Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
stupas in the hills around the monastery. Festival-goers usually camp in the fields near
the monastery - like a Buddhist version of Woodstock, only minus the illegal substances.
Sleeping
There are excellent camping spots all around Amarbayasgalant Khiid.
Stupa Ger Camp
TOURIST GER CAMP$
(per 2-person ger T30,000)
Located 300m west of the monastery, with four stupas just to
the south of it, this camp has flush toilets, hot showers and a restaurant. It is operated by
the monks of Amarbayasgalant so any money you spend here goes towards the continued
preservation of the temples. It's particularly popular with homegrown tourists.
IF Tour Ger Camp
TOURIST GER CAMP$$$
( 9119 0808, 9918 9981;
iftour@yahoo.com
; ger/r/cabin T40,000/50,000/60,000; May-Oct)
This camp, furthest west from the temple complex, is the one with the best facilities.
Choose between a cosy ger with electricity, individual cabin or a bright room inside the
lodge. It's clean, comfortable, offers hot showers and flushing toilets and serves hearty
meals (dinner around T13,500). Some English and German spoken.
Getting There & Away
HITCHING
The monastery is reachable by a pitted dirt road that branches off the paved main A1101
that connects Darkhan with Erdenet. A couple of cars a day come here in summer so you
may be able to hitch a lift. The cheapest way from Ulaanbaatar is to get a bus or share car
to Erdenet, and ask the driver to let you off at the turn-off to Amarbayasgalant, and then
hitch from there.
JEEP
From Ulaanbaatar, travel north to the T-intersection for Erdenet (just short of Darkhan).
Take the Erdenet road for 90km and then turn right onto a dirt road; look for the sign
(GPS: N 49°12.814', E 104°59.131') that says 'Amarbayasgalant 35km'. Altogether, the
journey to/from Ulaanbaatar takes around five or six hours. If you don't have your own
car you could charter one from Darkhan for about T130,000 (but you'll need to negoti-
ate).
