This is one of our favourite sunset viewing platforms in Mongolia. That’s the Selenge River you can see stretched out in front of you – the same one that flows into Lake Baikal. The Selenge River is Mongolia’s principal river. It forms at the confluence of the Ider and Delger Rivers in the north of the country. Tributaries include the Eg River that flows out of Khovsgol Nuur and the Orkhon River.

Most of the guests of Eternal Landscapes have heard our philosophy behind our ‘road trips’ – that flying from place to place gives you no context, no real experience of the country. Our road trips also give you the opportunity to experience our legendary picnic lunches.

The complex of Amarbayasgalant Khiid was constructed between 1726 – 1736, when Mongolia was under heavy Manchu influence. Amarbayasgalant was built to honour the memory of Zanabazar – the first spiritual and political leader in Mongolia and considered one of the greatest Renaissance artists in Asia (he was revered as a sculptor, artist, politician and religious teacher). After he died his remains where brought to be buried in this monastery.

Stopping for airag (the infamous fermented mare’s milk) in Bulgan Aimag. The rainfall in this northern province guarantees rich pasture and the airag is considered some of the best in the country.

A blanket of wild flowers at our campsite – with the Alpine Aster featuring prominently

Each Mongolia hiking experience that we arrange is done so through the families we work in long-term local community partnership with – rural families who herd their livestock in the region and know their home area like the back of their hands. For our Khovsgol treks we work with Basaanchuluu -Bambakh for short.

Biologists use the word ecotone for places where different habitats meet – where a forest meets a meadow or a lake meets a shore. Khovsgol Nuur National Park combined with the Khoridol Saridag Strictly Protected Area is an ecotone on a very large scale. The result is a wide range of habitats – wet meadows, shallow ponds, coniferous forest, steppe woodland, open steppe, alpine meadow, high mountains and the lake and lakeshore. The trekking route of our Northern Mountains and Sacred Lakes Mongolia hiking experience allows you to experience a majority of these diverse habitats.

Naadam is a true Mongolian celebration of sportsmanship, ordinary people taking pride in their country and century’s old tradition melded together. It is also a time when Mongolians celebrate who they are, how proud they are to be Mongolian, their heritage and the qualities that produced the warrior nation of Genghis Khan. It also brings the community together.

Local Mongolian wrestlers queuing to pay their respects to the local Mongolian standard prior to starting their competition.

Mongolian Naadam horse races are a test of speed, stamina and strength. In Mongolia, it is the horse and not the jockey that wins the race. Child jockeys are chosen as they are lighter – their role is not to force the horse but only to guide it to the winning post.

A local Mongolian wrestler wearing his shuudag (the small, tight-fitting briefs made of red or blue coloured cotton cloth. These make the wrestler more mobile and prevent an opponent from taking advantage of long pants to get a better grip), zodog (the wrestler’s top), and gutal (the high leather boots, often in traditional style. The traditional style gutal are often reinforced around the sides with leather strings for the purpose of wrestling. In Buddhist terms, the wider bottom of the boot meant that pressure from the owner’s body weight would not leave deep marks on the soil.) The wreslter is posing with a zasuul – a wrestling helper or judge.

We include a rural Naadam on our Northern Mountains and Sacred Lakes Mongolia hiking experience as it allows our guests to experience not just the landscapes of northern Mongolia but also the diverstiy of the way of life as members of different communities come together to celebrate Naadam.