Mongoltrips
Mongoltrips

Western Mongolia

Western Mongolia is a region in Mongolia covering the provinces of Bayan-Ölgii, Hovd, Uvs, and Zavkhan. It is one of the most beautiful but least traveled destinations. Western Mongolia is also the most ethnically diverse, mountainous, and scenic region of Mongolia, with thousands of years of history. Known for their hospitality and generosity, Kazakhs love poetry and music. Today, over 300 Mongolian Kazakhs practice the art of eagle-hunting, a sport that dates back 2,000 years.

Destination & Highlights

Khar-Us Lake

Khar-Us Lake is located in Har Us Nuur National Park in western Mongolia. The lake is 1.597 meters above the sea level and the water is a brackish, and replenished by water from the Orlogo River which rises from the eternal snows of the mountain of Kharkhiraa.

Khyargas lake

With an area of ​​1,406 square kilometers, it is one of the largest lakes in Mongolia. It is 75 kilometers long, 31 kilometers wide and 80 meters deep. The lake surface is 1,028 meters above sea level. Water is brackish. There are also rare fish such as Mongolian grayling.

Uvs lake

Uvs Lake is a highly saline lake in an endorheic basin—Uvs Nuur Basin in Mongolia with a small part in Russia. It is the largest lake in Mongolia by surface area, covering 3,350 km2 at 759 m above sea level. The largest settlement near the lake is Ulaangom. This shallow and very saline body of water is a remainder of a huge saline sea which covered a much larger area several thousand years ago. It is magnet for birds: over 220 species are recorded, including Osprey, white tailed Eagle, and Black Stork. Over 100 pairs of Spoonbill nest in the vicinity, also Great White Hero.

Mt. Altai Tavan Bogd National Park

most point of Mongolia in Bayan-Ulgii Province. Its highest peak, the Khüiten Peak (formerly also known as Nairamdal Peak), is the highest point of Mongolia at 4374 meters above sea level. It covers an area of 630,000 hectare and is home to three large freshwater lakes and 34 glaciers, plus several waterfalls. The largest, Pontuninii Glacier, covers 23 sq km. Tavan Bogd Mountains is considered sacred to local Kazakhs, Tuvans, and Mongolians. Also, there are over 10.000 of petroglyphs (Rock paintings) in 15 km of river valley which is registered in World Heritage Site, UNESCO.

Western Mongolia Wildlife

Wildlife in Western Mongolia features some of Asia’s most beautiful and unspoiled nature, with the snow-capped Altai Mountains towering over secluded forests, lakes and rivers. It is home to some of the world’s most obese wildlife, including the endangered snow leopard, ibex and wild sheep. The region has some of Mongolia’s most impressive mountain landscapes and is a prime destination for adventurous climbers and hikers.

Golden Eagle Festival

The Golden Eagle Festival is an annual traditional festival held in Bayan-Ölgii aimag, Mongolia. In the eagle festival, Kazakh eagle hunters (Burkitshi) celebrate their heritage and compete to catch small animals such as foxes and hares with specially trained golden eagles, showing off the skills both of the birds and their trainers. Prizes are awarded for speed, agility and accuracy, as well as for the best traditional Kazakh dress, and more. It is a rare opportunity for visitors to get a close-up Kazakh tradition and culture. The highlight of this fantastic trip is interacting with the Kazakhs and other ethnic groups and living with them for a couple of days to take part in the eagle training and get to know about the unique Kazakh culture.

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