Attractions of Mongolia

Ger Camp in the Mongolian steppe

The highlight of any trip to Mongolia, or stopover on the Trans-Mongolian Express, is to spend a few days in the Mongolian countryside living in the traditional felt Ger tents. Three-quarters of the Mongolian population still live in gers, many of them moving nomadically several times a year. Despite this, they are very comfortable, usually housing four people and with a location that's unbeatable. Whether in the drier landscapes of the Gobi in the south or the more lush green hills and valleys of the steppes in the north, the scenery is pristine, untouched and spectacular. Mongolia is the least densely populated country on earth and the isolation is very evident - you will feel completely removed from every aspect of the modern world. The surrounding countryside is perfect for exploring on foot or on horseback. There is also the chance to meet the local herdsmen, learn about their nomadic lifestyles and perhaps have a go at their traditional sports like archery and wrestling. Mongolia offers one of the most unique, relaxing and memorable travel experiences in the world.

Ulaan Bataar

Ulaan Bataar, the capital of Mongolia, is a bizarre and eclectic city, combining traditional Mongolian features with decaying communist architecture. Big apartment blocks exist hand in hand with traditional ger tents. The city is centred on Sukhbaatar Square, on which lies the parliament and statues of Genghis Khan and Damdin Sukhbaatar, the independence hero. A trek up to the summit of Zaisan Hill offers panoramic views of the city and a chance to examine the Soviet war memorial. Back in town, there are several excellent museums to learn about Mongolia including the Museum of Mongolian History which recounts the country's fascinating story, particularly the reign of Genghis Khan, as well as the Museum of Natural History with its excellent dinosaur display and the Fine Arts Museum. The Gandan Monastery is a highlight of Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia's largest and most important monastery while Bogd Khaan Palace was the winter palace of the last king of Mongolia. Don't leave town without trying a Mongolian barbeque washed down with Chinggis Khan beer and experiencing Mongolian culture at a performance of traditional dance and throat singing.

Northeast of Ulaan Bataar, the Tuul River flows through Terelj National Park and the Khan Khentii Protected Area. This is a region of stunning natural beauty with vast meadows, wildflowers in spring and summer, alpine forests and amazing rock formations.

Amarbayasgalant Monastery is Mongolia's second most important Buddhist shrine, located in the Iven Gol River valley in Selenge province just north of Ulaan Bataar. It was built during the Manchu Empire in the 18th century and is dedicated to Undur Gegeen Zanabazar, the great Mongolian Buddhist and sculptor. It escaped the Communist purges of the 1930s and is still a working monastery today.

Khustain Nuruu National Park, just west of Ulaan Bataar, is famous for its reintroduction of Mongolia's wild horse, or Przewalski's horse. This magnificent native Mongolian creature was once almost extinct but thanks to a unique reintroduction program by Mongolian and international organisations, they now roam free again amongst the steppes of this park. A hike in the park will allow you to see herds of these wild horses.

The Selenge River is Mongolia's largest in terms of volume and it flows northward into Lake Baikal. The area around the Selenge River is one of Mongolia's most beautiful regions, an ideal place to stop at a ger tent and explore the picturesque surroundings.

Lake Khovsgol is located in the north of Mongolia near the Siberian border and is perhaps the most scenic area in the country. The 2,760 square kilometre lake has clear, pure water and is surrounded by mountains and lush green forests and grasslands. Popular with tourists the area is ripe for exploration on foot or horseback, or simply relax or swim by the lakeside.

Northwest of the ancient capital of Karakorum lies Khorgo National Park, a beautifully scenic area centred around the Great White Lake, or Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan. The natural volcanic lake is surrounded by hills and the extinct Khorgo volcano. Hikes to the top of these peaks offer stunning views of a dramatic landscape.

Karakorum was the 13th century capital of Genghis Khan's Mongol Empire but little remains today but some ancient ruins. Erdene Zuu (or Hundred Treasures) Monastery was built in 1586 from the ruins of the old capital and was Mongolia's first Buddhist centre. Much of the monastery was destroyed by Stalin in the 1930s but it is being restored as Buddhism experiences a resurgence in Mongolia. There are three main temples in the walled compound dedicated to the three stages of the Buddha's life.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape

The Gobi Desert region in southern Mongolia is home to some of the country's most dramatic landscapes. Within the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, Yolyn Am is a spectacular gorge, 20km long and so narrow and deep (with cliff faces up to 200 metres) that there is permanent ice on the valley floor. The area is renowned for its wildlife with opportunities to see endangered animals such as Siberian ibex, Argali sheep and snow leopard. North of here lies Bayanzag, known as Flaming Sands due to the colours of the red, yellow and orange sands at sunset and sunrise. This region is a famous dinosaur fossil exploration site. Elsewhere in the Gobi, the Khongoriin Els sand dunes are Mongolia's largest, up to 200 metres in size, and known as the 'Singing Sand Dunes' due to the sounds that resonate through them on windy days.

The Uvs Nuur Basin is located in western Mongolia and across the border in Russia. It covers over ten thousand km² and is the northernmost of the enclosed basins of central Asia. It's an important ecosystem for wildlife, with the Uvs Nuur Lake frequented by sea birds and migratory birds, and the mountains a home for the endangered snow leopard, Asiatic ibex and Argali sheep.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Uvs Nuur Basin

The three rock carving sites of the Mongolian Altai illustrate the development of culture in Mongolia over a period of 12,000 years. The images show the transition from a time dominated by the hunting of large game to a herding lifestyle and later to a horse-dependent nomadic lifestyle which emerged during the early 1st millennium BC. They represent an invaluable testament to human cultural development in the region.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai