Ulan-Bator
Ulaan-Bataar is the capital of the Republic of Mongolia. It is situated north and slightly east of the center of Mongolia, on the Tuul River, a subtributary of the Selenga, in a valley at the foot of the mountain Bogdo Uul. It is the political, cultural, economic, and transportation center of the country. Ulaanbaatar, which has an international airport, is the junction point of the country's major roads and caravan routes and lies on the Trans-Siberian rail road, which links Russia with Beijing and Chinese railroad systems. It’s over one-third of the country's population, Ulaanbaatar is by far Mongolia's largest city. Often shortened to UB by foreigners (but not by locals), Mongolia's capital still has the look and feel of a neglected European city from the 1950. Built along the river, the Tuul Gol, and surrounded by picturesque mountains, the center of Ulaanbaatar is dominated by Soviet-style high-rise apartment blocks. Yet about 250,000 locals live in sprawling suburbs on the outskirts of the city, opting to live in traditional ger (circular felt yurts).
Tours and Excursions:
- The ancient capital ( 8 days/7 nights).
- Khuvsgul lake tour (8 days, 7 nights). Lake Khuvsgul lies within boundaries of the Khuvsgul National Park. This lake is sacred to all Mongols and is known as “mother sea” or also called “Blue Pearl of Asia”. Water of Khuvsgul lake is unbelievably clean. This is a place in Mongolia where one can get sense of total unspoiled wilderness. You can hiking, birding, fishing, horse riding, kayaking.
- Discover the South Gobi tour (8 days/7 nights). The Gobi desert is a treasure chest of fossilized dinosaur bones and eggs. It is a land of steppes and mountains and the second biggest desert in the world. There you can see the Eagle valley, you will experience the lifestyle of Gobi desert nomads.
- Kharakorum tour (5 days, 4 nights). At this tours you will see the one of the cultural highlights of Mongolia – Kharakorum, situated in the vast valley of Orkhon river. This is the symbolic site of 13th century capital of Mongolia Empire. The temple Erdene Zuu contains valuable collection of sculptures, artwork and books. This is the place to learn about religious and cultural traditions of Mongolia.
- Gorkhi Terelj & Bogdo Khaan Mountain national parks tours (5 days, 4 nights). Ulaanbaatar - Gorkhi Terelj National Park - Bogdo Khaan Mountain National Park - Ulaanbaatar.
- Around Ulaanbaatar (6 days/5 nights). Your trip will start with excursion in Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia. At this tour there are endless possibilities for hiking and trekking through gorgeous hills and amazing cliffs in Terelj area of Gorkhi Terelj National Park. At the residence of Chinggiz Khaan and field camp of Temujin Khaan you return to ancient times when Mongolian Khaans ruled the world.
- Small tourist ring of Mongolia (14 days/13 nights). Ulaanbaatar - Terelj National Park - Gobi Desert - Kharakorum - Ulaanbaatar.
- The big tourist ring of Mongolia (16 days/15 nights). Ulaanbaatar - Hustai National Park - Kharkhorin - Orkhon Waterfall - Middle Gobi - South Gobi - Ulaanbaatar.
- Tour to Mongolia. Naadam festival (Ulaanbaatar) (20 days/19 nights). Ulaanbaatar – Terelj National Park - Manchir - Hustai National Park - Hogno Khaan Mountains - Kharkhorin - Middle Gobi - South Gobi – Ulaanbaatar.
- Horseback journey (9 days/8 nights). Ulaanbaatar – Kharakorum - Tsetserleg – Tsagaan Nuur - Ulaanbaatar. Discover the remarkable beauty of Arkhangai, as we horse trek through this beautiful grass steppe region, stopping to visit local families who herd horses. We’ll camp along the shores of many of the area’s rivers with the opportunity to hike and explore on foot. Our final destination will be Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park. Completely undeveloped, the park contains one of the most beautiful lakes in Mongolia, Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur, which was formed thousands of years ago when lava from a nearby volcano flowed into the Terkh River creating a natural dam.
- Trekking in Mongolian national parks (7 days/6 nights).Ulaanbaatar – Bogdo Khaan Mountain - Terelj – Ulaanbaatar
- Trekking in the Khentii Mountains in Mongolia (15 days). Ulaanbaatar – Bogdo Khaan Mountain - Terelj – Ulaanbaatar.
Museums:
• The National Museum of Mongolian History- prehistoric, historic and ethnographic section (includes some complete dinosaurs skeleton and eggs excavated in the Gobi desert), nature and mineralogical section.
• The Museum of Natural History - historical and ethnological exhibits. Opposite of the National Museum of Mongolian history.
• The Zanabazar Museum of Fine Art - exhibits a great collection of paintings and sculptures, among which are some rare religious items such as tangkas and Buddhist statues. Modern paintings and other art for sale.
• The Natsagdorj Museum celebrates Mongolia's most famous poet and playwright, Dashdojiin Natsagdorj, who was an ardent nationalist. The museum is said to be built on the exact site where Natsagdorj lived. It's between the Monastery - Museum of Choijin Lama and the northern entrance of Nairamdal Park, but was closed at the time of research for remodelling.
• The Victims of Political Persecution Memorial Museum. This new museum consists of a series of haunting displays chronicling the bloody communist purges of the 1930s - an aggressive campaign to eliminate ecounter - revolutionaries. During the campaign, intellectuals were arrested and put on trial, sent to Siberian labour camps or shot. Mongolia lost top writers, scientists and thinkers.
The museum was inspired by the former prime minister P. Genden, who was executed in Moscow by the KGB in 1937 for refusing Stalin's orders to carry out the purge. The museum is now run by his daughter. The walls of the ground floor carry the names of 20,000 souls. A yellow dot by the name signifies that the deceased was a monk, red means a communist, and blue means a civilian.
• The Ulaanbaatar City Museum is the green Russian-style building next to the Wrestling Palace. It has a few interesting black-and-white photos of early Ulaanbaator and an old map of the original ger settlement, though not much else. It's open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
• If killing innocent animals is your thing, visit the Hunting Museum, on the street leading to Gandan Khiid.
• The Railway Museum, near the International Railway Ticketing Office, may satisfy train buffs. Other train-spotting options include the old engines parked in front of the Jiguur Grand Hotel.
• The Mongolian Military Museum is at the eastern end of Peace Ave - you'll need to take a taxi to find it.
• The Theatre Museum was founded in 1991 on International Day of Theatre. It is one of the vocational museums that show the development of theatre in Mongolia. Photographs and biographies of those who stood at the inception of theatre in Mongolia, historic documents, books and scripts are displayed for visitors.
The Theatre Museum is worth-while if you're interested in the dramatic arts - the collection of puppets is wonderful. The museum is on the 3rd floor of the Palace of Culture (it's entrance is on the northern side of building), open daily except Monday and Tuesday.
• The Intellectual Museum, also known as the Mongolian Toy Museum, on the 3rd floor, 44A Baga Toiruu, has a collection of puzzles and games made by local artists.
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