Must See

Gobi Desert

This arid expanse is home to rare animals, such as Bactrian wild camels, Gobi bears, snow leopards and Prezwalksy horses. If you're more interested in extinct species than live ones, it's also a great place for finding dinosaur bones.

In the South Gobi, there's the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, where there is some excellent hiking to be found.

Karakorum

Ruins mark the site of the capital of the Great Mongol Empire of the thirteenth century. A therapeutic spring can be found nearby in Khujirt.

Khangai

Khangai is a mountainous region, where there are more than 20 hot springs renowned for their healing properties.

The Naadam

The biggest event of the year for visitors to Mongolia and locals, this colourful annual event is a fascinating occasion of sporting prowess on the field and excessive drinking off of it. Normally held around 11-13 July, it's all based around the three 'manly' sports of wrestling, horseracing and archery. These disciplines have been central to Mongol life since before the days of Genghis Khan. The main celebration takes place in Ulaanbaatar, but smaller festivities occur in some centres close to the capital, enabling people to attend both local and national events.

The Steppe

Ride horses across the grass plains by day, then sleep overnight in a traditional canvas 'ger' as nomadic Mongols have for centuries.

Ulaanbaatar

The capital, Ulaanbaatar (or (Ulan Bator) is the country's cultural, commercial and political centre. Home to a quarter of the country's population, the capital has some atmospheric Buddhist temple museums and the still-functioning Gandan Monastery. The city's museums, especially the Museum of Natural History, with its fine collection of dinosaur skeletons, are well worth a look. Other museums include the Military Museum, the National Museum of Mongolian History and the Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts. The Ulaanbaatar State Public Library has a unique collection of 11th-century Sanskrit manuscripts.

Ulaanbaatar also has several theatres and theatre groups, such as the State Drama Theatre, the State Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Folk Song and Dance Ensemble.