 Kharkhorin. About 400 km south-west of Ulaanbaatar, Kharkhorin was capital of the Mongolian Empire in the 13-th century , before Khublai Khan moved it to Beijing. That city was situated in the most favorable microclimatic zone of the Central Asia. At that time it was a busy, spindled city with high civilization built by the best artists and masters of the antiquity. But it was completely destroyed in the fierce battles of the internecine war. Quite a surprise for the scientists was the discovery of a burial of a Mongolian women which dates to approximately the 14th century where also two Egyptian masks, a wooden comb and a bronze mirror in a silk case were found - shows ancient relationship between the nations. The first Buddhist monastery called Erdene-Zuu was built on the ruins of Kharkhorin. It was built in 1586 at the initiative of Avtai khan, a most influential Prince of that time in Mongolia. The stone , blocks and other building materials from the ruins of KharKhorin were used in the construction of this monastery. The monastery occupies an area surrounded by a stone wall with 108 stupas lining on it. Three main temples stand in the most sacred western sector of the monastery. The Erdene-Zuu monastery preserves marvelous works of the Mongolian artists, painters, cutters, sculptors, embroiders and craftsman of the XVII-XIX centuries
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 GOBI. One of the largest deserts and most interesting and mysterious place in the world. The surface of the Gobi desert is not like that of the other deserts. This great desert has very little sand. Most of it is rock, covered with a thin layer of small stones, The Mongolian Gobi landscape is unique and magnificent in its pure and virgin beauty. The visitor who has seen the sun-rise or sun-set in the Gobi desert even for once will never forget the incredible richness of tones and colors of the Gobi landscape. Herds of gazelle mix with wild herds of camel, and in the mountainous areas, rare species such as the Gobi Bear and the Snow Leopard can be found. A prime attraction to the area is the rich deposit in dinosaur fossils, with numerous complete skeletons being uncovered. One area was known as a dinosaur nesting site, and batches of fossilized eggs are frequently found. The vast expanse of the Gobi plains the fragrance of the desert air, perfumed with the aroma of its grasses, and magical sunset are a tonic to the visitors
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 KHORGO AND TERKHIIN TSAGAAN NUUR National Park
Khorgo is located on the northern part of Khangai Mountain Range at an altitude of 2200 meters above sea level and about 700 km from UB, 280 km from Kharkhorin, and 170 km from Tsetserleg / center of Arkhangai aimak /.
Khorgo is rich in beautiful scenery of mountains, cliffs, rapid streams, rivers, lakes, extinct volcanoes, green forests and pastures, where the long-haired yaks and horses pasture.
Natural zones around Khorgo: Taiga forest, Transition between Taiga forest and grassland, Mountain Forest Steppe. This attractive landscape has high biological diversity. 1600 species of plants 46 species of mammals, 227 species of birds, 2 species of reptiles, 12 species of fish
home to Roe Deer; Sibirean Deer; Wolf; Pallas Cat; Red Fox and Sibirean Marmot. Golden Eagle; Great Bustard; Saker Falcon; Black Stork; Baikal Teal and Ruddy Shelduch rule the skies.
Khorgo Mountain is an extinct volcano, which lies east of the Lake Tsagaan Nuur astonishingly beautiful lake with extremely pure fresh water. The Khorgo volcano is covered with basalt. It has been protected since 1965, fully in 1997, to safeguard spectacular mountain scenery and endangered fauna und flora.
The grasslands are rich in wild flowers notably Edelweiss /Leontopodium ochrolencum /.
Extinct volcanoes. Numerious extinct volcanoes are found in this area. Khorgo Uul is dead volcano, which lies east of Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake. The mountain is covered with basalt. The mountain enjoys State protection as a National Park of 28 square kilometers including Togoo Uul which reaches 2240 meters above sea level, and the Hill of the lake of the Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur. The volcano crater of the Togoo Uul is 200 meters wide and 100 meters deep. The northern slope is covered with Siberian Larch (Larix sibirica )
Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan
Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake is an astonishingly beautiful lake with relatively pure fresh water. Torrents of lava issuing from the Khorgo volcano blocked the north and south Terkh rivers, so forming the dammed lake of Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake at an altitude of 2060 meters above sea level. The lake is 16 km wide, 4-10 meters deep with its deepest point at 28 meters and over 20 kilometers in length. It flooded 61,1 square km. The lake supports Pike and other fish. Rare birds are found here
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 Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area
In 1993, the Gorkhi-Terelj area was gazetted as a National Park, specialy because of its natural scenic beauty it has been used as a tourism destination by both Mongolians and foreigners since 1964. The park is situated only 50 km Northeast of the capital city Ulaanbaatar, in the Southern foothills of the Khentii Mountains. The park's most spectacular features are its huge granite blocks and cliffs as well as meadows rich in wild flowers. The two major rivers, the Tuul and the Terelj, are important as a water resource for Ulaanbaatar.
