Mongolia: The Bradt Travel Guide
- Book Review,
by Jane Blunden
Book Description
Outer Mongolia is one of the few places on earth where travelers can still explore with a true sense of adventure. Vast tracts of this "land of blue sky"can be discovered on the back of horse or camel for an authentic cultural experience in the style of Genghis Khan's mounted army, or in the comfort of four-wheel drive. Comprehensive coverage of the opportunities for riding, climbing, fishing, biking, and rafting are provided for this top global destination for adventure tourism. Details of the best ways to enjoy Mongolia's festivals are also brought to the fore, especially the famed Naadam--the colorful annual celebration of wrestling, archery, and horse riding, and Tsaagan Sar--the Mongolian New Year. Mongolian hospitality is legendary, making responsible travel and Bradt's customary "giving something back" advice especially relevant for travelers.
From the Back Cover
Mongolia is one of the few countries left that can be explored with a true spirit of adventure. Open to the Western world only since 1990, this "Land of Blue Sky" offers excellent horse or camel riding, thrilling festivals such as the renowned Naadam, and a heritage steeped in rich culture and tradition.
This comprehensive guide includes detailed history and natural-history sections, and full coverage of the thriving capital, Ulaanbaatar. And, for those keen to sample the unique pleasures of staying with nomads, it explains how and where to experience the traditional lifestyle of a Mongolian ger.
Inside you will find information on: customs, ceremonies and festivals; special-interest holidays, including riding, hiking, biking and bird watching; in-depth information on national parks, wildlife, conservation and flora; language, pronunciation and useful phrases; Trans-Mongolian/Trans-Siberian railway; 37 clear, detailed maps.
About the Author
Jane Blunden has had over 20 years' experience of traveling and living in Mongolia, including time spent helping to return the takhi (Mongolian wild horses) from world zoos to their natural environment.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
My own reaction when I first reached the South Gobi Altai, in autumn 1990, was to fall on my knees in awe at the magnificence of the empty desert at dawn. For a short instant I felt I had arrived, and yet in the next instant I realised there was still a long, long way to go. Wearily, I recognised I had barely scratched the surface. Such travel to a far-off country both brings us home and teaches us about ourselves -- revealing, perhaps, our true identities and, maybe, our deepest desires and greatest fears.
Mongolia is not a country to visit in a hurry. It is a fabulous wide-open land of extreme climate and extraordinary natural environment. People call it a 'mythical land' or the 'land of blue sky' because of its shimmering, clear air and cloudless skies for most of the year. It is a land of horses and herdsmen and one of the last great undisturbed wilderness areas on earth. Among its 2.4 million people are some of the last truly nomadic pastoralists in the world, and visitors can experience the unique pleasures of staying with nomads and living a lifestyle of centuries ago.
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