6 Reasons Mongolia Should Be Your Next Travel Destination
The ultimate paradise for a nomadic soul.
27 July 2017
A land with an unscathed take on nature, Mongolia may not be your quintessential bucket-list travel destination. But for an adventurer looking to get away from the urban rat-race, it’s an ancient sanctuary remotely tucked between China and Russia.
The country with Genghis Khan's imprints is wild and proud of its nomadic routes. Here, you'll find villages filled with yurts (Mongolian tent homes). You'll see the breathtaking sand dunes and endless blue skies. Here, you'll let your hair loose, mount that horse, and ride away into the oblivion.
If you’re done with sight-seeing tall buildings, fancy beaches and extravagant hotels then it’s time to go back to the basics. Here are 7 striking reasons why you need to pack your bag and head to Mongolia.
1. For the rich Mongol heritage.
Mongolians are a proud nation. Their heritage is their code of conduct. You won’t see Mongolians kids lost in their iPads. You won’t see Mongolian women walking in high heels. And you won’t see their men talking on their Bluetooth devices.
What you will however see, are their magnificent wild horses, endless grasslands and a glorious history.
You can tour a museum in Dadal, the birth place of the legendary Genghis Khan, where you can learn how he formed his dominion with the Mongolian Empire in East Asia. The country is rich in monuments dedicated to their Mongolian emperors.
2. To ride a Mongolian horse at Altai Tavan Bogd National Park.
Mongolia's most visited national park shelters various endangered species such as argali sheep, ibex, grey wolves, red deer, black vulture, elk, snow leopards, Altai snowcock, golden eagles, and many others.
This vast mountainous park borders China and Russia with views of Kazakhstan from the highest peak in Mongolia.
The traditional eagle-hunters can be found living within the proximity of Altai Bogd National Park who comes out to hunt with their eagles in the winters.
3. To eat the famous Mongol cuisine.
If you're a meat lover, Mongolia is your heaven. Mongolian beef is renowned throughout the world.
Their aromatic cuisines are full of dairy products made from fermented milk from cattle, yaks, and camel. Popular Mongol dishes include khuushuur (a fried dumpling), khorkhog (a meat stew from goat and sheep), and boortsog (a sweet biscuit).
4. To witness the most stunning sunset at Bayanzag (The Flaming Cliffs).
There are only handful countries in the world that haven't given into the temptation of technology and infrastructure yet. But Mongolia is one of the rare ones.
The lands are greener, the sky's blue and the sunsets are breathtaking. This particular monumental site should be on every explorer’s Mongolian bucket list. This is where American palaeontologist, Roy Chapman Andrews, discovered the first nest of dinosaur eggs here and alerted the world on his return home.
He named the site the Flaming Cliffs (Mongolian: Ulalzah Tsonj) for their fiery orange-red glow at sunset.
5. To spend a night in a Mongolian ger.
Once you get to know them, you'll find Mongols to be the friendliest people. The locals are mostly Buddhist's who follow the Shamanic traditions and you can find various Oovoos on corners of the roads where people stop to pray for good fortune in their travels. Their traditional music, dance, and art are inseparable from their cultural activities and festivals which features tales of horses and their warriors.
Their tent houses, called ger or yurts are the perfect representation of their nomadic lifestyle.
6. To be a part of Nadaam festival.
Midsummer is the ideal time to be in Mongolia. The country celebrates "the three games of men" at Nadaam festival. The three famous games: Mongolian wrestling, horse racing, and archery are held throughout the country.
Excitement, thrill and nomadic entertainment - the festival offers all that and much more.
