A landlocked country, Mongolia encompasses a wide range of environments. The southern part is the dry Gobi desert, home of the wild Bactrian camels and the ‘Flaming Cliffs’, a world-famous site for dinosaur fossils, as well as dinosaur eggs. The central part of Mongolia is the enormous wide-open spaces of rolling grassland steppe in shades of light green and brown highlighted with bursts of color and the white of the nomads’ tents. To the north, bordering Russia, lies the Siberian taiga forest scattered with beautiful lakes, and the dramatic Altai Mountain range rises in the West. To the East spreads an endless steppe, flat like a table for hundreds of miles.
Mongolian nomads have a strong tradition of hospitality towards strangers. Anyone will be given food, and offered a place to stay for the night if needed.
The tradition of hospitality towards strangers is deeply rooted in Mongolian culture. Living in comparative isolation, nomads need to be able to rely on one another for assistance even if they are strangers. Travelers know they are always welcome to food and a place to sleep in a family’s ger. Upon entering, depending on the season and time of day, you might be offered tea or airag (the national drink made of fermented mare’s milk) along with a selection of dairy products made the nomads themselves.
