Orkhon Valley: where Genghis Khan got drunk—and you can do even worse!

Have five o’clock tea with Mongolia’s nomads, ride spirited little horses, and roam the steppes with a UNESCO stamp of approval!

When you think of Mongolia, maybe only yurts and people drinking fermented mare’s milk come to mind (airag, if not, the experts might give us grief!).

Okay, you’re partly right, but there’s much, MUCH more. The Orkhon Valley, for example, has seen it all—more empires than Bud Spencer threw punches!

But let’s take it one step at a time, because there’s a ton to see and do in this valley that looks like it came straight out of Conan the Barbarian.

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Orkhon Valley: a wild blender of history

The Orkhon Valley is no ordinary little valley.

It’s a cultural landscape so important to human history that UNESCO gave it its stamp of approval.

This valley has been inhabited for millennia. In fact, they found human remains dating back 60,000 years! Sixty thousand years!

Over the centuries, this valley saw empires rise and fall like mushrooms after the rain. Huns, Turks, Uyghurs, Khitans, and of course the Mongols all made their home here.

Why? Simple: the Orkhon Valley is amazing. There’s the water of the Orkhon River, endless pastures for grazing livestock, and a strategic location worthy of a game of Risk.

Karakorum: the Las Vegas of the steppes

And then there’s Karakorum. Just the name sends a chill down your spine. Karakorum was the capital of Genghis Khan’s legendary Mongol Empire. Yes, that very man—the one who conquered half of Asia and made Europe tremble.

In the 13th and 14th centuries, Karakorum was the center of the known world, a crossroads of cultures, trade, and probably some unforgettable parties too. Merchants from everywhere, ambassadors, spies, adventurers... Karakorum was the Las Vegas of the steppes, only without the fake Elvises—a cosmopolitan city that rivaled Constantinople.

Today, not much remains of Karakorum, to be honest. A few ruins, a few scattered stones here and there...

So if you’re expecting a glittering metropolis, you may be disappointed.

But if you have a little imagination, you can still feel the echo of its former greatness.

Erdene Zuu: the Buddhist monastery with more lives than a cat

Not far from Karakorum stands Erdene Zuu, Mongolia’s first Buddhist monastery. Founded in 1585, Erdene Zuu is a vast complex surrounded by imposing walls with 108 stupas.

Erdene Zuu is a place steeped in history and spirituality, even though it has endured a remarkable amount of bad luck. Destroyed and rebuilt several times, looted and vandalized, it’s still standing strong.

Inside, you can admire vividly colored temples, statues of Buddha gazing at you with wise expressions, and frescoes that tell ancient stories.

So if you’re in need of a little inner peace, Erdene Zuu is the right place.

Mongolian nomads: still on the move

But the Orkhon Valley is not just about history and ruins. It’s also wild nature and, above all, still home to nomads. Yes, the real ones—with yurts, horses, and sheep.

These people still live much like their ancestors did centuries ago, moving with the seasons, raising livestock, and living in harmony with nature.

Meeting them is an incredible experience: they’re wonderfully hospitable! They’ll offer you salted milk tea (a mystical experience, trust us), show you how to put up a yurt in just a couple of minutes, and make you feel very inexperienced when you try riding a Mongolian horse (they may be small, but they’re tough and not easy to handle!).

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Orkhon Valley: what are you waiting for?

The Orkhon Valley is an incredible destination. History, nature, culture, adventure... the kind of place that leaves you speechless.

Enjoy an offbeat experience, step away from the usual tourist trails, and come discover Mongolia and its extraordinary natural landscapes.

Book your 12-day trip to Mongolia now and roam happily through the Orkhon Valley!