©Lonely¨Planet¨Publications¨Pty¨Ltd WesternPoP 307,200 / AreA 191,000 sq km Mongolia Why Go? Bayan-Ölgii ................208 Raw, rugged and remote, this off-the-beaten-track region Ölgii ...........................208 has for centuries been isolated – both geographically and culturally – from the Mongol heartland. With its glacier- Altai Tavan Bogd wrapped mountains, shimmering salt lakes and the hardy National Park .............214 culture of nomads, falconry and cattle rustling, western Tolbo Nuur .................217 Mongolia is, in many ways, a timeless slice of Central Asia. Khovd .........................217 Squeezed between Russia, Kazakhstan, China and the Tsenkheriin Agui ........221 rest of Mongolia, this region has long been a patchwork of Uvs ............................223 peoples including ethnic Kazakhs, Dörvöds, Khotons, Myan- gads and Khalkh Mongols. Traditional arts such as khöömii Ulaangom .................223 throat singing and eagle hunting are still practised here, as Üüreg Nuur ...............226 they have been for thousands of years. Zavkhan ....................228 The wild landscape creates fabulous opportunities for Uliastai ......................228 trekkers and climbers on peaks that rise to over 4000m. If that sounds too extreme for you, then just pick a lake, pitch a tent and have yourself a camping trip you’ll never forget. Best for Camping ¨¨khoton Nuur (p215) ¨¨Uureg Nuur (p226) When to Go ¨¨Chigistei Gol (p230) Ölgii °C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm ¨¨Around Tarialan (p226) 30/86 4/100 ¨¨ Buyant Gol (p218) 20/68 3.2/80 10/50 2.4/60 0/32 1.6/40 Best for -10/14 Trekking -20/-4 0.8/20 ¨ -30/-22 0 ¨Altai Tavan Bogd National J F M A M J J A S O N D Park (p214) ¨¨kharkhiraa Uul & Türgen Mar Kazakh Jun–Sep Peak Oct–Feb The Uul (p226) families celebrate tourist season, eagle-hunting Navrus (spring but trekkers season kicks off ¨¨otgon Tenger Uul strictly festival) with may still need with Ölgii’s Eagle Protected Area (p231) traditional games sub-zero sleeping Festival. ¨¨Tsambagarav Uul National and feasting. bags. Park (p217) 207 e# 0 100 km 0 50 miles #\ Kyzyl RUSSIA Davst :: : Western Mongolia 44\# Üüreg Uvs Nuur:: Strictly :\# Tes Nuur \# Pr::otected Area: Siilkhem Sagil Altan Els Tsagaannuur Nuruu #4 ::#÷ Uvs : #÷ #– Nuur Strictly Protected #\ BorderNationalKhotgor Togos 4444Tes Rive44r Area ^#:: : Kosh- Park #\ \# Ulaangom 666Crossing 6 Reserve #÷ Agach #÷ Achit #6\# Tarialan Tes +# R \# Nuur Türgen Uul Baruunturuun \# Khuiten R (3965m) Develiin Aral Kharkhiraa Uul 44UV44S Uul #÷ Nature Reserve (4037m) \# #1 Altai #÷ Khan Khökhii Tavan Uvsiin Khar Khyargas Bayankhairkhan Tsengel #–Ölgii Ölgii Us Nuur Nuur National Park Bogd #\ ^# #÷National #\ #5 Eagle Festival #÷ Airag Nuur \# Tosontsengel Sagsai #\ Tsambagara44v Uul Kh44444yargas Nuur 44Nömrög Mo Park #÷ 2 Khurgan National Park National Park Santmargats #\ Telmen \# 66# 666Tsast Uu6l R 666 \# 66 Nuur Tolbo c R Khar Ikh- (4193m) Tsambagarav \# N Khoton Nuur Dörgön Bayan Nuur Uul (4208m) Urgamal Nuur Uugoli l Nuur Dayan BAYAN- \# Ider \# Nuur #÷444444444ZAVKHAN ÖLGII Khovd Khar Us Nuur Erdenekhairkhan \# Yaruu \# cZagastain Delüün ^# Khar National Davaa A \# Park Uliastai Hig #÷ #– Us Nuur Khomyn \# #– ^# #3 Khökh Duut Tal Dörvöljin Tsenkheriin 444444\# Serkh Strictly \# Otgon Protected Area Agui Chandmani Tenger H 6666666 666lig Ereen Otgon Mankhan #æ Nuur Uul #\ Nature \# Mönkh Reserve #÷ Khairkha44444n Darvi ht #\ #\ Bulgan s Qinghe Mönkh#÷ \# Möst #\ Khairkhan National Park ^# KHOVD #\666 Takeshiken Bulgan Altai +# \# \# #– Bulgan #÷ Uench Border Bulgan Gol #\ Altai Crossing Natural Reserve #÷ GOV-ALTAI Great Gobi Strictly Protected 666Area6 (Gobi B) CHINA UrumD qi 66 (85km) Western Mongolia Highlights 1 Hike to the base camp of with Kazakh settlements filled with fish (and devoid of snow-capped Khuiten Uul around its shore. mosquitoes). (p214), Mongolia’s highest 3 Horse trek or hike around 5 Rub shoulders with mountain, for stunning views the lakes and valleys beneath Kazakh eagle hunters during of Altai Tavan Bogd National the sacred mountain of Otgon Ölgii’s Eagle Festival (p210). Park. Tenger Uul (p231). 6 Camp and trek in the 2 Walk around Tavan Bogd’s 4 Camp by the shores of mountains around Tarialan Khoton Nuur (p215), a Üüreg Nuur (p226), a lovely, (p226), a rugged landscape of beautiful alpine lake dotted accessible freshwater lake glaciers, green meadows and boulder fields..