Sight seeing: Visitors to the small town of Gachuurt, Mongolia can spend an adventurous afternoon at Fly Mongolia, a sight touring adventure center. The sight is owned by Mongolian natives who enjoy nothing more than to show off the natural beauty of the area’s landscape. The most popular activities are Tandem paragliding and ultra light aircraft tours visitors can gaze upon the wide open spaces and vast scenery. If looking for a more relaxed tour of the beautiful land, horse rides are offered to observe the vast valleys of Tuul Gol. Travelers can also have` a chance to meet the locals who live in the area. It’s common to approach one of the Mongolian families who live around the valley and hire one of their horses for $20 for the entire day.
Entertainment: If there is one thing that Mongolians hold near and dear to them, it’s tradition. Stemming from hundreds of years of customs, The Tumen Ekh Song and Dance Ensemble is a prized performance that highly appraised. The performance contains traditional Mongolian music and dance and features the unique Mongolian throat singing, khöömii. The group is notorious for its exquisite contortionists which have been known to leave few dry eyes in the audience. When the traditional show of song and dance is over, the audience is welcome to a gallery and café in the Mongolian-style hall where they can purchase videos of the performance to take home.
Restaurants: Mongolia is known for its fresh ingredients and colorful ambience. Said to be one of the best restaurants in town, Hazara, in Ulaanbatar, Mongolia, has been serving up genuine Mongolian dishes with a North Indian flare for nearly a decade. Each table in the restaurant is covered with a samiyan, a traditional-style colorful tent that makes you feel like you’re the only one dining in the restaurant. Enjoy a favorite dish, Murgh Makhni, which features fresh, pure ingredients served over saffron rice with an Indian kick of flavor.
Tours: The tour of all tours; the Trans-Siberian train encompasses a remarkable train journey from Beijing to Mongolia, ending in Moscow. The tour has been highly rated by travelers for decades as the extensive itinerary combines a classic train ride with exotic destinations en-route. Once the train enters Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from Beijing, travelers get the chance to experience the acclaimed Naadam festival before heading to Mongolian Steppe. There, visitors will get a taste of true, Mongolian nomadic life while they spend the night in cozy camps with warm hospitality. They will also be able to observe the vast Mongolian grasslands and get a taste of Mongolian favorites, such as kumis, which is a version of cow’s milk, but is fermented and sweeter.
Relax: If a more laid-back tour tends to be in your travel itinerary, Mongolia is one of few places that offers an extensive houseboat tour. Houseboats can be rented for a full 24 hours to ensure travelers get a chance to experience all of Mongolia’s beauty. Drift through peaceful canals embroidered with coconut palms. Dine on authentic Mongolian cuisine on the top deck and gaze at the clear, night sky. There are also opportunities to meet local villagers along the path and get a feel of the Mongolian life away from all of the clamor. Houseboats can be catered to groups for a more lively tour, or on a couples-basis, where they can even sleep under the stars.
With a so many unique means of travel throughout Mongolia, it would be a loss to miss out on its beauty. Take a horse ride. Go Paragliding. Say you’ve been in a house and boat at the same time. Whichever route you choose, meet me in Mongolia.
