The Mongolia not many know...
By: Daniel

Mongolia is a fascinating country where travelers have the opportunity to watch lots of cultural activities: singing, dancing, wrestling, and winter horse racing.

Mongolia is a big country with bad transportation means, so trying to see too many provinces you would spend your holidays inside vehicles, but the experience is worth!!!. Hôvsgôl lake, in Hövsgöl province, is very beautiful.

Here are some of the most incredible known places and some of the best off the beaten path places for those looking for an incredible adventure.

Hövsgöl

Reportedly, one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is inhabited by the reindeer people, who live in teepees, ride reindeer, and live from their reindeer herds.

Khuvsgul lake is the best of tourist sites Mongolia has to offer to adventurous naturalists. Khuvsgul is largest fresh water lake of Mongolia, located in Northern part of the country. It is believed that Khvsgul Lake contains two thirds of Mongolia's fresh water.

Khuvsgul, is the top of all Mongolia attractions. It covers 2,760 square kilometers in surface, 136 km long and 36 km wide, and 262 meters deep. It is the second largest lake in Mongolia after Uvs which locates in western Mongolia. The waters are full of fish and surrounded by high mountains covered with forests inhabited by wild animals such as bears, sables, moose, ibex and wild sheep. These forests make home for domesticated yaks and reindeers along with the people of Darkhad, Buriat and Tsaatan.

Hiking is non-negotiable must do. It will take your breath away with awesome sceneries and fresh air. You are going to love it. Horseback trekking is the alternative choice for those who are a bit lazy and tired but do not want to miss the beauty of the nature and fresh air not to mention the opportunities to meet the local people and their well preserved culture and lifestyle.

In Hövsgöl you can see the people who live in taiga. They live without electricity and live like ancient people. Bonda Lake guest house helps you with transportation from Ulaanbaatar and Muren to Khatgal.

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park

Located south of Mongolia's highest mountain, this national park covers an area of 6,000 sq km and is home to three lakes and a glacier.

A stunning landscape of high glaciated snow capped mountains, alpine and sup-alpine forests, large lakes, rivers and streams, mountain grasslands, barren rocky mountain ranges and semi-arid desert type valleys.

Lots to do in the park. High alpine and very serious climbing, backcountry skiing (may spring skiing is great!), fishing, great mountain trekking, horse and camel trekking, whitewater kayak and rafting, and learning about and experiencing the unique khazakh culture of the area.

Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve

Gun-Galuut, 130km east-southeast of Ulaanbaatar, is the state combined from diversity of ecosystem although it owns comparatively small area. The harmonized complex of high mountains, steppes, rivers, lakes and wetlands as well are kept enough as its original condition.

Lots of rare wildlife such as Argali wild mountain sheep (Ovis Ammon Darwini), White Naped Crane, Siberian Crane, Whooper Swan, Hooded Crane, Swan Goose and other birds and mammals. Real Mongol nomads live in this area.

This is a magical place for Horse riding, camel riding, yak cart travel, nomadic homestay, kayaking, rafting, hiking, bird watching, wildlife viewing, fishing, visiting nomads and culture experiencing.

Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park

This is one place that will leave you speechless! The park is named for the Gurvan Saikhan Mountains, which translates to the Three Beauties. The name is derived from three subranges, the East, Middle and West Beauty. The range forms the eastern half of the park.

The park lies on the northern edge of the Gobi desert. The higher elevations contain areas of steppe. A number of rare plants and animals are found in the park, including the elusive snow leopard and the Gobi Camel. Areas of sand dunes are found, most famously the Khongoryn Els - the Singing Sands. Another major tourist destination is Yolyn Am, a mountain valley that contains a large ice field through most of the year.

Karakorum - The ancient Mongol capital established by Genghis Khan

A marvelous destination! Karakorum was the capital of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, and of the Northern Yuan in the 14-15th century. Its ruins lie in the northwestern corner of the Övörkhangai Province of Mongolia, near today's town of Kharkhorin, and adjacent to the Erdene Zuu monastery. They are part of the upper part of the World Heritage Site Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape.