Around the Archangai

If you want to experience Mongolia in its original form, so not only the Gobi, you are exactly right with this tour. The Archangaj Mountains are located in the center of Mongolia.
On this trip you will experience the typical Mongolian landscape, which is characterized by endless grasslands and mountain massifs with beautiful mountain meadows. Plants that are very rare in Europe can still be found here in their natural environment. At Terchijn Zagaan Nuur, a beautifully situated lake, you can try your luck at fishing and are guaranteed to be successful. Other important sights are of course the Orkhon Waterfall and the old legendary capital of Mongolia – Karakorum.
The origin of Terchijn Zagaan Nuur is volcanic and next to this beautiful lake, we will visit the extinct Horgo volcano. On the way to this volcano we pass by the rock yurts, which are actually huge gas bubbles in the lava rock. Here it is customary to crawl through the narrow upper opening in order to be ritually reborn.
The drive over one of the mountain passes of Archangaj takes us almost to the 3,000 meter limit. This part is quite demanding in terms of driving, so we will then relax at the hot springs of Schargaldshuut. For those who are looking for some adventure, there is the possibility to shorten the regular route to the Naimanuur lakes, on a unique mountain trail, but this is highly weather dependent and not to be done in case of rain.
Of course, Karakorum is also on the agenda of this tour. Translated Karakorum means as much as “black mountain”, or “black stone”. Karakorum, the cradle of the Mongolian Empire, offers many interesting historical sights. Active excavations have been carried out in Karakorum in recent years by the University of Bonn. Right next to the former capital, the monastery Erdenee Zuu was built in the 15th – 16th century. The monastery has an eventful history behind it. Destroyed several times, always rebuilt and today, next to the Gandan Monastery, one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in Mongolia.
On this trip you will cover relatively little distance, but you will have a more intensive insight into the life of the people around the Archangaj Mountains.