©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Central Mongolia POP 298,500 / AREA 199,000 SQ KM Why Go? Bogdkhan Uul Strictly Roll out of Ulaanbaatar 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, Arvaikheer. .93 with plenty of scope to horse trek in the forested moun- Kharkhorin tains, camp by some pretty lakes or soak in hot springs. (Karakorum) . 95 Because the region is relatively close to Ulaanbaatar (and Tsetserleg . .103 many sights in this chapter are right beside the city), infra- Tsenkher 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 Khangai Mountains 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 Naadam August Good for February Experi- festivals in many horse treks, hik- ence Tsagaan Sar » 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 Erdenemandal #\ 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 Battsengel Ögii Bulagiin #\ Nuur Noyon Khangai #÷ c CENTRAL MONGOLIA CENTRAL MONGOLIA National Park Davaa Ögii Kul-Teginii 66 #\ Monument Chuluut #\ Ikh Tamir #\ Nuur #á #^ Tsenkher Tsetserleg #\ Khar Khashaat #7 Balgas #ä #\ Bulgan #\ #\ Erdene #æ Khotont 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 (p 82 ) Tövkhön Khiid (p 100 ), the site Naiman Nuur Nature66666 3 Focus your camera on the of Zanabazar’s workshop Reserve (p 102 ) 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 ).