MONGOLIAN WAYS

Glittering snow, clear blue sky, frozen rivers, and lakes are the typical image of December. It is an exceptionally beautiful time to see endless white steppes and Siberian borderlands. Even though it does not snow much in Mongolia, the snow that falls sticks and stays almost until May as the temperature never increases above 0°C. As many rivers freeze almost to the bottom, nomads collect their drinking water from a nearby water point such as a frozen river, well, or any melting ice. Mongolian nomads still herd their livestock with the primary focus being the protection of animals from prey such as wolves and making sure the animals can access food underneath the snow cover. The hours of daylight are limited, and life for herding families can almost feel like passing the winter in a dormant condition. Traveling in Mongolian winter is a remarkable experience as it will show you how good Mongolians are at adaptation. No matter how cold it gets every Mongolian continues their daily li

November marks the beginning of long-lasting winter in Mongolia. The average temperatures would be between -19.0°C and -5.0°C, with exceptional possible peaks as low as -36°C. Although the first snow may fall as early as September, snowstorms start to occur only after 15 November. In early November, the herders often migrate to their winter pastures before snow blocks their paths. Families choose to settle in mountain-sheltered valleys to wait out the winter, where animals can be protected from cold wind. In the northern and western regions, families follow a route through 3000m plus mountain ranges. In such places, cars cannot be used as it does in central or eastern Mongolia. So, families load up their camels and move their sheep, goats, and cattle to winter camps where the grass is long enough to get the herds through until spring. It gets even harder if you consider that the whole family will have to move at the speed dictated by the herd. The winter encampment is always the mo

October is not too late to travel to Mongolia as it is still warm during the days but a bit chilly during the nights. The greatest offer of this month is the Golden Eagle Festival, held in Western Mongolia. Undoubtedly, it is the biggest eagle festival in the world, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Event. Each year, just as the winter hunting season is getting underway, almost 100 Kazakh hunters from near and far gather to compete against each other on the speed, agility, and accuracy of their hunting eagles at the festival. The festival starts with the arrival of Kazakh hunters on horseback in the company of their fierce eagles. The competitions test not only the bird’s courage and the hunter’s skill, but also the bond between hunter and bird. Specially trained eagles catch small stuffed animals such as foxes and hares as well as returning to their owner from a long distance at command. During the festival, visitors can also see other cultural events and small compet

September is the best time for birdwatching due to fall migration. Mongolia is part of the migration routes from the Pacific and Indian Oceans to the Mediterranean Sea, the Arctic Ocean and northern tundra. The country is home to over 440 species of birds which include rare species such as Swan Goose, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, White-naped Crane, and Saxaul Sparrow. In September, birds are on the move every day, particularly as the days become increasingly short. Migration can be spectacular to watch, and birders can take plenty of pictures at locations where migrants stop, such as lakes with isolated stands of willows and small ponds in the desert. In some lakes, hundreds of swans gather for a long journey to warmer lands. According to the lunisolar calendar, September is considered an auspicious period for festivity. Thus, the Wedding Palace gets busy around this time each year. In Ulaanbaatar, you might find many newlyweds in the monasteries, as it is customary to pray to Buddha on the

Recommended tours: Hiking & Trekking, Horse riding and Cycling Average temperature: 22.3°C (72.1°F) Mongolians say, autumn arrives the day after Naadam to constantly remind themselves that the winter is coming. August in Mongolia is the month of transition from the hot summer to the decaying autumn. After enjoying some leisure time in July, nomads quickly start to prepare hay in August. The nutritious green hay of autumn helps animals to survive the cold winter and dry spring. Most families rush to complete cutting hay within a month before their children leave to attend school. Meanwhile, women work hard to store enough dairy products to consume in winter and spring as the milking season of animals ends by the beginning of September. They prepare various dairy products, including various cheese and dried curd. Before school starts, animals are often sold to pay for college fees. Repair work is carried out on the winter shelter as well as the preparation of woods. It is also the ti

