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DestinationTerelj National Park Located about 60 kilometers north east of Ulaanbaatar and stretches to the east, Gorkhi Terelj National Park (Terelj) is one of Mongolia's most popular destinations. Gorkhi Terelj National Park is the eastern tip of Khan Hentii mountain range and borders the Khan Hentii Strictly Protected Area. Terelj is famous for its beautiful natural scenery, amazing rock formations. The Turtle Rock created by nature, Ariyabala Meditation Temple are the key attractions. There are a number of tourist accommodations, some of which stay open year-round, and the area offers excellent hiking, camping, rock climbing, horse riding opportunities, rafting through the Tuul river and excellent mountain biking trails. Terelj has a dazzling variety of wildflowers and edelweiss is the most common. This flower, symbol of eternity for Mongolians, is used to light the first fire of a newly-wed couple. 
KHUSTAI NATIONAL PARK The Khustai National Park has an area of 50,620 hectares and is located 95 km west of the capital Ulaanbaatar. Run by the Mongolian Association for the Conservation of Nature and the Environment (MACNE), with the cooperation of the Foundation Reserves for the Przewalski Horse (FRPH) and the support of the Dutch government, one of the park's main goals is to reintroduce the Takhi, the last remaining wild horse worldwide. Also called the Przewalski horse (named after the Polish explorer who first 'discovered' the horse in 1878), the horses' numbers were greatly reduced after poachers killed them for meat, and overgrazing and development reduced their fodder and breeding grounds. Today, Khustai National Park, also written Hustai, contains more than 100 Takhi, who boast two extra chromosomes in their DNA make-up (thus making them a genetically different species from a normal horse.) ERDENE ZUU MONASTERY This monastery is one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in Mongolia. It is included in the list of UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage sites. It was built by the command of Avtai Sain Khan in 1586. The monastery was built on the spot of the ancient capital of Mongol Empire, Kharkhorin. The monastery was built in the same pattern as the ancient capital, following the strict rules of Mongolian architecture: the walls with four gates were perfectly square (400 m x 400 m) and 108 stupas were built in the walls around the monastery (a Stupa represents the mind of the Buddha and 108 is an auspicious number for Buddhists; a Buddhist rosary has 108 beads). Just behind the monastery compound, there is the site of the ancient capital of Mongolia. Kharkhorin or Karakorum, which used to be a square city, covering an area 4 km x 4 km. Erdene Zuu Monastery has several temples inside. Three temples dedicated to three stages of the  Buddha's life are special and worth visiting. They contain original examples of Mongolian Buddhist Art, which are unique. Beside the smaller temples with magnificent tankas and appliqu頷orks, a beautiful Stupa and the functioning Tsogchin Dugana temple, built in Tibetan Lhasa style, attracts visitors' attention. A foundation of a giant Mongolian Ger is also an interesting sight. Erdene Zuu Monastery is a valuable memorial, created by the wisdom and skillful hands of Mongolians. Precious culture was preserved in the monastery. Between XIX and XX centuries, the temple housed over 500-600 monks and was the most popular monastery to worshippers and pilgrims. It was also an important locality, where many foreign merchants stayed. Unfortunately, most of the monastery's activities became stagnant during the years of socialism. It resumed its role as a monastery since 1990, when democratic reforms began and freedom of religion was granted.
TERKHIIN TSAGAAN NUUR  It is one of the most beautiful freshwater lakes of Mongolia, known as the Great White Lake, found in Tariat soum of Arkhangai aimag/province at an altitude of 2060 m ASL. The lake has a sandy beach, excellent for camping, and it is a good place for swimming, fishing or simply relaxing at the lakeshore. The lake was formed by volcanic eruptions and has an area of 61 sq. km, length of 16 km, width of 6 km, depth of 20 m and volume of 368 million cubic meters. Over ten streams and rivers including Hoid Terkh, Urd Terkh flow into the lake; and the Suman River flows out of the lake into the Chuluut River.
The lake has several islands. The biggest island is called Nuuryn Tolgoi, which is 30 m above the surface of the water. There are a lot of fish in the lake such as Hucho Taimen and pikes. The lake is surrounded by extinct and craterous volcanoes such as Khorgo, Gichgene and Uran Dosh. The nature surrounding the lake is unspoiled: forests, rocks, flowers and berries in the forest. Visitors can relax at the lakeshore, swim, and fish or do horse trek and trekking to the crater of the Khorgo volcano
Ulaan tsutgalan  This 10m-wide waterfall cascading from height of 27m is situated in the Orkhon valley, the UNESCO World Heritage Site as representing the evolution of nomadic pastoral traditions spanning more than two millennia. The waterfall was formed by a unique combination of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes about 20 thousand years ago. The waterfall is a good spot for bird watching, fishing and horseback riding around the area.
