Mongolia - A.K. Taylor International

Mongolia

is a country that stirs up visions of nomads atop horses galloping across rolling grasslands and steppes. This is the land of Genghis Khan, who ruled over one of the largest contiguous empires in history. The dramatic landscapes, from the dunes of the Gobi Desert to the glacial lakes of the Hovsgol Aimag, are virtually untouched by the modern world. One can look from horizon to horizon without seeing a building or even a fence line. Fortunately, what one will see are the warm and inviting Mongolians.

These people are typically Khalk Mongols and practice Tibetan Buddhism, but there are also small distributions of Kazaks, Chinese, and Russians. The daily life of the nomadic herdsmen is timeless as they travel across wide fertile valleys dotted with wildflowers in search of fresh grass for their horses. From the time of Genghis Khan until now, horses have been the focal point of the Mongols lives, even one's wealth and status is determined by riding skills.

Mongolia's capital, Ulaan Baatar, is a sleepy city slowly emerging from the effects of socialism. Here one finds an eclectic mix of communist style high-rise buildings, Tibetan monasteries, museums, and streets occupied by cows and people dressed in both traditional and modern wear.

Although most of the temples and monasteries were destroyed by Stalinist purges in the 1930s, the Gandantegchinlen Khiid Monastery survived because the communists kept it as a showcase to impress foreigners. The Gandan, or place of complete joy, is an impressive array of glorious temples adorned with gold and jewels which are maintained by the 150 monks who live there. The beautiful environment around the city is a peaceful contrast to the intrigue of the city's cultural and historical sites. Surrounding the city are the peaks of four holy mountains, representing the four points on a compass, which provide a stunning backdrop to the Tuul River and the traditional ger (felt tent) suburbs. Ulaan Baatar is a perfect starting point for further exploration into this untamed country.

INTO THE WILDS OF MONGOLIA

The most exciting way to visit a country is to experience it as the local people do. The enchanting Lake Hovsgol region in northern Mongolia is an ideal area to explore on horseback. There is no sound of running motors or honking horns as one quietly soaks in views of rugged peaks, pristine glacial lakes, lush plant species, and perhaps cross the path of a Eurasian wolf, ibex, or see a rare white tailed sea eagle fly overhead.

A visit to the nomadic encampment of the fabled Tsatang people (reindeer people) gives one great insight into how some people still live in these remote regions.

The Gobi Desert lies in the southern region of Mongolia with dunes, deserts, rich fossil sites, and fire-red cliffs offering a stark contrast to the fresh water lakes and rivers in the north. A fascinating sight is an excursion to Yol Valley National Park, cradled between the foothills of the Altai Mountains, to see where the first nest of dinosaur eggs was discovered in 1922. For a true desert experience, one can explore the vastness of the stony plains and shifting desert sands atop a Bactrian camel. A visit to the extraordinary Yoliin Am will make even the unimaginable come true. This is a deep rock gorge that protects the world's only glacier within a desert. Who would have guessed such a thing exists?

CHERNOBYL SQUIRRELS?
(A Special Fly-Fishing Expedition)

For a truly unusual experience in Mongolia, one can pack a fly rod and bring a supply of "Chernobyl Squirrel" fly patterns for what is arguably the most unique fly-fishing experience anywhere in the world. One can test one's casting skills on taimen, lenok, and grayling, which are salmonid species known for taking dry flies.

Taimen, commonly referred to as the river wolf, have a reputation for eating mice, ducks, and even prairie dogs, and are the source of many campfire stories. One believes these tales after landing a 50 pound fish taken on a dry fly. On one occasion, an angler hooked a 32-inch taimen on a mouse pattern only to have that same 12 pound fish eaten off the line by another fish estimated at 100 pounds or more!

A traditional Mongolian camp of well-furnished "gers" awaits one at the end of the day, whether one has been fishing or perhaps taken a horseback ride to the world's 12th largest cave. There is no better way to end the day than to come back to a freshly lit wood stove, sample a Mongolian-style dish, and review the day's events. It is hard to imagine the "modern world" exists while out in this remote and breathtaking land.

POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS AND EXTENSIONS

We recommend a combination or short extension to China. A visit to any of China's world famous sites, such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, or the Terra Cotta Warriors will surely make lasting impressions. On the Yangtze River, take in the soft beauty of the Three Gorges region before its full splendor is lost when the largest damn in the world is completed.

For more information or questions, please contact us.

- Return to Top -