Lake Khuvsgul – One of the Most Beautiful Holiday Trips in Mongolia

Mongolia is one of the top tourist destinations in Asia. Its untouched scenic beauty and rich culture offer something truly unique. No matter which part of the country you wish to explore, you will find pristine lakes, exciting rugged terrain, glacier-clad mountain ranges, and the nomadic population every step of the way.

One of the top holiday destinations in Mongolia is Lake Khuvsgul, also known as Khövsgöl Nuur. It is a freshwater lake, the largest in Mongolia and second-largest by volume and area in the world. This beautiful lake is surrounded by several mountain ranges and its scenic beauty is difficult to describe in mere words. You have to see it to believe it. Since the area receives snowfall, the lake looks indescribably beautiful in December when the mountain peaks are covered in stark white snow.

An adventurous Lake Khövsgöl trek will give you the opportunity to explore the spectacular beauty of the lush countryside. You can also visit the reindeer herding families or do some fishing in the fresh water lake. During your holidays in Mongolia, you will be able to spot many migratory birds from Siberia.

Some of the tours in and around the Khuvsgul Lake area take you to other popular tourist attractions nearby and elsewhere in Mongolia. You might want to visit Uran Togoo Uul and Tulga natural monument and crater, Amarbayasgalant monastery, the hot springs of Tsenkher, and the Gobi desert among others.

The nomadic culture of Mongolia is also something that you must experience by meeting the nomads and living life their way for at least a couple of days. They live a different life than the fast paced life in the modern cities. Music lovers would appreciate listening to Khoomi singing, a unique style of throat singing practiced in Mongolia.

Trekking is one of the best ways to explore the hidden treasures in the land of Genghis Khan. You can also go for horse–treks. Some of them last for several days. If you enjoy camping, the tour operators will be able to make the provisions for you while you are on the Mongolia tour of your life.

Have A Safe Mongolia Trekking Holiday with A Mongolia Tour Operator

Trekking is one of the best ways to enjoy a holiday in Mongolia, but you need to make sure that you sign up for the activity with a reputable tour operator. Mongolia is a trekker’s dream, with several breathtaking and wild landscapes and vast horizons stretching over sparsely populated lands where you can meet nomads and enjoy a first-hand experience of exploring historic places, remote terrains, and hidden trails. A specialist tour operator can organise a safe and memorable trekking holiday in Mongolia with itineraries that include Terelj and Khan Khentii, Arkhangai, Zavkhan,Uvs, Altai, and Khovsgol.

Reputable tour operators are able to ensure a safe holiday and trek in Mongolia by taking care of every aspect of the trip. With their help, all you need to do is concentrate on your holiday, the trekking, and horse riding. Special vehicles will be provided to carry equipment. Otherwise, for most Mongolia horse treks, a pack horse or a camel will be included in the trip. One pack horse is typically provided for every two guests, and they come equipped with robust saddle bags and waterproof bags to keep essential things (i.e. sleeping bags and rest mats) dry, in case of inclement weather. Plastic sheeting is provided to protect pack horses or camels in case it starts to rain, too.

Mongolia tour operators ensure a comfortable holiday by providing high-quality tents, rest mats, and a dining tent for most trekking holidays. A cook will travel with you to make sure that can eat three square meals each day. Drinking water is readily available using high-quality Katadyn water filter, or water from nearby fresh water rivers, lakes, and streams is boiled. Satellite phones are provided to guides so you can make contact in case of an emergency where vehicle access ornormal mobile communication is impossible.

Tours to Mongolia: Experience the Rich Culture of Buddhism

Buddhism in Mongolia derives much of its characteristics from Tibetan Buddhism, which arrived in the region in two waves. The first one was during the time of Genghis Khan and later, his grandson Kublai Khan. The second wave occurred in the 16th century when the Dalai Lama school came to Mongolia in the latter part of the century. Both of these had been preceded much earlier in history during the reign of Emperor Ashoka, monarch of the pre-historic Maurya Empire three centuries before Christ.

Mongolia has a rich culture of Buddhism. Ruins of ancient cities and Buddhist temples are still found in the Mongolian countryside. The ruins of remote monasteries located on the towering mountains and evidence of the rich culture of Buddhism can also be witnessed in the Buddhist temples in Mongolia. They are often located on mountainsides.

