Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
pedition. This is a perfect place to test ride a Mongolian horse before a longer trip. Rides
include pick-up, drop-off, guides, horses, food and even entry fees to the national park.
As this camp is something of a hang-out for dedicated riders, you may be able to find
partners for a trip. Horse-loving volunteers are also welcome. Check the website for de-
tails.
Sleeping
The area around the monastery is one of the best camping spots near Ulaanbaatar. You
should get permission from the caretaker at the monastery (
Click here
)
if you are camp-
ing nearby, or just hike off into the woods.
Ovooni Enger Ger Camp
TOURIST GER CAMP$$$
( 7027 2011; per ger T80,000-100,000, mains T5000-7000)
Larger, better equipped and open
later in the year than neighbouring Mandshir Ger Camp, Ovooni has a modern shower
block with sit-down flush toilets, a comfortable restaurant ger with terrace seating and
even areas where you can play volleyball and basketball. The meadow setting affords
pleasant views, but isn't as pretty as Mandshir's forest location. To get here, turn right
just after entering the park gate.
Mandshir Ger Camp
TOURIST GER CAMP$$$
( 01272-22535; 4-bed ger T40,000)
In a lovely spot amid trees about 200m up to the right
of the monastery's car park, this fairly basic ger camp has hot showers but Mongolian-
style toilets. The restaurant isn't always open, so bring some emergency food supplies if
possible. Horse riding is sometimes available. Note, the camp tends to close down by
mid-September.
Getting There & Away
The most accessible entrances to the park are reached from the ger camp at the southern
end of Zaisan valley, the Observatory and Mandshir.
The monastery is easy enough to visit in a day trip from Ulaanbaatar, via Zuunmod
(from where it's a 7km drive). If you are walking from the north of Zuunmod it's 6km;
you can either walk along the main northern road, or save some time by walking directly
north from Zuunmod, eventually joining up with the main track which heads up the val-
ley to your left.
At Mandshir, wranglers from the nearby ger camps rent horses for around US$5 to
US$10 per hour.