Khogno Khaan Mountain and Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dunes  Khogno Khaan mountain is 46900-hectare Natural Reserve located at the convergence of Tov, Bulgan and Ovorkhangai provinces. At the southern foot of the mountain, there are ruins of Ovgon Khiid Monastery which was built in mid of 17th century and destroyed by the armies of Oirad king Galdan Boshigt. The monastery reopened in 1992. The place is a mixture of high rocky mountain, 80km-long sand dunes and grassland.
Baga Gazrin Chuluu  Baga Gazrin Chuluu is located in the territory of Delgertsogt village of Dundgobi /Middle Gobi/ province, and is the best place for breaking up a journey while heading to South Gobi from Ulaanbaatar. There are high granite rock formations with unique scenery. There are also remains of old temples where some monks stayed in 19th century. The mineral water springs and trees in the region make it a great spot to camp.
Taikhar rock  Taikhar rock is located on a bank of Khoid Tamir river in the territory of Ikh tamir village which is 22km from Tsetserleg, the central town of Arkhangai province. The enormous Taikhar rock is 18m-high granite rock situated close to the main road from Tsetserleg to western Mongolia.
The rock is the subject of many local legends, one of them is that there was a wide valley on the way to Zag Baidrag River after climbing over Khangai range. It is believed that a giant snake passed the valley crossing over 3 open canyons of Eg mountain pass moving along the Khangai range until it reached the site of current Taikhar rock and then fell into a hole under the cliff. After that, a well-known local wrestler knowingly covered the hole with a massive rock, currently known as Taikhar Chuluu.
Khorgo Dead Volcano  Khorgo is a dead volcano which lies on the east of the Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake in Tariat village of Arkhangai province. The volcanic crater is 200 meters wide and 100 meters deep. Khorgo dead volcano is commonly visited by the travelers camping near to Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake. It is a great hiking or horseback riding route from the lake to the dead volcano.
Gobi Desert  Khuduu aral is one of the important places where Ikh Khuraldai used to take place. According to historical sources, Ogodei, Munkh, Yesuntumur khans were enthroned as Great Khaan. Khuduu aral is situated at 1300m above sea level south from Kherlenbayan Ulaan mountain in Khentii province.
Rashaan Khad  The Mongolian Gobi is a vast zone of desert with a unique natural landscape and desert steppe covering almost 30% of the Mongolian territory and also northeastern China. The Gobi is often imagined as a lifeless desert, but in reality is a land of steppes that serve as a viable habitat to humans and wildlife alike. The Mongolian Government established the Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area in 1975. In 1991 the United Nations designated the Great Gobi as the fourth largest Biosphere Reserve in the world. The Gobi was originally an ancient inland sea basin. Later it became home to many species of dinosaurs, and today is reservoir of fossilized dinosaur bones and eggs. The first fossilized dinosaur eggs were discovered by famous American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews in the 1920’s in the area known as the Flaming Cliffs (Bayanzag).
The Gobi is rich in wildlife with numerous rare animal species include argali wild sheep, ibex, snow leopard, lynx, wild ass, gazelles, wild horse, white and black tailed antelope, saiga, wild Bactrian camel and Gobi bear, just to name a few. Over 250 species of plant grow on the territory of Gobi including medicinal plants and herbs.
Yol Am /Eagle Gorge /  Yol Am is the mountain gorge located at 62km northwest of Dalanzadgad, the center of South Gobi province. Yol is the Mongolian name of Bearded Vulture /or Lammergeier/ bird which lives around the area. The bird is very scarce which lives only in Central Asia. The gorge is one of the best traveling destinations in the Southern Gobi. The streams in the Gorge create thick ice formations throughout a whole year. However, as a result of world global warming, the size of the ice has been reduced or even being melted in late July in recent years. The mountains surrounding the gorge also provide habitat for Argali wild sheep (one of the last wild great horned sheep) and ibex, which may be spotted in the early morning as they walk along the mountain ridges.
