Monika Misslbeck-Slote
"Dear Oyunaa,
Thank you so much for upgrading my hotel. The room was very comfortable. Miss Hishi and the driver, Mr. Damdin, were very good companions and I learned a lot from Miss Hishi. Also, the trip to the South Gobi was a wonderful experience. It was very well organized. Thanks a lot. I will definitely recommend your travel agency!"
from Deutsch
Judy Jackson
"Hello Oyunaa
The tour was wonderful. Everything worked out fine and just as planned. I will be happy to recommend Black Ibex and we plan to come back again next year! My only suggestion is that we should have had a four wheel drive vehicle for Elsen Tasarhai. We had a little problem in the sand and could not drive everyplace. The guides were great, especially Hishi in UlaanBataar, and the drivers were very good."
from USA
Find us on Facebook

Waterfall Ulaan Tsutgalan (Orkhon)

It is a waterfall on the Ulaan River cascades from an impressive height of 20 meters, and it extends for 100 meters from the Orkhon River. The Orkhon River flows through basalt rocks from the Gyatruu range to Karakorum soum. The waterfall is a great spot for bird watching and fishing. You can also visit a local horsemen family. There we have an opportunity to experience their way of life, their culture and traditions


Karakorum and Erdene zuu monastery

The sites of this ancient capital of Mongolia Karakorum ( spelled also Kharkhorin) and the Erdenezuu monastery with their 108 stupas are undoubtedly at great interest to travelers. Located 370 km away from Ulaanbaatar Elevation is 1600 meters above sea level. Genghis Khan's fabled city was founded in 1220 in the Orkhon valley, at the crossroads of the Silk Road . Building was completed by his son, Ogedei Khan, after Genghis' death, but Karakorum served as the capital for only 40 years before Kublai Khan moved it to what is now Beijing . Following the move, and the subsequent collapse of the Mongolian empire, Karakorum was abandoned and then later destroyed by hordes of Manchurian soldiers. The symbolic ruins of Karakorum monumental walls (400 m of length) with 108 stupas, surround the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia Erdenezuu Monastery, built in 1586. In 1792, it housed 62 temples and 10,000 lamas; which itself was badly destroyed during the Stalinist purges in 1930s. After democratic movement in 1990, it has become an active monastery again. Turtles carved from the stone marked the boundaries of the complex. Today it retains much of its former glory. Enclosed in an immense walled compound, the 3 temples within are dedicated to the 3 stages of Buddha's life: as a child, adolescent and adult. The main, central temple is called the Zuu of Buddha and has statues of Buddha as a child. Outside the monastery walls are 2 'turtle rocks'. Four of these once marked the boundaries of ancient Karakorum.


Tuvkhun Monastery

On the peak of the Undur shireet with 2312 meters high, this locates in boundary of Arkhangai and Uvurkhangai aimags. It was erected by Zanabazar (1 st Bogd Gegen in Mongolia) in 1654 on the smooth grand of the south slope of steep rock with 20 meters high has 14 small temples. He created his famous script "Soyombo" there in 1680. This creation of the temple has enjoyed state protection since 1998 and was registered by UNESCO in the world heritage by grading "The most wonderful valuable object" in 1996.


Ugii Lake

Ugii Lake is 1.337 meters above the sea level in Ugii soum in Arkhangai aimag. It covered 25 square kilometers, and is known for its reach bird and fish diversity. The fish population is represented by pike, catfish, barscharten, which are the most common types providing enough fish for industrial fishing. Fifty to eighty tons are caught annually. Among the birds, it is not rare to spot at Swan Goose, White Spoonbill and Dalmatian Pelican.


Khugnu Khan Mountain National Park

Just in the border area of Bulgan, Ovorkhangai and Tuv provinces is the Khugnu Khan Mountains. This is a picturesque area with mountains, forests, steppes, Gobi-type desert and mineral water sources all in one location.(called also Elsen tasarkhai)
Khugnu Tarny Monastery has two parts, an upper and a lower part. What is of interest is that the monastery belongs to three different times of Buddhism in Mongolia-ancient, middle and late. Prince Bishrelt of the former Tusheet Khan Aimag founded the monastery at the beginning of the 17th century. Next time Zanabazar dedicated to this Monastery to one of his teachers, Erdenetsorj. It was built in 1670-1680 It was destroyed during the war of Galdan Boshigt, a fighter opposed to Manchurian domination of Mongolia . Last time after democratic movement in 1990 restoration the temples led by the Granddaughter of the monks who was living at the monastery when it was destroyed.


Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park

Khorgo extinct volcano (spelled also Horgo) It was established to project the spectacular mountain scenery and endangered species of flora & fauna. It's surrounded by the Khangai Mountains, which reach as 3000 meters above the sea level. Over comparatively small area here there are a dozen or so extinct volcanoes. In the craters some of them are very tiny crystal- clears lakes. The Khorgo crater, situated at an altitude of 2.210 meters with a diameter of 20 meters and depth of 70 to 80 meters, is the most interesting at all. There is no lake in this crater, but clouds of steam jet out it is crevices forming ice moulds in winter , which from a distance look like large flocks of sheep scattered on the mountain. Near the crater there are dozens of small caverns with stalactites hanging from their ceiling and walls. Some time in past volcanic lava flooded the valleys nearby which are covered today with small woods and a great variety of berries and flowers. In the woods there are lots of deer, wild goat and other animals, as well as various kinds of birds. Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake. An immense mass of white-hot lava once blocked the bed of the River Terkh and it is water formed Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan, which is 16 kilometers in length, 20 meters in depth, and 61 square kilometers in this area. It is situated at an altitude of 2.060 meters. River Suman, cascading from the lake in stormy torrents, pierced through the rocks to form a canyon and several small lakes. The waters of the river are so turbulent that they do not freeze in the severest winter frosts. In the middle of the lake there is volcanic Island is covered with nests made of the fragrant grass Sam khan. Here all day long you hear the hum and cries of birds and the quacking of ruddy shell duck and many types of ducks sand geese &. Red deer , Siberian deer, wild bear, Great Cormorant is common in summer, nesting around the lake.


Visit a nomad family

Mongolia is one of the few nomad countries in the world. Since the Hunnu Empire Mongolians raising their five domestic animals (it is including sheep, horse, cow, camel, and goat) in the broad region of forest, steppe and Gobi desert. Especially they respect their horses. Mongolians see their horse is their best friend. Mongolian nomadic people move into place to place 2-4 times a year as well as it is depending on livestock's pasture. Mongolian nomad people always following their livestock. Because livestock knows where is the best pasture? Herders live in Mongolian traditional dwelling (covered felt) Ger.



Request info? Please write here



Location
Mongolia is a land-locked country in the North-East Asia bordering China with 4.673 km in the south and Russian Federation with 3485 km in the north.

Mongolian weather & climate
Mongolia is located in the Northern Hemisphere temperate zone. Situated at an average altitude of 1500 m above the sea level separated from the oceans, surrounded by high mountain chains that are blocking the wet winds, Mongolia has an extreme continental climate.

Natural zones of Mongolia
Mongolia is one of the rich natural countries in the world. Because there are 7 natural zones: such as High Mountain Zone, Taiga Forest Zone, Mountain Forest Steppe Zone, Steppe Zone, Desert-Steppe Zone, Gobi Desert Zone, Wetlands.

Mongolian flora and fauna
Mongolia has a very diverse and distinctive flora and fauna, which represent a mixture of species from the northern taiga of Siberia, the steppe, and the deserts of Central Asia.

Population & Language
Today the Mongolia has more than 2, 8 million population and over 1 million people live in rural areas and are mainly engaged in traditional livestock herding and some extent in crop production.

Education & Health
Education: Before Revolution in 1921 99% of population did not know script in Mongolia . Before People's Revolution just males were studied religious schools. Females couldn't study any schools.

Political system
In 1989 when communism was starting to fall elsewhere, many Mongolian weren't really ready for the change. Some a group of young professors and activists formed Mongolian democratic Union. In 1990 March they organized hanger strike in Sukhbaatar Square .

Administrative and territorial units of Mongolia
Territory of Mongolia divided into 21 provinces in Mongolia and one capital city Ulaanbaatar . Provinces are subdivided into 333 soums (region) and soums are further divided into1664 bags (hamlets).

Post & Communication
The history of Mongolian communication started 13 th century. The Genghis khans developed the postal service. Mongolian modern telecommunication history started in 1898 when the first telephone communication line was laid to connect Khyahta with Daa Khuree (present Ulaanbaatar ) .



Mongolia culture - Real Nomadic style
For 3 000 years, the people of the steppes have adopted a pastoral way of life moving in the search of best pastures and campsites. Since the Hunnu Empire Mongolians raising their five domestic animals (it is including sheep, horse, cow, camel, and goat) in the broad region of forest, steppe and Gobi desert.

Mongolia History -Great Empire of Chingis Khan
The name echoes through the history of Europe and Asia with a drumbeat of horse-hooves, accompanied by the screams of doomed townspeople. Incredibly, in a span of just 25 years, Genghis Khan's horsemen conquered a larger area and greater population than the Romans did in four centuries.

Mongolian Ethnic - Unique type of nation
Although most people probably think of Mongolia as being inhabited by a single ethnic group - the Mongols - this is wrong. There are actually quite a few. There are over 20 different groups of Mongols.

Mongolian Nature - Real wild and free nature
Mongolia, with an area 1.567 million sq.km, lies in a transitional zone at 42° to 52° N, between the boreal forests of Siberia and the Gobi desert, spanning the southernmost border of the permafrost and the northernmost deserts of Central Asia.

Mongolia Gobi - Home land of dinosaur
The great Mongolian Gobi has High Mountain, springs, forests, sands, steppes and rich animal kingdom. The Gobi is occupying 30 percent of the country's vast territory and stretching from east to the west through southern part of Mongolia, has total of 49 mammals, 15 reptiles, 1 amphibians, and 160 bird's species and its plant kingdom comprises over 400 species including many valuable medicinal, fodder and decorative plants.