Recommended tours: Naadam Festival, The Best of Mongolia Average temperature: 24.5°C (76.1°F) July is the peak travel season in Mongolia. The highlight of the month is the Naadam Festival, which is the biggest national holiday of Mongolia. Naadam, locally termed “Three Games of Men”, comprises wrestling, horse racing, and archery competitions. The festival’s origin dates to nearly 2000 years ago when it was a form of practice for war. Public competitions were exercised as organized events before and after major battles to select leaders for troops that were divided up based on the decimal system. The official Naadam of the state is held on11-13th of July in Ulaanbaatar. Many of the 21 provinces and its 333 sum(s), small administrative unit(s), of Mongolia, also organize the festival on earlier or later dates in July depending on local anniversaries and pasture or herd conditions. Naadam has a grand scale in Ulaanbaatar as the country’s top wrestlers, horse trainers, and archers gat

If you have decided to take horseback riding tour in Mongolia, you might want to look through some basic information about riding Mongolian horse, safety instructions and other useful tips. The following information will help you have memorable experience when horseback riding in Mongolia. BASIC INFO FOR RIDING MONGOLIAN HORSE Riding a Mongolian horse is rather simple, even if you have never ridden before. There are not many strict instructions to follow. Local families, who know their horses’ behaviors very well, manage your tour and thus you will be provided with their most well-trained horses. Always approach a Mongolian horse from the left because they are not used to being approached or mounted from the other side, especially from the back. Before mounting a horse, check the saddle is tight, so that it does not slip while going steep paths and tighten the reins to make the horse still and mount quickly. After you are on horseback, you do not need to use your legs to ask your

Religion in Mongolia has been traditionally dominated by two main religions, Mongolian Buddhism and Mongolian shamanism, the ethnic religion of the Mongols. Historically, the Mongols were known to be very tolerant towards different religions. It is said that at the court of the Mongol Khans, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Confucian, Shamans and other religious leaders used to sit and exchange ideas with one another. During the socialist period of the Mongolian People's Republic (1924-1992) all religions were suppressed, and religious figures, intellectuals, and anyone who might be a threat to the communist party was killed or exiled to Siberia. After the fall of communism in Mongolia in 1990, democracy brought back religious freedom of the people and religion in Mongolia re-surged. According to the national census of 2019, the percentage of adherents by religion in Mongolia is as of below: Buddhists - 47% Not religious - 39% Muslims - 8% Shamanic traditions - 3% Chirstians -

Mongolia needs our help. With one of the world’s most fragile environments and among the last of the great horse-based nomadic cultures, Mongolia’s uniqueness has endured through the centuries largely because of the country’s remoteness and isolation. Due to rapid development and ongoing exploitation of her natural and cultural resources, Mongolia’s ecology, her wildlife, and the traditional nomadic way of life are continually being impacted in negative ways. In order to reduce the impact, we at Mongolian Ways have created and adhere to the following principles to travel Mongolia responsibly. 1. Leave only footprints and take with you only photographs and memories. Your guide is responsible for ensuring that all trash and litter is packed out for appropriate disposal. Please use the trash bags and litter containers provided.

Our suggested packing list does not aim to be comprehensive or exhaustive; we know that every traveler has different needs. If you feel there is something else you should bring with you, please do so, and when in doubt contact us for advice. The following general packing list gives recommendations on the type of equipment or clothing we have found most practical, based on our experience of traveling in Mongolia. Backpack or soft bag: best if foldable. Day pack: should have wide, comfortable shoulder straps. Cotton T-shirts: two to three T-shirts will usually suffice. Two long-sleeved shirts: one lightweight, fast drying, light coloured, preferably with buttons down the front so you can wear it open over a T-shirt for sun protection; and one medium weight for cold evenings. Two pairs of lightweight trousers: if one pair has zip-off legs that can double as shorts, this is ideal. Shorts: the fast-drying kind. Underwear: fast drying. Sports/Athletic bras offering good support are best.