yeruu Lodge, Mongolia’s most talked about new hotel. Plus, read how to get there, what the price to stay is, a review of their yurt rooms, and more.
Located in the heart of Northern Mongolia’s Selenge Province, Yeruu Lodge is without a doubt one of the best new hotels to open in Mongolia in recent years.
Opened in 2022 by Norwegian architect/founder Eirik Gulsrud Johnsen, the hotel is a beautiful mix of Scandinavian-inspired design and sustainability with a healthy dash of traditional Mongolian touches.
Thanks to budget-friendly rates, comfortable yurt rooms, and a terrace that makes evening dinner something you don’t want to miss, the lodge is a favorite among locals and expats. Especially given its proximity to Ulaanbaatar, Yeruu Lodge is one of the best places for a long weekend away from Ulaanbaatar!
Just returning from a three day visit at the lodge, here are my thoughts and tips on things to know when you visit to get the most out of your experience.
Table of Contents
Inside this Popular Yurt Hotel
In Mongolia, we call yurts gers, which is how we’ll refer to them in this blog post going forward.
When you stay, you can book either a one, two, or three bed ger.
During my visit, since there were four of us, we booked a family ger. The family ger has two single beds and one double bed. It was cozy and spacious enough for all of us to sleep and spend time in the room comfortably.
Each ger has bottled drinking water, towels for each guest, bedside tables with lights and plugs for charging, and a traditional Mongolian fireplace. The hotel is open 11 months a year, only closing during the month of January. In the winter, this wood fireplace makes the ger warm and comfortable, even with -40 C temperatures outside!
The Premium ger is the only room on the property with a private bathroom. Otherwise, bathrooms and showers are shared. More on that below.
Shared bathrooms, really?
For all rooms except the Premium Ger rooms, there are shared showers and restrooms. They are in one building and there are three bathrooms and three showers. (Photo: Premium Ger bathtub (left) and shared shower (right).)
The showers have shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. They were clean and with the green tile, easy on the eyes.
Despite being a “shared shower” (which is the norm at yurt hotels) they don’t feel like what you’ll find at most other resorts in Mongolia. You can tell a lot of thought and an eye for design really went into this part of the hotel’s construction.
Highlight of the Hotel: Yeruu Lodge Restaurant
For me, the restaurant and bar are the star of the Yeruu show. Housed inside the main lounge area with indoor and outdoor seating, the Scandinavian vibe makes use of clean lines and natural elements.
The lodge and restaurant can accommodate up to 40 people at a time. Be sure to get to breakfast and dinner early to ensure you get a breathtaking view of the river and mountains. They feel more like a painting than real life. Having my morning coffee on the terrace and taking in the fresh air, and these views, was truly a wonderful experience.
At the restaurant you can order breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is a-la-carte style and is included in your stay. Options include eggs, hash browns, fresh fruit, yoghurt, pate and toast, crepes with jam, and more. They give you a piece of paper where you can check and customize your breakfast order.
The lunch and dinner menu change daily, and you’ll have three to four options to choose from. While I was visiting, dinner offerings included carbonara pasta, tsuivan, and buuz.
The lunch on offer was usually pizza (with meat or margarita) or a vegetable soup. Throughout my stay at the lodge their pizza was by far the best dish that I had. It comes out piping hot and when you take a bite into the crust, it’s fluffy and crisp in all the right ways.
The bar selection is small, but covers all the essentials. Beer, wine, and a few cocktails that include a specially infused vodka. Their prices are reasonable and you don’t feel like you’re being ripped off.
What is there to do at Yeruu Lodge?
There are a few activities to do during your stay at the lodge.
In the summer, horseback riding can easily be arranged with local herders as your guides and spending an afternoon kayaking down the Yeruu river is always refreshing.
Horse riding in Mongolia is unique because our horses are much different in size and strength. Mongolian horses are smaller yet stronger than European and American horses. It’s because of them that Mongolian’s were able to conquer a third of the world!
The horse treks from Yeruu can be booked for two, four, or eight hours. Beginner riders should opt for the two or four hour option, while advanced riders should book the four or eight hour option that goes all the way to the nearest town, and back.
The local guides provide you with a western-style saddle and will make sure you’re comfortable, and safe, along the route.
Just keep in mind that no matter how long you plan to ride for, Mongolian’s prefer their stirrups short. Be prepared for sore knees and legs after! This also happens to be the perfect excuse for a dip in the river and afternoon kayak adventure right after.
Kayaking is offered through the lodge, and the lodge’s owner Eirik will be your guide. He is an expert kayaker, so you’re in good hands during this trip.
You start by driving up the river, where you’ll safely launch into the waters, using the current as your power. Steering and balancing your kayak takes a few minutes to get used to, and be sure to wear clothes that you don’t mind getting wet. Lifejackets are provided and you should have basic swimming skills.
In the winter, ice fishing and snow biking make for a fun way to explore the frozen river. We’ll have to report back on these activities after we visit the lodge again in winter.
Where is Yeruu lodge located?
The lodge is located in Javkhlant soum in the Selenge province, about an hour and a half from Darkhan, the province’s capital.
This area of Mongolia is well-known because of the river that runs through it, it’s one of the largest rivers in Mongolia.
The province is a popular destination for locals thanks to its lush green landscape and beautiful terrain. To be honest, this province is one of Mongolia’s best-kept secrets.
Since the lodge is near the river, expect a lot of insects when you visit. Especially mosquitoes. Be sure to pack a bug repellant because the bites are awfully itchy.
How to Get from Ulaanbaatar to Yeruu Lodge
Driving to Yeruu Lodge is a six hour journey. The road from Ulaanbaatar is nicely paved until you reach Darkhan. After Darkhan, the road becomes a bit more bumpy, but still paved until Javkhlant soum.
The driving directions on Google Maps are incorrect, and you should instead use Javkhlant as your end destination. When you reach the village, you’ll stay on the “main road,” pass the government building on your left, go around the curve, and look for the signs for Yeruu. The road will pop you out onto the backside of the town, where you’ll follow the main dirt roads for about 30 minutes until you reach the lodge. There’s no need to stress, there are signs along the way. I don’t recommend making this drive at night.
Taking the Train from Ulaanbaatar to Orkhon Station
If you don’t have a car, you can also take the train from Ulaanbaatar to Orkhon Station.
I went by train and it was an easy and enjoyable journey. If you want the more local experience, this is the way to go. The journey takes about eight hours, and having the chance to look out the window and enjoy the scenery is incredible.
To purchase a ticket to get from Ulaanbaatar Railway Station to the Orkhon Station, you should purchase a ticket at least three days in advance from https://eticket.ubtz.mn. Tickets sell out very quickly for this route.
When you book, there are two times you can choose to book. Either the overnight train or the day train. If you choose to travel during the day, the departure time is 10:40 am. If you choose to take the overnight train, the departure time is just after 8:00 pm.
The cabins have two sets of bunk beds and “seat” four people each.
Inside the train there is a cabin that sells instant food and snacks. The train attendant will usually fill a cart with drinks and snacks and go around the train once or twice. There is free hot water and the attendants offer instant milk tea or coffee.
The train may seem dated to many, but this is how we’re used to travelling in Mongolia.
If you decide to travel to Yeruu this way, just let them know and they will arrange for a driver to pick you up from the train station for 30,000 tugrik per person.
The drive from the Orkhon Train Station to Yeruu was about 45 minutes.
Book a Room at Yeruu
Join my Private Travel Group on Facebook
Proudly Based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
© 2024 Meanwhile in Mongolia