North Mongolia
North Mongolia has attracted the hearts and minds of many tourists throughout the year, northern Mongolia is home to the tall mountains of Khangai and Sayan, Khuvsgul lake that shimmers like a border-less blue pearl, the Darkad tsenkher depression (a huge valley of rivers flowing from high mountains), and deer stones.
The Blue Pearl of The North - Lake Khuvsgul
Mongolia is the part of the Amur river basin that contains more than 300 rives and 26 large lakes. The seemingly boundless Khuvsgul lake, which Mongolians call “Mother Sea”, has a secret trail that you can walk along the lake is 2 million years old and makes up 0.4 percent of the world’s fresh water reserve. Its deepest point is 262 meters. During sunset, the lake looks like a clear mirror. When the sunrises the lake sparkles like the colors of the rainbow. Khuvsgul is the largest and deepest fresh water lake in Mongolia.
During the harsh, cold, winter the lake attracts visitors with its calmness. The annual Ice Festival provides a unique opportunity for people to experience the lake when it’s frozen and take part in a range of Mongolian games. A visitor to the ice festival, Joanne Baxter, shared her experience “I really liked the Ice Festival The amazingly dean water of the lake looks like crystal when its frozen. I never imagined what can be done here, how hard the ice is and how tolerant it is to warm weather.
When I saw how people rode yak carts, many games were organized and heavy luggage was carried on yak carts on Khuvsgul Lake’s ice, I had a feeling that this ice never melts. Making a bonfire on the ice shocked me. Are you also surprised that fire doesn’t melt the ice? Of course, after a few hours the bonfire area became water. But that ice was as thick as fire resistant construction material. We visited an ice bar with ice furniture. It was truly amazing to see how ice was made into all those shapes.”
Majestic Beauty - Khoridol Saridag
The Khoridol mountain range combine meadows, steppe and taiga. It is one of the rare place that has been left truly untouched. Many rivers begin in this mountains, including the Arsai River that flows from 70 meters above sea level and turns into the highest waterfall in the country. However, this waterfall flows only when it rains. The Khoridol Mountains are separated from the Bayan mountain range by the Arsai Passage. The Darkhad Depression side of this range is very steep.
Taiga Nomads – Reindeer Herders
An interesting ethnic group lives in the northern boundary of Mongolia, in the basin of the Tengis, Sharga and Shishged rivers and in the mountains of the Jams and Ulaan taiga. They are the Tsaatan people, or reindeer herders. They have unique traditions and lifestyle. They live far away from civilization and the progress of the modern world, herding their reindeer in deep forests, where it’s 27 degrees Celsius in summer and -55 to -60 degrees Celsius in winter. Reindeer herders move 50 to 70 km between their spring and autumn camps. They originated from Uighurs, who lived in the great Tagna and Soyon taiga. Over the generations, they created this nomadic lifestyle. Uighurs, or tsaatan people, carry the genes of the ancient Mongolian Uighur Kingdom. One of the authentic heritages of their culture is the urts, their traditional dwelling. There are some set rules and traditions of how and where to build them. They are mostly made of larch wood, covered by reindeer skin and bark.
Abundance of Rare Treasures a Deer Stones (Megaliths)
In a large valley between the mountains there are deer stones. It’s rare to see so many of them in one place. These deer stones are made of granite and range between 2.3 and 4.8 meters in height, up to 1 meter wide, and 50 cm thick. The deer’s head usually faces the sky as ancient nomads thought of deer as heavenly animals. The front of the stone is decorated with images of the sun and moon followed by the image of the deer, and a wide belt-like decoration. Deer stones also include images of ancient belongings, such as bows and arrows, mirrors, Dentaiedron shields, tools, knives with round mirror-like ornamentation, and unknown long weapons. Some rare stones have images of two deer opposite each other, facing tie foundation.
Amarbayasgalant Monastery
The Amarbayasgalant Monastery is located on the bank of Iven River in front of Burenkhaan Mountain, Selenge province. The monastery was started to be built in 1726 and completed in 1737. The Manchu Emperor ordered this monastery in order to show his respect to Undur Gegeen Zanabazar, his extraordinary mind and skill and presented 10 thousand silver teals for construction work.
Good to Know
Best months to visit
June to September and March
Activities
Horse trekking, fishing, boating, scuba diving, shaman and reindeer herders visit
Nomadic tribes
Duka- reindeer herders and Darkhad nomads
Rare animals
Reindeers
Flora & Fauna
Siberian larch, cider and pine trees
Tours to the Northern Mongolia
“Travel Buddies” is an expert team of professional and dynamic individuals which ensures that your trip to Mongolia is unique and renders you a lifetime experience. Have all the opportunities to explore the country using different tour packages available on the site. You may also opt for tailor-made tours of Mongolia.