The Ultimate Self-Launched Adventure Through Mongolia

Take a taxi or airport shuttle from Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN) to your hostel in the city centre — the ride takes around 30–40 minutes and costs roughly £5–10 by shared taxi or shuttle. Check in, freshen up, and if you've arrived in the morning, head independently to Gandantegchinlen Monastery (admission ~£1), home to an 85-foot gilded statue of Avalokiteshvara. In the evening, grab dinner at a local guanz (canteen-style eatery) near Sukhbaatar Square and get an early night ahead of the journey west.

🚌Shared airport taxi or shuttle bus to city centre (~£5–8)

🛏UB Guesthouse or Golden Gobi Guesthouse, Ulaanbaatar — dorm from ~£8/night or private twin ~£18/night

• →Airport transfer by shared taxi or shuttle (~£5–8)
• →Optional self-guided visit to Gandantegchinlen Monastery (~£1 entry)
• →Explore Sukhbaatar Square and central Ulaanbaatar on foot
• →Dinner at a local guanz canteen (~£3–5)

Join a shared day-tour minivan departing from Ulaanbaatar westward to Hustai National Park (~2 hrs). These shared tours are bookable through most Ulaanbaatar guesthouses and local operators for around £25–35/person and typically cover Hustai and Elsen Tasarkhai in a single day. At Hustai, pay the national park entrance fee (~£3) and explore the valleys in search of the rare takhi (Przewalski's horse), marmots, and steppe gazelles. After lunch (self-catered or at the park canteen), continue ~3 hrs to Elsen Tasarkhai. Arrange a night's stay at a local ger camp — basic ger accommodation with meals runs around £20–30/person including dinner and breakfast. Hike into the dunes at sunset.

🚌Shared minivan/jeep tour from Ulaanbaatar (~£25–35 pp, covers both stops)

🛏Local ger camp at Elsen Tasarkhai — ger with meals ~£20–30/person

• →Shared minivan tour from Ulaanbaatar westward (~£25–35 pp)
• →Hustai National Park entry (~£3) and takhi wildlife tracking
• →Hike in the golden dunes of Elsen Tasarkhai at sunset
• →Overnight stay at a local ger camp (~£20–30 pp, half board)

Continue west with your hired driver or shared jeep tour to the Khugnu Khan Mountains. Hike the rocky ridgelines (~2–3 hrs, 4 miles) with views over the steppe — no guide is strictly required here, but a local guide can be arranged through your ger camp for ~£15–20/day. Opt for an optional camel ride at the dunes (~£5–8). After lunch, drive ~90 miles further west to the UNESCO-listed Orkhon Valley. Independent travellers typically hire a local driver/jeep for the central Mongolia circuit — budget around £40–60/day split between 2–4 travellers. Settle into a ger camp in the Orkhon Valley for two nights.

🚌Continued shared jeep hire or private driver (~£40–60/day split between travellers)

🛏Ger camp in the Orkhon Valley (e.g. Ekhiin Gol Ger Camp) — ~£18–25/person half board

• →Hike the Khugnu Khan ridgelines and granite formations (~2–3 hrs)
• →Optional camel ride at the nearby dunes (~£5–8)
• →Drive to the Orkhon Valley (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• →Short evening hike along the Orkhon River

Drive ~1.5 hrs to the forested foothills of the Khangai Mountains and hike up through larch woodland to Tuvkhun Monastery (5 hrs round trip, ~6 miles, 1,300ft ascent). Founded in 1651 and perched at over 7,500ft, this sacred site is one of Mongolia's most rewarding hikes. Entry fee is approximately £2. Carry a packed lunch or arrange one through your camp the night before. A local guide is strongly recommended for this hike (~£15–20) as the trail isn't always clearly marked. Return to your Orkhon Valley ger camp in the afternoon. On clear evenings, the Orkhon Valley offers exceptional stargazing — no equipment needed.

🚌Jeep to/from Tuvkhun trailhead (included in daily jeep hire)

🛏Same ger camp in the Orkhon Valley (night 2)

• →Drive to Tuvkhun trailhead (~1.5 hrs by jeep)
• →Hike to Tuvkhun Monastery: ~5 hrs round trip, 6 miles, 1,300ft ascent
• →Explore the monastery's meditation caves and wooden temples (~£2 entry)
• →Stargazing from the ger camp in the evening

Drive deeper into the Orkhon Valley, stopping at Uurtiin Tokhoi viewpoint for sweeping river panoramas, then at Temeen Chuluut Bronze Age archaeological site (free to visit). Continue to Ulaan Tsutgalan Waterfall, where the Orkhon River plunges into a volcanic basalt gorge — a short walk from the car park. Spend the afternoon exploring the valley on foot at your own pace. Tonight, move to a local ger camp near Boorog (sometimes called Naiman Nuur area camps) and pack a smaller bag for two nights of wilderness camping ahead.

