Mongolia

Description

Mongolia

Mongolia evokes images of endless steppes and nomads with their herds, but is quite mountainous with alpine conditions in many parts. The country lies landlocked between Russia and China. The high peaks of Mongolia are found in the west of the country, in the Altai Mountains. Hüiten Peak (4374 m) in the Tavan Bogd Mountains is the highest, located in the westernmost tip of Mongolia on the border with China, in the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. This area is the most remote and spectacular for hiking, with snowclad peaks, glaciers and lovely alpine lakes and valleys. To reach these and other mountains of Western Mongolia, the town of Olgii is a good starting point. Other western mountain regions good for hiking are those around the snow capped Kharkhiraa Uul (4037 m), Türgen Uul (3965 m), and Tsambagarav Uul (4202 m). From Mongolia's far western corner the Altai Mountains stretch out along the southwest of the country, ending in the mountains of Gobi Altai. These still reach up to 3000 m and border the Gobi Desert. In the far south there is some nice hiking in Gurvan Saikhan National Park.

Another major but more eroded and rolling mountain range are the Khangai Mountains in Central Mongolia. Highest peak here is the glacier capped Otgontenger (4008 m). Second highest, and more easy to climb, is Erkhet (3535 m). Both are considered sacred mountains. The Khangai Range offers a diversity of landscapes, from grassy steppes to forests, canyons, rivers, lakes and volcanic craters. It can be reached by road from the capital Ulan Bator, and there are numerous organized treks here.

North of the Khangai Mountains at the foot of the South Siberian (Russian) Sayan Range lies the huge alpine Khövsgöl Lake and National Park. There are some wonderful hiking opportunities in the surrounding mountains with great views, and along the shore.

Lowest but closest to the capital Ulan Bator, are the northeastern Khentii Mountains, on the border with Russia. It is home to another sacred mountain: Burkhan Khaldun (2800 m), associated with Genghis Khan. Finally there are some good relatively easy trekking options not far from Ulan Bator: north of Ulan Bator from Darkhan to the monastery of Amarbayasgalant; east of Ulan Bator in Gorkhi Terelj National Park; south of Ulan Bator in Bogd Khan National Park.

Best season to go hiking is summertime, from mid-May until early September, although the season is shorter at higher altitudes. There are no marked trails, and if you plan to set out independently, be prepared to carry all you need: tent, stove, food, water etc. Nomads will sometimes rent out pack horses.

Regions

Mountains

Books

The Book Depository
United Kingdom
2014
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De Zwerver
Netherlands
2014
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Bol.com
Netherlands
  • The Great Wide Open
  • Atmospheric photography that follows today’s intrepid adventurers to the most breathtaking places in the world.The Great Wide Open is a compilation of photographs that capture and celebrate the new desire for outdoor adventure. From Iceland to Mongolia, this book takes you on a visual journey to some of the Earth’s most breathtaking places.Lose... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
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Bol.com
Belgium
  • The Great Wide Open
  • Atmospheric photography that follows today’s intrepid adventurers to the most breathtaking places in the world.The Great Wide Open is a compilation of photographs that capture and celebrate the new desire for outdoor adventure. From Iceland to Mongolia, this book takes you on a visual journey to some of the Earth’s most breathtaking places.Lose... Read more
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De Zwerver
Netherlands
2018
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2014
  • Reisgids Mongolia - Mongolië | Bradt Travel Guides
  • Een goede, vooral praktische reisgids met veel info over overnachten, eetgelegenheden, vervoer, maar ook wandelingen. Daarnaast nog aandacht voor achtergronden als geschiedenis, cultuur en landschap. Sober uitgevoerd, maar complete reisgids. The 'Land of Blue Sky' is one of the few places on earth where travellers can tread on undiscovered... Read more
Bol.com
Netherlands
2014
  • On the Trail of Genghis Khan
  • The relationship between man and horse on the Eurasian steppe gave rise to a succession of rich nomadic cultures. Among them were the Mongols of the thirteenth century - a small tribe, which, under the charismatic leadership of Genghis Khan, created the largest contiguous land empire in history. Inspired by the extraordinary life nomads still... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
» Click to open
Bol.com
Belgium
2014
  • On the Trail of Genghis Khan
  • The relationship between man and horse on the Eurasian steppe gave rise to a succession of rich nomadic cultures. Among them were the Mongols of the thirteenth century - a small tribe, which, under the charismatic leadership of Genghis Khan, created the largest contiguous land empire in history. Inspired by the extraordinary life nomads still... Read more
» Click to close
Bol.com
Netherlands
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
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Bol.com
Belgium
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Bol.com
Netherlands
  • Moron to Moron
  • In July 2010, Tom Doig and his best mate Tama Pugsley cycled 1487 kilometres across northern Mongolia from a small town called Moron to a smaller town also called Moron. Why? Because it was there. Armed with spandex unitards, Chinese steel-frame mountain bikes, unidentifiable meat product and a woefully inadequate phrasebook, these two morons... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
» Click to open
Bol.com
Belgium
  • Moron to Moron
  • In July 2010, Tom Doig and his best mate Tama Pugsley cycled 1487 kilometres across northern Mongolia from a small town called Moron to a smaller town also called Moron. Why? Because it was there. Armed with spandex unitards, Chinese steel-frame mountain bikes, unidentifiable meat product and a woefully inadequate phrasebook, these two morons... Read more
» Click to close
Bol.com
Netherlands
  • Die Auere Mongolei Im Umbruch
  • Bachelorarbeit aus dem Jahr 2011 im Fachbereich Orientalistik / Sinologie - Mongolistik, Note: 1,7, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat Bonn (Institut fur Orient- und Asienwissenschaften), Sprache: Deutsch, Anmerkungen: Die vorliegende Arbeit behandelt den Ubergang der Ausseren Mongolei von einem integralen Bestandteil des zerfallenden... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
» Click to open
Bol.com
Belgium
  • Die Auere Mongolei Im Umbruch
  • Bachelorarbeit aus dem Jahr 2011 im Fachbereich Orientalistik / Sinologie - Mongolistik, Note: 1,7, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat Bonn (Institut fur Orient- und Asienwissenschaften), Sprache: Deutsch, Anmerkungen: Die vorliegende Arbeit behandelt den Ubergang der Ausseren Mongolei von einem integralen Bestandteil des zerfallenden... Read more
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Bol.com
Netherlands
  • Finding Mojo
  • What does it take to finally let go of things that just aren t working in your life? The suffering of a broken heart? Losing a job? Or maybe the painful disintegration of a long-standing friendship?It is the cruel fusion of all these things and more that leads Natalie to believe the life she s living belongs to somebody else. On discovering... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
» Click to open
Bol.com
Belgium
  • Finding Mojo
  • What does it take to finally let go of things that just aren t working in your life? The suffering of a broken heart? Losing a job? Or maybe the painful disintegration of a long-standing friendship?It is the cruel fusion of all these things and more that leads Natalie to believe the life she s living belongs to somebody else. On discovering... Read more
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