World Tour-Mongolia

Mongolia is a landlocked sovereign state in East Asia, with an area of 1,564,116 square kilometers. It is more sparsely populated and 18th largest country in the world which shares a boundary with China in the south and Russia to the north. It's the worlds second-largest landlocked country. Mongolia topography mainly consist of mountain to the north and west and the Gobi desert to the south.

One can tour in Mongolia can enjoy long driving days, hike around the Altai mountains, watch the shifting sand dunes of the Gobi desert, watch the amazing skills of eagle hunters at the annual eagle festival and can enjoy horse riding through the Terelj National park and also enjoy the capital city Ulaanbaatar.

Start your ride from the capital, with its modern skyscrapers and age old monasteries and palaces. With its young hipsters and horse riding nomads, its markets and finally the nightlife.

• Hike around Terelj National park
• Visit Mongolia’s oldest monastery, Erdene Zuu Khiid.
• Watch the two-humped camels of the Gobi desert, enjoy the changing sandums
• Fish or boat around on Khövsgöl Nuur lake.
• Climb the five sacred peaks in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park.
• Go to Orkhon Valley an UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Stay in a ger with the nomads.
• Enjoy with the eagle hunters at the Eagle festival in Ölgii.
• Take in the sunset at Tsagaan Suwarga.
• Ride a horse through Khustain Nuruu National Park.

Terelj National park is the third largest protected area in Mongolia, and the most famous tourist destination in here.The park is about 80 km outside of Ulaanbaatar.

• Overnight in a traditional Mongolian ger:

There are dozens of camps hosted by local families who take in tourists for the night and provide freshly cooked food, plenty of tea, in the comfort of a mountainside ger . Your hosts may play traditional Mongolian music for you,
Or invite you to sing karaoke.

• Visit Turtle Rock:

"Melkhii Khad" is a 80 ft. Tall granite formation you'll pass on your way into Terelj, where most people stop for a photo. This rock, bears a striking resemblance to a turtle.

• Horse riding and Archery:

A few families offer horse riding and meals.What better place to learn how to shoot a bow and arrow than in wild Mongolia?

• Challenging trek to Aryapala:

The Aryapala, this difficult tiny and out-of -reach Buddhist temple is tucked between a rocky mountainside and the Park. Getting here is a difficult task, passing through years old hanging bridge and take up 108 steep steps of the temple. The views are breathtaking.

Founded by Altai Khan in 1586, The first and the oldest Buddhist Monastery in this mountain country. This Monastery closed until 1965, when it permitted to open as museum. Only after the collapse of communism this monastery retained the religious freedom.

The monastery is enclosed in a walled compound. Spaced evenly, each wall is about 15m, and has 108 steps to the temple. The three temples in the compound – Zuu of Buddha, Zuun Zuu and Baruun Zuu ,dedicated to the three stages of Buddha’s life: childhood, adolescence and adulthood.

The main and central temple is called the Zuu of Buddha. The entrance is guarded by the gods Gonggor on the left and Bandal Lham on the right.Inside, to the right of the statues of the child Buddha, is Otoch Manal while to the left is Holy Abida. The temple also contains statues of Niam and Dabaa, the sun and moon gods respectively,

Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape spreads along the banks of the Orkhon River in Central Mongolia, almost 320 km west from the capital Ulaanbaatar. It was inscribed by UNESCO in the World Heritage List as representing the evolution of nomadic pastoral traditions spanning more than two millennia.

Mongolian cuisine is much influenced by the continental climate 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 being limited. The meat of horse, yak, beef, lamb and even camel is consumed.

1. The Mongolian Barbecue-Khorkhog: Lamb cooked in a pot over an open fire with carrots, onions, and potatoes.The dish is smoky flavor with bites of cooked vegetables.
2. Buuz/Momos: This is similar to momos, and the flour dough is filled with shredded beef or lamp, cooked onion,garlic, pepper and steamed.
3. Boodog- Traditional mongolian roast: Whole goat filled with potato, onions and hot Stones. Authentic Mongolian roast.
4. Noodle Stew-Tsuivan :Noodles, cooked with pork, beef or mutton with thin slices of cabbage, onion, and carrots.

5.The Mongolian soupy noodles(Guriltai Shul): Traditional recipe basically mutton soup or stoke with noodles and veggies.

6.Mongolian Rice meal-Budaatai khuurga: Rice cooked with shredded lamb or beef, onions, cabbage, carrots and bell pepper.

7.Chanasan Makh : Mutton boiled in salt water, commonly used as breakfast.

8. Traditional Drink-Airag: Milk of mare is fermented and served as beverage.

9. Gambir- Mongolian sugary desert: Flour dough filled with butter and sugar, cooked like a pancake and served with jelly or jam.

10.Boortsog and UI boov: Boortsog is a traditional butter cookies and UI boov is filled with sugar or cream looks like shoe sole.

Winter in Mongolia are long and cold and temperatures can drop as low as minus 40°C. So the best time to visit is in summer (June to August). Tourism peaks in July and August, booking early is advisable. If you want to go when Mongolia is quieter, consider visiting in May, September or October.

Mongolia holds many traditional festivals throughout the year. The largest festival celebrated widely is the Naadam festival. It features three main sports event, wrestling, archery and horse racing. Other traditional games also being played. The eagle festival draws around 400 eagle hunters on horseback to showcase their hunting skills. The ice festival and camel festival are also celebrated as traditional games.

Every tourist who visit the Mongolia will have a lot of memories to take back to their native.

Hope you enjoyed reading my article.