Mongolia Sightseeing

Monasteries
After years of communist persecution, Mongolia is seeing a revival in Buddhism and you can visit a number of active monasteries. Don't miss the beautiful and well-maintained monasteries Erdene Zuu (near Kharkhorin), Amarbayasgalant (between Darkhan and Erdenet) and Gandan (Ulaanbaatar).

Naadams
This nomad sports extravaganza features horse racing, wrestling and archery. It's a great time to see Mongolians decked out in their festive gear and taking part in traditional sporting events. The biggest naadam is in Ulaanbaatar but more intimate naadams are held all around the country.

Ghengis Khan's birthplace
Travel to northern part of Khentii aimag, and you'll experience the boyhood home of Ghengis Khan. This landscape of beautiful lakes, rolling mountains and clear streams has changed little since the great warlord last pitched his tent here, some 800 years ago.

Museums
Ulaanbaatar has a handful of surprisingly good museums. Visit the Zanabazar Museum to see Buddhist Art, the National History Museum for Mongolian culture and the Natural History Museum for dinosaur skeletons. All the regional capitals have their own modest museums.

Gobi Desert
The mysterious Gobi Desert is not as barren as one may think. The vast area contains mountains, lakes, sand dunes and even an oasis or two. Visitors can hunt for dinosaur fossils, go on a camel trek or hike along the ice-filled gorge of Yolyn Am.

Wildlife
Bring a pair of binoculars and keep an eye out for gazelle bounding over the steppes, marmots scurrying over rocks and argali sheep perched on the mountaintops. Wolves, snow leopards and bears are harder to spot but keep your camera ready, just in case.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.