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Here you will enjoy high Altai mountain ranges, Altai Five Bogds with the largest diversity of flora and fauna, the highest point of Mongolia that reaches 4374 meters above sea level is among them. Further you have opportunity to pass and amaze the beautiful crystal small lakes and large salted and unsalted lakes namely Uvs, Khyargas, Uureg, Khoton, Khurgan, Dayan, Khar Us. And sky up snow capped high peaks of Otgontenger, Munkhkhairkhan, Tsambagarav and others. Far western Mongolia is considered as land of ethnic minority groups, especially for the Kazakh people. They lived for centuries training their Golden Eagles to hunt wild animals. You will see and touch Kazakh, Dorvod and Uriankhai people's life style and exotic culture. The people of Western Mongolians claim that Khoomii (throat singing) originated area of Chandmani soum.Chandmani is located east of Jargalant Khairkhan Mountain in Khovd province. Khovd province is the main town of western Mongolia, having already been established in Manchu times as a trading post. Khovd province also has one of few universities outside of Ulaanbaatar. On the west side of Khovd town are the Khukh Serhiin (Blue Goat) Mountains, a protected area in the Altai Mountains where there are snow leopards, argali sheep and Siberian ibex. The Kazakh dominated province of Bayan-Ulgii lies in the western corner of the country, touching both China and Russia. This relatively small province of 46,000square kilometers has 100,000 inhabitants and is dominated geographically by the Mongol Altai mountain range. It was created on July 25, 1940 from the western parts of Khovd and Uvs aimags, and given special recognition as a 'Kazakh Aimag'.
Altai tavan bogd national park
This National Park extends over 636,200 ha, including Tsengel, Ulaan Khus, Sagsai, and Altai sums. The Tavan Bogd (Five Saints) chain includes the highest peak in Mongolia, Khuiten Uul (4,353 m), which overlooks the frontiers with China and Russia. It is a spectacular summit, covered in vast glaciers, and the home of the snow leopard. Climbed for the first time in 1956, it is one of the hardest of all ascents for alpinists in Mongolia. The climb begins after a 40-kilometre approach route and a 120 kilometer drive from Ulgii.
Attempting this climb requires proper equipment, some mountaineering experience and good guide. Contact one of the adventure-geared travel agencies for details. Another place to seek assistance is the National park office in Ulgii. You will need to bring all your own equipment. Since the range is close to China and Russia, a special border permit is needed, which can be obtained in Ulgii or Ulaanbaatar. Some travelers have been fined and sent back for not having the required papers. National park fees also apply. There are around 35 glaciers in Tavan bogd, including the 20 kilometer long Potanii Glacier. West of Tavan Bogd is the 12 kilometer long Przevalski Glacier. South of Tavan Bogd are a group of pretty alpine lakes. Khurgan Nuur, doted with islands, is 22 kilometres long and 28 meters. Six rivers feed it, and the Khovd Gol flows from its eastern end. Khoton Nuur, only three kilometers northwest of Khurgan Nuur, is fed by a dozen rivers. A number of moraines, which are the result of earlier glaciations, have accumulated around these two lakes. Both offer good fishing and camping opportunities.
South of khurgan Nuur, Dayan Nuur is a moraine lake 18 kilometers long and fed by rivers and snow melt. Near its shore stands a very popular stone statue known as 'Dayan the Pious', and behind it are the remains of the foundations of three square tombs. West of Dayan Nuur and south of Khurgan Nuur is the Most Mountain range, which reaches 3,934 meters and borders on China.
Great Lake Basin
The Great Lakes Basin together with the Altai Mountains and Lake Khovsgol makes up the Altai Sayan region, one of WWF's global 200 Ecoregions, for their extraordinary values as biodiversity hot spots.
The Great Lakes Basin forms part of the Central Asian enclosed basin into which rivers such as Khovd and Zavhan drains. The landscape is quite similar to the highland region of Changtang in Tibet, here just adding numerous big lakes. In the distance there are the snow capped mountains of Kharkhiraa and Turgen in Uvs province, Tsambagarav Uul and Khukh Serhiin Nuruu straddling the Khovd and Bayan-Ulgii provinces. Jargalant Khairhan Uul is a standalone ridge in the middle of Khar Us Nuur National Park.
There are many Mongol ethnic groups in Hovd province, but they can't be easily distinguished from each other. There are also some ethnic Kazakhs.
Khar Us Lake National Park
The main lakes are Khar Us Nuur, Khar Nuur and Durgun Nuur. The national park was established in 1997, and then designated as a Ramsar (wetland of international significance) site in 1999. The lakes have the largest reed beds in Central Asia. Surrounded by desert landscapes, it is surprising to find that rare wild boars can survive in the reeds. Saiga antelope, though rare, still make their way through the eastern areas of the national park and nearby Jargalant Khairhan Mountain have snow leopards, argali sheep and Siberian ibex. The mammals are, however, difficult to observe. For this reason, the many species of birds, the landscape and encounters with local nomads are the main attractions here.
The avifauna include black-throated divers, arctic loon, red-crested pochard, swan goose, white-headed ducks, Pallas's fish eagle, Dalmatian pelican, great cormorant, great sand plover and great egrets, observable by the lakesides and straits. On Jargalant Khairhan Mountain you have a reasonably good chance of seeing wallcreeper, white-throated bush-chat, Eurasian and cinereous vulture, lammergeier, chukar, Altai snowcock, golden eagle and steppe eagle.
Uvs Lake Basin
UNESCO has recognized this northernmost part of the Great Lakes Basin as a World Heritage Site in two categories. First, for the presence of rare and endangered animals and plants. And second, for its untouched and pristine native landscapes. This includes the nearby Kharhiraa and Turgen Mountains, which are snow-capped and home to a number of glaciers. In the east is Altan Els (Golden Sands), the northernmost sand dunes in the world. In total, the Uvs Lakes basin is 160km from north to south and 600km from east to west.
Uvs Nuur is the largest lake (3350 sq.m.) in Mongolia and is 84km across at its widest point. It is located only 759 meters above sea level. Visitors must be prepared for mosquitoes in the summer. It is a salt water lake which is not easy to get to. Compared to similar altitudes, it has the coldest, warmest and driest conditions on Earth. Temperatures of 40 degrees centigrade below freezing are common in winter, the record being -58 degrees. In the summer +40 degrees is not uncommon.
How to travel there:
Nature Tours can arrange flights to any western Mongolian provinces, from Ulaanbaatar city. In the Western Mongolia you are able to choose any kind of tours for example cultural, adventurous trips including other neighboring regions of Mongolia by jeeps, vans, on horse or camel back. Special tours can be insect watching, bird watching, flower searching or observing how Kazakhs hunt with Golden Eagles. Mostly you will stay in fully served tents.