Personal recommendations from the Flygram team on their favorite under-the-radar spots
You know that feeling when you ask a chef where they eat on their night off? That’s exactly what we’re doing here. Our travel curators spend their days crafting extraordinary experiences for discerning travelers, but when they clock out and swap their itineraries for spontaneity, where do they actually go?
We asked our team to share the places they return to again and again—not because they’re on any “must-see” list, but because they’re genuinely unforgettable. These are the spots that remind us why we fell in love with travel in the first place.
Grey Seed Restaurant: Where Our Team Gathers (Anytime, Really)
“If you see half our staff here on a Saturday evening, don’t be surprised,” laughs Saruul, our senior destination curator. Grey Seed has become something of an unofficial Flygram headquarters outside of work hours, and for good reason.
This isn’t just another trendy restaurant—it’s the kind of place where exceptional food meets the warmth of genuine hospitality. The seasonal menu changes with what’s fresh and available, which means every visit feels like a discovery. Whether you’re dropping in for a leisurely weekend brunch or celebrating something special over dinner, the quality never wavers.
Our team’s insider tip? Come hungry and trust the chef. The dishes that don’t make it onto tourist blogs are often the most memorable.
Bogd Uul Trail to Agaarlay Resort: The Perfect Mountain Day
Bataar, who leads our adventure experiences, has a ritual: “Every few weeks, I need to get up into Bogd Uul. Not for clients, not for reconnaissance—just for me.”
The hiking trails winding through Bogd Khan Mountain offer something rare in our connected world: genuine solitude. The ancient forests, rocky outcrops, and panoramic views provide the kind of reset that no spa day can match. But here’s where Bataar’s local knowledge elevates the experience.
“After a solid morning hike, I head straight to Agaarlay resort,” he explains. “They do this incredible traditional meal that tastes even better when you’ve earned it with a few hours on the mountain. There’s nothing quite like sitting on their terrace, muscles pleasantly tired, enjoying food that connects you to this landscape.”
It’s the combination that makes it special—the raw beauty of the trail followed by the comfort of exceptional hospitality.
Terelj River Kayaking: Meditation in Motion
“People think of kayaking as adventure, but on the Terelj River, it’s more like moving meditation,” says Ariuna, our wellness travel specialist.
The Terelj River doesn’t demand expert skills or adrenaline-junkie bravado. Instead, it offers something more valuable: a few hours of genuine presence. The gentle current carries you through landscapes that shift from dramatic rock formations to serene valleys, all while the only sounds are your paddle dipping into water and birds calling from the banks.
Ariuna’s advice? “Go in the late afternoon when the light turns golden. Bring a waterproof camera, but don’t feel obligated to use it. Sometimes the best souvenirs are the ones you keep in your memory alone.”
ATV Adventures in East Bogd: Off the Beaten Path (Literally)
Ganbold, who manages our adventure logistics, has explored nearly every corner of the region. His personal favorite escape? Taking an ATV into the eastern reaches of Bogd Mountain.
“This isn’t about speed or showing off,” he clarifies. “It’s about accessing places where roads don’t go. You’ll find valleys and viewpoints that simply don’t appear in guidebooks because most people never make it out here.”
The terrain varies from challenging rocky paths to open grasslands where you can really open up the throttle. What makes it special isn’t just the riding—it’s the destination. Hidden springs, ancient rock formations, and vistas that make you understand why this land has inspired reverence for centuries.
“I’ve brought friends out here who’ve lived in the area their whole lives,” Ganbold adds, “and they’re always shocked by what they’ve been missing.”
Terelj Hotel: The Sanctuary We Actually Use
When Oyunaa, our luxury experiences director, needs a genuine break, she doesn’t dream of distant beaches. She books herself into Terelj Hotel.
“I know it seems almost too convenient,” she admits, “but this place has everything I need to completely disconnect and recharge. And I’m quite particular about my downtime.”
