Destinations

Terelj national park

The Park is situated at 70kms, northeast of Ulaanbaatar. It takes nearly two hours drive from the capital.

The park lies at 1600 meters high and offers great opportunities for hiking, horse riding and rock climbing. The landscape is similar to the Alp’s. It is a national park which started to develop since 1960's and officially was designed as a National Park in 1994. Inside the park, there are ranges of protected animals such as birds (250 species), moose, and bears. As it is become developed for tourism, some of the Ger camps have car parking and electricity. Most of the tourist camps work only summer seasons, a few of them operate whole year around.
The Turtle Rock, as known as Melkhi Khad by the locals, is massive rock formation looks like a turtle.  The Turtle Rock is the main image of the national park. Beside that you may discover many interesting rock formations from huge Rocky Mountains of the Terelj.

Manzushir Monastery

Manzushir Monastery is located in the southern entrance of Bogd Khaan National Park. It is about 60 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar city. This 18th century monastic complex was left in ruins after the communist purges of the 1930’s. A new temple has been built next to the ruins of the old temples and serves as a museum with pictures and artifacts from the original monastery.  Currently, there are ger camp, a restaurant and a natural museum. The surrounding area is perfect for hiking in green forest, meadows and clear mountain streams.

Khustai Nuruu Protected Area (Wild Ass)

The Takhi, last wild horse in the world, well known as the Przewalski horse had gone from vast steppe of central Asia since 1960’s. Since that time Takhi was lived in the zoo parks around the world. Year 1992 was a new stage of Wild horse’s life and its history.  Khustai national park was established in order to host reintroduction project of Takhi in 1993.  Currently project is running successfully and takhis are re-habiting in the wild nature. The landscape ranges from grassland steppe to forest steppe, and dawn and dusk are the best times for visitors to see the wild asses, wild animals such as deer, fox and gazelle. Within the reserve there are a number of ancient Turkic thumbs and man stone. There is Moltsog sand and the Ongot archaeological complex is nearby.

Kharkhorum Ancient Capital

Mongolia's ancient capital, Kharkhorum, Chinggis Khaan's fabled city, was founded in 1220 in Orkhon valley, at the crossroads of the Silk Road. It was land of the Mongol Empire governed, until Khubilai Khaan moved it to Beijing. On the ruin of the Kharkhorum, Mongolian first and largest Buddhist monastery was built in 1586. The most of the construction material ware taken from Kharkhorum ruin. Erdenezuu monastery is surrounded 400x400 meters of walls with 108 stupas. By the 1792, it housed 62 temples and 10,000 lamas. 1930’s is the darkest part of Erdenezuu like  other monastery in Mongolia when religion was forbidden. Fortunately, in 1960’s monastery was reopened as a museum and religious service has been reactivated since 1990.  By the time, main parts of the monastery works as a museum where exhibits Buddhist artworks and facilities, only a temple holds religious activity. Nearby, Turkish monuments and rock inscriptions erected in 8-9th centuries in memory of outstanding fighters for independence. Located 360 km away from Ulaanbaatar. Elevation is 1600 meters above sea level. The world famous place for its wonderful relics of the past.

Orkhon Waterfall

The waterfall is situated in the historically significant Orkhon Valley, whose river flows an incredible 1120km to the north before it joins the mighty Selenge River. Also called Ulaan Tsutgalan River, the waterfall was formed by a unique combination of volcano eruptions and earthquakes about 20,000 years ago. The fall is naturally most impressive after heavy rain.

Tuvkhum Temple

High Shiveet Ulaan Mountain in the mountains marking the north side of the Orkhon Waterfall laid the ruins of this ancient temple and retreat. Zanabazar founded the site in 1653 and lived, worked and meditated here for 30 years. Several pilgrimage sites have grown up around the temple and hermit’s caves, including one that is said to be Zanabazar’s boot print.

Khushuu Tsaidam

These monuments devoted to the Orkhon valley. The monuments of Turkic Khaan and his brother General Kultegen are in Khashaat county, Arkhangai province. The monuments belong to 6-7th centuries A.D. were the time of glorious victories of the Turkic states. The 3.3 meter high and 1.3 meter wide stone monument known as the Orkhon Bichig (letter of Orkon) is a letter with 68 lines. There used to be a whole monumental complex, but now only one monument which named Gerelt Khushuu is left.

