Mongolia is one of the few countries left that can be explored with a true spirit of adventure. Open to the Western world only since 1990, this "Land of Blue Sky" offers excellent horse or camel riding, thrilling festivals such as the renowned Naadam, and a heritage steeped in rich culture and tradition.
This comprehensive guide includes detailed history and natural-history sections, and full coverage of the thriving capital, Ulaanbaatar. And, for those keen to sample the unique pleasures of staying with nomads, it explains how and where to experience the traditional lifestyle of a Mongolian ger.
Inside you will find information on: customs, ceremonies and festivals; special-interest holidays, including riding, hiking, biking and bird watching; in-depth information on national parks, wildlife, conservation and flora; language, pronunciation and useful phrases; Trans-Mongolian/Trans-Siberian railway; 37 clear, detailed maps.

Jane Blunden has had over 20 years' experience of traveling and living in Mongolia, including time spent helping to return the takhi (Mongolian wild horses) from world zoos to their natural environment.

My own reaction when I first reached the South Gobi Altai, in autumn 1990, was to fall on my knees in awe at the magnificence of the empty desert at dawn. For a short instant I felt I had arrived, and yet in the next instant I realised there was still a long, long way to go. Wearily, I recognised I had barely scratched the surface. Such travel to a far-off country both brings us home and teaches us about ourselves -- revealing, perhaps, our true identities and, maybe, our deepest desires and greatest fears.
Mongolia is not a country to visit in a hurry. It is a fabulous wide-open land of extreme climate and extraordinary natural environment. People call it a 'mythical land' or the 'land of blue sky' because of its shimmering, clear air and cloudless skies for most of the year. It is a land of horses and herdsmen and one of the last great undisturbed wilderness areas on earth. Among its 2.4 million people are some of the last truly nomadic pastoralists in the world, and visitors can experience the unique pleasures of staying with nomads and living a lifestyle of centuries ago.