Khuvsgul Lake

Khuvsgul Lake is known as Dark Blue Pearl among beautiful mountains.

Lake Khuvsgul is Mongolia’s largest and deepest lake. Located in the northernmost province, it is the largest tributary stream of Lake Baikal in Russia. 96 rivers and streams flow out of Khuvsgul, among them the Egiin River, which then joins the Selenge along its eventual path to Lake Baikal.

Lake Khuvsgul is 136 km long, water beneath 100 meters & 36 km wide, 262 meters deep and is located at an altitude of 1645 m above sea level.

Taiga Fauna and Flora, Tsaatan, practising reindeer breeding are the main attractions for tourists. Lake Khuvsgul is the important migration route for birds from Siberia, thus facilitating marvellous opportunities for bird watching.

Khoridol Saridag Mountain Range

The Khoridol Saridag Mountains are a protected area in the north of Mongolia, home to remote communities, plentiful wildlife encounters, and swathes of pristine wilderness. With some of the most exciting and beautiful mountain trekking trails in Mongolia, groups travelling to the remote Khoridol Saridag Mountain Range are unlikely to encounter any other people, offering a stark contrast to the busy capital, Ulaanbaatar.  Students visiting this area can assist in projects with rural communities, trek through the forests, summit Uran Dosh Uul (2,702 meters), and follow the rivers of the Darkhad Valley.

Arsai Waterfall

The highest waterfall in Mongolia is located on the Arsai River, Khuvsgul province. Apart from the fact that the largest one, 24 meters high waterfall lies in Orkhon Valley, the length of Arsai waterfall is about 70 meters high. Khuvsgul province and Khuvsgul Lake have so many natural treasures.

Uran Extinct Volcano

This extinct volcano lies near the road and stretches from Bulgan town to Moron, the administrative city of Khuvsgul province for 80 kilometres northwest of Bulgan town through the territory of Kutag- Undur Soum. The reserve occupies a territory of 8 square kilometres with an elevation of 1,686 meters above sea level.

It has been protected since 1965, and today enjoys the statue of ” Natural Monument “. On the top of the extinct volcano is a crater, 500 to 600 meters wide and 50 meters deep, filled with a small “crater lake” about 20 meters in diameter. There are green woods in the centre of Crater Lake.

It is a really fascinating mountain. Red deer, Argali, Wild boar, Siberian Ibex, Ruddy Shelduck, and duck are found in this area.

Ulaan Taiga Forest

Ulaan Taiga (Mongolian: Улаан Тайга, lit. “red taiga”) is a mountain range in north-western Khövsgöl, Mongolia, between the Darkhad Valley and Mongolia’s border with Tuva, Russia. The range covers parts of the Ulaan-Uul, Tsagaannuur and Bayanzürkh sums. Notable peaks include Mt. Lam Taiga (2619m) and Mt. Belchir (3351m). The Shishged River and the Delgermörön have their sources in this area. A part of the area along the border with Tuva has been put under natural protection.

Darkhad Depression

The beautiful, mountainous Darkhad Valley, watered by countless rivers and containing 300 lakes, is located in the Far North of Mongolia next to the border with Tuva in Siberia and a four-day drive along a dirt track from the capital Ulaanbaatar. It is home to the Darkhad minority people who, like 5% of Mongolians, like in felt tents called ger and, in the very Far North, the Dukha or Tsaatan reindeer herders who live in conical tents similar to the North American teepee. The area is home to some of the most powerful shamans in Mongolia.

Amarbaysgalant Monastery

The Amarbayasgalant Monastery is located 360 km north of Ulaanbaatar is one of the favourite destinations for visitors. It can be reached by jeep or by a combination of local train and motor vehicle rides.

Built-in 1727-1736, the Monastery was the second most important in Mongolia after Erdene Zuu Monastery in Kharkhorin. The Monastery was established in 1727-1736 dedicated to Mongolian Religious First Bogd Gegeen. There were 27 kinds of big and small temples.

