Endless steppes, nomadic camels, mineral springs, larch forests are a small part of what awaits you in Mongolia. It is better to plan a trip for about a week to visit the large lake Khubsugul, which resembles Lake Baikal. Author O!Blog Tatyana Vetrova has planned a route for six days. Feel free to take and use!
Contents
- How to get to Irkutsk
- Rules for entering Mongolia
- Arshan Village
- “Pearl” – hot springs
- Nilova Pustyn
- Mondy village
- Khankh village on the lake shore
How to get to Irkutsk
From Moscow and St. Petersburg, direct flights to Irkutsk are operated by Aeroflot and S7 Airlines. The travel time is about 6 hours, and one-way tickets can be purchased for as low as 14,000 rubles. From Yekaterinburg, there are direct flights operated by Ural Airlines. The travel time is about 4.5 hours. Ticket prices start at 12,000 rubles.
Nordwind Airlines, Aeroflot, and S7 Airlines fly directly from Kazan to Irkutsk. The travel time is about 5 hours. Prices start at 9,000 rubles.
Aeroflot and S7 Airlines operate direct flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Irkutsk. Photo: Shutterstock.com
Rules for entering Mongolia
Russian citizens do not need a visa to enter Mongolia if their trip lasts no more than 30 days. However, the total duration of Russian citizens’ stay in Mongolia without a visa must not exceed 90 days within a period of 180 days from the date of their first entry.
Shortly: a 6-day route
- Day one. We travel to Arshan, walk around, drink mineral water from the spring, and try chebureks and buuzas. We visit a maral farm. We spend the night.
- Day two. We go to meet the sunrise on the peak of Love and then go to “Pearl”. After the ascent, it will be nice to relax in a warm pool. Stay overnight.
- Day three. We arrive in Nilova Pustyn. We walk along the health trail, visit the datsan, and try the delicious bukhler soup and boova flatbreads. Some people may stay to receive treatment at the resort, while others will continue to the village of Mondy. We will spend the night in Mondy.
- Day four. We will travel to Khang (hoping to avoid getting stuck at the border).
- Day five. We check into a yurt or hotel in Khanha. We go for a walk around the village, relax by the lake, or maybe go horseback riding or fishing.
- Day six. We go to the Golden Sands campsite. We sunbathe, swim, and relax.
Day 1: Arshan village
Arshan, which means “healing spring” in Buryat, is located 210 km from Irkutsk, in the Tunkinskaya Valley at the foot of the Eastern Sayan Mountains. The area is rich in pine and deciduous forests, and near the village there is a grove with mineral springs known as the Sacred Grove of Tears or the Eye Grove.
It is worth staying in Arshan at least for the night, so that in the morning you can watch the sunrise on one of the ecological trails leading to the Peak of Love, one of the peaks of the Tunkinsky Golts, which can be reached in 7-10 hours. According to legend, lovers who climb it together strengthen their feelings.
The 1.5-kilometer trail is well-maintained, with stairs installed on steep inclines and observation decks. With each new climb, the view becomes more stunning: the beauty of the Tunkinskaya Valley, the Koymorskiye Lakes, and the craters of extinct volcanoes.
It’s worth staying in Arshan for at least one night to watch the sunrise on one of the ecological trails leading to Love Peak. Photo: Tatyana Andreyeva/Shutterstock.com
What else is worth doing in Arshan:
- See the endangered flowers, such as lilies, columbines, lilies of the valley, and snowdrops, which bloom in June.
- Go to the waterfall on the Kyngarga River.
- Get mineral and vitamin-rich water from the drinking pavilions: the water has different flavors and temperatures.
- Have a snack of local chebureks.
- Visit the maral farm and feed the peacefully grazing deer.
Where to stay:
- The Arshanskaya Zvezda Guest House offers cozy accommodations with mountain views. A double room starts at 6,000 rubles.
- The Family Estate Solnechnoye mini-hotel is popular among tourists for its colorful interior and delicious homemade breakfasts. A double room with breakfast costs from 7,300 rubles.
- Guest House “House by the River” – accommodation in a shared room costs 840 rubles per person, and a 3-bed studio costs from 3200 rubles.
Arshanskaya Zvezda Guest House.
Day 2: Zhemchug Resort
Just 37 km from Arshansk, there is a balneological resort known for its several thermal springs. Zhemchug offers two types of water: methane (hot, with a temperature of +56°C) and carbon dioxide (subthermal, +36°C). You can swim in the outdoor or indoor pools and visit the water park. Just imagine: it’s cool outside, or even a little frosty, and you’re languishing in warm water, looking at the snow-covered Sayan Mountains.
