Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
30-minute climb to the top of the hill. From the top you get some great views of the
rock formations in the next valley. The trail continues south past several ger camps
and eventually leads back to the main road and back to Turtle Rock. This loop is
15km.
Activities
Hiking
If you have good maps, a compass and some experience (or a proper guide), hiking in the
Terelj area is superb in summer, but be prepared for mosquitoes and unpredictable weath-
er.
For more sedate walks in the Terelj ger camp area, follow the main road and pick a
side valley to stroll along at your leisure. From the main road, look out for two interest-
ing rock formations:
Turtle Rock
(Melkhi Khad; GPS: N 47°54.509', E 107°25.428')
in a side
valley to the south of Terelj, which really looks like one at a certain angle; and the less
dramatic
Old Man Reading a Book
, which can be spotted on the left side of the road
when travelling south from Terelj village. Head north 3km from Turtle Rock to reach the
Aryapala Initiation & Meditation Centre
(GPS: N 47°56.121', E 107°25.643; admission T2000)
set on a spectacular rocky hillside. The
temple
at the top of the hill is a new creation. If
you are lucky, you might arrive during a prayer session, when you can sit and hear
monks chanting.
Some suggested easier hikes are to Günjiin Süm or along the Terelj or Tuul Gols to-
wards Khan Khentii. This is a great area for wildflowers, particularly rhododendron and
edelweiss.
Places of interest on more difficult, longer treks in Khan Khentii include
Altan-Ölgii
Uul
(2656m), the source of the Akhain Gol;
Khagiin Khar Nuur
, a 20m-deep glacial
lake, about 80km up Tuul Gol from the ger camps at Terelj; and
Yestii Hot Water
Springs
, which reach up to 35°C, and are fed by the Yeroo and Yestii Gols. Yestii is
about 18km north of Khagiin Khar Nuur.
Horse Riding
Travelling on a horse is the perfect way to see a lot of the park, including Günjiin Süm
and the side valleys of Tuul Gol. To travel long distances, you will need to have experi-
ence, or a guide, and bring most of your own gear. Horses can be hired through any of
the ger camps, but you'll pay high tourist prices (around US$35 to US$40 a day). A mob
of horse boys hang around Turtle Rock (
Click here
)
offering horse riding at US$5 per
