Places to discover

Best places to visit in Mongolia

Mongolia is landlocked between China, Russia and Kazakhstan, so does not border the ocean at any point. However, it has a striking variety of landscapes on offer! From Ulan Bator (or Ulaanbaatar), the capital city that never sleeps, to the darkest depths of the Altai mountains, travellers who have crossed this country will tell you exactly what to see and do here.

Mongolia is, above all, the home of Gengis Khan, the national hero. Many travellers set off retracing his footsteps up to the immense 40m statue in Tsonjin Boldog. Travelling along the Trans-Mongolian railway is also an absolute must! It crosses the country from the north to the south, and goes all the way to Beijing in the south and up to Russia in the north. Finally, one of the must-see locations is, without a doubt, Ulaanbataar. It is chock-full of museums, typical boutiques, markets, and with almost 1 million inhabitants, it is home to almost 1/3 of the Mongolian population.

Mongolia is also a very religious country. Buddhism and shamanism live alongside one another and the country has a very peaceful atmosphere about it. Nomads and shepherds remind us that, long ago, we too used to live among nature. You will be pleasantly surprised at just how hospitable its people are.

Spending a week with nomads is an unforgettable experience - living among them and like them, you'll be taken back to humanity's roots!
Set off to meet the Dukha people, a community of reindeer herders in the Taiga. A moment to remember. Finally, if you like a more active holiday, cross the Altai and its mountains or set off on horseback around the area. The best way to disconnect! 
Ölgii is located in the extreme west of the country, next to the Russian and Chinese borders. It is a Kazakh land, with the Kazakh people making up a large majority of the region's population (90%).
The former capital of the Mongol Empire, Silk Road trading post and home to the great Genghis Khan, Karakorum is in Central Mongolia in the Arkhangaï region.
Ulan Bator is Mongolia's astonishing capital city, where contempory life and tradition merge and yurts sit proud next to modern buildings. This noisy, chaotic city is situated in the heart of an immense and semi-desertic steppe that was once home to Genghis Khan.
Tsetserleg is the capital of the Arkhangai 'aimag'. At more than 1,600m high, this lush, verdant town , which sits in little valley, stands out from the rest.
Bulgan is the capital of the Bulgan 'aimag' and is situated to the northwest of Ulan Bator. It's more of a stopover along the road leading to Lake Khövsgöl than a tourist hotspot. 
Situated at more than 1,600m high, Khatgal is at the southern edge of Lake Khövsgöl, from where the River Egg flows. It's a favourite with Mongolian tourists, who come to cruise around the lake.
Khovd is the capital of the aïmag (region) that bears the same name and is situated to the east of the country. It has a population of 20,000 and stretches as far as the Altaï foothills.
Capital of the little province of Orkhon, Erdenet is Mongolia's third largest town. It's thrived thanks to a large copper mine that employs around 8,000 people and is currently the fourth largest in the world.
The entrance to the Gobi desert is within easy reach. It is an easy-to-reach destination, whether you are coming from China or Ulaanbaatar, the capital.
Mörön is the relatively small, modest capital of Khövsgöl...although it does have its own airport.
Dalanzadgad, which is situated in southern Mongolia, is a departure point for the Gobi Desert and Yolyn Am. A mix of ugly Soviet-style buildings and traditional yurts, the town stretches across an arid, desert landscape.
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