Where to stay:
- The Krasnaya Polyana Guest House is located within walking distance of the hot springs. A double room with breakfast costs 4,900 rubles.
- The Mungen Serge Guest House offers a double room for 7,000 rubles.
- Altan Bulag Recreation Center — double room — 2800 rubles.
Guest House “Mongen Serge”.
Day 3: Nilova Pustyn
Another balneological resort, Nilova Pustyn, is known for its healing radon springs. The water from these springs, which contains radon, stimulates metabolic processes and improves immunity. You can only access the treatments after visiting a therapist, where you will receive a medical card and receive treatment.
What else to do at the resort:
- Visit the Burkhan Baabai Datsan, where a longevity stupa dedicated to Buddha was erected in 2003.
- View the Sayan Mountains from the observation deck.
- Go to the canteen for delicious buuzas, the national Buryat pies with meat filling.
Where to stay:
- Energetik Guesthouse.
The balneological resort — Nilova Pustyn — is known for its healing radon springs. Photo: Shutterstock.com
From Irkutsk to Lake Baikal
Another popular way to escape civilization through Irkutsk is to travel to Lake Baikal. We have written about this magical vacation in an article.
Day 3: Monda Village
The Tunkinskaya Valley is famous for its diverse landscapes, ranging from mountain rivers to taiga forests, from extinct volcanoes to healing springs. And the village of Mondy is just the westernmost and highest-altitude settlement in this area.
Here you can visit the Sayan Observatory, located 16 km from the village, enjoy the natural beauty of the Tunkinsky National Park, and see the foot of the Munku-Sardyk massif. Also, rafting on the Irkut River is popular here – on the way to Mondy, you will surely see guys who go through the river rapids on rafts or kayaks.
Where to stay:
- Tourists often stay at the Irkut Guest House. Some plan to climb mountains, others relax before rafting, and you can meet those who travel by bicycle.
Here you can visit the Sayan Observatory, located 16 km from the village. Photo: Tatyana Andreyeva/Shutterstock.com
Day 4: Khankh Village on the shores of Lake Khubsugul
We are approaching Khubsugul (which is the main reason for our trip!). This lake is one of the oldest and deepest freshwater lakes in the world, with an estimated age of over 2 million years. Khankh Village is located on the northern coast of the lake, approximately 32 kilometers from the village of Monda. It usually takes 20-40 minutes to cross the border, but on holidays and weekends, the queue can last for hours.
The most popular activities include fishing, horseback riding, hiking in the mountains, visiting shamanic shrines, and excursions to the Golden Sands and Munku-Sardyk. In addition, in Khankha, you can learn about the nomadic lifestyle, visit the local history museum, and enjoy the national cuisine.
This lake is one of the oldest and deepest freshwater lakes in the world, with an age of over 2 million years. Photo: Uuganbayar/Shutterstock.com
Where to stay:
Accommodation in Khanh is a separate story. You can visit the Golden Sands Camping Grounds. It is suitable for camping, and it is allowed to set up camp. However, there is no shortage of accommodation during the summer season.
Yurts for tourists can also be considered as accommodation, for example, not far from the “Kray Zemli” camp site. Yurts have a stove, a washbasin, water and firewood. At dawn, when it is the coldest, a Mongol enters the yurt and quietly, so as not to wake anyone, he starts the stove.
- How to get there. By car of good off-road capabilities. The cost of a trip with a driver starts at 5,000 rubles. For those who have reached Khanh by bike, the trip to the Golden Sands from the village will take 2-3 hours.
- Improvement. Or rather, its absence. There are no cafes or shops in the campsites and tourist bases, so bring snacks, water, and everything you need. The only infrastructure available is wooden toilets.
- Features of the cuisine. The local cuisine is quite dense and fatty, but it’s worth trying khorkhog, a traditional Mongolian dish made with lamb or goat meat. Even the national Mongolian tea is fatty. It contains milk, salt, millet, and butter. If you want to tickle your taste buds, feel free to do so.
What is important to do in Mongolia
- go go shopping at local stores to buy leather and wool products as gifts for yourself and your loved ones: purses, belts, socks, slippers;
- try Mongolian pates and sausages;
- go fishing and cook freshly caught fish;
- drink traditional Mongolian tea. To do this, use the code “sutay tsai”, as regular tea bags are served to tourists by default.
Are you ready for a nomadic lifestyle, breathtaking landscapes, wild fishing, encounters with camels, and a complete reboot? Then this route is for you. And as always, Ostrovok is already in action!
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Cover photo: Yury Stroykin/Shutterstock.com
