Western Mongolia holds some of Asia's most beautiful and unspoiled wilderness, where the snow-capped Altai Mountains tower above remote forests, lakes, and rivers. Teeming with wildlife, including endangered snow leopards and antelope, this region contains the most impressive of Mongolia's mountain scenery, and is a prime destination for adventurous climbers and hikers.
The Altai are also the place to experience some of Mongolia's most fascinating cultures. Bayan-Ulgii Province, which borders Russia and China, is home to a diverse population whose traditional ways of life have been preserved in these isolated mountains for centuries. Among these is Mongolia's largest ethnic minority, the Kazakhs whose ancestors migrated to the area in the 1800s, and whose proud tradition of hunting with trained eagles is celebrated annually at the renowned Golden Eagle Festival. Also known for their exquisite embroidery and the fine tapestries and carpets they produce, these Muslim nomads live alongside the Uriankhai, famous for their archery skills, and other nomadic groups such as the Uuld, whose colorful traditional dress is unique to this part of Mongolia.
Visitors with an interest in Central Asia's ancient history are drawn by the burial markers and mysterious "stone men" found throughout the province, monuments to the tribes who roamed the Altai in ancient times. The frozen remains of a Scythian warrior were recently found near Altai Tavan Gogd Park, and a wealth of prehistoric rock paintings have been discovered in the caves and mountains of Mongolia's wild west. |
