International

Land Of The Sky

Mongolia's vast landscapes beckon with sweeping steppes and rugged beauty, where nomadic traditions harmonise with untouched wilderness

"A Mongol without a horse is like a bird without wings," goes the traditional saying. Here, Mongolian horses, famed for their hardiness, take to the water in a display of power and freedom Photos: Shutterstock
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"It was an extraordinary landscape—pale yellow, under a blue sky—extraordinary because it was not a desert, but rather the largest pasture imaginable; here and there a herd of horses, here and there a camel, or a man, or a tent. It was inhabited, but with a sparseness that was impressive."

—Paul Theroux, American novelist and travel writer

Imagine swathes of golden grasslands stretching towards a horizon painted an endless cerulean. This is the territory of the nomads, where herds of horses dot the landscape. A lone Bactrian camel is silhouetted against the setting sun while wisps of smoke rise from a felt-covered yurt, a testament to a way of life endured for millennia. This is Mongolia, the birthplace of Genghis Khan. Here, the wind sings across the boundless steppes, echoing the hoofbeats of Khan's empire. Join us as we delve deeper into this land of stark beauty, encountering the traditions, resilience, and spirit that define the heart of this East Asian country.