Khan Khentii was established as a Strictly Protected Area in 1992. The rugged mountainous area is one of the last large wildness areas in Mongolia. Bordering on the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park in the South, it extends up to the Russian border. The central part is uninhabited and can be entered only on foot or horseback. Hot springs along the Onon River are famous for their therapeutic qualities. Then Khentii Mountains have great historical significance as the birthplace of Chinggis Khan. Researchers are still searching for his tomb.
The biggest rivers of Mongolia have their source in the Khentii Mountains. They provide drinking water to Mongolia's largest cities.
The mountain steppe is particularly rich in species and colors. Here, plants can be found from all parts of the continent: species from the Arctic tundra and northern coniferous forests grow next to Mongolian steppe grass; species of Euro-Siberian forest steppe shrubs reach into the Khentii from the west; species of Manchurian-Daurian steppe herbs extend into the area from the east. Meadows that are grazed on less have a more diverse flora. Edelweis (Lentopodium lentopodiodes) meadows are widespread.
Khentii Landscape
The characteristic flora of the region is that of the Baikal-Daurian and Mongolian-Daurain mountain steppe. As high as the upper river courses (2000-2200 m), poorly accessible cedar and cedar-larch forests with lots of moss and cranberries are representative of the taiga massif . Overall, 50 mammal species are known from the Khentii. Important predators are brown bear (Ursus arctors), wolf (Canis lupus), lynx (lynx lynx), wolverine (Gulo gulo) and sable (Matres zibelliana). Large herbivores are represented by the maral, a sub-species of red deer (Cervus elaphus maral), moose (Alces alces pfizenmayeri), Siberian roedeer (Capreolus pygargus) and musk deer (Moschus moschiferus).
Animal life
The area's avifauna is very diverse, both in terms of species number and composition. Arboreal species dominate with 83 species. Bold (1984) indicate 253 bird species for the Khentii (61 resident species, 119 nesting migrants, 16 wintering birds, 36 passage migrants, 12 vagrants and 9 unconfirmed nesting species).
Source: Gorkhi-Terelj National Park and Khan Khentee Strictly Protected Area
( Bernd Steinhauer-Burkart & Alois Liegl)
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 Elsen Tasarhai The Elsen Tasarhai located in Burd Soum in Ovorkhangai aimak 280 km west of Ulaanbaatar .The area is surrounded by sand dunes, hills covered with rare bushes and a small forest near a river. Together this presents a unique combination of Mongolian mountains, forests and Gobi-type landscape in one location. This area is located 80 km east of Kharkhorin, the ancient Mongolian capital. The area is populated by Maral stag (elk), wolves, deer and fox. You can also see lizards and insects typical of the Gobi.
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 OGII LAKE. Ogii Nuur is a lake, 1.387 meters above sea level in Ogii Nuur Soum in Arkhangai province. It engages 27 square km of area, and has pure water. The lake abounds in various types of fish and birds, which creates a incredible natural beauty. It also provides a favorable condition for research work and traveling. For that Ogii lake attracts travelers, fishermen and nature researchers from Mongolia as well as from foreign countries. You can visit there on a day trip from Kharkhorin.
This lake is truly wonderful place for bird life. More than 150 types of rare birds dwell in Lake Ogii. That's why it is the place of special interest for researchers and naturalists. Considering this situation we have started work of building a special tower from where to watch those birds and take photographs. Lake Ogii was included in Ramsar Convention in 1999 for the purpose of protecting the environment where the birds hatch their eggs and spend summer. Here you can watch 178 varieties of 16 families of birds such as Pelecanus crispus, Ciconia nigra, Cygnus Cygnus, Cygnus bewicki, Anser indicus, Cygnopsis cygnoides, Anas formosa, Haliaeetus leucoryphus, Haliaeetus albicilla, Grus leucogeranus, and Grus vipio. The variety and the spread of fish in the lake are multiple. So it's the most convenient place for fishermen to have a good catch. The lake has varieties of fish take the following for instance.
Rutilus tutilus
Lacustris leuciscus idus
Cuprinlus carpio haematropterus
Parailurus absotius
Lota lota
Perca fluviatilis
Esox luejus
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 HUVSGUL LAKE. Mongolia's alpine region, with snow covered mountains and clear crystal lakes. There are no streams with no islands in them, so we see in the Huvsgul Lake two perfect twin-islands as if specially designed by Nature herself as domains of birds. Here, the birds symphony never ends, keenly enjoyed by all the sentient beings who are lucky to inhabit these inspired places
In all four seasons Huvsgul is the blessing of sight. It shimmers with all the rainbow colours against the blue of the sky in autumn when the local people - Darkhats, Khalkhas, Buryats and Uriankhais - mow hay till late in the evening to the sounds of their now merry and now sad songs.
