MN
Kharkhorin
The site of Karakorum, capital of the Mongol Empire, and Erdene Zuu, Mongolia’s oldest surviving Buddhist monastery
The site of Karakorum, capital of the Mongol Empire, and Erdene Zuu, Mongolia’s oldest surviving Buddhist monastery
Founded in 1585 by Abtai Sain Khan, Erdene Zuu was the first major Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. Most of its buildings were destroyed in 1937, but several temples survived as a museum, and it has been a working monastery again since 1990.
Small fees are charged for entry and photography in the temples.
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC0
The monastery’s square wall, about 400m on each side, is topped by 108 white stupas, a sacred number in Buddhism.
Photo: Marcin Konsek, CC BY-SA 4.0
A small modern museum, opened in 2011, with a scale model of 13th-century Karakorum and finds from excavations, including coins, ceramics and tools from the empire’s trade links.
Photo: Batu, CC BY-SA 3.0
Two carved granite turtles, which once supported stone tablets, are among the few visible remains of the imperial city.
Photo: SamarMagicTours1, CC BY-SA 4.0
The UNESCO-listed valley has grasslands, nomadic herders and archaeological sites. Upstream, the Ulaan Tsutgalan waterfall drops about 20m into a basalt gorge; it is usually visited on an overnight trip.
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC0
Food is simple: ger camps and guesthouses serve buuz, khuushuur, tsuivan noodles and mutton soup. In summer, try airag, fermented mare’s milk, offered by herding families.
Kharkhorin has a few small restaurants and shops; vegetarians should tell their camp in advance.
Kharkhorin is about 360km from Ulaanbaatar on a paved road, around 5 to 6 hours by car. Daily buses run from Ulaanbaatar’s Dragon bus station, but most visitors come with a tour or a hired driver as part of a longer route.
Citizens of the US, Germany, Japan and some other countries can visit Mongolia without a visa, and a temporary visa-free scheme for 34 more countries, including the UK, Australia and most EU states, runs until 1 January 2027. Other nationalities need an e-visa; check current rules before you travel.
Mongolia uses the tögrög (MNT). Cards work in Ulaanbaatar, but carry cash for the countryside, where most travellers join a tour or hire a driver and guide, which is the main cost of a trip.
Prices are approximate.
Monastery, museum and the Orkhon Valley.
Visit Erdene Zuu Monastery and its temples, see the turtle rock and the site of Karakorum, then the Kharkhorum Museum.
Drive up the Orkhon Valley to the Ulaan Tsutgalan waterfall, or ride horses and visit a herding family near town.
Walk clockwise, dress modestly and ask before photographing monks.
The road from Ulaanbaatar is paved, but tracks to the waterfall are rough.
Nights are cold even in July.
Carry tögrög; cards are rarely accepted.
Quick answers for planning time in Kharkhorin.
About 360km, 5 to 6 hours by road.
The capital of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, founded by Chinggis Khaan in 1220.
It was founded in 1585.
It is part of the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape, inscribed in 2004.
June to September.
Offline maps are essential outside Ulaanbaatar, where signal is patchy.
Free
Few people speak English outside the capital; camera mode reads Cyrillic signs and menus.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Mongolia travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.