According to Mongolian History in the 17th -19th-century, Amarbayasgalant was a Mongolian greatest pilgrimage Buddhist Center. There were about one thousand lamas living chanted, studied in this Monastery. According to history, Amarbayasgalant was sacked during the repressions of in1930-1940.

In 1996 it was nominated by UNESCO as a Heritage Site. After 65 years monks organized the “Tsam” Religious dance first time in Amarbayasgalant Monastery in 2002.

Saikhany Khutul

Saikhanii Khutul is the most attractive destination of not only Selenge aimag, but also Mongolia, where you can observe Orkhon and Selenge river basins from the top of the mountains. Orkhon and Selenge rivers flow into Lake Baikal and are considered the biggest rivers of Mongolia.

View into Saikhanii Khutul might be brighter in the summer. However, one who visits there could not forget that spectacular view for a lifetime whether it is summer or spring.

Border guards furnished Saikhanii Khutul with stairs, tables, and chairs to rest, little bridges as well as stone monuments.

Mongolia is geographically characterized by the great diversity of 5 distinctive zones including mountain forests, the alpine steppe, flat grassland, and in the far south the semi-desert and the Gobi.

The text above tells you an idea – it’s a great and cheap way to get diverse photos of nature, wildlife, and culture.

Let us introduce you to places where the photographers shot world-class photos including Batzaya’s “Mongolian Stallion” on the Telegraph UK, Timothy Allen’s “Incredible Country” on The Telegraph, and more.

Let’s begin the list below:

1. Ulaagchin Lake – A Beautiful lake surrounded by sand dunes

Ulaagchnii Khar Lake has been protected as a Strictly Protected Area since 2010. Ulaagchnii Khar lake is located in the northeast of Erdenemandal soum in the western plateau of Khangai Mountain Range. This lake is a freshwater lake and one of the most beautiful lakes in the country. We can see amazing sand dunes in the southern and northern parts of the lake. The lake is 23.9m long and 3.5m wide on average. The depth of the lake is 47m in the west 23-30m in the east and the deepest point is 57m near the Gatsaa.

2. Khermen Tsav – A stunning canyon in the Gobi desert

Khermen Tsav is a mesmerizing reddish canyon in the Mongolian Gobi desert, in the southern part of Mongolia. It stretches some 15 to 20 km, and it was formed millions of years ago under the ocean that once covered the area.  The now desolate area of today offers some of the most amazing views in Mongolia.

3. Khoton Lake and Khurgan Lake

When you travel to the Altai Mountains in Mongolia, you will find this dazzling beauty. The two connected lakes, home to several species of fishes, some of them are only in the western Mongolian basin, surrounded by magnificent snow-capped peaks and ancient historical remains.

4. Darkhad depression and the Khoridol Saridag Mountains

The Darkhad valley is a large valley in northwestern Khuvsgul province, Mongolia. It is situated between the Ulaan
Taiga and Khoridol Saridag ranges at an altitude of about 1600 m, about 160 km long, and 40 km wide. The view from the valley and mountains are unique. The area is 4270 km². It was transferred from the People”s Republic of Tagna Tuva to the Mongolian People’s Republic in 1925 as a Soviet concession to the Mongolians, who had wanted to incorporate the territory of Tagna Uriankhai into their country. The valley is rich in lakes and rivers, the biggest of which is Dood Tsagaan Lake “lower white
lake” and Shishged River, respectively. The area is famous for its natural beauty.

5. Altai 5 Bogd National Park

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park is an impressive natural reserve and is famous for its 5 highest peaks and largest Potanin glacier, lying on more than 4,000m above sea level, the highest and westernmost region of Mongolia.

The park has not only natural wonders but also it has cultural and historical wonders including thousands of ancient rock carvings, listed on UNESCO World Heritage Site, mysterious stone men and burial mounds, and uncommon nomadic cultures of Kazakh and Tuva people.

Mongolia, the country with the lowest population density in the world, gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “the middle of nowhere”. And therein lies the country’s appeal. Rivers, lakes mountains, and the vast expanses of the Gobi Desert are just some of Mongolia’s breathtaking landscapes.

