Places to discover

Best places to visit in Mongolia

Mongolia is landlocked between China, Russia and Kazakhstan, so does not border the ocean at any point. However, it has a striking variety of landscapes on offer! From Ulan Bator (or Ulaanbaatar), the capital city that never sleeps, to the darkest depths of the Altai mountains, travellers who have crossed this country will tell you exactly what to see and do here.

Mongolia is, above all, the home of Gengis Khan, the national hero. Many travellers set off retracing his footsteps up to the immense 40m statue in Tsonjin Boldog. Travelling along the Trans-Mongolian railway is also an absolute must! It crosses the country from the north to the south, and goes all the way to Beijing in the south and up to Russia in the north. Finally, one of the must-see locations is, without a doubt, Ulaanbataar. It is chock-full of museums, typical boutiques, markets, and with almost 1 million inhabitants, it is home to almost 1/3 of the Mongolian population.

Mongolia is also a very religious country. Buddhism and shamanism live alongside one another and the country has a very peaceful atmosphere about it. Nomads and shepherds remind us that, long ago, we too used to live among nature. You will be pleasantly surprised at just how hospitable its people are.

Spending a week with nomads is an unforgettable experience - living among them and like them, you'll be taken back to humanity's roots!
Set off to meet the Dukha people, a community of reindeer herders in the Taiga. A moment to remember. Finally, if you like a more active holiday, cross the Altai and its mountains or set off on horseback around the area. The best way to disconnect!

Terelj

A favourite spot with city-dwellers who come to unwind, the Gorkhi Terelj National Park is famous for its huge, granite rocks and sublime, Alpine surrounds.

Bayan Ulgii

Lying in the extreme west of Mongolia, next to the Chinese and Russian borders, Bayan-Ölgii is the highest aimag (province) in the whole country.

Altai Tavan Bogd

Tavan Bogd, in Bayan-Ölgii Province, is the highest mountain massif (4,380 m) in Mongolia. The national park that shares its name extends over an area of 6,400 km².

Tsambagarav

Situated in the west of Mongolia, Tsambagarav's summit is 4,200m high. The region's nomads consider it a sacred mountain.

Khustai

With its amazing animals, insects, plants, mosses and lichen, at only 95km from Ulan Bator, the Khustai National Park is a must-see in Mongolia.

Karakorum

The former capital of the Mongol Empire, Silk Road trading post and home to the great Genghis Khan, Karakorum is in Central Mongolia in the Arkhangaï region.

Cecerleg

Tsetserleg is the capital of the Arkhangai 'aimag'. At more than 1,600m high, this lush, verdant town , which sits in little valley, stands out from the rest.

Pausing in the shallows of the Orkhon River

Orkhon valley

It would be a real shame to restrict a trip to Orkhon Valley to just visits to the Erdene Zuu Monastery in Karakorum and the Orkhon waterfalls. In fact, could there be a more wonderful place than this for the traveller who wants to fully immerse themselves in the nomadic lifestyle?

Khuvsgul Lake

Lake Khövsgöl is considered sacred by the people who inhabit the area and is one of the few lakes in the world estimated to be several million years old. It's also the second largest of all the lakes you may encounter on your trip to Mongolia.

Ulan Bator

Ulan Bator is Mongolia's astonishing capital city, where contempory life and tradition merge and yurts sit proud next to modern buildings. This noisy, chaotic city is situated in the heart of an immense and semi-desertic steppe that was once home to Genghis Khan.

Gobi

The Gobi Desert is an impressive region that boasts a remarkable landscape. A moment of inspiration, where a rich palette of colours paint the surrounds.

Bulgan

Bulgan is the capital of the Bulgan 'aimag' and is situated to the northwest of Ulan Bator. It's more of a stopover along the road leading to Lake Khövsgöl than a tourist hotspot.

Erdenet

Capital of the little province of Orkhon, Erdenet is Mongolia's third largest town. It's thrived thanks to a large copper mine that employs around 8,000 people and is currently the fourth largest in the world.

Chuluut River

The Chuluut River stems from the Hangay Mountains and flows up to the north of Arkhangai Province, where it joins three other rivers, the Ider, Delgermurmun and Selenga.

Selenge River

The Selenga is a confluent of the River Ider. It's mouth is in Mongolia's Khangaï Mountains and this majestic river forms a delta as it reaches Lake Baïkal in Russia. It flows along a staggering 1,470km!

Yoliin Am

Yolyn Amis situated in the Gobi Desert and is famous for glaciers that don't melt, even in the scorching summer heat. Sadly, the glaciers have been receeding in recent years.

Saynshand

The entrance to the Gobi desert is within easy reach. It is an easy-to-reach destination, whether you are coming from China or Ulaanbaatar, the capital.

The bell to ring to announce your arrival

Shambala

The sacred site of Shambala is situated in the Gobi desert. It is a pleasant cultural visit for those who are interested in religions and who wish to immerse themselves in a different world for a few hours.

Glaciers Turgen

Mount Turgen rises above a vast semi-desertic landscape comprising of steppe and tundra.

Arkhangaï

Arkhangai is a stunning central Mongolian 'aimag' or province that's dotted with forests and lakes. It's name can be translated as 'Northern Hangay', as it circles part of the Hangay range.

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