Experience your own Race Across The World — Mongolia Edition
The end of the sixth season of Race Across The World saw contestants making their way over to Mongolia, starting with Kharkhorin and ending the race in Hatgal.
Many know Mongolia because of the infamous Genghis Khan, the founder and first ruler of the Mongol Empire, but there is so much more to this wonderful country. Mongolia has the lowest population density in the world, with around 3.6 million people spread across 1.5 million square metres, making it a perfect wilderness destination. It is estimated that around 25% - 40% of the population still practices a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle, moving with the seasons. You will get to meet many of these families on our tours.
Best Tours That Visit Mongolia
For an introduction toMongolia, join our Mongolia: Nomads Of The Steppe small group tour. This 10-day journey takes you to some of the country’s highlights, mixed in with hidden gems and immersive experiences. The itinerary is nature-filled with national parks and nature reserves. You will meet nomadic families who will give you a glimpse into their daily life and traditions.
A unique opportunity to witness the largest minority group of Mongolia, the Kazakhs, is possible on our Altai Golden Eagle Festival tour. Focusing on the annual festival where Kazakhs showcase their eagle hunting skills, you will also get to enjoy your surroundings through walking and hiking opportunities in Mongolia’s unforgettable landscapes.
For a more extensive tour that discovers even more of the country, our recommendation would be to join our Mongolia: Land of the Great Khan tour. Head down into the western stretches of the Gobi Desert, crossing mountain ranges and passing through the grassy steppes. Throughout the journey, you will meet the hospitable Mongolians who will no doubt invite you into their gers. To further your cultural immersion, our festival departures for the Naadam Festival and Yak & Felt Festival will give you more insight into the locals’ celebrations.
Five Best Places to Visit in Mongolia
ULAANBAATAR
The world’s coldest capital, Ulaanbaatar, has temperatures plummeting below 40 °C in the dead of winter. The city lives in juxtaposition, from modern architecture to ger districts, and the people live in harmony with today’s day and age, with their ancient traditions of being a nomadic society. On our tours, you also have the opportunity to enjoy an alluring evening of traditional folk dancing and singing,
One of Mongolia’s most important monasteries is the Gandan Monastery. Established in 1809, the monastery expanded to add more temples until 1939, when it was shut down under the Stalinist anti-religious oppression, during which many buildings were badly damaged. Reopening in 1944, it became the country’s only working monastery until 1989. Today, it is considered the centre of Mongolian Buddhism, and over 150 monks live on the grounds, and is an important site for any travellers to visit.
TERELJ NATIONAL PARK
Terelj National Park is the closest one to Ulaanbaatar, and is a popular destination for locals on a weekend getaway and those spending less time in the country, but it’s still possible to find a tranquil area, and is definitely worth a visit. The park is part of the area that was the homeland of Genghis Khan and his tribes, and is now home to a plethora of fauna and flora, including bears, ibexes, and moose.
For those looking to get a thrill, kayaking in the Terelj River is the perfect opportunity to do so. The river is shallow and wide, but does have many twists and turns that are satisfying to try and navigate.
KHARKHORIN
On the land that was once called Karakorum, which stood as a brief capital of the Mongol Empire, now the only thing that remains is the knowledge of the powerful men who once walked here. It’s hard to believe that the small monastery site of Erdene Zuu was once an important cultural and political hub of one of the world’s largest empires. Kharkhorin is home to Erdene Zuu Monastery, widely considered the first monastery in Mongolia. The building was constructed in 1586, and the stones from Karakorum were used in the building. During the communist anti-religious repression, the site was partially destroyed, but later was ordered by Joseph Stalin to keep it protected as a place to show foreign political guests. After the fall of communism, the monastery was returned to monks, who then restored Erdene Zuu to once again become a place of worship.
FLAMING CLIFFS
In the heart of the famous Gobi Desert are the otherworldly Flaming Cliffs. Named after the red hue of the rock formations, the cliffs are especially gorgeous during sunset when the landscapes around you look as if they’ve caught on fire. The Gobi Desert is Asia’s largest desert and is filled with fossils. The area became famous after archaeologist Roy Chapman Andrews discovered the world’s first dinosaur egg and the first full dinosaur skeleton during his 1920’s excavations.
SAGSAI
In Western Mongolia is an area called Sagsai that is known as a cultural hub for Kazakh eagle hunters. The community hosts an intimate festival called the Golden Eagle Festival, where you can witness extraordinary nomadic spectacles. The smaller-scale festival means you can interact with nomads and get more first-hand experiences of their traditions. Sagsai is a gorgeous area in the Altai Mountains, with glaciers, alpine lakes, and Bronze Age petroglyphs; it’s the perfect background for the festival.
Five Best Experiences in Mongolia
WITNESS THE ENDANGERED TAKHI HORSES
The only true wild horse left in the world is the endangered Przewalski horse, also known as Takhi. Fewer than 2,000 horses remain; they were once considered extinct but reintroduced to their native land of Mongolia through a global effort of returning thehorses from European zoos back into the wild.
One of the best times to view these majestic animals up close is at dusk, when they gather to drink from the streams in Khustai National Park.
CAMEL RIDE THROUGH ELSEN TASARKHAI
Elsen Tasarkhai is a semi-desert area of central Mongolia and home to Bactrian camel herders. The area is a combination of sand dunes, alpine lakes, and dense forests, a juxtaposition of natural wonders that shouldn’t be in such proximity, but somehow come together in Elsen Tasarkhai.
To explore the sand dunes, you will visit a local family of camel herders who will take you out on the back of a camel. Bactrian camels have two humps and are able to withstand extreme weather, both during the summer heat and the freezing winters.
TRY YOUR HAND AT ARCHERY
As you would find football pitches in the UK, or basketball courts in the US, you would instead find archery target ranges dotted around Mongolia. The sport is practiced almost daily by many Mongolian’s and is a vital component of their tradition and culture. It wouldn’t be a trip to Mongolia if you didn’t get to appreciate the art form of archery,
Try your hand at some traditional archery, with handmade bows and arrows, with the expert guidance of your hosts. Historically, Mongolians would carry two bows, a smaller composite one for shooting off horseback and a longer bow for long-range shooting.
LEARN HOW TO PUT UP A GER
Our trips to Mongolia are filled with stays in families' guest gers, and how would we properly appreciate our homes if we didn’t learn how to put one up? With the help of our hosts in Orkhon Valley, you can learn the ins and outs of putting up a ger, each part that makes up these traditional homes, and how it can withstand the different weather conditions of Mongolia.
MAKE MONGOLIAN DUMPLINGS
The traditional dish of Mongolia is often considered to be Buuz, an open-topped steamed dumpling that is traditionally made with mutton. The open top of the dumpling lets steam escape during the cooking. Simply spiced, the taste of mutton is the real star of this dish. Buuz are a staple dish during the Lunar New Year — Tsagaan Sar, as it’s known locally — and perfectly represents the nomadic lifestyle.
When staying with a local family, you will have the opportunity for a dumpling cooking masterclass, and of course, the best part, you will get to eat your beautifully made dumplings as part of your evening dinner!
Best Time To Visit Mongolia
Mongolia is nicknamed the “Land of the Blue Sky,” and although it has over 260 sunny days, the temperatures here can vary greatly. With winters reaching below 30 °C, and short hot summers, the temperatures are cooler. The best month to visit is usually August, with more relaxing weather, occasional rain, and greener pastures. Since the weather is extreme in the region, it may bring unexpected conditions on any departure.