Mongolian Gobi Desert is the largest desert in Asia, and the area is often imagined as a lifeless desert-like in many other parts of the world. In reality, most part of the Gobi Desert is a land of steppes, sands, mountains, rich with wildlife and also, it is a home of two-humped camels.

 So here’s the 5 reasons why you must travel the Mongolian Gobi Desert and why it must be on your bucket list if you’re planning to visit Mongolia.

1. The last surviving nomadic hospitality.

The stay and visit at nomadic family will be your favorite part of your travel in the Gobi Desert, involving the nomad’s daily activities will give you a very good idea of what life in the Mongolian Gobi is like. Nomads always lack visitors. Therefore, always welcome visitors pleasantly and give them food and lodging if they need it.

2. The Gobi Desert holds a very important historical place.

The Gobi Desert holds historical importance as it played an important role in history as part of the great Mongol Empire, serving as the location of several important cities along the Silk Road. The Gobi Desert region first became known in Europe through Marco Polo in the 13th Century who described this vast land vividly.

3. The Gobi Desert is home of the largest dinosaur fossils in the world.

The Gobi holds the most important archaeological place where the first discovered that Dinosaurs laid eggs. The Gobi, which hid the dinosaur footprints until this time, came to the world’s attention this way.

4. The Gobi Desert has uniqueyet beautiful inhabitants.

Ancient sub-species of the brown bear and only desert-dwelling bear species Mazaalai lives in the Mongolian Gobi. With less than thirty living individuals, the Gobi bear is on the brink of extinction. Other than Mazaalai, the Bactrian camel, Khulan (Equus hemionus), and snow leopard are native in the Gobi,

5. Spectacular Gobi landscape will amaze you.

The Gobi Desert is home to the Khongor sand dune. At over 12km wide, 180km long, and a height of 80 meters, this is one of the world’s biggest and most beautiful sand dunes. And there is a national park named Gobi Gurvan Saikhan, which is a hidden gem in the middle of the Gobi desert with many rare migratory birds and more mammals between sumptuous steep hills.

The other important Mongolian holiday is Tsagaan Sar, literally the “White Month,” or New Year’s Day, which has been celebrated since the time of the Mongol Empire. Although Mongolia uses the Gregorian calendar, the lunar calendar is also used due to tradition and religious practice, and thus Tsagaan Sar usually falls in February or early March. As with most New Year celebrations, Tsagaan Sar focuses on happiness and an optimistic future, and the color white is considered an auspicious color in Mongolian tradition.

During the holiday and days preceding it, offerings are made to ancestral spirits or in honor of their memories. Blessings are made. Owing to Communist oppression of the holiday and a decline in religiosity, the holiday has changed considerably over the years.

Now, in addition to being a holiday that is both thanksgiving and a looking forward to a good year, it has become a holiday for visiting family and friends.  A central part of the celebration is food and buuz, devoured in great quantities, followed by liberal doses of vodka. The buuz serves another purpose: families often put a silver coin in one buuz, and according to tradition, whoever finds it will have prosperity in the coming year. At family gatherings in the countryside, the largest sheep in the flock, or in the city, the largest a family can buy, is cooked and eaten. It becomes, like the Thanksgiving turkey, a point of pride. The importance of food is marked in the preparations for the holiday, which often begin a month before the holiday.

During the Communist period, Tsagaan Sar came under attack. During the religious purges, the celebration of Tsagaan Sar was criticized, although during some years the criticism decreased. During World War II, herders received government approval to celebrate the holiday—perhaps because Josef Stalin, occupied with the Nazis, was too busy to notice or to care. In 1954 the holiday was declared a workday and the government again began a crackdown against it. Nonetheless, their efforts failed. While not willing to admit defeat, the government found a solution by making Tsagaan Sar “Collective Herders’ Day” in 1960. Not until 1988 did Tsagaan Sar receive official recognition as a national holiday.

