ABOUT ELSEN TASARKHAI SAND DUNE

You will come across sand dunes lost in the middle of a mountainous area in the central part of Mongolia. Bayan Gobi is well known and  called Elsen Tasarkhai, the sand fracture and extend on 80 kilometres (49,71 miles) in the South of the Khögnö Khan National Park. The main road separates this sand dune into two parts, Mongol Els on the south and Khugnu Tarnyn Els on the north. There are many tourist camps around the sight. Elsen Tasarkhai is surrounded by Mount Khugnu Khan on the north and Mount Ikh Mongol on the south. The sand is sodden under its surface; that allows shrubberies such as willow, elm and dogwood, grow in the area. The area is surrounded by sand dunes, hills covered with rare bushes and a small forest near a river. Together this presents a unique combination of Mongolian mountains, forests and Gobi-type landscape in one location. During the trip, you will also have opportunities to visit a local nomadic family, to ride two-humped Bactrian camel, walk on sand dunes, experience staying in a traditional Mongolian dwelling, the ger, and walk and relax in beautifully serene nature. Sand dunes is perfect for people who do not have time to make a full trip to the Gobi desert but who do not want to miss out on the chance to see sand dunes.

HUGNU KHAN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

The ecosystem of Hugnu Khan National Park is particularly interesting because the steppe and the taiga meet here. So, we can find a fauna and a flora that are characteristic of these two ecosystems, and also some wonderful landscapes, with the granite formations of Khögno Khan. Created in 1997 as a natural reserve, it became in 2003 a natural park, that is to say an area protected by the State for its educative, historical, cultural or environmental value. This is a magnificent place with mountains, forests, steppes, Gobi-type desert and mineral water sources all in one location. One of the main attractions of this area is Uvgun monastery which was built in 17th century by Saint Zanabazar who was a great sculptor and the biggest representative of Buddhism in Mongolia. During Middle Age feuds between Western and Eastern Mongolians (Dzungaria and Khalkh Mongolia) after the collapse of the Mongol Empire. The armies of Dzungarian leader Galdan Boshigt noticed the golden roofs of the temples in Khogno Khan Mountain and massacred the partisan-monks of the rival Zanabazar in 1640, killing them by tying their necks with a rope (the Mongolian verb for the action is khognokh) as if they were goats and sheep. This is the meaning of name of the mountain. After democratic revolution in 1990 the monastery was restored by the granddaughter of the monks who was living at the monastery. This area is pleasant for many activities such as hiking, mountain climbing and horse riding. Now the sacred mountain of Khögno Khan is a venerated mountain located along the edge of the borders of Övörkhangai, Bulgan and Töv aimags. Venerating the mountains is a tradition that comes from prehistoric times. Today, the mountains are venerated during national or local ceremonies. Anyone visiting a sacred mountain must bring something as an offering and will probably make a wish for the attention of the Spirit of the Mountain. We can’t climb a sacred mountain without any precise and important aim
Set on the corners of three aimag provinces, the mountain has long been a sacred place for Mongolians, but walking between the mighty rock outcroppings now you are more likely to spy reclusive wild game and birds of prey than marauding hordes.