 In winter, all the mountains and the taiga and the lake pull over themselves a most fluffy and soft cover of believable white snow. Part of the Huvsgul people move with their reindeer herds to their farmsteads high in the mountains, closer to the stars. And then only helicopters can reach them.
Tsatang - is nation ,who keeps reindeers, which inhabitates in the northern part of Mongolia . Usually they live in high mountains in taiga, which are very difficult to reach them. Population of Tsatang is the most minority in the world. During 70 years communist tyranny this nation could keep their own tradition, culture and identity. However, depending on their population minority it is running the danger of disappearance of the nation at present time. The main food of Tsatangs are reindeer milk product and meats of wild animals hunted by themselves.
The highest mountain peak in the locality Munkh Saridag, rises to 3491 metres above sea level, next to it is Uran Dyosh meaning Craftsman's Anvil. Huvsgul's maximum depth is 245.7 metres, and a layer of water this thick allows to see the Lake's bad inlaid with colorful stones and the silvery sparkles of fish roaming the numerous hollows.
Huvsgul lake
The area of Huvsgul Lake, raised well above sea level, is 2760 sq. meters. Its length is 136 kilometers and width 36.5 kilometers. The outflow from Huvsgul lake drains into the Eg Gol, then the Selenge Gol and finally reaches Lake Baikal in Siberia, which makes an interesting side trip if you have the correct visas.
Tsagaan Nuur
About 50 km west of Huvsgul in Renchinlhumbe sum is a large basin which is the best watered region in all of Mongolia. While Huvsgul aimag has 300 lakes, 200 of them are in this area alone, making it Mongolia's lake district. Tsagaan Nuur is made even more fascinating by the Tsatang, also known as the ' reindeer people '.
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 BAGA GAZARYN CHULUU. This is another granite rock in the middle of the dusty plains. In the 19th century, two revered monks lived here in gers-remnants of their rock drawings can be found in the area. The rocks are worshipped by locals who sometimes make pilgrimages here. Naturally, there is a 'legend' that Chinggis Khaan stayed at the rocks.
Five km away, the highest peak (1978 m) in the area, Baga Gazaryn Uul, will take about five hours to climb. The mountain also contains a cave with an underground lake. The mineral water springs and trees in the region make it a great spot to camp, and there are plenty of rocky hills, topped by ovoos, to explore. Baga Gazaryn Chuluu is in a very remote area, about 60 km to the north-west of Mandalgovi, and about 80 km west of Sangiin Dalai village.
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 ORKHON RIVER. The spectacular waterfall Ulaantsutgalan - This waterfall in most literature named as Orkhon waterfall which is wrong. In fact, Ulaan ( red ) river flows into the Orkhon river. Unfortunately, in Mongolia many popular places are called in wrong name and peoples are already used to them. In our tour program we also using these wrong names in order to not mix up. Because in all tourists book and experienced tour operators used to use these wrong names. In future , we thinking to start to use the real name of these places. This famous waterfall is formed by a volcanic eruption and as well earthquake. The waterfall is also difficult reach by bus in rainy season. Because the road is bad.
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 THE MONGOL ALTAI MOUNTAIN area is situated on the west of the country, and is composed of different types of shale, granites and other rocks of paleozois age. On the western part of Mongolia in Bayan - Ulgii aimak Kazakhs (5 % of Mongolian population) live. One of their interesting activities is they use golden eagle for their hunting. The highest peak of Mongol Altai is the Khuiten peak of Tavan-Bogd range, with the absolute height of 4653 meters. The main range of Mongol Altai-Aktag-Altai starts from the Khuiten peak and extends to the Alag-Altai mountain, 3607 m above sea level. For sheer beauty it is in no way inferior to that of Matterhorn of Switzerland. Sharp-edged rocky ridges of Aktag-Altai, with eternal snow-caps, attaining an average height of over 3000 m, are full of deep gorges through which foaming streams of glacier-fed mountain rivers dash down. Snow-covered peaks soar into the cloudless sky and the frozen glaciers glitter in the sun's rays.
n the Tavan-Bogd range and peaks dimmed with a light-gray cloak of snow particles rise up into the sky. Among the many glaciers of  Mongolia, the biggest one is called Tsagaan-gol, situated in the upper reaches of a river of the same name, attaining a length of over 20 km. Amongst these majestic natural edifices high-mountain rivers and streams with crystal clear water thread their way-now jumping over glacial boulders or rushing down high rocks to form exceedingly beautiful rapids or waterfalls, now disappearing in canyon-shaped deep gorges, reappearing finally in the hollow space between two mountains.
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