Orkhon Valley (UNESCO World Heritage)

The Orkhon Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the historical cradle of Mongolian civilization. For over 2,000 years, this wide, green river valley was the power center of the steppe peoples: here resided the Huns, the Göktürks, the Uighurs, and finally the Mongols under Genghis Khan. The landscape is breathtaking — vast green valleys, meandering rivers, herds of horses on the horizon, and a silence that touches the heart.

Orkhon Waterfall (Ulaan Tsutgalan)

The Orkhon Waterfall is a 20 m high waterfall that spectacularly plunges into a basalt gorge. After the snowmelt and summer rains (June–August), it is particularly impressive — a roaring curtain of water surrounded by green steppe. In dry months, however, it can shrink to a trickle. Around the waterfall, there are ger camps and opportunities for hiking and riding.

Tövkhön Monastery

The Tövkhön Monastery (founded in 1653) is located on a rocky outcrop at an altitude of 2,312 m, in the midst of a dense larch forest. The ascent takes about 30–40 minutes through the forest — and then the view opens up over an endless panorama of mountains, forest, and steppe. The monastery was once the retreat of the monk Zanabazar, the first religious leader of Mongolia. In the rocks, there are meditation caves, and the silence at the summit is so deep that you can hear your own heartbeat.

With Nomads in the Orkhon Valley

The Orkhon Valley is the perfect place to stay with a real nomadic family. The families in the valley welcome guests into their ger, and you experience traditional life up close: helping to milk the mares in the morning, riding Mongolian horses through the steppe during the day, preparing Buuz (dumplings) with the family in the evening, and falling asleep under a starry sky that humbles you. From 20,000–30,000 MNT (€5–8) per night with meals. Your guide will arrange the stay — make sure the family is fairly compensated.