Northeast of Ulaanbaatar, the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park is situated in Töv Aimag (central Mongolia). It is one of the most visited national parks in Mongolia because it is so close to the capital and it offers beautiful scenery and the region is well established for tourism with its ger camps around the Terelj resort.
Terelj has long been a holiday resort for people from Ulaanbaatar. The entrance to the national park is 16km from Terelj village on the main UB–Terelj road. Established as a national park in 1993, the area covers 293,168ha; precious stones have been mined there for over 100 years and continue to be mined. Parts of the park are permanently inhabited by local herders who keep livestock in the buffer zones.
Hike in summer or ski in winter at the Terelj Resort in this beautiful national park.
Lying in the valley of the Terelj River 80km northeast of Ulaanbaatar, Terelj Resort is part of the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. It is one of the most visited areas in Mongolia on account of its magnificent scenery and its proximity to Ulaanbaatar. During the summer season there are great opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, swimming, rafting, riding and birdwatching. In winter frozen rivers provide skating and the snow-covered valleys are ideal for cross-country skiing. Also here is the Ariyapala Meditation Centre. Tours are offered to the centre – a temple-style building set apart on a mountainside in Terelj area 1km from Turtle Rock – by Selena Travel (www.selenatravel.com). The resort provides good accommodation with first-class hotels like the Terelj Luxury Hotel.