WESTERN 219 Uul Otgon Tenger © Lonely Planet Publications Planet Lonely © ( p245 ), abode of the gods ), abode of the gods p245 ( Türgen Uul and Kharkhiraa Uul Nuur Üüreg Khoton Nuur Tavan Bogd Otgon Tenger Uul Tenger Otgon AREA : 191,000 SQ KM 191,000 SQ KM : AREA „

and ( p240 ), a ( p231 ), a ( p230 ), a Türgen Uul Türgen Üüreg Nuur Üüreg Tavan Bogd Tavan ( p241 ), a rugged landscape p241 ( Khoton Nuur and Mongolia’s holiest peak mountain cluster that includes Mongolia’s that includes Mongolia’s mountain cluster the highest point at 4374m, soaring above borders of Mongolia, China and Russia with Kazakhbeautiful alpine lake dotted its shore settlements around lovely, accessible freshwater lake filled with lakewith filled accessible freshwater lovely, fish of glaciers, green meadows and boulder fields of glaciers, green in the shadow of snow-capped mountains Kharkhiraa Uul

around the lakes and valleys beneath trek Horse Walk around Walk Climb to the top of of by the shores Camp to the twin peaks of Trek POPULATION: 347,800 347,800 POPULATION:

„ „ „ „ HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS „

Despite the hardships, western Mongolia’s attractions, both natural and cultural, are well Mongolia’s attractions, both natural and cultural, are the hardships, western Despite The region’s wild landscape and unique mix of cultures is known among adventure travel- is known among adventure unique mix of cultures wild landscape and region’s The The Mongol Altai Nuruu forms the backbone of the region, a rugged mountain range a rugged mountain backbone of the region, Mongol Altai Nuruu forms the The Squeezed between Russia, Kazakhstan,Squeezed has China and the Mongol heartland, this region

„ worth the highlight of your trip. may well be the effort. and flexibility, the region With time ing is the norm among local officials. region remains stuck in another age – infrastructure is poor and old-style communist think- stuck in another age – infrastructure remains region the mountains. But while aimag capitals are tepidly entering the 21st century, most of the entering tepidly aimag capitals are But while the mountains. the pack with its own clique of tour operators and drivers prepared to shuttle visitors to prepared and drivers the pack with its own clique of tour operators lers and a small tourist infrastructure has been created to support leads them. Bayan-Ölgii has been created lers and a small tourist infrastructure rivers, most of which empty into desert most of which empty into rivers, lakes and saltpans. popular peaks for mountain climbers, some over 4000m, and is the source of fast-flowing 4000m, and is the source of fast-flowing climbers, some over popular peaks for mountain that creates a natural border with both Russia and China. It contains many challenging and many challenging It contains and China. a natural border with both Russia that creates peoples including ethnic ,peoples including ethnic Dorvods, , Myangads and Khalkh . been a historical transition zone of endless cultures, the legacy of which is a patchwork of the legacy of which is a patchwork zone of endless cultures, been a historical transition romantic notions of the classic ‘Central Asia’. Asia’. classic ‘Central romantic notions of the nomads, falconry and cattle rustling, western Mongolia is a timeless place that fulfils many Mongolia rustling, western nomads, falconry and cattle With its raw deserts, glacier-wrapped mountains, shimmering salt lakes and hardy culture of deserts,With its raw lakes shimmering salt mountains, culture and hardy glacier-wrapped Western Mongolia WESTERN MONGOLIA 220 0 200 km WESTERN MONGOLIA 0 100 miles ETR OGLA WESTERN MONGOLIA

RUSSIA

Tsagaan Shuvuut Uul Davst (3496m) Ogotor Sagil Uvs Nuur Khövsgöl Siilkhem Nuruu Strictly Tes Gol Tes River Kosh-Agach Khamar Üüreg Tes Reserve National Park Davaa Nuur Ulaan Protected Uvs Davaa Area Nuur Ikh Turgen Ancient Graves Turgen Uul (3929m) & Balbals Böörög Tashanta Bairam Davaa Ulaangom Deliin Siilkhem Nuruu Khotgor Khökh Els National Park Bohmörön Yamaat Valley Nuur Bird- Bayan Tavan Bogd Olon Nuur Türgen Uul Tarialan Watching Nuur Altan Els Tsagaannuur Nogoonuur (3965m) Züüngov Altan (4374m) Valley Site Els Strictly Tsagaan Achit Kharkhiraa Uul Protected Bayanzürkh T Sala Nuur Malchin saga Bayan-Ölgii (4037m) Area an G Kharkhiraa Uvs ol Sogoog Gol Rashany Sheveed Develiin Aral Baruunturuun Khovd Khyargas ol Ikh Uul Uul Ulaankhus Nature Reserve Naranbulag Bayantes arG Agar Gol (3668m) (3350m) Cold Springs Tes av Tsengel Sh Khoton Ölgii Altantsögts Khar Us Nuur Khar Temis Tsagaankhairkhan Nuur Mogoit Valley Bayannuur Ömnögöv (Ölgii Nuur) Khan Khokhii Asgat Tsetserleg Khurgan Khyargas National Park Nuur Ölgii Züünkhangai Te Tsengel Tsambagarav Uul Nuur s G Tsagaan Khyargas Nuur Öndörkhangai Bayankhairkhan ol Khairkhan Buyant National Park National Park Khetsuu Uul Dayan Uul (3943m) Tsast Uul Khad Nuur (4193m) Tsambagarav Nuur Zavkhan Sangiin Dalai Uul Airag Songino Nuur Altai Tavan Bogd (4202m) Altai Tolbo Khovd Nuur Tüdevtei National Park Bor Sairyn Uul Erdeneburen Solongotyn Burga(3984m) Nömrög Davaa Wall of s Döröö G Tsetsen Uul Gol Nuur Maraa Chinggis ol M Khan Dörgön C Telmen o Uul hono Urgamal Santmargats Tosontsengel ng Buyant Dam Khairkhan Nuur ol (3750m) Bayan Zavkhan A Gol Telmen l Khovd Nuur ta Khar Us Nuur Bor i Khyarin Ikh-Uul N Deluun Khovd Khar National Zavkhanmandal u Khar Els Khar r Park u Khökh Serkh Us Nuur Nuur Ikh Khairkhan Nuruu Nuur u Strictly Tarvagatai Uul Amur Watchtower Jargalant Khomyn Protected Tal Ikh Agui Erdenekhairkhan Ider National River Mankhan Khairkhan Yaruu Park Area Uul Ukh Bural Nature l Duut Jargalant (3797m) Chandmani Uul o Zagastain Reserve Orgil G Man Davaa lonelyplanet.com (2357m) u Stones Ger Camp Yargaitin Ekh u Otgon Tenger Tsenkheriin Dorgon r Bulgan Uul a Uul Khangai Nuruu Agui Y Mankhan (3464m) Nuur Dorvoljin Arkhangai Tsenkheriin Gol Mongol Uliastai (3905m) Els Aldarkhaan Gol Za Tsagaannuur Mönkh Bumbat vkh Khairkhan an Khökh Khairkhan Khökhmörit Gol Dayan (3464m) Tsagaan Uul Nuur Bulgan Mönkh Khairkhan Ereen Khairkhan (2866m) National Park Nuur Mönkh Khairkhan Zereg Borhyn Tü (4362m) Darvi Els rg Buyant Gol