Things to do in Mongolia

For most of the 20th century, Mongolia was isolated from the rest of the world and a sense of absolute remoteness still exists there today. If you love the outdoors, you’ll be in your element – desert, mountains, alpine lakes and grasslands all combine to create a true wilderness experience that’s like no other on Earth. Don’t confuse wilderness with wasteland though; Mongolia is far more than horses, grass and fresh air: its wide-open plains are home to towering sand dunes, magical ice canyons and flora and fauna that exist nowhere else – ingredients that suggest nothing but pure adventure. An untouched land makes for an unpolluted sky and as night falls over the spectacular Mongolian countryside the endless blue sky becomes a backdrop of bright stars: your personal lightshow to lie below and simply watch in awe.

There is nowhere that offers a more authentic cultural experience than Mongolia; throughout the country there is an unparalleled tradition of hospitality and of warmly receiving visitors passing through. Sharing a day in the life of a nomadic family will be an experience you will never forget.

The diversity of Mongolia’s landscape means there are endless opportunities to get out and about exploring. Do as the locals do and jump on horseback, most nomads only means of transport and by far the most leisurely way to trek across rushing rivers and steep mountainsides. You don’t need to be an equine expert – it’s likely you’ll start with a gentle trot over the sand dunes, but you’ll find yourself saddling up your steed and galloping off over the grasslands in no time. And what about camels? Dismissed readily for being smelly, bad-tempered brutes, (which actually they are), but an incredible way to survey the sheer splendour of the Gobi desert. If you prefer two legs to four, you can hike continuously for days in Mongolia up to altitudes of 3000m and experience fascinating pockets of culture along the way.

From the minute you’re decked out in a traditional ‘deel’ outfit, you will find the Genghis within and have a rip-roaring time galloping around learning to lasso, mastering the art of archery, picking up invaluable riding skills and discovering the secret’s behind the mighty warrior’s impenetrable battle strategies.