Great lakes Basin

Uvs lake Basin

Uvs Lake Basin

UNESCO has recognized this northernmost part of the Great Lakes Basin as a World Heritage Site in two categories. First, for the presence of rare and endangered animals and plants. And second, for its untouched and pristine native landscapes. This includes the nearby Harhiraa and Turgen Mountains, which are snow-capped and home to a number of glaciers. In the east is Altan Els (Golden Sands), the northernmost sand dunes in the world. In total, the Uvs Lakes basin is 160km from north to south and 600km from east to west.

Uvs Nuur is the largest lake (3350 sq.m.) in Mongolia and is 84km across at its widest point. It is located only 759 meters above sea level. Visitors must be prepared for mosquitoes in the summer. It is a salt water lake which is not easy to get to. Compared to similar altitudes, it has the coldest, warmest and driest conditions on Earth. Temperatures of 40 degrees centigrade below freezing are common in winter, the record being -58 degrees. In the summer +40 degrees is not uncommon.

How to travel there:

There are flights from Ulaanbaatar to the Ulaangom airfield at least three times a week. For the land portion of your trip, you will need to be self-sufficient

Related regions

Must 5 places to visit in Mongolia

Must 5 places to visit in Mongolia 1. Gobi The Gobi or Gobi desert is known as in the west, is mostly semidesert. Rather than a sandy desert, it is mostly bare rock. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a barren, remote and unexplored place. The Gobi is a vast area encompassing at least [...]

Ikhnart Rocks Winter

Ikhnart Rocks Wilderness Winter Argali Sheep of Dornogobi Introduction A journey to the Eastern Gobi is an intimate and very unique experience. The Ikh Nartiin Chuluu Plateau has rich and unique landscapes consisting of granite rock formations, but also semi-arid steppes, small vernal pools, and springs with small stands of elms and poplars. Ikh Nart [...]

Arburd Sands

Arburd Sands The Gobi Steppes Introduction Surprisingly close to the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar one finds the northernmost reaches of the Gobi steppes; treeless grasslands stretching to the horizon and beyond. We will explore Arburd Sands, an area where the steppe, dotted with nomads' camps, slowly gives way to sand, culminating in a 20 km long [...]

Högnö Khan & Karakorum-Erdenezuu Monastery

Orkhon Valley & Karakorum Erdene Zuu & Tövkhön monasteries Introduction This 5 day trip combines ancient history, religion and the diverse and beautiful landscapes of Central Mongolia. We visit Harhorin, or Karakorum, as the ancient capital of the Mongol empire was called during the 13th -14th cen-turies. Before it was destroyed by the Chinese Ming [...]

Arburd Sands

Arburd Sands Ger Camp The Gobi Steppes Introduction Surprisingly close to the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar one finds the northernmost reaches of the Gobi Steppe, treeless grasslands stretching to the horizon and beyond. We will explore Arburd Sands, an area where the steppe, dotted with nomads camps, slowly gives way to sand, culminating in a 20km [...]

Khangai Mountains

Khangai Forest steppes Khangai mountains Hangai mountains Khangai Mountains bisects the Arhangai and Övörhangai provincens. Ar means “north”, and “övör means “south. Khangai Mountains have been established as a national park in recent times. The most well known area is the famous Orhon Valley, which is in the Mongol heartland, just west of the ancient capital [...]

Eastern Great landscapes

Eastern Great Landscapes Introduction On this tour to Mongolia, you will journey through the Eastern Gobi Desert as well as Eastern Steppes of Mongolia. Eastern Mongolia is perfect for bird watching travelers and wildlife loving tourists. You can also journey through Chinggis (Genghis) Khan’s birthplace. Most of Mongolia is off the beaten track. But by [...]

Ikhnart Rocks Wilderness

Ikhnart Rocks Wilderness Ger Camp Argali Sheep of Dornogobi Introduction A journey to the Eastern Gobi is an intimate and very unique experience. The Ikh Nartiin Chuluu Plateau has rich and unique landscapes consisting of granite rock formations, but also semi-arid steppes, small vernal pools, and springs with small stands of elms and poplars. Ikh [...]

Jalman Meadows Wilderness

Jalman Meadows Wilderness Ger Camp Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area Introduction Just a three-hours drive northeast of the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, yet remotely located in the uppermost parts of the Tuul River Valley, lies Jalman Meadows. It is a beautiful pasture teeming with wildflowers in the summer. It is located within the Khan Khentii Strictly [...]

Hustai National Park

The central grasslands Hustai National Park Hustai national park It is located on the north side of the Tuul River, about a two hour drive west of Ulaanbaatar. Although located in the central grasslands, Hustai means “with birch” because there are birch and aspen groves in the core area. It is hilly terrain, with the [...]

What our guests say

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.

Read all reviews

Living the mongolian way

Great place to stay and experience mongolian way of living, no tv, wifi, phone. Just nature and great company of the staff and livestocks of mongolia. The toilet is a hole in the ground covered by a shed. It is clean, but can be smelly to those used to city life. Not hot water supply, inform the staff that you like to hot water half an hour earlier so that they can boil it over camel dung 🙂

joycel

Living the mongolian way

Great place to stay and experience mongolian way of living, no tv, wifi, phone. Just nature and great company of the staff and livestocks of mongolia. The toilet is a hole in the ground covered by a shed. It is clean, but can be smelly to those used to city life. Not hot water supply, inform the staff that you like to hot water half an hour earlier so that they can boil it over camel dung 🙂

joycel