Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
you'll need to have your own transport. From Nalaikh, take the main highway towards
Baganuur and travel for 16km until you see a sign that says 'Tonyukok'. Turn right onto
this track and travel another 11km to reach the stele. Just past the site, a huge hangar con-
tains a few
relics
found around the site; you could ask the local watchman to let you in-
side, though there is little to see.
One of Mongolia's newest landmarks is a 40m-high silver
Chinggis Khaan statue
(GPS: N 47°48.494', E 107°31.860'; admission T7000; 9am-sunset)
located just off the main
road between Nalaikh and Erdene, at a place called Tsonjin Boldog. The dramatic statue,
built with private funds, has a lift (elevator) rising up its tail, from where there are steps
to the horse's head. It was built here, so the legend goes, because this was the spot where
Chinggis Khaan found a golden whip. The complex includes a
museum
(with Hunnu
artefacts and items from the Mongol empire), cafe and souvenir shop. A six-minute
film
describes how the monument was built. For an extra T1000 you can don Chinggis Khaan
armour for a photo shoot in front of an enormous Mongolian boot. A round trip in a taxi
from Ulaanbaatar will set you back about T80,000.
About one hour's drive east of the Chinggis Khaan statue is
Steppe Nomad
( 9134
3498, 7018 3498;
www.mongoliagercamp.com
; GPS: N 47°36.27', E 108°23.17'; per person including
breakfast US$42-52, lunch/dinner US$15/12)
, a well-run, high-end ger camp that offers horse
riding, kayaking and mountain biking.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Terelj Area
Terelj
sum
(district), about 55km northeast of Ulaanbaatar, is a playground for urban-
weary Ulaanbaatarites. At 1600m, the area is cool and the alpine scenery magnificent,
and there are great opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, swimming (in icy-cold wa-
ter), rafting, horse riding and, for hard-core extreme-sports fanatics, skiing in the depths
of winter.
Terelj was first developed for tourism in 1964 and 30 years later it became part of
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
(per person T3000)
. It's a bit crowded with ger camps these
days but you can easily get away from the hustle and bustle. Be prepared for mosquitoes,
especially in late summer.
Pay the admission fee at the park entrance. Note, passengers on the public bus from
Ulaanbaatar rarely have to pay this as the bus usually drives past the entrance without
stopping.
