We set out early to travel to Orkhon Valley on unmarked roads through the steppe. On the way, we passed a lot of animals including camels and horses. Luckily, we had a couple of stretching breaks, and then stopped for lunch at a friendly restaurant called Smoke and Steppe. After lunch, it wasn’t too much further to Kharkhorum. First, we visited the museum to learn about the history of the area. The gift shop there was great, with a lot of traditional crafts. I bought a few things for myself and for gifts. Next, we visited the Erdene Zuu Monastery, which is a mix of old and new buildings. It’s beautiful and colourful.
Our guide said we should go to see the original stone turtles in the field so we tried to drive there, but there were blockades. Eventually we walked in the strong winds to go see the statues. On the way, we passed a man selling antiques on a table in the middle of the field. The items looked interesting and old, and I really liked the stone snuff bottles, but I didn’t buy anything. Finally, we went back to the camp to relax and have dinner.
In the morning, I enjoyed the sunrise and walked up the surrounding hills to take in the view all around. The greenery and overview of the town and camp were beautiful and peaceful. The weather was slightly cold and windy, but clear and bright.
Highlights
- Erdene Zuu Monastery
- Original stone turtle statues in the nearby field
- Kharkhorum (Aka Kharkhorin) museum including the gift shop
- Souvenir shopping area
- Secret of the Silk Road Ger Camp
- Hiking in the surrounding hills
- Watching the sunset and sunrise
Before you go
- There are very few cash machines in the Gobi, so ensure to get your cash in Ulaanbaatar
- Weather can be warm during the day and cold at night, but at least we had a heater here
- Mobile data is good but there is no wifi
- It is safe to wander around the area on foot
- There are stray dogs around but they seem to be friendly with people even if not each other
Transport
- For travel around the rural areas, you must go with a driver who knows the area. We booked via Agate Travel which then used a local company called Amicus Travel. Luckily, we had an excellent guide and driver!
Accommodation
- We stayed at The Secret of the Silk Road luxury resort. We had our own bathroom and shower in the Ger! The huge dining hall had excellent food and a full bar. And there was even a cafe and shop in the complex. We also had 24-hour electricity and an electric heater.
- Since there are few websites reviewing Ger camps, I wrote my own Mongolia Ger Reviews.
Food
On the way from Ongi, our travel to Orkhon Valley took about 6 hours including the lunch break. We had an excellent lunch at Smoke and Steppe. The owner was also the chef. He made BBQ beef and sides of boortsog (fried bread with herbs), rice, coleslaw and fresh fries. For the vegetarian meal, he made me a stir fry with peppers, mushrooms, broccoli and carrots. And I tried all of the sides except for the coleslaw. It was all so fresh and delicious. The setting reminded me of a diner and was very cosy. We had a good chat with the owner via our guide, and he said that he runs the restaurant only during the summer for people passing through.
At the Secret of the Silk Road Luxury resort, we enjoyed dinner, snacks and breakfast. For dinner, the buffet had a big selection. I had a broccoli soup followed by a mix of vegetables, noodles, potatoes and chicken. It was all very tasty. We also had a sea buckthorn mousse for dessert. There was a full bar so I also had sea buckthorn juice. Yum!
At the cafe within the complex, I had a chocolate chip cookie which came from a bakery in town. It was really good, and a nice change from eating granola bars as my afternoon snack. They also sold coffees, teas, chocolates, macarons and more.
Breakfast was a buffet with a large selection of foods, Western and Asian. And one lady was making fresh omelettes. It was good to have a big breakfast before setting out on the road again.
FAQs
Q: Do I need a tour guide?
A: Yes, you need a driver and preferably a guide to reach this area and see the nature
Q: Do people speak English?
A: Most people at the Ger camps speak a little English, but we relied a lot on our guide
Q: Is it a walkable area?
A: It is not walkable to get to the area, however it is possible to walk in the hills around the camp
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