10 Must-See Places in Ulaanbaatar
For the first-time traveler to Mongolia, spending a couple days in the capital of Ulaanbaatar prior to visiting the Gobi allows you to first appreciate the history of Mongolia through visiting its rich cultural centers and museums. Within a brief drive of the capital there are also opportunities to get a glimpse of the broader natural beauty of the country.
Destination: Naadam Games
Naadam means to come together as one and have a celebration. A spectacle of pageantry and cultural performances, the centerpiece of this journey will lift your spirits and fill your heart. Bear witness to the height of these competitions during the nation’s largest Naadam Games in the capital of Ulaanbaatar.
What to Expect When You Attend Naadam Festival
Mongolia’s Centuries-Old Festival of Competition Festivals are more than just a celebration; they are a way to honor one’s traditions and history. However, some festivals are woven into the identity of a place. Holi in India. Dia de Los Muertos in Mexico. And, Naadam in Mongolia. Held annually in the summertime, Naadam is celebrated across […]
UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Mongolia
Mongolia proudly has five such sites, with another 12 on the tentative list. Ranging from relatively small monument sites to vast tracts of natural landscape, these locations embody Mongolia’s heritage as our legacy and key to our past—places we absolutely must pass on to future generations—irreplaceable cultural and natural sources of life and inspiration.
Mongolian Throat Singing Demystified
No one can say for sure when the art form of throat singing began. The historical records mention it as early as the Han Dynasty, between 206 – 220 BC. Throat singing then appears in Chinese texts dating in 92 AD. From these accounts, we learn that the northern barbarians who worshipped the wolves sang […]
Pack a sense of humor and an appetite: Mongolia’s cultural norms, explained
Giving a “thumbs up” in the United States is a sign of approval, but it’s considered rude, or even obscene, in Iran, Greece and Russia. Who knew you could get yourself in trouble simply by making a slight hand gesture? Curious to learn what other signs are considered bad behavior around the world? Read more. Every […]
The Flaming Cliffs
The Flaming Cliffs: Why It’s a Must-See When Visiting Mongolia You will likely never forget your visit to the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert. This stunning setting is the stuff of ad campaigns and holiday card photos, but it’s so much more than (just) a beautiful place. Long before the discovery of the world’s […]
Why Your Next Family Trip Should be to Mongolia
There are few greater luxuries in life than spending time with family, and nothing brings the family together quite like exploring a new destination together. Travel provides so many opportunities for meaningful interactions and memory-making experiences. Whether you’re seeing the world through the unfiltered lens of a young child’s eyes or grabbing precious time with […]
Jack Weatherford Q&A: Insights on Travel and the History of Mongolia
Q&A with New York Times bestselling author Jack Weatherford.
Musings on Mongolia with Bob Krist, National Geographic Photographer and World Traveler
“Who would you invite to a dinner party?” It’s a popular ice breaker, with answers often ranging from the Dalai Lama to Abraham Lincoln, but once you’ve met Bob Krist, it’s likely he will be the first person who comes to mind. Krist is an award-winning photographer who has traveled the world for National Geographic. […]