Western Mongolia - Mongolia - page 419

The main road from Tsengel leads 45km south to the bridge over the Khovd Gol (there's
a T2000 toll) and then continues 33km to the junction of Khoton and Khurgan Nuurs
(lakes) , where there is a bridge across the wide water channel between the two lakes.
A more scenic route takes you from Sagsai over a pass and up the beautiful Khargantin
Gol valley, past Tsengel Khairkhan Uul and Khar Nuur, and then down to Dayan Nuur. A
good option would be to enter the park this way and exit via the main road.
There are two main ways to access Tavan Bogd. One is via Tsengel and up the
Tsagaan Gol (although fording the Khovd Gol after heavy rain can be tricky) to the south
ranger station. The other is via Sogoog following the Sogoog Gol straight to Tavan Bogd
via the north ranger station or alternatively by going over Hagiin Davaa (Hagiin Pass)
that leads to Tsagaan Gol.
There is no public transport to the park, although Ölgii tour agencies can arrange a
jeep to drop you off and collect you at the end of your trek. A jeep for one to five people
typically costs around US$150 to either ranger station.
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Tolbo Nuur
Tolbo Nuur (GPS: N 48°35.320', E 090°04.536') is a freshwater lake about 50km south of Öl-
gii, on the main road between Ölgii and Khovd City. It is high (2080m), expansive and
eerie but the shoreline is treeless with few mosquitoes and a few families camp here
every summer. A major battle was fought here in 1921 between the Bolsheviks and
White Russians, with the local Mongolian general, Khasbaatar, siding with the Bolshev-
iks. The Bolsheviks won and there are a couple of memorial plaques by the lake.
A further 14km on from the eastern edge of the lake and 3km off the main jeep trail is
the tiny settlement of Tolbo , which hosts a small Eagle Festival ( last Sun Sep) that in-
cludes horse games as well as eagle hunting. Tolbo sum (district), along with Deluun sum
to the south are famed for their eagle hunters and this is a great place to meet them. In
fact a local hunter often waits by the road around 95km from Ölgii where the road nar-
rows (GPS: N 48°29.439', E 090°33.648') to show his eagle to passing travellers (T5000
to T10,000 for photos).
Kazakh Tour in Ölgii ( Click here ) has contacts in this area and can arrange eagle-hunt-
ing trips, homestays, horse treks and transport to the eagle festival.
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