Hotel Review: Erkhes Resort, Terelj National Park, Mongolia
On my recent trip to Mongolia in May, I booked this overnight tour to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park that included an overnight stay in a traditional shared accommodation ger camp. Surprisingly, even though it was just barely the beginning of the tourist season, the traditional ger was fully booked and instead we spent the night at Erkhes Resort.
I was absolutely looking forward to my version of “roughing it” but there couldn't have been a better place to end the day than Erkhes Resort. Erkhes Resort strikes the perfect balance between authentic Mongolian tradition and modern comfort. The main difference between Erkhes Resort and traditional ger camps is that we had an en suite bathroom inside of our ger. Hallelujah!
Location
Located in the heart of Terelj National Park, Erkhes Resort is surrounded by rolling green hills, dramatic granite rock formations, grazing horses, and some of the most beautiful scenery in Mongolia. The setting alone is worth the stay. Whether you're visiting Turtle Rock, hiking nearby trails, or horseback riding with a local nomadic family, the resort makes an excellent base for exploring the park.
With almost no light pollution and very little noise, the entire valley felt incredibly peaceful. I woke up early following morning so I could spend time outside with the horses. There was dew on the ground, I had a sweater on, and I was able to walk around the whole herd. It was magical. Truly an experience I will forever love.
In addition to traditional ger, the resort also had a few wooden and glass front cabins available for larger families.
Across the street from the resort is a coffee slash cashmere shop. I found both to be well priced and worth the walk over. They also accepted credit cards as payment.
Dining
I have not been able to find a website for this resort, but I have found other reviews online and the food they showed was different than what we were served. This leads me to believe that the menu may change based on the season or the tour package. With that said, dinner and breakfast were both included during our stay and both meals were delicious traditional Mongolian food.
For dinner we were served a broth soup with vegetables (specifically cauliflower and broccoli) and mutton, alongside Khuushuur, Mongolian meat pockets. Hot tea, hot water and suutei tsai, salted milk tea, were available as well.
For breakfast we were served fried eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, toast and a sausage. This style of breakfast is common throughout much of Asia, particularly at hotels that cater to international visitors. It may not be elaborate, but it's consistently reliable, tasty, and a great way to start the day before heading back out into the national park. Suutei tsai was once again available.
Before leaving Ulaanbaatar, our guide and driver stopped at a grocery store so everyone could stock up on snacks and drinks. I highly recommend taking advantage of this stop. If you're a morning coffee drinker, don't forget to grab a coffee or your preferred caffeine fix for the next day. While I had plenty of bottled water and picked up a coffee, I wished I had grabbed a few extra snacks to enjoy with dinner. One taste of suutei tsai was enough for me, and while the meals were satisfying, there weren't any second helpings offered. The portions were perfectly adequate, but if you typically eat a bit more or like having something to snack on in the evening, you'll be happy you packed a few extras.
The Luxury Gers
Inside our ger was a comfortable queen-sized bed along with a twin bed, crisp linens, heating, electricity, and a private ensuite bathroom with a limited-capacity hot water tank. The traditional circular architecture remained intact, but the overall experience felt much more like glamping than camping.
If you've never stayed in a traditional Mongolian ger before, Erkhes Resort is an excellent place for your first experience. I was especially excited to have an ensuite bathroom. As someone who inevitably wakes up in the middle of the night, venturing outside into the Mongolian wilderness at 3 a.m. in search of a restroom was my biggest concern. Having those modern comforts made the experience feel both authentic and incredibly comfortable.
Also very typical of Asian bathroom amenities - the towels were very small. There were two and I’d consider these dish towels sized. I’ve lived in South Korea long enough to not be surprised by this, but somehow I always am. I love a blanket sized bath towel.
Family Friendly
If you’re visiting with your family, this resort has many amenities for children. There’s a playground located between the dining hall and the gers, as well as a basketball court.
Kids can safely explore the grounds, watch horses grazing nearby, and simply enjoy being outdoors without screens. The atmosphere here feels relaxed and it's easy to slow down and appreciate the scenery together.
Amenities
In the bathroom, a hygiene kit was available for each guest with a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, soap and shampoo.
Apart from that, we were told that WiFi was available at the resort but when asked, they told us it wasn’t working. That was my only issue because my phone service also wasn’t working.
If your itinerary allows, I highly recommend spending at least one night in Terelj National Park rather than treating it as a day trip. If you’re driving yourself around Terelj and not booking a tour, I’d recommend checking out Erkhes Resort as part of your stay. It offers the comfort of a boutique hotel while preserving the unique experience of sleeping in a traditional Mongolian ger.