Monument of Tonyukuk

The monument of Tonyukuk is located in the Tuul River basin near the small Nalaikh town. It was build in 744 and is devoted to the wise minister Tonyukuk of the Orkhon Turkic State that was prospering in the 4-7th centuries A.D. The ancient Turkic State had been fighting with others and aiding the Tang rulers of China.

Amarbayasgalant Monastery

The second largest Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, the ‘Monastery of tranquil felicity’, is located near the Selenge River. The Manchu empire Yongzheng built the monastery between 1727 and 1737, and dedicated it to Zanabazar, Mongolia’s first Bogd Gegeen (sacred king who ruled the country by the Buddhist teachings) and a famous artist and the inventor of the vertical Mongolian script. Amarbayasgalant Monastery is one of the few monasteries in Mongolia to survive from the purge of the 1930’s, although many religious items were looted by the communists. Restoration of this historic site began in 1975, and was completed in 1998.
There are currently around 50 monks living in the monastery. The nearby Burengiin mountain range and surrounding fields of grass and wildflowers make this monastery is one of the most attractive destination in Mongolia. Visitors to Amarbayasgalant praise the beauty of the complex and the surrounding area, which is perfect for camping.

Lake Khuvsgul

Known as “The Dark Blue Pearl”, Lake Khuvsgul is Mongolia's largest and deepest pure lake. Located in the northernmost province, it is the largest tributary stream of Lake Baikal in Russia. Lake Khuvsgul is 136 km long, 36 km wide, 262 meters (for known measurement) deep and is located at an altitude of 1645 m above sea level and is frozen from January until April or May. It's the second largest fresh water lake in Central Asia. It's inhabited by nine species of fish including the Siberian grayling and lenok. Fishing and sport fishing are becoming popular in the lake area. Taiga (deep forest) Fauna and Flora, Tsaatan or known as reindeer herder, practicing reindeer breeding are the main attractions for tourist.  Different ethnic groups live in the area: Khalh, Darhadt, Buryat. Tsaatans reindeer herders are lived. Lake Khuvsgul is on the important migration route for birds from Siberia, thus facilitating marvelous opportunities for bird watching.

Reindeer Family Tsaatan Ethnic Group

Not far from Khuvsgul Lake, the Tsaatan people, named from the Mongolian word for reindeer herders live in the taiga. Their entire existence is based around the reindeer, which provide milk, fur for clothes, transport and, occasionally and meat. The Ttsaatan are part of a Tuvan ethnic group, which inhabits the Tuvan Republic of Russia. They are truly nomadic, often moving their small encampments, called ail, every two or three weeks-looking for special types of grass and moss loved by the reindeer. The Tsaatan do not use Mongolian GER, but prefer a hut made by reindeer skin.

Khorgo and Terkhi White lake National Park

Khorgo Mountain is a dormant volcano located on the east Shore of White Lake. Khorgiin togoo is in the highest volcano crater in the Orkhon River Valley. From the summit of this basalt-covered mountain one has a splendid view over the whole region and the lake. The volcanic crater of the Togoo Uul is 200m wide and 100m deep. The volcano crater of the Togoo Uul is covered with Siberian Larch. One of the most interesting sights of Khorgo is the so-called Basalt Ger, which lies on the southern side. It is a large solidified bubble of lava with a broken piece on one side, which makes a natural door. The height of some of these stone gers is 1.7m. Several other ancient volcanoes are not far from the Khorgo. Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan was formed when volcano lava dammed the Suman River, cutting a large gorge through the basalt. It is an astonishingly beautiful lake, 20km long, 16km wide and 4 to 10 meters deep with an altitude of 2,060m above sea level.

