Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Northern Mongolia
POP 466,300 / AREA 194,620 SQ KM
Why Go?
Log cabins? Pine forests? Mountains? Whatever happened to the steppes and the herds of
camels? If it weren't for the gers and motorbike riders in traditional Mongolian dress, you
could confuse this lush and rugged land with Switzerland.
Selenge, Bulgan and Khövsgöl aimags actually have more in common with Siberia than
the rest of Mongolia, with long, cold winters and wildflower-dotted summers. This is the
adventure playground of Mongolia, with superb opportunities for horse riding, hiking,
mountain biking, kayaking and boating along the glorious shores of Lake Khövsgöl.
The inhospitable border area between Russia and Mongolia is home to the Tsaatan
reindeer herders doing their best to preserve their traditional lifestyle. And if you're inter-
ested in spiritual practices, shamanism is once again alive and well in northern Mongolia
after decades of suppression under communism, as is Buddhism in the splendid Amarbay-
asgalant monastery.
When to Go