The swimming pool manages to feel both invigorating and peaceful. The spa treatments use traditional techniques that our international guests often discover for the first time, but locals have trusted for generations. The cinema offers an unexpected escape—sometimes you just want to sink into a great film in perfect comfort. And the restaurant consistently delivers the kind of meals that satisfy without feeling heavy or overly fussy.
“I can spend an entire weekend here and genuinely forget about email,” Oyunaa says. “That’s worth its weight in gold.”
The Gun Range: An Unexpected Favorite
This one surprises people, but Erdene, who handles our unique experiences portfolio, is adamant about including it.
“I’m not a gun enthusiast in my regular life,” he explains, “but there’s something about the focus and discipline required at the range that clears my head completely. You can’t think about work deadlines or tomorrow’s problems when you need to concentrate on breath control and steady hands.”
For visitors, it’s a chance to try something they might never experience in their home countries, under proper supervision and in a controlled environment. For Erdene, it’s become a quarterly ritual.
“It’s meditative in its own way,” he reflects. “And it always reminds me that stepping outside your comfort zone doesn’t always mean traveling thousands of miles. Sometimes it just means trying something completely different from your normal routine.”
Paragliding: The Perspective We Chase
“Every time I think I’ve seen every angle of this landscape, I go paragliding and realize I know nothing,” laughs Boldbaatar, our aerial experiences coordinator.
Paragliding offers something that no hike, drive, or even helicopter tour quite captures: silent, soaring freedom. You’re not sealed in a machine or focused on the trail at your feet. You’re simply floating, steering with gentle shifts of weight, seeing the world the way eagles do.
“The first time is pure adrenaline,” Boldbaatar admits. “But by your second or third flight, you relax into it. That’s when it becomes transcendent. You start noticing how the rivers carve through valleys, how nomadic settlements dot the landscape, how incredibly vast and yet intimate this place feels from above.”
He pauses, then adds: “I’ve done hundreds of flights, and I still get excited every single time.”
Weekly Music Events: Where Culture Lives
Nominaa, our cultural programs curator, has her finger firmly on the pulse of the local music scene. “If you want to understand a place, don’t just visit its museums—experience its living culture.”
Every week brings different musical events, from traditional throat singing performances to contemporary fusion concerts that blend ancient instruments with modern sensibilities. There are intimate jazz evenings, electronic music nights that draw crowds from across the city, and impromptu folk gatherings where locals and travelers mix naturally.
“What I love is the unpredictability,” Nominaa explains. “You might stumble onto an unknown artist who completely blows you away, or find yourself in a venue you’d never have discovered on your own. Tourism is wonderful, but this is different—this is culture as it actually happens, not performed or packaged.”
Her recommendation? “Check the weekly listings when you arrive, pick something that intrigues you, and just go. Even if the musical style isn’t usually your thing, the energy and authenticity will stay with you long after the last note fades.”
The Common Thread
As different as these experiences are, our team keeps returning to them for the same fundamental reason: they’re real. Not manufactured for travelers, not optimized for Instagram, not diluted to appeal to the widest possible audience.
Grey Seed serves exceptional food because the chef cares about quality, not because it’s a tourist destination. The Bogd Uul trails are stunning because nature is stunning, not because someone designed them for maximum photo opportunities. The weekly music events thrive because locals genuinely love music, not because they’re performing culture for visitors.
This is what we mean when we talk about authentic travel experiences at Flygram. We don’t just research destinations—we live in them, return to them, love them genuinely. And when we design itineraries for our guests, we draw from this well of personal experience.
These aren’t the hidden gems we’re keeping secret from you. They’re the hidden gems we’re excited to share, the way you’d share your favorite discoveries with a good friend who’s visiting your city.
Because at the end of the day, the best travel experiences aren’t the ones that look best on paper. They’re the ones that make you feel most alive, most present, most connected to wherever you happen to be.
Ready to explore these hidden gems with expert guidance? Contact the Flygram team to design your personalized adventure. We’ll craft an itinerary that goes beyond the guidebook—because the best destinations are the ones locals actually love.
