Monday, February 3, 2014

Have An Unforgettable Adventure With Mongolian Tours

By Serena Price


If you love traveling to exotic destinations, you've probably experienced the disappointment of getting there only to find it overrun by other tourists. Luckily there are still some places that are off the beaten track yet offer an incredible travel experience. For example, you may want to consider Mongolian tours for the adventure of a lifetime.

The Central Asian country of Mongolia is just the place to go to if you want to get away from it all. It is huge with wide open spaces and a varied geography that includes mountains, rivers, lakes, grassland and desert. Even though it has a rich cultural heritage, it's also the world's most sparsely populated country.

The capital of Mongolia is Ulan Bator. Here you'll find sights such as the Gandan and Choijin Lama Buddhist monasteries, the Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan and several fascinating museums. The area surrounding Ulan Bator offers great hiking, biking and skiing opportunities and if you visit in July, don't miss the Naadam Festival with its horse racing, wrestling and archery events.

While active travelers can certainly find plenty to do near Ulan Bator, they really should explore the rest of the country too. There are hiking opportunities everywhere and trekking is popular. Take to the water in a kayak or a canoe or experience the rush of whitewater rafting. If mountaineering is more your cup of tea, don't miss the region known as Altai with its so-called five holy peaks.

Even if you prefer tamer activities, you'll get to enjoy the stunning scenery of Mongolia. Uvs Nuur Lake is a popular destination and a World Heritage Site. The Gobi Desert is the place to go to if you've always wanted to see what dinosaurs' eggs or the Bactrian camel look like. In the Khustain Nuruu National Park you may be able to see rare wild horses or you may also want to consider a tour that allows you to experience the traditions of the eagle hunters.

Cultural tours are popular in Mongolia too and usually offer some adventure and time in the outdoors too. This is because Mongolians have traditionally lived the nomadic life and there are still several reindeer and camel herders here. A popular way of exploring the country and learning about traditional culture is with a horseback tour, since Mongolians are noted horsemen. The bravest travelers even try airag, a traditional drink that is made of horse milk.

Horses aren't the only mode of transport for travelers in Mongolia. Jeeps and other off-road vehicles are best for navigating the treacherous roads in the countryside and many visitors also go on motorbike tours. For shorter distances, try the back of a camel and for long-distance travel, there are buses and trains.

If you want to spend most of your time in Mongolia exploring the outdoors, the summer months from May to August or September are the best time to visit. However, these are also the busiest times. October nights are cold but the days are still warm enough to spend outdoors. Another option is to try one of the Mongolian tours scheduled for the winter, when you can concentrate on cultural travel and winter sports.




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