Tsenkher Hot Springs & Great White Lake — 7 Days
Overview
A week through the green heart of Arkhangai, soaking in Tsenkher's hot springs, camping by the Great White Lake and meeting yak-herding families.
Arkhangai is the Mongolia of postcards: rolling green steppe, larch-clad mountains, volcanic craters and rivers full of fish. On this seven-day journey you travel west from Ulaanbaatar into this lush central province, trading the capital's bustle for wide valleys dotted with herders' gers and grazing yaks.
The trip pairs two of central Mongolia's natural highlights. At Tsenkher you can soak away the dust of the road in geothermal hot springs that bubble up at scalding temperatures before being cooled into open-air pools. A few hours on, the Great White Lake (Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur) sits framed by the extinct Khorgo volcano, a place to hike, fish and simply watch the light change over the water.
Throughout, you stay close to the people who shape this landscape, sharing tea with yak herders, learning how dairy is made, and sleeping in traditional ger camps. This is an information-only itinerary; tell us your dates and group size and we will tailor it to you.
Good to know
- Best season
- June–September
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Group size
- 2–12 people
Fitness: Suitable for most travellers; expect long but comfortable drives on rough roads and short, easy walks.
Highlights
- Bathe in the open-air geothermal hot springs at Tsenkher
- Camp beside Terkhiin Tsagaan (Great White) Lake under huge night skies
- Hike the rim of the extinct Khorgo volcano and its lava fields
- Visit a yak-herding family and try fresh dairy products
- Drive through the green valleys and larch forests of Arkhangai
- Optional fishing and short walks around the lakeshore
Itinerary
Leave Ulaanbaatar in the morning and drive west across open steppe towards the Orkhon Valley, around 6–7 hours on the road with stops along the way. In the afternoon visit the Erdene Zuu monastery on the edge of Kharkhorin, built on the site of the old imperial capital. Settle into a ger camp and enjoy your first evening in the countryside. Meals: L, D. Accommodation: ger camp.
What's included
- Private 4x4 vehicle with experienced driver for the whole route
- English-speaking guide throughout the trip
- 6 nights' accommodation in ger camps and a guesthouse
- All meals as listed in the itinerary (B/L/D)
- One soak at the Tsenkher hot springs (entry fee)
- National park and protected-area entrance fees
- Bottled drinking water during drives
Not included
- International flights to and from Ulaanbaatar
- Travel insurance (required)
- Mongolian visa where applicable
- Alcoholic drinks and personal expenses
- Tips for guide and driver
- Optional activities such as horse or fishing hire
Gallery
You may also like
DornodSummerEastern Steppe Wildlife — 6 Days
A six-day journey into Dornod's boundless grasslands to track Mongol gazelle herds, explore the Mongol Daguur wetlands, and watch the steppe's rich birdlife.
KhentiiSummerGenghis Khan Heartland — 5 Days
A five-day journey into Khentii, the green homeland where Genghis Khan was born, riding horses along the Onon River beneath the sacred Khan Khentii range.
UvsSummerWestern Lakes & Nomad Life — 10 Days
A far-western expedition through the Uvs Nuur basin, where salt lakes, dunes and deep nomad homestays open up a Mongolia few travellers ever reach.