So hop on a bus and head off to see some unusual rock formations! The moment you're out of the capital, nature takes over and buses wind their way past the steppe until they reach the Gorkhi Terelj National Park, home to clusters of majestic rocks that dominate the landscape.

The intiguing rock formations in Gorkhi Terelj

With its infinite landscapes and silent expanses, Mongolia offers its visitors a retreat from the world. You can focus on yourself, harmonise with nature and appreciate the freedom of nomadic life; a world where every element plays an essential role.

Live the nomad way in the Orkhon Valley

A nomadic people with Turkish origins, the Tsaatan are reindeer-herders. They live in the Mongolian Taïga and as far as the border with Russia. Going to meet them is like discovering a whole new world; you'll be captivated by their distinctive lifestyle.

The Tsaatan, a nomadic people who herd reindeer in the Taiga

With hair-raising sports and plenty of colour, this event is the most eagerly awaited of the year. A national celebration of independence, this is one festival that no Mongolian wants to miss. Cloaked in deels, the traditional Mongolian outer dress, participants spend the 11th and 12th of July either taking part in a variety of games or cheering on their favourite competitors.

Mongolia's Naadam Festival

A favourite spot with city-dwellers who come to unwind, the Gorkhi Terelj National Park is famous for its huge, granite rocks and sublime, Alpine surrounds. 

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Terelj

Lying in the extreme west of Mongolia, next to the Chinese and Russian borders, Bayan-Ölgii is  the highest aimag (province) in the whole country. 

Bayan Ulgii

Sagsai

 Tavan Bogd, in Bayan-Ölgii Province, is the highest mountain massif (4,380 m) in Mongolia. The national park that shares its name extends over an area of 6,400 km².

Altai Tavan Bogd

 Dalanzadgad is the capital of the Ömnögovi province, in the south of the Gobi Desert.

Dalandzadgad

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There's not a lot to do in Dalanzadgad, or at least not in terms of tourist attractions. Nonetheless, I enjoyed wandering around its sandy streets and I got a little taste of local daily life. Nestled in the heart of the desert, the town resembles those in Western Mongolia rather than the lusher towns found elsewhere. It's an extraordinary place. For the simple reason that if you head 20 minutes out of town, in whatever direction, you'll find yourself in a desert wilderness. Which makes Dalanzagdad an excellent departure point for touring its surrounds. There are some impressive sites to be seen in the area during your <a href="/mongolia/">trip to Mongolia</a>. I recommend you visit the gigantic Khongoryn Els dunes, which rise majestically above the steppe. Try to find someone who can take you there by camel, as it's the best way to enjoy the scenery. You've also got Yolyn Am (the 'Vulture's Mouth) as well as Bayang, an major archaeological attraction where dinosaur eggs and skeletons were excavated.

Dalanzadgad is the capital of the Ömnögovi province, in the south of the Gobi Desert.

After an atrocious and never-ending journey south <a href="/mongolia/">across Mongolia</a> I only had two things in mind - to eat and get my strength up for the next stage, a trip to the Gobi Desert. To be honest, the moment you set foot in the town, the only thing you'll want to do is get out! It has to be said that Mongolian towns are ugly.
Unfortunately I hadn't really prepared my trip to Gobi; I needed to get to Yolyn Am. Worse still, I couldn't find any tourists with whom to share a Jeep!! Things didn't get off to the best start. So I was forced to spend an extra day in this hideous place. I managed to get away when I met a kind lady who offered to drive me to the site of Yolyn Am.
Mongolia is an amazing country, but if you want to make the most of it, don't solo travel. It's not dangerous to travel alone, but public transport is limited and the road network poorly developed. Only Jeeps can access the country's vast countryside and petrol prices are exhorbitant. By solo travelling you'll have to make a lot of concessions.

Dalanzadgad, which is situated in southern Mongolia, is a departure point for the Gobi Desert and Yolyn Am. A mix of ugly Soviet-style buildings and traditional yurts, the town stretches across an arid, desert landscape.

Dalandzadgad Vacations

Dalandzadgad: How to get there?

Dalandzadgad: See when to go ?

Dalandzadgad: For how long?

Dalandzadgad: What to see nearby?

Mongolia: our articles for your vacations