Mongolian brief history
Mongolia's history is extremely long; it spans over 5,000. "The Mongols has little inclination to ally with other nomadic peoples of northern Asia and, until the end of the 12th century, the Mongols were little more than a loose confederation of rival clans, It was in the late 12th century that a 20-year-old Mongol named Temujin emerged and managed to unite most of the Mongol tribes.

Nomad lifestyle
Mongolia is one of the nomad countries in the world. Since the Hunnu Empire Mongolians raising their five domestic animals (it is including sheep, horse, cow, camel, and goat) in the broad region of forest, steppe and Gobi desert.

Festivals and events
The Mongolian national holiday Naadam is celebrated in Mongolia each year on 11 July. "Eriin gurvan naadam" the three manly games of wrestling, horse racing, and archery- make up the core activities of the National day festivals.

Religion in Mongolia
Yellow headed Buddhism began to enter into Mongolia from Tibet the second half of the 16 th century. Since that time mostly Mongolians believe Buddhism. But Mongolian Buddhism is different from Tibetan Buddhism.

Ger, Mongolian traditional dwelling
Ideally suited to Mongolia's harsh terrain and lifestyle, the ger is called a yourt by many foreigners. But, Mongolians don't particularly like this Russian labeling of their national dwelling ...so call it a ger. A round felt tent covered in durable, waterproof, white canvas seems to be the most simple description of this portable home.

Mongolian traditional food and beverage:
Dairy products called "tsagaan idee" it is differ greatly about in variety and taste and include milk, which is regarded as symbol of unselfishness, purity and kindness, urum (a thick layer of cream), Mongolian butter, aaruul (dried curd), and a soft of kefir yogurt .

Mongolian traditional clothes
Hats: One of the most colorful and original items of Mongolian national dress is the traditional head wear. The Mongolian head dresses differed in shape and purpose; there were hats for the young and old, summer and winter & men & women, holidays and ceremonies & fashionable and everyday hats.

Traditional music & songs
Odes to nature, horses and the open steppe are popular themes of traditional Mongolian music. Long songs, as the name suggest have lasted a long time and are loved by Mongolians. The original long time and written about 800 years ago and there are special songs for weddings, festivals and religious ceremonies.

Mongolian toys and games
Mongolian traditional games can be divided into 2 general types on the basis of their general form; games which are played using simple and readily-available materials such s stones sticks, or animal bones and games which are played using objects created by the artistic means; namely with painted or carved pieces.

Visual Arts of Mongolia
Cinema, the miracle of the 20th century, came to Mongolia in 1910s. First movies were shown in the capital city, at the American Consulate and Russian Stock Exchange's hotel. In 1913 Mongolian prince Namnansuren is known to have brought some films from Russia to show at the residence of the Bogd Khan.



Destinations out of Ulaanbaatar
Terelj National Park is the most popular destination and the third biggest protected area in Mongolia . Visitors can take leisurely strolls on meadows carpeted with edelweiss and a dazzling variety of other wild flowers, view fascinating rock formations against a backdrop of pine covered mountains and wander along the wooded banks of a mountain stream.

Outside the City
The 90,000 hectare Hustain Huruu National Park, set 60 miles southwest of Ulaanbaatar, is home to the world's only naturally surviving wild horse.

Places and Attractions to visit Central Mongolia
It is a waterfall on the Ulaan River cascades from an impressive height of 20 meters, and it extends for 100 meters from the Orkhon River. The Orkhon River flows through basalt rocks from the Gyatruu range to Karakorum soum.

Northern Mongolia
Huvsgul aimag has at its jewel the vast lake of Huvsgul , one of the World's largest lakes, big enough to the regarded as an inland sea- yet of pure fresh water.

Mongolian South Gobi
The Mongolian government established the Great Gobi National Park in 1975 and the UNESCO designated as the Great Gobi as the fourth largest Biosphere Reserve in the world in 1991. Mongolians consider that there are 33 different Gobi , where sandy desert occupies only 3 percent of the total territory.

Eastern Mongolia
This is the native land of Genghis Khan and contains many important historical and cultural sites. The park is landscape of transition from Siberian taiga forest to grass steppe.

Western Mongolia
Uvs Lake is largest lake in Mongolia . It is 743 meters above the sea level, 80kilometers wide and 80 kilometers long, covering 3.350 square kilometers with clear but brackish water -a land- locked Inland Sea .


Mongolia travel and tourism organization
Ministry of Nature,
Environment and Tourism
Mongolia Travel Association
Mongolian Tourism Association
Travel Mongolia, Mongolia Chamber
Mongolian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
international ecotravel
The International
Ecotourism Society
Discover Mongolia is a branch of Black Ibex Expeditions Co. Ltd. (registered in Mongolia with a company No 2810093 )
All material copyright © 2004/2012. All Rights Reserved to Discover Mongolia.