Terelj National Park: The Most Popular National Park in Mongolia

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Summary: An easily accessible drive-through national park with comfortable Gers, pretty riverside camping, and good hiking. 

Beneath a sunny sky, the rolling green hills of Terelj National Park are picture-perfect. But it’s not the same pastoral landscape that covers much of the country here. Terelj is heavily forested, populated by small towns, and scattered with large smooth boulders offering a slightly more mountainous landscape. It’s great for hikers who want to venture off the beaten path or for those who want to relax in a nicer Ger with spectacular views. 

After driving through the more remote expanses of the country for three weeks, I expected to be underwhelmed by Mongolia’s most popular national park. Too many people, too many Ger camps. That sort of thing. But the roadside views were so spectacular it didn’t matter one bit. It’s a wonderful place to camp, explore, and the Ger camp we stayed in was one of the nicest of the trip (& still affordable!) 

Here’s everything you need to know before you visit to have the perfect trip.

Gorkhi-Terelj National Park is the same as Terelj National Park. It’s simply the full name. It’s commonly shortened in conversation.

A Complete Guide to Terelj National Park 

Best time of Year to Visit Terelj National Park 

The best time of year to visit is the same throughout Mongolia. 

Peak season = May-September. 

This is one of the rare locations in Mongolia that you could conceivably visit year-round. But be warned, even though the snow is stunning many of the Ger camps will be closed in the off-season.

What to Expect During Your Visit 

Terelj is a stunning drive-through park that gets even better if you’re willing to do a little hiking. The park road is mostly paved and easily traversed by all drivers. There is a lovely monastery with great views to visit, the famous Turtle Rock, and some great hillside hiking. Expect rolling green hills with swaths of evergreen forest and massive grey boulders scattered about. It’s a very fairytale-esque place and not nearly as remote as Mongolia’s other national parks. 

There are probably close to 50 different Ger camps and hotels within the park boundaries. Maybe more. They vary in price and amenities but you can also grab coffee or food in either of the small towns buttressing the park. This will feel more like a US National park than true wilderness. 

Best Time of Day to Visit 

You have to spend at least one night in Terelj National Park. Two if your itinerary allows it. 

All my Mongolia itineraries include an overnight in Terelj National Park. Even my 1-Week itinerary.

You should hit the park attractions in the early morning or late afternoon and savor the time without crowds. It truly doesn’t matter the light is great at either time. 

The reason I recommend a night or two here is more to do with the lovely Ger camp we stayed in that offers the most relaxing overnight stay we had in all of Mongolia. This will also give you ample time to tackle some small hikes in the park.  

Road Conditions Getting to Terelj National Park 

Paved the whole way. From UB this is a cakewalk. In total, it takes about 1-1.5 hours to reach the center of the park depending on the traffic you hit leaving the capital. If you head out in the early morning, you should miss the bulk of traffic.

Anyone can drive this chunk of Mongolia’s roads.  

On your way to Terelj National Park, you’ll pass the huge 130 ft tall stainless steel Chenggis Khan Statue Complex. This is often listed as one of the popular sights in Ulaanbaatar but it’s actually much closer to the national park. You should stop here on your way to the park.

Getting to Terelj National Park Without A Car (or Tour)!

There are few places as accessible as Terelj NP. You can even take the public bus!

The bus stop is on Peace Ave in front of the Narantuul Hotel. Currently, it runs once per day at around 4 PM and takes about 2 hours to reach the park entrance.

This will leave you to walk or hitchhike your way through the national park. Not impossible but much more limited.

Must-See Attractions in Terelj National Park

So what are the sights and activities that make Terelj so popular.

• Turtle Rock. A rock formation that looks like a turtle.
• Arayabal Monastery. This is just a short dusty hike from Turtle Rock and offers the best vantage point in the park.
• Drive the main road of the park. This gives you a chance to experience all the stunning scenic variety.
• HIKE. Mongolia is filled with wild spaces and while most people stick to the few attractions listed above, you should ask the host of your Ger camp for some local hiking trails. There are tons here.

Please be careful with animal attractions in Mongolia, especially in Terelj National Park. We saw lots of birds of prey tied up and put on display in the pouring rain for the benefit of tourists. Use your best judgment before supporting any animal attractions.

Where to stay in Terelj National Park 

Look no further than Apache Eco Camp.

Prices range from 150k-220k for 4 people depending on the type of Ger you want. 

As far as amenities for price go, this was the single best place we stayed in all of Mongolia. The Gers are super comfortable with cozy beds (with the option for singles or doubles) and sleep up to four people. The nicest of the Gers even has heated floors for the colder months! Personally, I loved the little outdoor deck to cook on with sweeping views of the lush green valley. We even had some deer frolic into camp. 

There is a bathroom with a hot shower, meals are available, and a really great breakfast is included in your stay. Seriously it was huge and a mixture of traditional Mongolian food and western-style eggs. 

Getting to the property is a little weird because it’s behind a large hotel. But the views from the Gers of the valley is incredible. 

You should make reservations (even the morning of or day before will do) for all camps in Terelj because many of the owners actually live in Ulaanbaatar and aren’t just sitting around for day of walk-ups. Unlike other areas in Mongolia, these Ger camps aren’t lived in by locals. To make a reservation call the phone number listed on google or book on booking.com.

Camping Situation in Terelj National Park 

If you don’t fancy another Ger stay Terelj National Park is actually one of the best places in Mongolia to wild camp. With all the soft grass and all. We left our decision up to weather and once it started to look a little rainy we opted for the Gers. 

The river running through the park has lots of campsites that would make a great wild camp on a sunny day. In Mongolia, you are free to camp pretty much anywhere. This is one of the best places to test out your tent before you visit more remote regions of the country.

Quick Things to Know Before You Go 

1. There is no fee to visit this national park. 
2. You don’t have to worry about lack of food or gas here are both are available within the park. 
3. Try to visit on a sunny day. Seems like a silly thing to recommend but the views are really much better in the sunshine. 
4. Ask the owner of Apache Homestay for some good hiking recs! She knows all the best trails. 
5. Even in high season don’t expect everything to be open. We visited in August and some ger camps were closed and a few cafes as well. This is why it’s important to make a reservation.
6. Terelj National Park is totally worth visiting! I was worried that since it’s the closest to UB and the most popular, that it would be too crowded for my liking. But it wasn’t and the views were spectacular. I only wish we had had some more time for hiking. 
7. You can buy cold beer (for a steep price) at the hotel in front of Apache Eco Camp. 
8. As with most places in Mongolia, drones are allowed. 

Terelj National Park Tours

If you’re someone who would rather take a quick tour booked in advance online…I get it. Especially for a bucketlist destination like Mongolia. Here are a handful of reputable tours that take you to Terelj National Park from Ulaanbaatar.

If you just visited Terelj National Park you would think that Mongolia’s nature and natural parks are quite scenic and tame. Comfortable even, and built for tourists. That is emphatically not the case though. Terelj National Park is unique in its lovely serene atmosphere and the ease with which you can travel there. I highly recommend it as a starting point for your exploration of Mongolia. 

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