Hunting with eagles is a traditional form of falconry for thousands of years, practised by the Kazakh people in Bayan-Ulgii, the westernmost province of Mongolia. It’s a rite of passage for Kazakh boys in western Mongolia who learn the crafts as early as 13. Passed down through generations, the tradition has a strict set of rules and practices. The hunts happen during winter when teams of hunters chase their prey on horseback and release an eagle to make their kill. Hunting once provided furs and meat during harsh winters, but the tradition is battling a dwindling number of hunters.

The Golden Eagle

Golden eagle is one of the world’s fiercest, with a wingspan of 6.6 ft, razor-sharp talons and the ability to dive at the speed of an express train — up to 190 mph.” Hunters prefer females because they are larger and regarded as more aggressive. Females weigh up to seven kilograms, which is a third heavier than males. It takes a great deal of strength to hold one of these large birds in your arm. When horses are on the move the eagles unfurl their wings for balance.

Training Golden Eagle:

Training eagles takes a lot of time, (3-4 years), must be done by one person, and requires constant daily attention. When the eagle is almost an adult, the trainer shows it the hides and furs of the animals it must hunt so that it becomes used to the smell and characteristics of the prey. All of this is done with special commands. Training continues by dragging a fox fur behind a galloping horse. Not all eagles can be so trained, but those that do show intense loyalty. Although never tethered they always return after killing their prey. Skilled hunters even manage to get the bird to kill the prey while scarcely leaving a mark on its fur.

The Golden Eagle Festival

The Golden Eagle Festival have been celebrated since 1999 with the aim of promoting conservation of Golden eagle and preservation of the Kazakh’s traditional unique culture of hunting with birds.  The festival comprises various competitions, in course of competitions which the eagle must catch a piece of fox fur pulled behind a galloping horse, the entrants compete for the awards of Best Turned Out Eagle and Owner; Best Eagle at Hunting Prey and Best Eagle at Locating Its Owner from a Distance, besides traditional horse games and camel races. Prizes are awarded for speed, agility and accuracy, as well as for the best traditional Kazakh dress, and more. Dark, rocky mountainous terrain forms the backdrop to the event, which incorporate cultural exhibitions and demonstrations followed by sporting activities and

As countries around the world started to open its door to tourism again after a long period of lockdown and closed borders, it is time for us to dive deeper into what travel will look like under this new normalcy of social distancing and which places are the best to travel to in the post-COVID-19 world.

The COVID-19 vaccine rollout has given us all hope that travel will be possible again. But with the situation changing daily, and travel restrictions too, it’s hard to pinpoint a low-risk place to book a trip.

In the midst of the pandemic, Mongolia’s entire May to September tours were canceled in 2020. Due to the Mongolian Government’s announcement, the Deputy PM said all necessary preparations are underway to reopen the border from May 1st, 2021.

If you are looking for a safe travel destination after the COVID-19 pandemic, we are introducing you that the 4 reasons Mongolia should be your Safest travel destination on Covid pandemic time.

1. Mongolia is one of the least infected
country:

Government of Mongolia has implemented a number of preventive measures to contain the local epicenters of COVID-19 and spread of the virus. Following the first imported case reported in March 2020, the country has successfully contained the virus’ spread with no local transmissions until November 2020. When the pandemic spread amongst local communities, the Government has continued its efforts to minimize the pandemic’s impact. As a result, the country still remains as the one of the least infected and least risky countries through the world.

2. Mongolia is perfect place for social distancing:

The country known for its great vast lands is the world’s most sparsely populated country (the population is 20 times less than the UK population). Mongolia averages fewer than two people per square kilometer. So Mongolia can be the perfect place for social distancing travels. While traveling through Mongolia you will meet very few local nomadic people along the roads and you will get strange feelings that what an empty but wonderful isolated world is it.

3. Mongolia’s nature will heal you:

Endless fairways of treeless green, patterned by the shadows of clouds; lakes for water hazards; pristine air; epic silence – there is a reason that Mongolians refer to their homeland as the ‘land of the blue sky. Occasionally the scene is tweaked by a lonely ger (yurt) of white felt: the portable homes of Mongolia’s pastoralists dot the country’s vast landscape.

