The most remote yet the most beautiful part of Mongolia – Western Mongolia covers the Bayan-Ulgii, Hovd, Uvs, and Zavkhan provinces.
The western part of Mongolia is a go-to destination for adventure seekers, and active travelers with its high mountains covered snow, beautiful lakes, and culture of ethnic Mongolians, falconry, and horsemanship. There are plenty of National parks, Strictly protected areas, Nature reserves in Western Mongolia, as well as historical and cultural heritages with countless archeological sites with petroglyphs, cave paintings, standing stone monuments, monasteries, and ancient forts that date back to stone and bronze ages.
Western Mongolia is home to the Kazakhs (Eagle hunters) and Oirats which can be divided into 10 different tribes.
To travel to Western Mongolia we suggest you plan your trip for at least 1 week and more since there lot to see, and more to-do. We are presenting you the Best of Western Mongolia to help you to plan your trip.
Altai Tavan Bogd National Park
The Altai Tavan Bogd national park, in English the Holy Five Peaks national park is located most western part of Mongolia, in Bayan-Ulgii province. The Altai Tavan Bogd is without doubt the most beautiful and least tarnished place in Mongolia. From the beautiful valleys, majestic lakes, rivers, glaciers to archeological sights such as petroglyphs and burial mounds – Altai Tavan Bogd National park will never stop amazing you. Furthermore, you can experience the daily lives of the famous Eagle hunters – Kazakh peoples. Photographic tours, hiking or trekking, hunting, horse riding, and much more fun activities are possible only here in Altai Tavan Bogd. the national park is home to many different species of rare animals such as argali, ibex, red deer, brown bear, marmot, fox, and wolf, as well as the endangered snow leopard and lynx. Birds include Saker falcons, Altai snow cocks, and golden eagles.
Trekking through the mountain, find hidden gems: Khoton, Khurgan lakes, horse trek through glaciers, etc… Every adventurous wish will come true here.
The Eagle Hunters
The famous Eagle hunters, the coolest nomads in the world – Kazakhs live in Bayan-ulgii province, Mongolia. The Kazakhs are the second largest ethnic group in Mongolia with over 100.000 people, and they are living traditionally, practicing Eagle hunting culture to this day. They speak the Kazakh language and Islam is the primary religion.
Kazakh people are known for their friendly and kind hospitality as they are always welcome visitors pleasantly and give you food and lodging if needed, even they don’t know you. The table will be filled with various types of foods, and if you do not finish your food, they easily can get sad. They will respect and treat you as an honored guest and will share, and teach you everything you need to know to survive in the Mongolian extreme cold, high mountain areas.
They will raise eagles or falcons from a very young age and train them to hunt animals like rabbits, foxes, mammoths, and sometimes even wolf.
Of course, there is a lot more to see in Western Mongolia such as Golden Eagle Festival or more natural scenic destinations, more wildlife.
More places that you should not miss while traveling in Western Mongolia.
Uvs lake, UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Largest Lake in Mongolia Uvs Lake is 84 km in length and 78 km in width. The lake water is five times saltier than the ocean’s water and contains no fish, but it provides a habitat for over 200 species of birds. With its beautiful surrounding, Uvs lake will never disappoint you.
Khyargas Nuur national park
The Khyargas lake – one of the four lakes of Mongolia which has an area of 1000 meters square is located in Uvs province. The lake is 1023 meters above sea level. Khyargas Lake is famous for marble blue water and white rocky cliffs that make the lake beautiful and extraordinary. Not only beautiful, but the lake is also home to many species of fishes and migratory birds, which are rare, foregather.
Khoid Tsenkher Cave
The Khoid Tsenkher Cave is located 90 km south of Khovd city, Khovd province, Mongolia. The Khoid Tsenkher or Khoid Senkher cave is known for its cave wall paintings illustrating wild mammals and human hands that date from around 20,000 – 15,000 years back to the Paleolithic Age and more. It’s almost like a historical art gallery.
Tsambagarav Mountain
Tsambagarav Mountain locates on the borderline of Bayan-Ulgii and Hovd provinces, Tsambagarav Uul National Park Mongolia. The Tsambagarav mountain is considered sacred by Mongolians and its under state protection. The Tsambagaraw national park is famous for its stunning beauty and rich wildlife such as ibex, argali sheep, snow leopard, and more endangered species. Hiking, trekking, photographing, and animal-watching tours are recommended.
The Khar Lake
Khar Nuur (“Black Lake”) is located in western Mongolia’s Valley of Lakes, Zavkhan province is surrounded by fine sand dunes and mountains covered in a dense wood, at an altitude of 1980 meters above sea level and covers an area of 89 square km, 48 meters deep. The Khar lake is one of the most stunning natural scenes in western Mongolia, specially Khovd province.
