Mongolia is one of those destinations where, even in the twenty-first century, it is still possible to live the adventure with a great A. Embarking on a journey in this singular country will necessarily be synonymous with discovering a way of life now missing within Western societies. The descendants of the greatest emperor of all times, Chinggis Khaan, organize their daily lives at the pace of nature and herds, far from the fury of the big capitals. The true alchemy of a trip to Mongolia is based on the country's total devastation between the vastness of the steppes, the untrue beauty of the Gobi desert and the incredibly warm welcome of nomadic populations.
Ulaanbaatar, a moving capital
«The most ugly and coolest capital in the world», this is how Ulan-Bator is often described. Grise, terribly harsh in winter, disorganized, and noisy at the time of traffic jams, the Mongolian capital remains the inevitable point of arrival by air, from all travelers from all over the world…
Its very Soviet architecture strikes at first glance. It reminds us of a bygone era. Since the Russians left the early 1990 s, some buildings in the heart of the city have never received any attention ever again. But the Mongolian capital has also changed significantly since the end of the Soviet era… In the last decade it has become an astonishing city where modernity, wealth of new entrepreneurs and poverty of some nomads forced to emigrate. Nowadays, stalinists, Stalinist architecture buildings and contemporary dwellings form a mixed set that gives the city a new face. Ulan-Bator also offers cultural treasures, including several palaces and monasteries, which are a good entry into Mongolia. Many quality museums, such as the National Museum of History, can learn a lot about the country.
The traditional shows at the National Theater, the memorable evenings in the many bars or the few good addresses to make shopping are all arguments that play in its favor. As for those who adapt badly to Mongolian cuisine, Ulaan-Bator will be for them a small paradise for papillae, because all the cuisines in the world are nearby.
Beautiful and magical nature
What strikes every visitor who discovers Mongolia is this almost virgin nature and these landscapes that extend to the loss of sight in some kind of infinitely great pascalien. From the vast steppes of Eastern Mongolia to the infinite platitude of the Gobi Desert, the snow-covered mountains of the Alai to the depression of the lakes north of the country, Mongolia offers a wealth of exceptional landscapes where nature has remained wild. How can we not wonder in front of the singing dunes of Khongor, the highest dune massif in the Gobi? It is also difficult not to fall under the charm of the Orkhon Valley covered with larch forests and rivers, not forgetting its magnificent Ulan Tsutgalan falls with a height of 24 meters…
Mongolia therefore appears to be a natural and virginal Eden that would not have been trampled by man. It is precisely for this reason that wildlife and flora observers are regenerating there. With 45 species of birds, 12,500 kinds of insects (of which more than 2,000 have been observed only in Mongolia), 138 species of mammals among which thirty is extremely rare (one can cite the wild camel, the bear of Gobi or the Przewalski wild horse), and more than 2 800 plants, the country is a real concentrate which only requires exploration. Mongolia is therefore the ideal place for nature lovers, but also for the fans of trekking and horse riding.
A still alive story
One of the first images that comes to mind when thinking of Mongolia is that of hordes of horsemen launched to conquest the world. The fabulous epic of Chinggis Khaan, in the thirteenth century, had made Europe discover these curious centaurs that nothing seemed to be able to stop. It is difficult today, observing the rhythm of the peaceful nomads, to imagine that they are the descendants of these warriors. Yet the country's steppes still bear the mark of this history page, which has been honored for some years. If the location of the tomb of the most famous Mongol in history remains at present a mystery, the home region of Chinggis Khaan, the province of Hentiy, is again interested in his terrible child. Throughout the country, the founder of the Mongolian Empire is once again celebrated, both culturally and commercially: Vodka Chinggis, bars Chinggis, stamps, statues, currency… In the eastern part of the country, the city where the emperor was born was even renamed Chinggis in 2014! The great Khaan (Mongolian leader) is everywhere, late revenge on his critics of the thirteenth century. Above all, it is about the period of Soviet occupation, 70 years in which Mongolia was cut off from the non-communist world and subjected to the political and economic regimes imposed by the Russians. They had erased the images of Chinggis Khaan, who could have awakened patriotism for centuries, and controlled nomadic populations, whose shifting scattering was incompatible with Soviet bureaucracy. Mongolia is just beginning to heal the wounds of this bidding period. After centuries of encrutment, the country thus offers the world these pages of history, inscribed in its nature, in its cities, and pervasive in the spirit of its peoples.
A unique lifestyle and preserved traditions
Mongolia offers a unique opportunity to discover the way of life of its nomadic populations. It is so different from the Westernized lifestyle that the change is necessarily at the meeting. To appreciate its riches, you must have slept in the cocoon of a grove (yurte) tasted the airag (fermented horse milk, often offered by nomads as welcome), savored the buuz (ravioli to meat) with family, observed shepherds gather their juices on a horse (or a bike!) and listened to the diphonic songs at sunset…
Staying in Mongolia is also part of the local festivities by sharing the joy of living and the generosity of people very attached to traditions of hospitality and hospitality. The most important and emblematic of them is Naadam. This traditional festival, which literally means "game" in Mongolian, is a popular festival, a force of strength, address and speed, which plunges visitors into the country's oldest traditions through archers' competitions, fighting fights and horse racing. The largest Naadam takes place in Ulaanbaatar on 11, 12 and 13 July, with dates chosen to coincide with the anniversary of Mongolia's independence, but local Naadam also took place in provincial capitals and rural capitals throughout July. An unforgettable moment in the heart of the summer, in the heart of the steppe.
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When is it? Mongolia's climate is continental with short summers, hot and long winters. The best conditions are met from June to September.
Go there. Average price of a Paris-Ulan-Bator flight: about 1,000 € all year round. There is no direct flight from Paris; you must make a correspondence in Moscow, Seoul or Istanbul. To note, Air Astana offers flights via the Kazakh capital without changing aircraft during the stopover and at very competitive prices.
Useful. To best prepare his trip.
MONGOLIA EMBASSY IN FRANCE
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