Mongolia is a kind of nations that has been on my bucket checklist for a protracted, very very long time—most likely since childhood. I made the under Mongolia itinerary a few years in the past. Lately, I lastly had the chance to go to. Initially I deliberate for early October, when the climate would (nonetheless) be nice, however resulting from a delayed enterprise journey, it was rescheduled to late November. This meant winter time, with chilly temperatures and the chance of a whole lot of snow, which might render visiting the Deer Stones on the Khoid Tamir valley unattainable. The opposite website, Karakorum, is at all times accessible until there’s a whole lot of contemporary snowfall. Would I like to recommend entering into winter? Proceed studying to seek out out why you need to and easy methods to prepare it safely.
Planning a winter journey to Mongolia
A go to to Mongolia wants some good preparation particularly in winter. The main target of my journey was on two UNESCO websites that are situated southwest of Ulaanbaatar. I might say that the Orkhon Valley, particularly Karakorum, can at all times be reached simply if the street is cleared often. The opposite locations of curiosity rely on snowfall. The Deer Stones within the Khoid Tamir valley will be reached from Tsetserleg if there’s not an excessive amount of new snowfall; in any other case, the street is closed. For this, rent a 4×4 automotive with a driver who is aware of easy methods to drive within the snow. It’s higher to be with two individuals and even two vehicles and one one who can converse the native language. In summer time this journey may simply be accomplished solo although.
Mongolia Visa and Flights
Mongolia has a visa-free entry choice for 30 days for lots of nationalities till the tip of 2025 to advertise tourism. Do verify together with your native embassy in the event you can enter without cost as nicely. I arrived on a direct flight on MIAT airways from Frankfurt. Their new B787 Dreamliner is ideal!
Because it was winter with temperatures as much as minus 26 Celsius (minus 15 Fahrenheit), I made a decision to not keep at a neighborhood camp however at a pleasant lodge as a substitute. In Ulaanbaatar I stayed on the Blue Sky lodge which has superior views. In Tsetserleg on the lately opened Ashid Bekhi lodge. I can suggest each.
Garments for winter in Mongolia
Make certain to carry heat clothes in layers. I purchased particular merino wool underwear which in the long run I didn’t use. I used to be in denims, sweater and winter jacket on a regular basis. Minus 26 in Mongolia feels a lot hotter than in different areas resulting from low humidity. I solely remorse not taking correct boots as my sport footwear weren’t the only option for heat ft. Frequent sense is required and don’t underestimate the chilly!
Now let’s take a look at the day-to-day itinerary of this Mongolian winter expedition.
Mongolia itinerary day 1: Begin of the Mongolia winter expedition
I departed from residence early morning by prepare to Frankfurt. The direct MIAT (Mongolian Airways) flight from Frankfurt, which is only a four-hour prepare trip from my residence, was very snug. Their new Boeing 787 Dreamliner has nice enterprise class seats. The draw back is the timing of the flight. With a day departure, it means an arrival time of about 6 AM. It was nonetheless late night again residence so sleeping was tough however the The Blue Sky Resort and Tower lodge let me verify in early to compensate for sleep. I slept until late morning.
After lunch, I had some free time to discover Ulaanbaatar. Though the capital doesn’t have that many locations of curiosity, a day is well crammed. Simply throughout the road from the The Blue Sky Resort and Tower lodge I explored the Chingis Khaan Sq.. I then continued to the The Superb Arts Zanabazar Museum and the Chinggis Khaan Nationwide Museum earlier than it was time for supper.
Dinner in Ulaanbaatar
There may be one craft beer brewery named MB Beer Plus in Ulaanbaatar so I needed to test it out. Simply a few minutes stroll from the lodge. At minus 25 levels Celsius this brief stroll was alright in regular clothes. Their meals is sweet and the beer scrumptious so I like to recommend going. After testing all their beers, simply 4, I used to be again in my room early night for an excellent relaxation as the approaching days could be lengthy ones.
Mongolia itinerary day 2: Ulaanbaatar to Tsetserleg with a go to to the Orkhon Valley
I like to recommend, particularly in winter, to begin early round 8 AM as street circumstances are uncertain. All of the roads are well-paved although with some stretches a bit patchy. That’s, nevertheless, not the primary drawback throughout wintertime; it’s the snow. Though roads get cleared, it will likely be a tough drive simply after new snow and may make reaching Tsetserleg in a day unattainable.
It took method over an hour to even depart Ulaanbaatar, however as soon as I used to be out it appeared to be an important drive. Clear skies, sunny with loads of snow however not on the roads. The views are superb the entire solution to Karakorum within the Orkhon Valley. It’s countless snowy steppes with snow-capped mountains within the again. Nomads have ready their winter camps and right here and there I noticed teams of horses looking for some final grass to eat.
Greatest Erdene Zuu viewpoint
It was already 2 PM after I arrived at Karakorum. Simply earlier than the town on the left, there’s a nice viewpoint of the Erdene Zuu monastery. If the climate is sweet, be certain to go to it immediately as with snow, driving up turns into unattainable. The subsequent cease for the day was the Khar Balgas Ordu Baliq deep contained in the Orkhon Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Web site. It’s about 20 kilometers off-road and potential provided that there’s not an excessive amount of snow until you’re with a number of vehicles. There are ditches all over the place and the tracks usually are not seen so you’re going to get caught and one wants extra vehicles to drag one other out then.
Mongolia
Go to Khar Balgas Ordu Baliq
The Khar Balgas Ordu Baliq is, though fairly eroded, very spectacular. The partitions are clearly seen with its defensive towers simply outdoors the partitions. Inside, there’s a well-preserved pagoda, a nicely, and minor different buildings left. Khar Balgas, also called Ordu Baliq, stood because the capital of the Uyghur Khaganate, an influential Turkic empire of the eighth and ninth centuries. Located in present-day Mongolia, it performed a pivotal position as a cease alongside the Silk Street, reflecting its significance in commerce and diplomacy. The town, characterised by its nomadic life-style, was wealthy in cultural range, with influences from varied religions. Its historic significance extends to its diplomatic ties with the Tang Dynasty in China. Khar Balgas stays an interesting website of ongoing excavation, shedding gentle on the colourful historical past of the Uyghur Khaganate.
The positioning is just not enormous and a go to takes about an hour. With temperatures at minus 25 levels Celsius (about minus 15 Fahrenheit) that was lengthy sufficient. The solar was setting as nicely so a should to get again to the street earlier than dusk.
It was one other two hours’ drive to Tsetserleg the place I arrived round 7 PM. I selected the Ashid Bekhi lodge which is a brand new and trendy lodge, a bit expensive, however with the chilly climate a sensible choice. A neighborhood dinner I had on the Fairfield Guesthouse a block away. It began snowing within the night so the winter expedition to the Deer Stones within the Khoid Tamir valley for the subsequent day grew to become uncertain.
Mongolia itinerary day 3: Mongolia winter expedition to see Deer Stones
A go to to the Deer Stone Monuments and Associated Bronze Age websites, a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, within the Khoid Tamir valley was the primary purpose of this journey. It could absorb summer time half a day however in winter it’s a protracted day, a really lengthy one. The street from Tsetserleg to Ikh-Tamir is paved nevertheless it goes over a go with a reasonably steep climb. This go does shut after contemporary snowfall which I used to be afraid of would make a go to unattainable immediately. I used to be fortunate nevertheless that there was not an excessive amount of snow there and at 10 AM the go was open. As soon as in Ikh-Tamir the ultimate stretch could be about 15 kilometers off-road.
The primary 10 kilometers had been very easy and the final 5 may have been if I didn’t take the improper flip. The street follows the valley river on the left facet and earlier than the Deer Stones location there’s a mountain on the left. Behind that mountain is one other valley. In summer time one can take a left earlier than the mountain and simply drive round. In winter this was a foul alternative. In some unspecified time in the future the street tracks had been tough to comply with. I needed to make new tracks which ended up in a ditch and obtained fully caught with the automotive.
Caught within the snow in Mongolia
After making an attempt to get out, which didn’t work, the perfect would have been to stroll to the nomad camp that was only a kilometer or two away. Fortunately, a automotive driving the identical method noticed me and got here to the rescue. It was a police officer and he helped the automotive to get free. He stated to comply with him to the Deer Stones which the place close to his home. These had been nevertheless those at Jargalantyn Am, which I additionally wished to go to, and about 7 hours away. After a 45-minute drive I discovered it was the improper course so I circled. The plan was to drive again across the mountain however simply earlier than it a transparent observe to the left was seen. After a few kilometers I arrived on the vacation spot. I actually felt that wow second right here. Standing alone in the midst of nowhere surrounded by snow and mountains a Deer Stone carved centuries in the past.