Bayanzag – The Flaming Cliffs  The name “Bayanzag” means “Rich in saxual shrubs” and that is more commonly known as the “Flamming cliffs”, penned by the paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews who first excavated in 1922 and it’s renowned worldwide for the number of dinosaur bones and eggs found in the area, which you can see in the Natural History Museum in Ulaanbaatar or mostly in other musuems around the world. The area is called as “Flamming Cliffs” as there are red cliffs look like fire in the middle of the desert from distance.
Khongor Sand Dunes  Khongor sand dune is one of the most majestic and beautiful traveling destination of Mongolia. The sand dune is located in the territory of Sevrei sum /village/ of South Gobi province. The length of the sand dune is 180km and its width is 3 to 15km. The view is eye-catching from the top of the dune. There is a little stream, called as Khongor river, which flows along the northern edge of the sand dune and there lies an oasis which is rich in plantation and supports drinking water for the animals in the area. The highest part of the Dune is called as “Singing Dunes”, as it creates an interesting sound like plane engine in the wind.
Mountains  The tradition of protecting nature, flora, and fauna has a long history in Mongolia. There are many sacred mountains of Mongolia protected by tradition, common law and royal decree. The designated of these sites as sacred natural areas has meant that they have been conserved and treated with respect for centuries. Together these sacred mountains mark the physical and psychological marks which define the boundaries of the Mongolian sacred homeland.
Bogd Khaan mountain  This mountain is the world's oldest official protected area. In 1778, the Emperor of Manchur passed resolutions to formalize the sacred values of the Bogd Khan Mountain and provide for official protection of the site. On the south side of the protected area, monks have begun the process of rebuilding the Monastery Manzushiry. Established in 1750, the monastery housed more than 350 monks and 20 temples, including schools of medicine, astrology, and philosophy, before it was destroyed in the 1930's. Numerous archaeological sites have been discovered in the preserve, including cave paintings that archaeologists date to three thousand years ago.
Burkhan Khaldun Mountain  As another of the sacred sites proclaimed by Chingis Khan, this mountain is rich in archaeological history, with over 800 burial sites identified by archaeologists. The mountain is located the 1,2 million hectare Khan Khentii Strict Protected Area established in 1992. This mountain is considered the most sacred mountain in Mongolia, because it was first designated as sacred by Chingis Khan.
Otgontenger mountain  95,500 hectare area including Otgon Tenger were taken under protection and was designated as National Strict Protected Area in 1992. This mountain was sacred from ancient times and included in the laws of "Khalkh Juram" as a protected mountain, where logging and hunting were proLibited.
Altai Tavan Bogd Mountain  Altai Tavan Bogd literally means Altai Five Saints. There are 5 peaks which are the highest in Mongolia rising at 4374m above the borders of three nations. Therefore one of the peaks named as Nairamdal, which means “Friendship”. The highest peak is called “Khuiten”, literally means “Cold”. Khuiten peak is at the edge of Mongolian, Chinese and Russian border.
Therefore, if you summit the peak, you can simultaneously be in 3 countries without VISA. Tavan Bogd is one of the most spectacular peaks in Mongolia, attracts the interests of professional Mongolian and international climbers.
There is a 19km long glacier, which is called Potanin glacier, the longest in Mongolia. The best time to summit Khuiten peak is August and September. Even if you are not a climber, it’s also great for views and do some trekking around.
Tsambagarav mountain  Tsambagarav Mountain is located in Bayan-Olgii province, in the western Mongolia. The mountain area was designated as a National park in 2000. The park area is comprised of 110,960 hectares. The mountain is one of the most magnificent and beautiful snow-capped peaks in Mongolia. Despite its altitude is 4,202m, the summit is accessible and easy to climb compared with Khuiten peak of Tavan Bogd mountain, but you’ll also need crampons and ropes. Tsambagarav is accessible from either Khovd town or Olgii town as it is located on the border of these provinces.
Monkh-Khairkhan  Munkh Khairkhan Mountain is the second highest mountain in Mongolia, after Khuiten peak of Tavan Bogd mountain. The altitude is at 4362m. The climbing is accessible from the north side. Even though it does not need professional climbing skills, but it is a challenging climb for amateur climbers and travelers as it takes long hours in the rocks, snow and ice.
Kharkhiraa & Turgen Mountains  The twin peaks of Kharkhiraa Mountain (4037m) and Turgen Mountain (3965m) are the best destination travel in the western part of Mongolia. The mountains are located curiously almost equidistant between Achit, Uureg and Uvs lakes.
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