🚌Jeep driving deeper into upper Orkhon Valley (included in daily hire)

🛏Local ger camp near Boorog / upper Orkhon — ~£18–25/person half board

• →Stop at Uurtiin Tokhoi viewpoint over the Orkhon River
• →Visit Temeen Chuluut Bronze Age burial mounds and stone carvings (free)
• →Walk to Ulaan Tsutgalan Waterfall and basalt gorge
• →Free afternoon exploring the upper valley on foot
• →Pack overnight bag for wilderness camping

This is the most remote section of the trip. Horse treks into the Eight Lakes reserve are best arranged through your ger camp or a local operator in the Orkhon Valley — budget ~£25–35/person for a half-day horse trek with a horseman guide. Alternatively, hike the same route on foot alongside the horses. The trail ascends through alpine meadows and larch forest from ~6,900ft to ~7,900ft into the Khuisiin Naiman Nuur Nature Reserve. Pay the nature reserve entry fee (~£3). Reach Khuis Lake by lunchtime. Camping gear (tent, sleeping bag) should either be hired through your ger camp (~£5–8/night) or brought from Ulaanbaatar. Your horseman guide will typically help set up camp. Cook on a camp stove or rely on your guide to prepare food.

🚌Horse trek or hiking (horse hire with guide ~£25–35/person for the day)

🛏Wilderness camping at Khuis Lake — bring or hire tent/sleeping bag (~£5–8/night gear hire)

• →Horse trek or hike into Khuisiin Naiman Nuur Nature Reserve (~3 hrs, ascending to ~7,900ft)
• →Nature reserve entry fee (~£3)
• →Arrive at Khuis Lake and set up wilderness camp
• →Guided hike to panoramic viewpoint above the lake basin
• →Campfire dinner under the Khangai night sky

A full day hike to Lake Shireet, the largest of the Eight Lakes (~9 miles return, 5–6 hrs, crossing forest, alpine meadow and marshland at 7,900–8,200ft). This is accessible only on foot or horseback — no vehicle access. Carry all food and water for the day. The trail passes through one of Mongolia's most pristine wilderness areas, with possible sightings of ibex, red deer, and grey wolves. Reach the lake shores by late morning for a picnic lunch, then retrace your steps to camp at Khuis Lake. Second night of wilderness camping.

🚌On foot (no vehicle access into the Eight Lakes basin)

🛏Wilderness camping at Khuis Lake (night 2)

• →Full day hike to Lake Shireet: ~9 miles return, 5–6 hrs at altitude 7,900–8,200ft
• →Wildlife spotting: ibex, red deer, grey wolf (occasional)
• →Picnic lunch at the shores of Lake Shireet
• →Campfire dinner at Khuis Lake camp

Ride or hike back down from the Eight Lakes basin to the Boorog area, descending from ~7,900ft to ~6,900ft through forested slopes. From there, continue by jeep to visit a local horse-herding family in the Bat-Ulzii region — these visits are easily arranged through your driver or ger camp (~£10–15/person as a contribution to the family). Learn how airag (fermented mare's milk) is made and help prepare buuz (Mongolian dumplings) before sharing lunch together. Drive on to Kharkhorin (ancient Mongol Empire capital) and check into a local ger camp for the night.

🚌Horse/hike descent + jeep to Bat-Ulzii and onward to Kharkhorin (~4 hrs driving)

🛏Local ger camp near Kharkhorin (e.g. Munkh Khangai Ger Camp) — ~£18–25/person half board

• →Final horse ride or hike down from Eight Lakes basin (~2–3 hrs)
• →Nomadic family visit in Bat-Ulzii: airag tasting and buuz dumpling making (~£10–15 contribution)
• →Drive to Kharkhorin, former capital of the Mongol Empire
• →Explore Kharkhorin town in the evening

After breakfast, walk to Erdene Zuu Monastery, Mongolia's oldest surviving Buddhist monastery, founded in 1585 on the ruins of the ancient Mongol capital Karakorum and enclosed by 108 white stupas. Entry costs approximately £3. Spend the morning exploring the temples, stupas and courtyards, and if timing aligns, witness morning chanting by resident monks. Then begin the long drive back to Ulaanbaatar (~5–6 hrs). Check back into your city hostel and head out for a farewell dinner — try Modern Nomads or Bull restaurant for quality Mongolian cuisine (~£8–12/person). The Sky Shopping Centre sauna (near the city centre) offers a relaxing end to the trip (~£5–10).

🚌Jeep/shared vehicle back to Ulaanbaatar (~5–6 hrs, included in jeep hire)

🛏UB Guesthouse or Golden Gobi Guesthouse, Ulaanbaatar — dorm ~£8 or private twin ~£18/night

• →Visit Erdene Zuu Monastery: 108 white stupas, ancient temples (~£3 entry)
• →Optional: attend morning monk chanting ceremony
• →Long scenic drive back to Ulaanbaatar (~5–6 hrs)
• →Farewell dinner at a local Mongolian restaurant (~£8–12)
• →Optional: sauna or hot shower at a local bathhouse (~£5–10)

After breakfast, if you have a late flight, explore Ulaanbaatar's Narantuul Market (the 'Black Market') for cashmere, yak wool products and locally made souvenirs — Mongolia is world-famous for high-quality, affordable cashmere. Galleria Ulaanbaatar is a good option for higher-end Mongolian crafts. Allow plenty of time for the airport transfer — take a taxi (~£5–8) to Chinggis Khaan International Airport. Most onward international flights connect through Seoul, Istanbul or Frankfurt.

🚌Taxi to Chinggis Khaan International Airport (~£5–8)

🛏Check out — airport transfer day

• →Last-minute souvenir shopping at Narantuul Market or Galleria Ulaanbaatar
• →Taxi transfer to Chinggis Khaan International Airport (~£5–8)