Wondering where to go in Mongolia? This page represents the most popular Mongolia getaways and travel destinations. Here are top spots in Mongolia and visit these popular destinations across four distinct regions; the Gobi, Lake Khuvsgul, Karakorum, Gorkhi-Terelj National Park or Khan Khentii Mountains, will no doubt be an unforgettable experience. Select a destination and see the suggested itinerary from the pull-down lists below to find even more top getaway ideas.
Gobi desert and semi desert. Gobi. In 1991, the United Nations designated the Gobi as the fourth largest biosphere reserve in the world. The Gobi is vast. It covers almost a third of Mongolia and though it is classified as a desert, it is not as lifeless as the first time visitor might reasonably expect. While it is an arid area of largely homogenous scrubby steppe, it is dotted with camel breeders and some fascinating natural wonders. Did you know that the Gobi is the coldest desert in the world? When someone says "desert", most of us conjure up images of camels, dried and bleached animal bones, or perhaps a person dragging along the desert floor, hoping and praying for the oasis in their mirage to be real. Whatever the vision, it almost always includes sand and heat. Lots of scorching heat. You might be surprised then to learn that it snows in some deserts. Sand Dunes Khongor Karakorum.
The state of Mongols in the 13th century was among the most powerful of all in the world. Center of the empire was Karakorum city until Khuvilai Khaan decided to move his capital to Dadu or Beijing. After collapsing of Yuan dynasty Min state’s invaders sacked the city and massacred its inhabitants in 1388 and ruined it. Though Karakorum was partially reconstructed later, it was nevertheless eventually deserted. Erdene Zuu, built in 1586, is the first Buddhist monastery to have been built in Mongolia. Various construction materials were taken from the ruins of Karakorum to build this monastery. Today Erdene Zuu monastery complex remains an active Buddhist monastery as well as a museum that is open to tourists. Lake Khuvsgul National Park. Most popular tourist site. About midway along border between Siberian Russia and Mongolia, in a gigantic stone bowl nearly 110km long and almost 40km wide, lies 3% of the all the fresh water on earth-Lake Khusgul. On the merits of magnitude alone the lake is renowned as one of the earth's one of the most impressive natural wonders. What fewer people realize, however, is that Khuvsgul's majestic expanse is situated in a region of surpassing beauty, its forested shores surmounted by the jagged, snow-clad peaks of the Khoridol Saridag mountains. In the winter Khuvsgul freezes over, with ice so thick that the oil tracks was briefly run over its surface. In the summer, its crystalline blue waters are transparent to a depth of 10 meters, and its shores are ringed with the brilliant colors of seasonal wildflowers. Boat tours offered during the warm months are one of the best ways to gain an introduction to the lake, as is hiking amongst the forests and streams of Khuvsgul's parks. The lake region is home to an enormous variety of plants and animals. Lake Khuvsgul long ago became famous for the purity of its waters and surrounding shores, a pristine state that had been seriously threatened by the growing influx tourists in recent years. Since 1990s Lake Khuvsgul and the entire surrounding area have been designated as a national park, and Khuvsgul is today a naturalist's paradise and an idyllic holiday destination. With fine beaches, excellent hiking and pleasure boating, Khuvsgul is well-positioned to become one of the most attractive vacation spots in Asia. The word “Khuvsgul” came from Turk language. The word "Khuv" means "Blue" and "gul" means "lake". So "Khuvsgul" originally means "Blue lake". The lake is so huge and enormous that locals call it "mother sea". Peoples through over the centuries prayed to the lake and believed in its power. You can still see at the lake the unique trees with blue silk scarf that gone hundreds years ago.
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. Was created in 1993 and borders the Khan Khentii Protected area. It is one of the most visited protected areas in the country. Terelj itself, on the banks of the river Terelj, is a spectacular valley with high rock formations, pine – covered mountains and grasslands carpeted with wildflowers and edelweiss. Khan Khentii the native land of Chinggis Khan covered with forests, taiga and mountain forest steppe, is a protected area located north east of Ulaanbaatar that can be reached on foot or horseback. Terelj is a good place to spend a couple of days if you are based in Ulaanbaatar.
Darkhad Depression
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