Vast and little-known, Mongolia has a thousand faces waiting to be discovered: unspoilt nature, a thousand-year history and age-old traditions. A country of unusual beauty to visit for anyone seeking a truly unique experience.
Fascinating and mysterious, perhaps because it still sees relatively few tourists. Mongolia occupies, between Russia and China, an immense territory, almost boundless. It encompasses many different habitats — the sea being the only exception — and here you can visit vast deserts, crystal-clear lakes and high peaks. A spectacle not only in terms of nature but also history and traditions, which you can explore on a trip starting in August, thanks to LifeGate Experience. What not to miss when discovering the "land of the blue sky", where the sky is clear on average 257 days a year.
We are in central Asia, in the second largest country in the world, and also the one with the lowest population density: Mongolia, a land rich in contrasts, landscapes and varied scenery, all waiting to be discovered. The same goes for its history and traditions — both ancient — which enchant us with tales of the deeds of Genghis Khan and the deep religiosity still attested today by its monasteries.
The country can be divided into three major geographical areas from north to south: forested mountains, steppe and the Gobi Desert. Let us start with the desert itself, which takes its name from the Mongolian word "gobi", meaning "place without water". It stretches in an arc across the southern part of the country and is, contrary to what is commonly thought, largely not sandy but made up of bare rock. Here the scenery is varied yet always extraordinary: the Adatsaag rocks, about three hours from Ulaanbaatar, are expanses of small granite hills; the Flaming Cliffs resemble a miniature version of the Grand Canyon; and finally the Khongoryn Els, the incredible dunes stretching for 12 kilometres that give us the familiar image of a desert.
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Mongolia is also one of the highest countries in the world: the average altitude of its peaks is around 1,500 metres, and some of them — especially in the Altai range, situated along the border with China — reach 4,000 metres and are home to glaciers as well. This entire vast area is rather difficult to visit and can be reached by internal flights that the locals themselves describe as "adventurous". A beauty that is almost inaccessible, and all the more alluring for it.
Another natural destination of rare beauty is Lake Khövsgöl, the second largest in the country and one of the most unspoilt lakes in the world, so much so that it is called "the blue pearl of Mongolia". It stretches for 136 kilometres and, together with the mountains and forests that surround it, makes up the famous Khövsgöl Nuur National Park, an important destination for both Mongolian and international tourists.
Beyond the wonders of the landscape, there are many Mongolian traditions that draw visitors from all over the world: in July, for example, the Naadam festival takes place — a term meaning "games" — during which traditional Mongolian wrestling, spectacular horse racing and archery, both on foot and on horseback, are practised. A kind of local Olympics in which women can also partially take part. Naadam has been held for over three thousand years and is Mongolia's most important and celebrated national holiday. On this occasion, the deeds of Genghis Khan are commemorated, as is the anniversary of the Mongolian revolution. The most evocative moment of the festival is when five hundred men compete in a form of wrestling to win the title of "lion of Mongolia" — somewhat raw, but striking.
For those who cherish their spirituality, Mongolia has numerous Buddhist sites where visitors can experience the rites and traditions of this faith first-hand. The best-known and most visited Buddhist monastery — not least because it is located in the capital Ulaanbaatar — is that of Gandan, which will be one of the stops on the trip organised by LifeGate Experience. Gandan, where around 500 monks now live, is one of the few monasteries to have survived destruction at the hands of the communist regime of the Mongolian People's Republic (1924–1992). During those years, around 900 monasteries were closed, while monks were killed, imprisoned or forced to join the ranks of the army. Among the other monasteries that can be visited are Erdene Zuu Khiid, the magnificent Amarbayasgalant ("monastery of tranquil happiness"), and Coijin Lama, a complex of red temples with a green roof, also known as the religion museum.
A defining characteristic of the Mongolian people, even today, is their nomadism: throughout the year, herders move from place to place around 4 or 5 times depending on the change of seasons, so that their animals always have fresh grazing land. Thus, in the desert as in the capital, a great many people continue to live in their own tent, known as a "ger" — circular in shape, made of felt and almost always white. Inside this distinctive tent, which is very easy to dismantle and reassemble even in the modern era, you will find women confined to the domestic sphere: in Mongolia, the pastoral tradition unfortunately still draws a sharp divide between the male and female worlds, and women's lives are afforded very little space.