Gobi Desert

The Gobi desert, one of the world's great deserts, covers much of the southern part of Mongolia. Unlike the Sahara there are few sand dunes in the Gobi; rather you'll find large barren expenses of gravel plains and rocky outcrops. The climate here is extreme. Temperatures reach +40° C in summer, and -40 in winter. Precipitation averages less than 100 mm per year, while some areas only get rain once every two or three years. Strong winds up to 140 km/h at spring and fall time. Great Gobi National Park is one of the largest World Biospheres, with an area larger than Switzerland. It contains the last remaining wild Bacterian (two-humped) camels, wild ass, gazelle and a small population of Gobi bears, the only desert-inhabiting bear.

Bayanzag - Flaming Cliffs

Bayanzag is located near by Bulgan Village, and archaeological finds of the Paleolithic Era, which are displayed in Natural History Museum in Ulaanbaatar, were found here. In the west the site is better known as the Flaming Cliffs, so named by explorer Roy Charman Andrews. In the same area he discovered petrified forests, remains of mammals and in particular the skeleton of a hornless rhinoceros, the largest known mammal in the world. Other finds in this location were complete dinosaur skeletons, eggs with a diameter of 10-15cm and hatch longs from the Cretaceous Period. And also there are saxual forest known as Gobi forest.

Khongoriin Els Sand Dunes

Khongoriin Els sand dunes stretch for an extraordinary 100km and are 21 kilometers wide and high. The dunes lie on the northern part of the mountains of Sevree and Zuulun Mountain. Local people call that by Singing Dune because of the sound produced by masses of sand moving in the wind can be heard from afar. That is why the dunes have been given the name ‘The Singing Sands’ or ‘Duut Manhan’. Near the Hongor Gol at the northern edge of the sand dunes is an oasis.

Yolyn Am - vulture gorge

Yoliin Valley is the narrow canyon of a river that flows through Zuun Saikhan Mountain (2,816m above sea level). The gorge has sheer rock walls with a height of 200m in the central part of the gorge. It has been protected since 1965 and has an area of 70 square kilometers of strictly protected area. A spring is two or three kilometers long. The wind strongly flows through gorge and freezes into a thick corridor of ice that stretches along for a distance. During the rainy season, rain falls at the summit of the mountain and flows down into the sheer canyon, forming waterfalls. Only two people can pass through the narrowest part at the same time and you will see only a blue line of a sky. Ibex, mountain goat, red fox, vultures and other species of animals are local inhabitants of this place .A small museum marks the entrance to the protected zone and provides information on the petrified trees, fauna and flora of the Gobi.

Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex

Tourists may have a great feeling when they step in the homeland of Chinggis Khaan, but currently, there are almost no museums, memorials, displays about him. Therefore, the company gives and importance to the construction of this historical and cultural complex as one of the means to publicize our country to the world area. However, the Statue itself is regarded as the biggest among the world’s horseman statues. This Complex is located 53 km from Ulaanbaatar city, in the territory of Erdene county, Tuv province, nearby close to “Tuul” river, at the place called “Tsonjin Boldog”, which is rich with historical events. You don’t need to travel long rough road over several hundreds of kilometers. The Complex covers area of 80 sq. m. The Horseman statue is located in the center. The statue is 42 m high, including its round shaped base construction. The top of the statue itself has a height of 30 meter. King’s museum, display hall, restaurant, pub, cafe, conference and meeting facilities, and souvenir shops are in the base construction. The elevator will take you up to the upper end the horse tail.  Walking through the part of horse chest and the edge of the saddle, you will reach to the forehead of horse. This is the last stop, where you enjoy farseeing and pleasant view of natural scenery. The statue is surrounded by furnished in modern style 800 of GERS. They are placed according to the forms of horse brand that were used by the13th century Mongol tribes. At night you will enjoy looking at these GER camps, which with theirs illuminations look like as the millions of stars in the sky. Construction haven` t completed not yet.

