asia

mongolia

Despite its ability to provide breathtaking, culturally out-there travel Mongolia escapes the radar somewhat. All the more better for those keen to go somewhere a tad more wild.

Experiencing the Nadaam festival of ‘the three manly skills’ and its colourful traditions will make you feel as though you have really landed somewhere else. The sheer emptiness of the place will also inspire that feeling – this is most sparsely populated independent country in the world. Covered by steppes, with mountains to the north and west and the Gobi Desert to the south, Mongolia also offers natural pleasures – volcanoes, hot springs, lakes and sand dunes.

Don’t skip a visit to its palaces, monasteries and museums – due to the country’s nomadic past and present, its enigmatic leaders (Genghis Khan for one) and struggles for independence they are inevitably fascinating. Also be sure to spend a night or two in a traditional ger, soaking up the hospitality and hoping to learn the secrets of BBQ and traditional delicacies.