Welcome to The EL January Newsletter

The Winter Issue

Our News, Views and Reviews from Mongolia 

By Jess!

Happy New Year

 As New Year was celebrated around the world, so it was in Mongolia. From 9pm through to the early morning,  music and entertainment was provided in a public concert in Sukhbaatar Square. Temperature? A balmy -29 degrees. As is customary, the President of Mongolia (Ts. Elbegdorj) addressed the nation on New Year's Eve:

'A new year is coming. Let us strive to reinforce our previous achievements and accomplish far more in next year. Let us learn from our previous mistakes and move towards future prosperity.'

Winter Travel In Mongolia

Be one of few rather than one of many

For those that brave the winter weather in Mongolia, the rewards are without limit. 

With no other tourists in evidence, it is easy to feel that you have the country to yourself. This is the time that people come together, that challenges are faced as one, that unique experiences become everyday occurrences. This is the time that the legendary Mongolian hospitality comes into its own.

Although the winters are harsh, they are also extraordinarily beautiful. This is a wonderful time of year to visit for anybody interested in photography – the low afternoon winter light is perfect for capturing the Land of the Eternal Blue Skies.

Not only does Mongolia produces a stunning natural show but there are festivals to enjoy and experience. Although it's 'out of season' local communities organize annual events in celebration of local community, networking and collaboration to ensure a better future for the specific region and its herding community. These are in addition to the traditional cultural festivals. 

Up until the end of March, I offer what I call my 'Winter Journeys' to promote out of season travel to Mongolia. All my trips between January to the end of March have a 15% discount pp. I am always willing to be flexible on price as well. 

Interested? Here's a brief overview:

Tsagaan Sar - Mongolian Lunar New Year

February 8th, 9th and 10th 2016 - Countrywide

Mongolia’s Lunar New Year is known as Tsagaan Sar - White Month. It is one of the most important and traditional of celebrations in Mongolia and falls on the second new moon after the Winter Solstice.  Tsagaan Sar brings together family members and lasts a minimum of three days. 

Come and experience the traditions behind Mongolia's Lunar New Year. You will spend time meeting the rural families we work with in the Middle Gobi - including family members of our Mongolian team. 

Khovsgol Ice Festival

March 3rd and 4th 2016 - Khovsgol Nuur

One of the 'newer' festivals on the winter season scene.  Held on the frozen lake surface of spectacular Khovsgol Nuur (Dalai Ej - Mother Sea in Mongolian).  

Experience this spectacular region with us. Having taken a Mongolian 'road trip' focusing on the rural communities and landscapes of northern Mongolia, you will arrive at Khovsgol Nuur National Park. Spend five nights with the Basaanchuluun herding family at their remote winter pastures before experiencing the two-day Ice Festival.

Thousand Camel Festival

March 6th and 7th 2016 - Bulgan, Omnogobi Aimag

The camel festival is an annual celebration held in the southern Gobi organised by  a local NGO to help protect the Bactrian camel and the essential role it plays in the lives of the nomadic herders in the region. 

Interested? Join us on our March 1st  Camel Festival and Gobi experience  (9 Days). Includes the spectacular landscapes of the Middle and Southern Gobi and meeting the rural families we work with.

Nauryz Festival

March 21st and 22nd 2016 - Ulgii

Nauryz  means 'new day' and is the spring festival that is celebrated through Central Asia and falls on the spring equinox. It is essentially  a celebration of the coming of spring. In Ulgii in Western Mongolia there is a two-day celebration with a colourful parade on the first day and horse racing and games on the second including bushkashi (also known as kolpar) where horse-mounted players attempt a tug-of-war to drag a goat carcass toward a goal. Competition is typically fierce! There is also a mini eagle festival.

Why not join us on our March 14th  Hunting With Eagles experience  (11 Days). Includes homestays with the Kazakh eagle hunters that we work with and joining them as they hunt with their eagles.  

From 2015 to 2016 

Yes, Eternal Landscapes is a business but there's a lot of 'non-profit' activity that goes on behind the scenes. Here's my quick overview as to some of those activities in 2015.

Celebration Of The Year - Two Of Our Guests Getting Married In The Remote Altai

As part of their Scott Davis and Cheeseman Ecology Safaris trip arranged by Eternal Landscapes, two guests were married during a traditional Kazakh ceremony. This took place at the home of Janatkhan - one of the Kazakh eagle hunters we work with.  The landscapes of his autumn home in the small community of Bugat in Bayan Ulgii provided the incredible backdrop.

And, as with all good weddings, there was a celebration between the bride and groom, their Kazakh hosts and the EL team. 

Community Event Of The Year - Asral NGO Fundraiser

On September 4th, Asral NGO held a fundraising event in Ulaanbaatar. All EL team members that were in UB went along (16 of us including family and friends)  paid for by me as a thank you for their hard work and also as a way of helping to support the work of Asral. 

I was invited to the Asral and Kunchab Jampaling Buddhist Centre in UB to have lunch with the Ven. Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche during his visit to Asral NGO in Mongolia. Why? As an acknowledgement of our continued support for the work of Asral. 

Proudest Moment Of 2015 - Our Terkhiin Tsaagan Nuur Rubbish Community Clean Up

For the past two years, Turuu and I have arranged for members of the EL team and local community members and park rangers of the Tariat community in Arkhangai Provicne to spend two days clearing the north-shore (and surrounding area) of Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park. During our two-day clean up in 2015 we cleaned camp grounds, shore lines and surrounding steppe and forest land of rubbish.

Eternal Landscapes is a family as much as a team and I arrange events throughout the year  that bring the 'EL family' together. This was the Khustain Training Day on December 20th. Temperature? Only -22!

From One Wilderness To Another

The EL Dartmoor Weekend

Dartmoor National Park (Devon, in the UK) is my home stomping ground when I am not in Mongolia. It's where I formulate and mull over a lot of my ideas. 

I am arranging another EL Dartmoor Weekend. It might not be Mongolia but if you're missing the peace and solitude of wild wide-open spaces then it's a pretty good second! 

It's a chance for friends and past and future EL guests to come and enjoy being in wide open landscapes and reminisce and talk about all things Mongolian.

Interested? The dates are March 4th-6th and 11th-13th. Let me know which one suits best. It's a not-for-profit activity. You can find out more here about our latest planned weekend and here, about our 2015 event.

Coming Up In The Next Newsletter

Tsagaan Sar - Mongolian Lunar New Year 

There'll also be details on my 2016 small group trips that are current guaranteed departures. Remember, book a 2016 adventure (April onwards departure) up to the end of February 2016 (deposit only of £400 pp) and receive a 10% discount pp. 

That's it for this edition.  As always, thanks for reading and do get in touch with your thoughts! 

You can always keep in touch with what we're up to through my EL Blog, or our previous newsletters.

Wherever the road continues to take you - Sain Yavaarai - Journey Well, Jess