Literally meaning "rhododendron stream", the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park lies 55 kilometers east of Ulaanbaatar at an altitude of 1,600 meters, within the strictly protected Khentii zone. A paved road connects the national park to the capital, with travel time between 1.5 to 2 hours.

The government placed this 2,932-hectare territory under protection in 1995. It is a mountainous region composed of forested steppes. The park is home to numerous bird species (250), elk and bears. Many rock formations, sculpted by erosion, delight climbers. Across the plains, wild flowers and edelweiss dot the landscape. The park is traversed by several rivers, notably the Tuul, Terelj and Baruunbayan.

While the first 20 kilometers of the park have been developed for tourism (with numerous ger camps, some offering exceptional facilities), the remainder of the park, extending over 2,864 km², offers wild and pristine terrain, with much of it inaccessible by vehicle.

Near the park entrance, you'll discover numerous rock formations, including the Turtle Rock, "Melkhii Khad", an intriguing 24-meter-high formation resembling a turtle, and the Old Man Reading Rock.