The local music also reflects a deep love and pride that Mongolians have for their country. Khoomi singing, as the unique style of Mongolian throat singing, is famous all over the world. Khoomi singers produce harmonic tones that can mirror the sounds of waterfalls or the gentle rustle of the wind blowing sand over the steppes. The most recognisable is the deep chanting chorus of the Buddhist monks. It can be quite mysterious and mesmerising at the same time.

Karakorum was the capital of the Mongol empire in the middle of the 13th century. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Erdene Zuu monastery of Saskyapa is one of the earliest in the country and houses 108 stupas. The boundary of the temple complex is unique with carved stone turtles along the periphery. The Saskyapa School, located in the Ovorkhangai province of Karakorum tries to maintain equilibrium between erudition and meditation. After lying ruins for many years, the monastery was reconstructed at the end of the last century and is now maintained by the democratic government of Mongolia.

Plan Holidays In Mongolia For A Unique Experience

Mongolia offers visitors a unique landscape of rolling hills, towering mountains and glaciers, undulating deserts and wide-open steppes. There are also pristine coniferous forest and river and lake valleys that take you to a time when nature was relatively untouched by man. Mongolia also offers some exceptional cultural experiences.

The country offers a host of holiday tours, and you can choose ones that focus on adventure to those that show you Mongolia’s rich cultural heritage. Each of them will give you a unique holiday experience that you would not have had before. You can also opt for holidays in Mongolia that combine both experiences or choose the ones that interest you.

Here is a quick look at some of these options so you can pick the ones that interest you:

Adventure Trips:

•    Tsambagarav Trek: A 7 days riding or walking trip that takes you to the craggy hills and deep cut gorges of the Khatu Valley and the open plains at the foot of Tsambagarav Mountain. You can also enjoy the Tsambagarav national park and see the Hovd River. The trip gives you the best of mountains, valleys, rivers and plains in the space of a week.

•    Terelj Trek: Explore the lesser-known and visited areas of the Terelj National Park. The horse riding trip combines the best of nature with authentic homestays in gers near the Tuul River. You can also enjoy kayaking and visit the famous Chinggis Statue

•    Khangai Hills: You get to enjoy the open steppes, the rugged hills and stunning landscapes of Central Mongolia in this trip. You also get to experience a unique hike to Mt. Bogd and see the 8-lake NaimanNuur in addition to the Orkhon Valley

Cultural Trips:

Winter Festivals: Not many people know that Mongolia has some of the most distinctive winter festivals in the world. You can also enjoy the Ice Festival on the frozen surface of Lake Khovsgol in North Mongolia and take in the Eagle Festival on the steppes outside Ulaanbaatar, and the Camel Festival in the Gobi Desert.

Nomadic Elements: This trip gives you unique nomad stay experiences. You get to enjoy homestays with the Mongolian nomads and see interesting cultural events such as tree planting project in addition to varied landscapes and historical sites. You also enjoy a countryside cooking lesson and learn how to put up a ger just the nomads have done for centuries.

Discover the Mongolian Festival during Mongolia Holidays

Mongolia boasts of a rich history and a diverse culture. According to archaeological evidence, the country has been inhabited for over two million years. One can experience a glimpse of the past by observing the traditional nomadic herders galloping across the vast steppes as they used to at the time of Genghis Khan. The supreme reign of the Great Genghis Khan gave Mongolia its famous equestrian lifestyle, and this is still followed by the local nomadic herdsmen who live in the countryside.

Mongolia is a fascinating country with unique landscapes, vast open spaces and ancient ruins which speak volumes about the country’s rich history and culture. The locals are very generous people and are known for their warm hospitality. They are simple and very down to earth. They always offer help to everyone including guests and outsiders, if the need arises. A week long trek allows one to relive the rich history of Mongolia and experience the nomadic rituals and traditions of the locals living in the vast undulating steppes and deserts.

Living with the local tribes and nomadic people will help you discover the famous Mongolian festivals during your stay. One of the most important festivals of the Mongolian people is the Naadam festival. This festival is one of the highlights of Mongolia during the summers and is influenced by the traditional nomadic way of life of the locals and their gallant nature.

This festival showcases the vibrant hues of the Mongolian people who participate in this festival with full vigour and enthusiasm. It is an annual sporting event wherein the locals participate in traditional sports like archery, wrestling, and horse riding. Mongolians consider the strength, skill and dignified character as the hallmark of the great wrestler champions of Naadam.

