We’ve all heard stories of the common travel destinations like Mexico, The Bahamas, and Italy, but I’d like to start shedding some light on lesser-known, and lesser thought of travel destinations. So today I bring to your attention, Mongolia.

Welcoming less than 300,000 tourists so far this year, Mongolia is the perfect destination for those travelers that wish to avoid crowds. Now 300,000 might sound like a lot, but to put that into perspective Mexico receives over 30 million tourists each year.

Mongolia is an entirely landlocked country with only one international airport, but that just means choosing where you arrive is pretty simple… seeing as you only have one option. You should also expect to spend over $1,000 on a flight into the country, but once there you’ll be greeted by one of the most unique countries in the world. Due to its low population and low amounts of tourism much of Mongolia remains untouched by man.

The unspoiled nature of this country gives way to herds of wild horses and unbothered skies. You’ll have no trouble finding a starry night here thanks to the minimal light pollution.

Keep in mind when visiting this country that tourism is still in the early stages of development so often times the best accommodations are the Yurts. So if you don’t like a camping style of vacation and aren’t big into backpacking, Mongolia might not be the best place for you.

But that’s not to say you can’t have a great time here. Mongolia is a place deep with history and a strong nomadic culture. Arguably, the most famous Mongolian ever was none other than Genghis Khan, the man who was responsible for killing so many people that the world actually cooled down. However, he now is estimated to be an ancestor of 16 million people. He was good at both the taking of life and the giving of life… he just made sure both were done in a horrible way. No, I will not be elaborating on that any further.

Now, if you’re not a fan of history or camping you might be asking what exactly there is to do in Mongolia. Let me assure you, there is still plenty to do. You can ride a Camel through the Gobi desert, that’s right Camels aren’t just in Africa. Don’t worry, you can also ride Horses if you’d prefer.

Or you can sleep in a Buddhist Monastery. This might be a better option if a Yurt doesn’t sound right for you. And to make it better, Buddhists tend to be very welcoming people.

You can also bask in the sunlight of Khovsgol Lake. It’s a simple bus ride, or plane ride straight from the capital. Just don’t go in the winter because the Capital city of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, is the coldest capital city in the world. So your sunlight basking should probably wait until summer. But if you do choose to go in the winter you can take a nice cold walk across the ice that covers the lake!

One of the most incredible things you can do while there however is the Bayan-Olgii Eagle Festival held every year in late September and/or early October. During the festival Eagle hunters, similar to Falconeers, celebrate their heritage and compete to catch small animals, such as foxes and hares with specially trained golden eagles, showing off the skills of both the birds and their trainers. And if you’re really lucky one of the Eagle Hunters might just let you hold their Golden Eagle.

Fair Warning

When traveling to Mongolia it is important to remember you might not have all of the amenities you’re used to in Western civilization. Don’t go there expecting to have a Big Mac. They don’t have any Mcdonalds, and the American food they do have is few and far between. Easy access to water is also not a common thing here, so be ready and plan for the impact that could have on your trip. And if you do find tap water don’t drink it, this is true of anywhere you go. As a visitor to a country, your immune system may not be ready to handle whatever germs are in the water.

In Conclusion

Mongolia is a beautiful country that you should consider experiencing in your lifetime. Take a chance and ride a camel through the Gobi Desert, watch the Eagles hunt, and sit under the starry sky. Live as a Nomad for a while and experience the peace that seems to illude us in Western society.

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