Terelj Park: Two-Day Horse Trekking Review & Guide

Okay, so you’re picturing galloping across the Mongolian steppes, are you? Two days atop a sturdy steed in Terelj National Park? Sounds great, right? You bet. But before you go full-on Genghis Khan, let’s talk about what a horse trek there is really like.

Why Terelj for Horse Trekking?

Terelj, not too far from Ulaanbaatar, offers that picture-postcard Mongolia vibe people are after. Seriously, it’s like someone spilled a bunch of huge granite rocks onto endless rolling hills that is dotted with those white, round felt tents, or gers, so what’s not to love? It’s accessible, pretty gorgeous, plus it gives you a feel for the nomad ways, at least a little bit.

Getting There Isn’t Too Bad

Now, getting there is pretty simple. You can grab a local bus from Ulaanbaatar – it’s a pretty cheap option, maybe a couple of bucks – yet it can be crowded. Arranging a private jeep could be easier, especially if you have travel partners or a group. I mean, it might be costlier, sure, but then again, that means fewer bumps and less, um, togetherness with strangers.

Picking a Tour Operator… Carefully!

This? Super important. Not all tours are created equal, that’s true! You should look into tour companies that look okay, that seem to treat their horses okay. Ask questions. Really good questions. What does a day look like? Are the horses okay? What happens if something isn’t great? Reviews are your friends, also word of mouth, you know? Honestly, spending some more money up front could save you drama further down the line. That said, when you find a top-notch operator who takes wonderful care of their horses, the rest is super easier.

What to Expect on Your Two-Day Trek

Let’s get down to brass tacks – what do you get yourself into when you agree to two days in the saddle? Answer: more than you think. You see, these trips vary but this information might be true almost. Still, that’s useful!

Day One: Meeting Your Horse and Hitting the Steppe

Generally, it starts by choosing your horse. This is pretty great. Get a feel for your horse, because these are super nice. Take it slow. It’s almost like that connection between you and this big, strong animal really matters. Then, the ride starts. Now, expect amazing views, sure, maybe open grasslands that could just take your breath. Sometimes there’s rocky parts, some streams, and lots and lots of sky. Lunch may be picnic-style, hopefully in some picturesque location. The goal would be finding some local family who provides gers for accommodations in the later day. Be respectful! You’re in their spot, okay? Spend some time to learn regarding the families.

Day Two: More Riding, Culture, and Saying Goodbye

You’ll more than likely rise early-ish on day two – the steppe has a great way of waking you up. Much of the day goes by with additional horseback travel; seeing parts that can be so nice. Lunch will typically be another portable feast and a view that feels really special. You may be stopping at local sights – temples, amazing rock formations, that sort of thing – so too make sure your camera batteries look right. As you head back toward the beginning point you have the horse from day 1 and are returning him and reflecting over those moments in time which would create moments that will never happen again.

What to Bring (and What to Leave Behind)

Alright, it’s packing time! The key really, is layers. Mongolia can be pretty warm and rather colder as part of same single day, more or less! Plus, that old phrase “better safe and feeling okay instead of very unfortunate later on.”

Riding Pants or Jodhpurs: Should you get ’em? No matter, they may seriously save the inner legs. If perhaps not, something with hardly any seams makes good things possible.
Good Hiking Boots: These actually matter whether or not that involves travel or perhaps during campground time or on walks to that outhouse.
Layers, Layers, Layers: Thermal underwear, fleece, anything which could be stacked so you do adjust to various elements and what the wind might make it.
Water Bottle/Hydration Pack: It happens to be significant, so drinking enough actually maintains being in order. Some guides might be alright with that part. Even so you ought to take it into consideration and so bringing extra is certainly something good!
Sunscreen and Hat: Sunshine happens to be extreme here, so what’s better than protection coming directly!
Insect Repellent: Those darn flies come out to be pretty dreadful at different times through each summer season. This isn’t that big, rather not ignoring all concerning this means greatly improving the comfort level that occurs within all of such a short span when travelling through the park!
Camera: Seems rather crucial; because nobody accepts how absolutely grand and wonderful its grasslands truly feel unless you put together an image evidence on it.
Basic First-Aid Kit: Bandaids, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers and that personal treatment ought to ensure basic preparedness within possible scratches as well scrapes experienced.
Cash: Quite possibly smaller villages almost never take any plastic that occurs on credit lines! Which explains exactly reason giving any sort to them means receiving a better hand for potential stops during explorations through terrains found up higher by country ranges.

A Few Extra Tips for a Great Trek

Okay, with that technical detail done; Here some helpful suggestions might benefit trips greatly! Now follow below with no fears what might ever occur!

Learn some Mongolian: “Sain baina uu” (Hi) alongside “Bayarlalaa” (Appreciations!). Its very easy while its kind as things come about at each angle! Most people within regions happen find them amazing as each case involves trying something related linguistical skill around such contexts also while passing all around country area’s too!
Respect the Culture: Try do keep that culture to be with consideration when travelling within someone country. Try see to asking as well that’s better that just jumping right. It is likely okay, or something like asking around prior trying pictures while approaching nomadic home locations. You may get it right sometimes though that depends!
Be Prepared for All Weather: That steppe weather goes wild often by something unpredictable when occurring! Layer well while carry some weatherproof outfitter because no saying what comes as way goes across these tracks through country out there, usually there should turn possibility occur under blue heaven’s above somewhere also when going ahead that does affect even on your plans when there that factor involved over there.
Communicate with Your Guide: All along such tracks make communicating quite greatly helpful by different points while having treks happening. Say by being perhaps rather worried whether or don’t all alright perhaps so you should stay alert, never forget to say those concerns immediately so he doesn’t hesitate either because you both work into same route alongside!
Take Lots of Pictures: Those are spots probably that makes memories alive when visiting those! Get them when having as something special in hearts or memory space within by photographic proofs that shows everyone, anyone will acknowledge or love something back where it had occur for a short period probably.

Is a Two-Day Horse Trek Right for You?

So the main issue, actually, has remained — is actually that exactly stuff really intended to involve one to think for perhaps by getting signed and joining ahead such outings during a traveling. Okay; In my idea the below happens towards best kind of experiences perhaps as anyone will cherish those moments while traveling during locations outside. Its pretty special and amazing by almost means! Nevertheless here comes considerations by these point out as to make anything much simpler to know!

Are you reasonably fit? Never there seems its those that demand anyone get ready on physical standards near some level that shows extreme standards ever since on each journeys to ride by steppes happens somewhat like endurance test but if usually it is those like you may be rather spend by day or few being those out traveling on air or rather what the planet gives! Do ensure fitness to begin those first!
Do you like animals? It requires spending sometime with someone such in the world therefore is one likes being ones and getting with animal as possible as anyone tends to, it ends to seem a thing great instead while making by great connections on a moment or place of yours rather something really that brings special on this venture.
Are you ready to unplug? Quite perhaps really hardly anyone get WiFi within remote spaces during nomadic lands on grasslands. Plan of yours is literally towards something called to disconnection into our every place and rather it being such one will spend it with yourself and also within someone’ feelings too. By no exception probably its truly seems remarkable to show how each human relates without those device for rather limited timings during traveling across Mongol lands!