Mongolia Travel Blog & News

Among the skyscrapers and shopping malls, there sits a white building and a temple in a small clearing. The mountain stands behind it, protecting the city. Not far behind is the mighty Tuul River. The white building is by todays standards, a modest building. The temple is beautiful, but dwarfed by the 6-story mall nearby. However, if you were a lucky visitor to Ich Khirie, as Ulaanbaatar was known then, you would be standing near the largest building in town, if you could even get close enough. This is the home of the Bogd Khan.

Travellers often ask “what is the population of Mongolia” and we used to answer “we’re almost 3 million”. Now we’re officially 3 million as Mongolia welcomes her 3 millionth citizen! The important person is a baby girl born in the morning of 24 January 2015 in Dalanzadgad town in the South Gobi. She was born to a young couple by the name of Azzaya & Khatanbold. Congratulations, Mongolia!

Since you have chosen Mongolia as your travel destination, you might be familiar with the fact that Mongolia is a post-soviet country. From 1921 to 1991, Mongolia has been part of the Comintern- a soviet alliance with Soviet Russia in its head. Most of the districts and urban structure of the city has been built during that era with the help of the Russian masters. Ulaanbaatar was mainly designed by Soviet architects, who have employed classicism.

Even though wood carving is usually neglected by most of the dabblers due to its inability to last long and the way they’re much more fragile than its metal cousins, Mongolian carving art is something that simply can’t be overlooked. Quite similar to other countries, artisans have been carving decorations into their daily utensils such as their cupboard, cart, musical instruments and most commonly the place they live- “ger”. Since the shelter they spend most of their time is made out of wood, it’s no wonder why the people have started wondering how to make their home fancier and more comfortable. Since then, the simple wooden carvings have developed into much more complex, thus aesthetically pleasing art which cannot be separated from Mongolians’ daily life. That is mainly because the carving art has taken homage in almost every aspect of their life.

If you are a big fan of dairy products, then Mongolia is for you! For over thousands of years, Mongolian nomads have developed many different ways to process the milk into very unique dairy products. It is estimated that Mongolian nomads make about 150 different types of dairy products, including cheese, yogurt, curd, fermented drinks and many more. Cows, yaks, and mares are the main source of dairy products but depending on the region, goat, sheep and camel milks are used as well. Dairy production can last from mid-April till October as the livestock usually dry off by October when food becomes scarce.

Wondering where to go and what to do during the long weekend at Tsagaan Sar, which is just in a couple of weeks? We are suggesting you to visit the beautiful Lake Huvsgul – so called the Blue Pearl of Mongolia. And I know it’d sound quite extreme - it must be freezing cold out there! The pristine Lake Huvsgul is 2 million years old, and makes up to 1% of the world’s total fresh water reserve. The Huvsgul stretches for 136km in the Alpine-like mountains, and the deepest point of the lake is 262m. The Huvsgul region itself is a home to the Tsaatan – Reindeer Herders of Mongolia, an ethnic group famous for their distinctive lifestyle based on keeping reindeers in the depth of the Taiga.

If you’re looking to explore a destination that’s both under the radar and chock full of enjoyable activities and incredible sights, then look no further than Ulaanbaatar. Mongolia’s capital city boasts a host of must-do activities for curious minded and adventurous travelers alike. You can wander through museums and temples, hike among some incredible rock formations, or take a ride on a roller coaster. When you’re on the road, it can be hard to pinpoint the best attractions in each destination. But with this curated list of the best things to do in Ulaanbaatar, you can make the most of your journey!

Everybody, especially avid travelers might know about Wanderlust Travel Magazine – a British travel magazine covering adventurous, cultural and special interest travel. Recently, at the end of the 2013, Wanderlust Travel Magazine announced “Wanderlust Readers’ Travel Award 2014”. The Reason why we’re talking about this award was Mongolia has been named as the "Top emerging destination" at the Wanderlust Travel Awards 2014. Find out why, and start dreaming about your Mongolia travel - we are here to guide you!

I don’t mean any offence here, but Mongolian winter is not for the weak hearted. But it is no reason to shy away from the astonishing landscape that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into the wonderland. Even though Mongolian weather seems to be too cold to travel in numbers, it’s actually not that cold in real life since our weather is really dry. It means that even though the air temperature can get pretty low in numbers, with lack of water particles in the air and strong wind, you’ll be fine as long as you bundle up enough. However, it might not be the wisest idea to stay in the city while you’re staying here since the capital city- Ulaanbaatar’s air pollution is quite bad.

While most people’s first stop in Mongolia is Ulaanbaatar, people often get out as soon as they can. That’s disappointing. It means missing out on a lot of great things in this city.   There’s plenty to see and do in this city of 1.5 million people, from clubbing to relaxing at a spa. We have compiled a list of things that would surprise you about the capital of Mongolia, and some suggestions on places to visit if you visit Mongolia.