Mongolian Deer Stones historical past
Deer stones are historical monoliths present in Mongolia, relationship again to the Bronze Age, primarily between 1300 and 700 BCE. They’re characterised by their carved pictures of deer, in addition to different animals and symbols. These stones had been possible used for ritualistic or ceremonial functions, probably as markers for graves or websites of significance. The deer stones are vital archaeological finds, shedding gentle on the cultural practices and beliefs of historical nomadic societies that inhabited the area.
There are numerous deer stones within the Khoid Tamir valley. You can’t miss them as they’re clearly seen within the panorama. These Deer Stones need to be a UNESCO World Heritage Web site. They’re superbly carved hundreds of years in the past. Superb colours and figures, I had a number of wow moments there. I don’t remorse going there in winter because it made this go to to the center of nowhere very particular.
There are additionally varied burial mounds that encompass the Deer Stones. Up the mountain, there’s some rock artwork as nicely however as this may be lined in snow I didn’t even attempt to discover it. After two or three hours exploring the world, it was time to go away and return.
Mongolia
The outdated brown coal mine
On the best way again there’s an outdated brown coal mine. I believed let’s test it out and make some images. After I noticed a rabbit I wished to get nearer for a greater photograph however didn’t see an enormous nail hidden beneath the snow. It punctured my shoe and foot. Fortunately in the long run it was a clear minimize and healed in a number of days. For such occasions I’m blissful that I’ve all my vaccinations, like tetanus, updated. The very last thing I would like is the necessity to discover it in the midst of nowhere. I at all times carry a small med equipment on day journeys as nicely. It saved the day.
The drive again was easy and round 7 PM I used to be again on the Ashid Bekhi lodge. Had the identical dinner because the day earlier than and loved some beers within the night. Mission achieved and a really lengthy drive again forward for the subsequent day.
Mongolia itinerary day 4: Again to Ulaanbaatar
The day could be lengthy so I departed Tsetserleg round 9 AM. Leaving a lot earlier would have meant driving in the dead of night which isn’t advisable. The street between Tsetserleg and Karakorum was rather a lot worse than it was two days in the past. The contemporary snow made elements of the street like an ice-skating observe. It was a protracted drive to Karakorum the place I noticed that the tracks to Khar Balgas Ordu Baliq had been lined in snow. It could have been unattainable to go to, so in the event you go to in winter, go to locations instantly while you see it’s potential. In Karakorum, I finished on the Erdene Zuu monastery which might at all times be visited 12 months spherical.
Erdene Zuu historical past
Erdene Zuu Monastery, based in 1585, stands as considered one of Mongolia’s oldest and most important monastic complexes. Constructed on the ruins of Karakorum, the previous capital of the Mongol Empire, it served as a non secular and cultural middle. Beneath the patronage of Altan Khan, Erdene Zuu performed a vital position within the revival of Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia. Regardless of intervals of decline and suppression beneath communist rule, it stays an emblem of Mongolia’s spiritual heritage and a key attraction for pilgrims.
The enduring view outdoors from the wall and pagodas within the snow is mesmerizing. Contained in the partitions, I saved my go to brief as temperatures dropped to minus 29 Celsius (about minus 20 Fahrenheit). Fortunately I used to be simply in time to witness a brief ceremony of the monks. After warming up contained in the temple, I continued my method again to Ulaanbaatar. The street was with out snow.
Mongolia itinerary day 5: Flight to Beijing
The ultimate day I had an early breakfast on the Blue Sky Resort and headed to the airport. I didn’t fly again to Frankfurt however continued to Beijing for a congress. From there I continued to Jeju Island, South Korea and some different locations which I’ll cowl in one other article.
I actually loved my long-planned go to to Mongolia. The timing was dangerous however in the long run it was an important expertise. Karakorum and the Erdene Zuu Monastery had been nice, however the true spotlight was the Deer Stones. They’ve superb carvings, and the setting within the snow with no person round made the go to magical. Would I return in summer time? To Mongolia, sure, however to not these Deer Stones. I might select one other location then. If you’re into an journey, go to Mongolia in winter however plan correctly! I’m positive you’ll get pleasure from it.
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Gallery
Click on a picture for a full display screen gallery of extra images taken throughout this journey. In the event you like to make use of any photograph for industrial, non-public or editorial use please contact first for permission and/or pricing.
