Western Mongolia

The region of Western Mongolia, which can represent the characteristics of the natural region and is rich in habitats of animals and plants endangered not only in Mongolia, but also in the world, as well as historical and cultural monuments, naturally attracts the attention of tourists. This region is a unique region with high mountains which capped with permanent snow on the top and glaciers, freshwater lakes, streams with brooks and waterfalls, and abundant mineral water.

 Eej khairkhan (MOUNT EEJ KHAIRKHAN)

It is a rocky orphan mountain made of small grains of granite located in the depression between the Mongolian Altai Mountains and the Gobi Altai Mountains in the Tsogt Sum area of the Gobi-Altai province. It is 200 km away from Altai city in the southwest of Mongolia. Since 1992, this 22.475-hectare area is protected as a Natural Reserve. The locals venerate the granite formations of Eej Khairkhan. They think that the mountain is sacred and protects their children. What is singular in these rocky formations, is that they're lined by a waterfall running along the rock and flowing into nine natural "stone pots" of 2 to 4 metres (6,56-13,12 feet) in diameter. Many paintings representing ibex, horsemen and archers can be seen on the rocks. On the spot, you will also see the cave of a hermit containing Buddhist statues and an altar-shaped rock that is venerated by the locals.

Uvs lake

Uvs Lake is the largest in Mongolia in terms of area, 84 km long, 79 km wide, and 3,350 square kilometers in size. This lake is constant with no outflow, and immediately has 5 times more salt than sea salt. One feature is that it is a flat lake in a valley, so it is difficult to look at it from a beautiful point of view. But if you look at it from Davst Sum, you can clearly see its formation. Uvs Lake is known as the Inland Sea of Central Asia and it takes quite a few days to travel alone. 38 large and small streams such as Tes, Naryn, Kharhiraa, Turgen, Sagil, Borshoo, Khandlen, and Torhilog flow into the lake. It is rich in salinity and salt, and has vegetation such as reeds, sedges, bushes, shrubs, sedges, willows and poplars. There are also 362 species of migratory birds and 72 species of mammals, including swans, snowy egrets, spoonbills, cranes, geese, and yellow-spotted ducks.

Otgontenger mountain

Otgontenger ( "Youngest sky") is the highest peak in the Khangai Mountains in Mongolia. Its summit is currently calculated to reach an elevation of 4,008 meters above mean sea level (some earlier topographic maps record a maximum elevation of 4,021 m). The mountain is located in Zavkhan province and is the only peak in the Khangai range that is capped with a permanent glacier. The south face of Mount Otgontenger is the most extensive granite wall in Mongolia.

Mongolians officially worship the mountain as a sacred mountain except for natural protection. The mountain has been worshipped between 1779 and 1911. Later in 1992, the tradition revived after the communist regime, Otgontenger Mountain and its surrounding 95510 hectares of area categorized under strictly protected area. The mountain has been officially and ceremonially worshipped once every 4 years according to the Mongolian president’s decree. The sacred name of the Mountain is Bogd Ochirvaani. The locals believe this 3 billion years old mountain (considered the first land of the earth) is home to the Buddhist deity Bogd Ochirvaan. The summit above the 2800 m is covered with permanent snow. Just below the snow line are a sacred Badarhundaga Lake, a sculpture of Ochirvaani deity, and presidential ovoo (a pile of stones from the worshippers).

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park is a national park in Bayan – Ulgii province of western Mongolia. The park includes the Mongolian side of the Tavan Bogd massif, which is divided by the triple border with Russia and China in the Altai Mountains.  

It covers 6362 square kilometres and is located south of Tavan Bogd, the highest mountain of Mongolia. It includes the lakes Khoton, Khurgan and Dayan. The protected area is inhabited by species such as the  Argali sheep, Ibex, Red Deer, Beech Marten, Moose, Snow leopard, Snow cock, and Golden eagle.

The (UNESCO) World Heritage Site Petrolyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai is located inside Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. The World Heritage Site covers three locations with several thousand petroglyphs and Turkic monoliths, including the Tsagaan Salaa Rock PAintings with over 10,000 cave drawings in 15 km of river valley.  

 Khuitni Peak, the highest peak of the Mongolian Altai Mountains, is the highest point in Mongolia and is 4374 m above sea level. 96% of Mongolia's glaciers are located in this area. In addition to large lakes of glacial origin, there are more than 250 small lakes and ponds. Large lakes are one of the important places where many species of water and marsh birds come to migrate and lay their eggs in spring and summer due to their fresh and cold water.

The region is home to many ethnic groups such as Kazakhs, Uriankhai, Durvod, Khalkh and Tuva. All these tribes have their own unique way of life, history, culture and customs.

Kharhiraa, Turgeni mountains

One of the branch mountains of Mongolian Altai, it is located in a direction from south to northwest through the areas of Umnogov, Hovd, Tarialan and Ulaangom sum of Uvs province. Big rivers such as Kharhiraa, Namir, Uliastai, Burgast and Shivert flow from the mountains of Kharkhiraa. The peak is Must, 4126 m above sea level, and has snow capped on the top. In 1993, the resolution issued by the Parliament of Mongolia stated that "Turgen mountains have many natural zones such as mountain tundra, forest taiga, and mountain steppe, with a variety of woody, shrubby, herbaceous plants, various game animals, permanent snow, glaciers, and ice craters adapted to them. , has been designated as a national protected area of Turgen Mountains, pointing out that there are a lot of ancient historical and cultural monuments with unique natural beauty of caves, rocks, cliffs, and waterfalls.

Mount Tsambagarav

Mount Tsambagarav is a snow-capped mountain with a height of 4195 meters. This mountain is in the Mongolian Altai Mountains, rich in wildlife. This Tsambagarav mountain is suitable for climbing and hiking activities. In the past, the local herders called Mount Tsambagarav as a Tsats (Snowpeak). A craftsman made a god to match the color of the mountain and named it Tsambagarav, since the god  was placed on the top of the snow-covered mountain.

Khyargas lake

Khyargas lake is located in the Uvs province in the Great Lake’s Depression at an altitude of approximately 1025m above see level. From its size of 75km long by 31km large, it is considered the second main lake on the west part of Mongolia, being one of the 4 lakes in Mongolia that have a surface area of over 1000 km². The lake is a magnet for migratory birds including its island. The lake’s main attraction is Khetsuu Khad rock on the eastern shore of the lake. Khetsuu Khad is a 5-7 km long underwater rock. Some parts of the rock sticks out of the water, look like islands where countless migratory cormorant birds attracted and nest. Khetsuu Khad rock is a favorite spot for photographers and local travelers.