An Introduction to MONGOLIA

Mongolia conjures up images of the legends of Genghis Khan; horses galloping through the expansive open plains, and camels crossing the Gobi Desert. The warm hearted locals will inspire you as they go about their lives with a gentle peace and humility, and most of all they will reward you with an experience of a lifetime. These images are true depictions of all that you will encounter in Mongolia and much more.

Ulaanbaatar

Located on the Tuul River with a backdrop of the Khairkhan Mountains surrounding the city, Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia’s capital as well as its main transport and industrial hub. This is a relatively laid back town which is steadily developing into a new and modernized city, whilst still maintaining its old world traditional hospitability.

Kharkhorin

Kharkhorin is the country’s former capital and still attracts many visitors for its intriguing history dating back to the 13th Century, with Genghis Khan at the helm. Marvel in what was once the biggest empire in the world; witness the symbolic ruins and carvings of this ancient realm.

Gobi Desert

The Gobi Desert is home to many of Mongolia’s classic and renowned landscapes. This vast and remote terrain consists of the largest sand dunes within Mongolia, at Khongoryn Els, which reach up to 800 metres in height. See the scenery at Eagle Valley, which is covered in metre long thick ice for the greater part of the year.

Khovsgol

No amount of words can do justice to Khovsgol, which is one of the most scenic areas in Mongolia. Known for its wild mountains and alpine lakes. Lake Khovsgol is the deepest in Mongolia and is named after the Turkish word meaning ‘lake of the blue waters’. The lake is encircled by 2000 metre high mountains with a stunning backdrop of lush forests and meadows.

Naadam Festival

The biggest event in the Mongolian calendar is the yearly Naadam Festival held in Ulaanbaatar each July. These ‘nomad Olympics’ derived from the Mongol armies who would gather and hold assemblies as well as hunting expeditions. The main events of the festival are wrestling, archery and horse racing and winning holds enormous prestige within the community.

Country Map

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Images from MONGOLIA

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