Central Mongolian Tour
Khugnu Tarna, the Orkhon valley on horseback, the Tsenkher hot spring, the Great White Lake and Khorgo crater, Kharakhorum and the wild horses at Hustai.
Forest, lakes and valleys
Mongolia is one of the least-visited countries in the world, and one of the last places where nomadic herding is still a common way of life. This tour shows you the beautiful centre of the country. About 11 percent of Mongolia is forest, and much of it is in the central region, along with green grassland, the Khangai mountains, deer stone monuments and beautiful valleys. We also see a volcanic crater and the Great White Lake. It takes eight days to cover these areas and the Orkhon valley.
Day by Day
Khugnu Khan nature reserve covers 46,990 hectares in Rashaant soum of Bulgan province, at the point where three provinces meet. Alongside its mountains, the reserve has a remarkable stretch of sand dunes about 80 kilometres long, and the scenery is a striking mix of desert, mountain, river and green grassland. There are two monasteries in the reserve.
The Orkhon valley is one of the most visited places in central Mongolia. It was formed by a unique combination of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, and its volcanic landscape is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its links to the history of the Mongol Empire. The Ulaantsutgalan waterfall, about 20 metres high, falls over the volcanic rock of the valley. There is also a chance to see the nomadic way of life, its culture and its traditions. We start horse riding in the valley.
We ride horses in the Orkhon valley, a place of great historical importance for Mongolians. Along the way we see the highlights of the valley, such as deer stone monuments, rock paintings and volcanic rock.
Tsenkher hot spring lies 30 kilometres south of Tsetserleg in a beautiful forested valley. The water comes out of the ground at 86°C and is said to help arthritic joints and other ailments. It is under high pressure underground, so the flow is strong, about 10 litres per second, and it carries minerals from calcium and sodium to sulphur. The water is good for the skin. During the day you can sunbathe, and after dark you can sit in the hot spring and look at the stars.
Terkhiin Tsagaan, the Great White Lake, is the highlight of Arkhangai province and is famous for its scenery. It lies about 600 kilometres north-west of Ulaanbaatar and has been protected since 1965, fully since 1997, to safeguard its mountain scenery and endangered plants and animals. It is surrounded by the Khangai mountains, which reach 3,000 metres above sea level. Much of the national park is covered by forest, where wild berries, rare herbs and many kinds of flowers grow, and it is home to deer, ibex and many species of birds. Around the lake we hike and explore its unusual landscape.
A second day at the Great White Lake, with a hike up to the Khorgo volcanic crater and time to explore the lava landscape around it.
Kharakhorum was one of the most important cities in the history of the Silk Road. It was founded by Chinggis Khaan in 1220, but it grew into the capital of the Mongol Empire in the 1230s under his son Ogedei. The Mongols had a profound impact on trade across Central Asia, as their vast empire connected east and west. Trade and exchange were helped by the Pax Mongolica, which kept a degree of peace and stability across the vast territories under Mongol rule.
Hustai National Park is one of the best-known protected areas in Mongolia. Since 2003 it has been managed by the Hustai National Park Trust, which works to conserve the park's ecosystems and historical stone monuments, build up the takhi population, and develop eco-tourism that supports local livelihoods. The project to reintroduce the takhi, the Przewalski's wild horse, began here in 1992, and today there are more than 360 takhi in the park. After we have seen them, we drive back to Ulaanbaatar.
