Waterfall

Top choice in Western Mongolia


High up in the protected area of mountains north of Üüreg Nuur, a 14m waterfall cascades over black rocks. It's a 10km slog (most people drive this bit) up from the lake's shore to the start of the river valley (What3words: whacked.strikeout.neared), and then a 4km hike over rough ground to the waterfall. En route you'll pass through 'Love Street' (What3words: stepson.tasteful.fierce), where snow leopards come to mate – try to spot the claw marks on the trees here.

You'll also pass a natural spring trickling out of a rock wall (What3words: buckled.optician.apricot); the ranger informed us that one cup of its water has the power to cure drunkenness. Regrettably, we were sober at the time and so unable to verify.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Western Mongolia attractions

1. Üüreg Nuur

10.71 MILES

Üüreg Nuur (elevation 1425m) is 20km long and 18km wide, with an average depth of 27m. Surrounded by mountains of 3000m-plus, and almost entirely devoid…

3. Balbal Graves

23.46 MILES

These two graves, plonked incongruously on the grassy plain that runs down to the shore of Üüreg Nuur from OT Tour Camp, are each marked by a balbal …

4. Mounds

27.4 MILES

Several impressive grave mounds beside the road to Khotgor, including two mounds surrounded by concentric circles and radiating spokes.