Central Mongolia

Karakorum (Kharkhorin) was the capital of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century — the largest contiguous land empire in human history, stretching from Korea to Hungary. Today, almost nothing remains of the former splendor of the metropolis, which Marco Polo described as the "City of the Four Gates." The stones were used to build the Erdene Zuu Monastery, and the city sank into the grass of the steppe. What remains are two stone turtles (guardian statues from the 13th century) and the realization that this was once the center of the world.

Erdene Zuu Monastery

The oldest Buddhist monastery in Mongolia (founded in 1585) is located directly on the ruins of Karakorum. A 400 m long wall with 108 white stupas (the sacred number in Buddhism) surrounds the site. In its heyday, Erdene Zuu housed 62 temples and over 1,000 monks. Then the Soviets came: in 1937/38, they destroyed almost the entire monastery as part of the anti-religious campaign and killed or deported the monks. Only three temples survived — they were disguised as a "museum."

Today, Erdene Zuu is once again an active monastery and the most important religious monument in Mongolia. The three preserved temples (Dalai Lama, Zuu, Lavrin) display a fascinating mix of Mongolian, Tibetan, and Chinese architecture. Early in the morning, you can observe monks in prayer — a quiet, moving moment against the backdrop of the endless steppe. Entrance: 5,000 MNT (€1.30), camera: 5,000 MNT extra.

Karakorum Museum

The Karakorum Museum, opened in 2011 (built with Japanese support), showcases archaeological finds from the city — ceramics, coins, tools — and reconstructs life in the former world capital. Particularly impressive: a scale model of the city in its prime, showing how cosmopolitan Karakorum was — with Christian churches, Buddhist temples, Muslim mosques, and an imperial palace side by side. Entrance: 5,000 MNT.

The Orkhon Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the historical cradle of Mongolian civilization. For over 2,000 years, this wide, green river valley was the power center of the steppe peoples: here resided the Huns, the Göktürks, the Uighurs, and finally the Mongols under Genghis Khan. The landscape is breathtaking — vast green valleys, meandering rivers, herds of horses on the horizon, and a silence that touches the heart.

Orkhon Waterfall (Ulaan Tsutgalan)

The Orkhon Waterfall is a 20 m high waterfall that spectacularly plunges into a basalt gorge. After the snowmelt and summer rains (June–August), it is particularly impressive — a roaring curtain of water surrounded by green steppe. In dry months, however, it can shrink to a trickle. Around the waterfall, there are ger camps and opportunities for hiking and riding.

Tövkhön Monastery

The Tövkhön Monastery (founded in 1653) is located on a rocky outcrop at an altitude of 2,312 m, in the midst of a dense larch forest. The ascent takes about 30–40 minutes through the forest — and then the view opens up over an endless panorama of mountains, forest, and steppe. The monastery was once the retreat of the monk Zanabazar, the first religious leader of Mongolia. In the rocks, there are meditation caves, and the silence at the summit is so deep that you can hear your own heartbeat.

With Nomads in the Orkhon Valley

The Orkhon Valley is the perfect place to stay with a real nomadic family. The families in the valley welcome guests into their ger, and you experience traditional life up close: helping to milk the mares in the morning, riding Mongolian horses through the steppe during the day, preparing Buuz (dumplings) with the family in the evening, and falling asleep under a starry sky that humbles you. From 20,000–30,000 MNT (€5–8) per night with meals. Your guide will arrange the stay — make sure the family is fairly compensated.

The Khustain Nuruu National Park, just 100 km west of Ulaanbaatar, is home to one of the world's most successful conservation projects: the reintroduction of the Przewalski's horses (Mongolian: Takhi). These sturdy, shaggy horses with their upright manes are the last true wild horses on earth — genetically never domesticated, unlike all other "wild" horses, which are feral domestic horses.

The Przewalski's horses were extinct in the wild. The last wild specimen was seen in 1969. Starting in 1992, horses from zoos and breeding programs (Prague, Munich, Rotterdam) were reintroduced into the Mongolian steppe. Today, over 400 animals live in the Khustain Nuruu Park — a success story that gives hope.

Visit & Observation

• Best time: In the evening between 5 and 7 PM, when the herds come to the waterholes and valleys. Also good chances at dawn.
• Getting there: Day trip from Ulaanbaatar (2-hour drive) or overnight stay in the park ger camp (recommended, as the evening hours are best).
• Entrance: 15,000 MNT (approx. €4). A park guide accompanies you to the best observation points.

Besides the wild horses, the park is also home to red deer, wolves, badgers, marmots, and over 200 bird species. The park is gently hilly, with steppe grasslands and small forests — a beautiful landscape that shows what the Mongolian steppe looks like without human influence.

Mongolia is the land of horses — there are more horses than people (over 4 million), and the Mongols say: "A Mongol without a horse is like a bird without wings." Experiencing the steppe on the back of a Mongolian horse is the most authentic and intense Mongolian experience you can have.

Mongolian Horses

Mongolian horses are small (130–140 cm at the withers, smaller than most European breeds), but incredibly tough. They live outdoors year-round, endure −40°C in winter, find their own food under the snow, and can run 50–80 km a day. They are semi-wild — domesticated, but with a mind of their own. Riding is different than in Europe: the horses respond to weight shifts and voice, not reins.

Multi-day Riding Tours

The most popular riding tours lead through Central Mongolia — the Orkhon Valley, the Eight Lakes Region (Naiman Nuur), and the steppe around Karakorum:

• Duration: 3–14 days. Beginners should start with 3–5 days, experienced riders can spend 2 weeks in the saddle.
• Daily routine: 4–7 hours in the saddle per day. Lunch break by the river, overnight stays with nomadic families or in a tent in the evening.
• Costs: From €70–100/day including horse, pack horse for luggage, guide, cook, meals, and ger overnight stay with nomads.
• Riding skills: Basic skills are helpful but not necessary. The guides are patient, the horses sure-footed. However: multi-day tours are physically demanding — your butt, knees, and thighs will resent you for the first few days.

Recommended Providers

• Mongolian Horse Trek: Specialist for multi-day riding tours in Central Mongolia. Excellent guides and healthy, well-cared-for horses.
• Nomadic Journeys: Premium provider with first-class service and their own camps.
• Stone Horse Expeditions: For experienced riders — challenging tours in remote areas.