Mongolian cuisine is much influenced by the continental climate that dominates the region, and also a bit by the Russian and Chinese cultures. Meat and dairy form the staple diet of this nomadic cuisine with the use of vegetables are limited. The meat of horse, yak, beef, lamb, mutton and even camel is consumed as delicacies.

Below, we are introducing the most famous five traditional dishes that every traveller must try when they are in Mongolia;

1. Tsuivan – the most fav one by Mongolian men

What is it: Tsuivan, or noodle stew, is one of the most popular Mongolian dishes—adopted from abroad and perfected by Mongolians. It’s a very popular dish beloved in every family’s home and served in most local restaurants. This dish is prepared in many different ways. Some people make it using only flour and meat, but some add fresh vegetables. Here at the Three Camel Lodge’s Bulagtai restaurant, we serve this dish with fresh seasonal vegetables. 

What does it taste like: The meatiness of the stew blends in with the unhampered flavour of the vegetables to create a unique taste.

2. Khorkhog – The Mongolian BBQ

What is Khorkhog: is a barbecue dish in Mongolian cuisine. Khorkhog is made by cooking pieces of meat inside a container (metal milk jugs are a traditional and typical choice, although any container sturdy enough to hold the hot rocks will serve.) which also contains hot stones and water, and is often also heated from the outside. Khorkhog is usually made during festivals or during family events with many guests. Depending on the number of people, one whole sheep is used. For the stones, fist-sized hard stone with no roughness (abraded by water) from the riverbank is most suitable, because it can withstand the heat without cracking. The stones are heated by placing them on fire with dung or wood (dung is used for fuel by nomads) in between. Meat is cut into appropriate size and put in a container, then the red hot stones are placed in between, one layer of meat and one layer of hot stones. Add a little bit of water, seasoning, salt, and vegetables such as onion, garlic and potato then tightly close the container. To ensure that meat is done evenly, carefully shake the container. After cooking the container on fire open the lid very carefully. Enjoy the meat and hold the hot stones, it is a form of oriental medicine. The hot stone will refresh your nervous system and relieve fatigue.

What does it taste like: The smoky flavour of the meat complements the bland taste of the vegetables.

3. Khuushuur – Fried beef/mutton pie

What is Khuushuur: Mongolia’s version of a handheld meat pastry. It’s a circle of wheat flour dough folded in half around a filling of minced or ground mutton, sometimes beef, and pan- or deep-fried. The meat is seasoned with onion and salt; some cooks add garlic and pepper as well. It’s possible to get versions with a mix of potatoes, carrots and/or cabbage as well, but these are far less popular. (Vegetarians beware: the veg versions can taste strongly of mutton from the cooking oil.)

What does it taste like: Just like meat in fried dough! Seriously, it doesn’t vary much: better-quality meat or lower-quality cooking oil make some difference, but it’s a simple, straightforward dish. For westerners, there is sometimes more fat included with the meat than we’re used to.

4. Guriltai shul – The Mongolian soupy noodles

What is it:  This traditional dish is basically mutton soup or stock served with noodles and veggies. The authentic recipe calls for fatty meat, though loin meat can also be used. The sliced meat and vegetables are stir-fried in oil, then simmered in water and stocked with the noodles until fully cooked. Guriltai shul is especially popular as comfort food during the cold winter months. 

What does it taste like: The acidity of the soup, often prepared with curd made from yak’s milk, and the rawness of the mutton makes it a sinful appetizer!

5. Buuz – A bigger dumpling

What is it: Flour dough, filled with shredded beef or lamb, cooked with onion, garlic, and pepper, and then steamed. Buuz is a type of Mongolian steamed dumpling filled with meat. Buuz is filled with minced mutton or beef, which is flavoured with onion and/or garlic and salted. Occasionally, they are flavoured with sprouted fennel seeds and other seasonal herbs. Mashed potato, cabbage, or rice may be added as well.

What does it taste like: Quite similar to dumplings, however, more intense and a bit spicier.