Terelj National Park, Mongolia

Situated just a couple of hours drive away from Mongolia's capital, Ulaan Bataar, Terelj National Park yields some scenery that seems worlds apart from that of the Gobi. It is thus a very popular weekend getaway for both locals and tourists alike.



The Park covers a huge area (typical of Mongolia!), but a section of it has been developed for tourism. There are semi-permanent tourist gher (Mongolian yurt) camps in the area made out of wood, and there are even restaurants and shops! But the surrounds are indeed beautiful and some say, its like the Alps. Hiking is definitely a highlight, and in summer, there're lots of flowers and birds in the park. My guide also said that during the right season, you can pick wild strawberries in the park and eat! You could also hire horses for rides further into the park, but even short hikes could yield fantastic viewpoints - excellent for photography as in the early morning, you don't have to go far for your sunrise shoots!!



While the Gobi is definitely an item in your itinerary in Mongolia, do check out Terelj National Park as well if you have some extra time! After some hard travelling in the dry Gobi desert, the lush green in the park is a welcoming sight and my group had a wonderful relaxing time at Terelj indeed!!