Thursday, February 6, 2014

Consider Mongolian Tours For The Adventure Of A Lifetime

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By Serena Price


If you prefer traveling off the beaten track, you probably know that feeling of disappointment when you find that the exotic destination you've chosen to visit has tourists around every corner. It's a good thing that some destinations still offer fantastic adventures without crowds of people everywhere. With Mongolian tours you can experience nature in all its glory, fascinating cultures and adrenalin rushes but still go for days without seeing another Western face.

The Central Asian country of Mongolia is just the place to go to if you want to get away from it all. It is huge with wide open spaces and a varied geography that includes mountains, rivers, lakes, grassland and desert. Even though it has a rich cultural heritage, it's also the world's most sparsely populated country.

A visit to Mongolia should include some time in its capital, Ulan Bator. Learn more about the country in the museums here and visit the beautiful Winter Palace and the Choijin Lama and Gandan monasteries. July marks the Naadam Festival with its competitions in wrestling, archery and horse racing. Venture just outside of the city limits for fantastic hiking and skiing.

The whole of Mongolia is a paradise for active travelers. Opportunities for hiking and trekking abound throughout the country. The Five Holy Peaks of Altai are a mountaineering mecca and the mountainous regions of the west also offer mountain-biking and whitewater rafting. The country's rivers and lakes are also great for tamer activities like canoeing and kayaking.

With so much unspoiled natural beauty, Mongolia is a fantastic ecotourism destination too. Go fishing or, for something different, try eagle-hunting but preferably shoot your prey with a camera only. See the wild horses of Khustain Nuruu National Park, visit the World Heritage Site of Uvs Nuur Lake, try to spot Bactrian camels in the Gobi Desert or release your inner paleontologist by visiting sites where you'll find fossils and dinosaur eggs. Many travel operators offer specialty tours through Mongolia's countryside.

Mongolia's people have traditionally been nomads and in the rural areas, this is still the way of life for many people. The Darhad Valley is home to reindeer herders and you'll also find camel herders especially in the southern region around the Gobi Desert. One animal that has become synonymous with the nomads of Mongolia is the horse and exploring the country on horseback is the ultimate Mongolian experience. You may even want to try airag, a drink made of fermented mare's milk.

While horses and camels are the traditional modes of transport in the country, there are many other ways to get around too. With a motorcycle you can travel almost anywhere in Mongolia but using a four-wheel-drive vehicle may be more comfortable. For long distances, taking the train is a good alternative too.

If you want to spend most of your time in Mongolia exploring the outdoors, the summer months from May to August or September are the best time to visit. However, these are also the busiest times. October nights are cold but the days are still warm enough to spend outdoors. Another option is to try one of the Mongolian tours scheduled for the winter, when you can concentrate on cultural travel and winter sports.




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