Introducing Övörkhangai

Övörkhangai contains one of Mongolia’s top attractions, the Erdene Zuu monastery in Kharkhorin. This is Mongolia’s oldest monastery and it has become a regular stop on most tour circuits. But while travellers flock to this site and then rush off to the points west, many miss some of the best parts of Övörkhangai, including the Naiman Nuur lake district and the spectacular Tövkhön Khiid. The southern part of the aimag, past Arvaikheer, is uninteresting desert steppe.

If travelling by rented jeep, it is easy to combine a visit to these sights with some other places that are clustered near the borders of Arkhangai, Bulgan and Töv aimags, including Khögnö Khan Uul Nature Reserve, the sand dunes of Mongol Els and Naiman Nuur. The paved road, which reaches Kharkhorin and the aimag capital of Arvaikheer, is also a definite attraction.