Great lakes

Khamriin Monastery

Khamar Monastery was established in the 1820's by famous 19th century Mongolian educator and literary figure Danzanravjaa. The Monastery was an important centre of the Buddhist "red sect", and seat of the Gobiin Dogshin Noyon Khutagt ("Cruel Noble Saint of the Gobi").
An outspoken critic of the society in which he lived, Danzanravjaa fought against the rigid class and gender distinctions of his day. He devoted great efforts to the cause of public education, which he promoted at Khamar Monastery through the establishment of an inclusive public school, theatre, museum and library. The local public was involved in many religious activities held at the Monastery. Khamar Monastery was unique in 19th century Mongolia as a place where women were accorded greater respect and privileges than men. Reflecting these liberal attitudes Danzanravjaa composed the song Ulemjiin Chanar (Quality of Greatness) - which remains popular today - in praise of a woman's qualities. Fossilized dinosaur bones, petrified wood, and other rare paleontology remains are widespread in the area surrounding the monastery. The monastery was completely destroyed by the soviets in 1938 during Mongolia's religious purge. Khamar Monastery was re-established in 1990s on the initiative of Zuun-Bayan resident S. Zorigtbaatar and others, with the support of the local religious community.

Western Altai Mountain Range

The snow-capped peaks of the imposing Altai Mountains, the highest reaching over 4000m above sea level, dominate the landscape of western Mongolia. This is one of the wettest region in the country, with countless lakes, glaciers, springs, streams dotted throughout the mountain and green valleys. It is spectacular summit, covered in glaciers, and the home of the snow leopard. The Altai Mountain which belongs to the province of Bayan Ulgii is particularly attractive to mountain and rock climbers, who come from all over the world to scale the heights of Tavan Bogd, the highest peak in Mongolia (4374m). There are around 35 glaciers from Tavan Bogd, including the 20 kilometers long Botanin Glacier. West of Tavan Bogd is the 12 kilometers long Perzevalski Glacier. There are Sergal and Dayan lakes are great opportunities hiking. Mongolia’s largest ethnic minority, the Kazakhs, live in Bayan Ulgii province and continue to uphold their ancient traditions such as hunting with eagles and weaving intricate wall hangings.

The Tsenkher cave

These two caves are located 25 kilometers southwest of Mankhan village, along the Khoit Tsenkher River. Rock paintings of the Khoit Tsenkher cave date back to the Upper Palaeolithic period (20,000-15, 000 years ago). It is located in Khovd province. In one of corners of the cave measuring 2.5 m high and 1.5-2.0 m deep, numerous symbols and animals were painted overlapping each other on the ceiling and wall. Lions, elephants, argali sheep, ibexes, ostriches, antelopes, camels, as well as symbols were painted with mineral-based paints of rosy and brown colors on the walls deep inside the cave. By the method of painting of different kinds of animals, their color and view, the Khoit Tsenkher cave rock paintings represents their original artistic, cultural and historical features which are different from the other rock paintings in Mongolia and her neighboring countries. Some particular parts of the animals such as their horns, necks, humps are depicted with an exaggerated hyper-realism typical of the Palaeolothic period.

Dugana rock

The rock located in 110kms, in a picturesque mountain valley covered by pine trees and rocks lasting for 9kms, away from tourist tracks. A huge rock called “Dugana” (Temple), 7mrs high, adorns the resort from the right side.

Uran togoo, Tulga Mountain

This site located about 80 kilometers north-west from Bulgan town. The Uran Crater which, 500 to 600 meters wide and 50 meters deep. The Crater is located near the main road to Khuvsgul. There are Togoo, Tulga, Jalavch Mountains nearby it. It is easy to understand their names: Togoo means cauldron, Tulga means hearth and Jalavch means small cooking-pot.

Ongi Monastery ruins

The monastery ruin of Bari Khamba situated on the banks of the Ongi River. East part of the monastery has many buildings on the south slope of the rocky mountain. The monastery had over than 1000 monks. It is on the way between Karkorum and Gobi desert.

Baga gazriin chuluu or known as Rock formation

More granite rock formations, about 60 kilometers northwest of Mandalgobi town. The ruins small monastery is on the south east part of this ragged area. In this area has a rich species of wild animals and birds such as ibex, lynx, snow leopard and vultures, hawks and eagles.

