Land Of The Eternal Blue Sky, another name for Mongolia, is true to its words. A massive piece of land with changing ecosystems all around, with only 3.17 million people. Mongolia is the place to visit as a solo traveler and look for the physical form of freedom.
Why Visit Mongolia?
Actually, I don’t know what I was looking for when I decided to go on a backpacking trip to Mongolia. It was the unknown, and I only had three clear images in my mind: Mongolian landscapes, horses, and Mongolian culture.
Exploring Mongolia
When I arrived at Ulaanbataar, I didn’t know what to expect. I feel that’s the best way of doing things. With a lack of expectation, I had the opportunity to be surprised, and to enjoy every single new thing. The kindness of their people, the combination of Russian, western and Mongolian architecture, and gastronomy unknown to many.
After looking for places to visit in Mongolia and Ulaanbataar, I had an idea of where to walk in the city, but destiny took me elsewhere. No, it’s not the imposing giant Genghis Khan statue, but the Choijin Lama Museum.
Choijin Lama Museum
An amazing temple surrounded by modern buildings. Where every room has a collection that oozes tradition, history, and Mongolian culture. The best place to begin understanding what you might find under the blue sky.
Amarbayasgalant Monastery
Next on my list was Amarbayasgalant Monastery. The Temple of Tranquil Felicity, 60 km away from the nearest town, represents a big ordeal to get to. I was in the middle of the highway looking for a way to get to the temple. Almost like an Indiana Jones movie, I was on the lookout for a lost temple.
But, there was literally no one going in or out of there. I felt incredibly lucky when a truck driver offered to give me a ride just before the rain and the sunset could change my solo adventure into a solo nightmare. Getting to the Amarbayasgalant Monastery was a full-on experience.
Being the only traveler in more than 60 kilometers around gives you that sense of discovering a place that no one else has seen. And what a place it was! If I was a monk, no doubt, I would choose that place to live in.
Waves of green mountains, peace, and Mongolian sounds, frame the spiritual experience. The Monastery itself was mysterious and every single rock could tell a story. The rooms were full of tradition, colors, and objects that could connect the spirit with reality. Of course, some monks added life to this place of solitude.
They were walking around full of calmness and pride in their privileged location. Kind and friendly, I got the opportunity to see them play soccer outside the temple. I even talked with a group of kids that weren’t shy. We communicated using some words but mostly charades.
Volunteering In Mongolia
Even though I enjoy city life for some days, my internal compass always points towards the countryside. I was lucky enough to find a ranch in the Orkhon Valley that accepted me as a volunteer.
The valley sits in the Northeastern part of the country, just 4 hours away from the border with Siberia, Russia.
I was able to buy a train ticket from Ulaanbataar, only after dealing with chaos at the train station. A station where you can’t understand anything unless you know how to read the Cyrillic alphabet or speak basic Mongolian. 12 hours later, in one wooden old school, but incredible train, I reached my destination. I had no other expectation than the adventures that lay ahead at the ranch.
Duties Of A Volunteer At A Mongolian Ranch
I used to take care of dozens of animals, to keep them safe. One time, we had to rescue a cow that got stranded on the bank of the Orkhon river. Hard labor digging with bare hands, a rope, a jeep, and of course homemade milk vodka was all we needed to save her life. Milk vodka wasn’t our reward, though. It was to sedate the giant cow who was buried up to her neck in thick mud.
We administrated the vodka and started digging but after some minutes we noticed that the cow wasn’t just calm, but utterly drunk! Apparently, we had miscalculated the dosage. So now, we had to rescue a half-buried drunk cow in the middle of the steppe of Mongolia.
After big efforts, teamwork, Improvised plans, and some punches given by a drunk cow trying to hold her head straight, we were able to take her out of the mud.
Another great, if not my favorite moment of Mongolia, was when I received my goodbye present from my hosts. An opportunity to ride one of their strongest Mongolian horses, Pinto. It’s not by chance that car companies grade their cars with horsepower as a unity of measurement because Pinto was the embodiment of horsepower. Resilient, fast, strong, and still full of a wild spirit that could never be tamed.
Even by using my full strength to control him, I could barely control the direction, but not the speed. It was like a metaphor for life itself. I surrendered and let him show me his full power in the wild steppe. It felt like I was receiving a lesson on humbleness. His muscles moved in perfect coordination, his breath resonating through the wind almost sounded furious. The contradiction of his hefty galloping steps and the massive ease with which he could run faster and faster. I felt small but fully satisfied. What a better way to say goodbye to a place that changed me.
A stay of 2 months in Mongolia gave me lessons that taught me how I want to live the rest of my life.
Moving Ahead, By Going Back
Luck struck me as it usually happens in backpacking trips. I got the opportunity to witness a live concert of Mongolian music. A curious coincidence, beginning and ending my solo trip in Mongolia at the same place, the Choijin Lama Museum. A spiritual airport, perhaps?
A surreal experience, like traveling through time to feel old tunes going through your skin, and the ancient spirits of Mongolia filling your body with energy that you didn’t even know that existed. It was the perfect ending for a solo traveler in Mongolia.
How To Visit Mongolia
You can travel to Mongolia via trains or flights. Fly to Ulaanbaatar from your origin country and start your Mongolian adventure. Another interesting journey would be to board the Trans-Siberian Express.
Best Time To Visit Mongolia
The ideal time to explore Mongolia would be in the summer months of June, July, and August. Unless you’re specifically going for one of Mongolia’s winter festivals, skip the harsh cold weather.
Volunteering In Mongolia
I found the ranch where I volunteered, through Workaway. In exchange for my time at the farm, I was provided with a warm bed and simple but delicious Mongolian food. That ranch has stopped accepting volunteers through this platform, but there are many programs available in Mongolia.
Make sure to read up on any COVID restrictions before starting your trip.
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Thanks for your blog, nice to read. Do not stop.