The other significant festival of the Mongolians is the Golden Eagle festival. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Event and sees around 70 eagle hunters participate with their magnificent eagles. The festival happens on the first weekend in October near Ulgii, the capital of Bayan-Ulgii province in Western Mongolia. This festival also reflects the adventurous spirit of the local nomads who believe in living life to the fullest.

Another festival is the Tsagaan Sar or the Mongolian lunar new year. It is celebrated one month after the first new moon following the winter solstice. Family and food form an important part of this event, and you are likely to witness large family get-togethers as members from all over the country come to meet everyone else in the home of the eldest member of the family.

Plan Your Mongolia Trekking Vacation in the Khangai Mountains

Trekking in Mongolia can be said to be out of this world. The beauty of the pristine landscape coupled with the breathtaking views makes the country a veritable paradise for any person who wishes to see the Earth for its real beauty. People can choose to trek for the time and days they like. The tour operators in the country offer a range of options in terms of days and locations. From single day treks to hiking tours spread over a week or more, the choices are plenty for avid trekkers.

Among the many treks that are popular among tourists is the Hills of the Khangai trek. The hills are located in Central Mongolia and provide an exploratory adventure amid the vast steppes, the rugged hills, the pristine forests and the clear rivers. Trekkers can enjoy nomadic homestays with the locals and sleep as people in the days gone by below the starlit sky.

The basic features that attracts avid trekkers to this part of the country is the rugged nature of the treks. Depending upon which trek they prefer, travelers can choose between trekking through meadows lush with wildflowers, river valleys that follow the pristine rivers, or forests that have not been touched by the modern world. They can also climb up to see lakes located high in the mountains, or simply explore the rugged mountains. The fact that there are no designated treks and each trip is a new one makes these adventures even more mesmerizing.

People can choose to stay in a single place –in a tent or at a nomadic homestay – and foray into the landscape for a day or two, or they can opt to go on a longer trek lasting over a few days that takes them through the different landscapes that abound in the region. The longer treks generally start from one place and end at another. During the way, people camp in the homestays of the nomads or pitch their own tents under the clear sky.

The best time for these treks is spring, summer, and autumn, as winter can be a bit chilly and the snow may make the journeys quite treacherous. The places that travelers can touch during their trek are the forested Khangai hills, the wide valleys of the Orkhon River, and the remote Naiman Nuur Lake. Travelers can also add a cultural aspect to their holiday by visiting the Tovkon Khiid and Erdene Zuu Monastery.

This Summer Unravel the Remote Mongolian Countryside

One the most spectacular destinations the world has to offer is Mongolia, and there is no better time to visit the country than the summer when the cultural season is at its peak, and the weather is just right to travel. Quite a few travel companies offer tours to the country but few, if any, match up to the many destinations on offer from the local tour companies in the country. These travel operators have had years of experience in taking foreigners around the amazing countryside and can be trusted to make any journey memorable. 

Travelling to the Mongolian countryside can be done in a number of ways, and you can choose from a 4x4 tour, a horseback holiday, a trekking expedition or a combination of all three. Let’s look each option to understand why it makes sense to go for a combination of all three.

1. 4x4 Tours: These tours are the most comfortable of them all as you simply sit and are taken around to see the amazing countryside. These trips are best for people who are not accustomed to horseback riding or trekking on foot. One disadvantage of these tourism packages, however, is the fact that most of the exceptional places that you must see in Mongolia are not accessible by vehicles, and you may miss out on them if you stick to only a 4x4.
2. Horseback Riding Packages: These are some of the most fascinating journeys that Mongolia has to offer. If you are comfortable riding a pony, you will find these tours some of the best ones you have undertaken in your life. From visiting the most remote valleys, mountains and forests to meeting inhabitants of remote settlements, Eagle hunters, and reindeer herders, the horseback rides will give you a taste of the unabashedly beautiful Mongolian countryside. You can choose from day treks that last for a few hours to ones that stretch over a few weeks. However, if you are not at all comfortable with horses or ponies, these rides may not be for you.
3. Trekking Tours: Seeing Mongolia on foot can be an exhilarating experience. You can trek through the high mountains, the pristine natural parks, see the ancient monasteries and trek through the vast steppes as you take in the beauty of the country. However, these treks will not be for you if you are not comfortable walking for long distances.

Considering the pros and cons of these options, the best way to explore the remote Mongolian countryside is by a combination of all three options. You can use the 4x4 to travel as far as possible and then get on horseback to go to the remote locations. Once there, you can trek on foot to see the sights that mesmerise tourists from all around the world.