Chinggis Khaan’s Birth Place

Khentii province, a few hours drive east of Ulaanbaatar city, has the historical destination of being the homeland of the 13th century conqueror Chinggis khaan. Dozens of sites scattered across this province are associated with his life, notably in his suspected birthplace, present Dadal county. The prominent ethnic minority is Khalkh, but several villages in the north are dominated by Buryats, a group that probably originated around Lake Baikal.

Deluun boldog

There are few things to see close to the Dadal village center (sometimes called Bayan Ovoo). Hajuu Bulag is small spring in the middle of the forest near the Bayan River, which Chinggis Khaan is said to have drunk. A bit east of this spring is Deluun Boldog, which local consider the birthplace of Temuujin (historians may think otherwise). The hill is topped with a stone monument dedicated in 1990 to honor the 750th anniversary The Secret History of the Mongols, a 13th century chronicle of the empire.

The Monument to Chinggis Khaan

Close to the spring and the site of Aurug, this is one of the few post-1990 monuments in Mongolia. The UNESCO funded granite block is topped by a Chinggis khan id standard, on which are engraved the words attributed to the great conqueror, ‘My humble body may disappear, but my people live on eternally’. It commemorates the 750th anniversary of the Secret History of the Mongols, the most important historical chronicle written by the Mongols themselves at the time of Ogodei king son and successor to Chinggis (1240, or 1324 according to some authors). In august 1990, more than 2000 people gathered at the monument, among them many scientists and political figures, to watch the grand festivities, which ended in a national holiday Naadam festival.
In June 2001, a new complex of nine white Imperial GERS was set up, providing some idea of ‘now the khans once lived’

Hodoo Aral

According to the Mongol scholar Damdinsuren, Mount Bayan Ulaan is the old Hodoo Aral, where the great chronicle, the Secret History of the Mongols, was composed. It was here that the three great khans: Uguudei, Munkh, and Yeson Tumur, were crowned. This side is located to the west of the Delgerkhaan town.
About 13 km south of Delgerkhaan is the archaeological site of Avragiin Balgas, which was discovered in 1969 by the Mongolian archaeologist Kh.Perlee. It is believed that the Palace of Aurug, built by Chinggis khaan, was once here. This discovery shocked historians as it was previously thought that Karakorum was the only important town in the Mongol empire.

Khalkha River

Located in the southeast of Mongolia, this area was the site in 1939 of the fierce battle between Japan and joint force of Mongol and Soviet troops. The Japanese, already in control of Manchuria, planned to invade Mongolia and set up a puppet state there. Hundreds of tanks and airplanes, and thousands of troops, faced one another across the Khalka River. The Japanese were pushed back, but in July launched a massive ground force.

Burkhan Khaldun Mountain

It is the sacred site has worshiped by Chinggis Khaan, this mountain is rich in archaeological history, with over 800 burial sites identified by archaeologists. The mountain is located in the 1.2 million hectare Khan Khentii Strict Protected Area which established in 1992. Micro fore, the shrine of Burkhan Khaldun is at the foot of it but not on the top. Because people believe that there is a burial of dignitaries so it must be kept in secret and it is forbidden to climb the mountain. Burkhan Khaldun is one of four state worshipped mountains; therefore, black emblem of national is worshipped and celebrated at the throughout the nation.

Kherlen Bars town ruins

There are remains of three towns grouped under the name of Bars town. These towns were built by the Kidan and were still inhabited during the Mongol empire. Inside Bars town are the ruins of four large temple halls which are the remains of an altar dedicated to the main divinity. Mongol style decorations have been found on some structural elements, as well as on the bases of the statues. Stupas had been built nearby.

Naiman Lake

The Naiman Lake is one of the beautiful Lakes in Mongolia. Located in Ovorkhangai province and its eight separated Lakes and biggest one is Shireet Lake with pure water surrounded by forested mountains. Horse back riding or yak carting to reach the Lake.

Khagiin Khar Lake

Khagiin Khar is located in the vicinity of the Hentii Mountains in the northeastern Mongolia. The lake looks like a miracle amidst in the forested mountains. Its clear water basin is ideal for a fishing adventure. Hiking, photo safaris and horseback tours are arranged upon request. There is plenty to be seen and explored, including the Rocky Mountains, meadows and, what a surprise, sand dunes.