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Central POP 298,500 / AREA 199,000 SQ KM

Why Go? Bogdkhan Uul Strictly Roll out of in a Russian jeep and you’ll only Protected Area ...... 83 need to put a hill or two between yourself and the city before Eej Khad ...... 86 the vast steppes of central Mongolia begin to unfold before Terelj Area ...... 87 your eyes. Verdant swaths of empty landscapes are sprin- kled with tiny gers stretching to the horizon while magical Khustain National Park ...... 91 light plays across the valleys. This is the Mongolian heart- land, loaded with both historical sites and natural beauty, ...... 93 with plenty of scope to horse trek in the forested moun- tains, camp by some pretty lakes or soak in hot springs. () ...... 95 Because the region is relatively close to Ulaanbaatar (and ...... 103 many sights in this chapter are right beside the city), infra- Hot structure is a little better than other areas, with many sites Springs ...... 105 reachable by paved road. The most scenic sub-region is the Khorgo-Terkhiin but you’ll fi nd equally stunning scenery Tsagaan Nuur in the Khan Khentii region, northeast of Ulaanbaatar. National Park ...... 107

Best Places to Eat When to Go » Ayanchin (p 89 ) Tsetserleg » Terelj Hotel (p 90 ) °C/°F Te m p Rainfall inches/mm 30/86 4/100 » Hotel Mongolia (p 91 ) 20/68 3.2/80 » Fairfield (p 104 ) 10/50 2.4/60 0/32 1.6/40 Best Places to -10/14 Stay -20/-4 0.8/20 -30/-22 0 » Duut Resort (p 105 ) J FDNOSAJJMAM » Dreamland Ger Camp (p99 ) Mid-July August Good for February Experi- festivals in many horse treks, hik- ence » Ecotourism Ger Camp sums and aimag ing and biking. (Mongolian New (p 89 ) capitals. Year) with a fam- » In a tent near Naiman ily of herders. Nuur (p 102 ) 44 Tsetserleg #\ 80 Soum

Khairkhan #\ ZAVKHAN #\ Khorgo Uul 66Khorgo-Terkhiin R #÷ Ta r i a t Tsagaan Nuur #\ Chuluut #5 Gorge National Park Chuluut# Terkhiin Gur #\ Ölziit #\ Tsagaan Nuur Öndör ARKHANGAI Khangai #\ Ulaan Shar Ögii Bulagiin #\ Nuur Noyon Khangai #÷ c CENTRAL MONGOLIACENTRAL National Park Davaa Ögii Kul-Teginii 66 #\ Monument Chuluut #\ Ikh Tamir #\ Nuur #á #^ Tsenkher Tsetserleg #\ Khar #7 Balgas #ä #\ Bulgan #\ #\ Erdene #æ Zuu Khiid Ts e n k h e r i i n Kharkhorin #\ #ä8 Khaluun Us 6666666O Shankh #\ Tövkhön rh #4 o n Khiid #\ Orkhon #\ Khujirt Khangai Nuruu #9 #÷ National Park Khürkhree Bat- Ölzii Naiman Nuur #÷1 Züünbayan- Nature Reserve #\ 66666Uyanga #\ Ulaan Bayankhongor Arvaikheer #^ #^

ÖVÖRKHANGAI #\ #\ 666666Nariinteel Khairkhandulaan BAYANKHOGOR

Tögrög #\ #\ Guchin-Us

#\ Baruunbayan Ulaan

RBaga Terguun Bogd Uul (3598m)

#\ Bogd #\ Khovd

66666444 Central Mongolia Highlights 444 1 Saddle up for a horse Gorkhi-Terelj National Park 4 Hike into the forests to trek to the beautiful, remote (p82 ) Tövkhön Khiid (p 100 ), the site Naiman Nuur Nature66666 3 Focus your camera on the of Zanabazar’s workshop Reserve (p102 ) magnifi cent takhi (wild horse) 5 Camp by Terkhiin 2 Bike or hike over the hills at Khustain National Park Tsagaan Nuur (p 107 ), a and through the valleys of (p 91 )