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BAYAN-ÖLGII

Western Mongolia Kazakh Aimag

By Kim Lau

Bayan- Ölgii translate as “Rich Cradle”, is the westernmost of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia. The country‘s only Muslim and Kazakh-majority aimag, it was established in 1940. It resides most in the Mongolian Altay, borders Russia to its north, and China to its west. Tavan Bogd National Park is perhaps the most vast, and quite complicated to navigate, needing border permits for both China and Russia. This series presents landscapes from its capital Olgii, to Tsambagarav National Park, followed by Tavan Bogd National Park.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

BAYAN-OLGII CITY

Olgii is the capital of Bayan-Olgii province, and a useful base for travelling in the region. The city centre is on the left.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

A COW IN A RICH CRADLE : Bayan-Olgii means “Rich Cradle“ in Mongolian. Beautiful landscapes are already at the doorsteps of the capital Olgii.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

DUSK AT BAYAN-OLGII : At the bridge entering Olgii from Ulankus, the only evening of the whole time in western Mongolia with dramatic sunset.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

CROSROADZ INTO BAYAN-OLGII : Only in Mongolia you will find roads like these. Over this span of roads will decend into Olgii.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

TSAMBAGAREV NATIONAL PARK

This park covers 110,960 hectare park surrounds the 4208 m Tsambagarav Mountain, which is sacred to Mongolians. It was approached from Khovd and on the way to Bayan-Ölgii in the north. The park has beautiful scenery, rich wildlife, and native nomadic Kazakh and Uriankhai herders living in the shadow of the holy mountain.

TSAMBAGAREV SOUTH FACE : Yurt of the Toktoson family at the foot of Tsambagarav‘s southern face.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

TSAMBAGARAV NORTH FACE : Facing is Altansogt Valley leading into the northern face of Tsambagarav Uul. This valley is broad and beautiful with many Kazakh families. The waterfall and glacier are hidden towards the left-hand-side of the panorama, 3 hours by horse to get there.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

BAYAN NUUR

Bayan Nuur means “Rich Lake“, and it is surrounded by craggy rock formation. Herding activities happen in the morning, where herds and herdsman move, birds and ducks fly.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

BAYAN-ÖLGII

RAINBOW OVER BAYAN NUUR : Rain comes and a rainbow appears to end off at the rugged peaks surrounding Bayan Nuur

BAYAN-ÖLGII

BAYAN-ÖLGII

PURPLE FLOWERS AND RED CRAWLIES : On the road from Bayan Nuur towards Olgii, a field of purple flowers with red crawlies appeared in the broad valley.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

RAIN! : Scenes like these are observed frequently when rain clouds sets in.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

BAYAN-ÖLGII

TOWARDS TAVAN BOGD : Heading towards Tavan Bogd sees series of lakes with deep blue-green water.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

RAINBOW, TENT AND GULASH : The best way to see Mongolia is to camp, and Mongolia is defintiely the land of Rainbows - you can see them even from your tent!

BAYAN-ÖLGII

BAYAN-ÖLGII

TAVAN BOGD NATIONAL PARK

Tavan Bogd translate as “5 Saints“, and they refer to the 5 peaks of Khuitun (cold), Nairamdal (friendship), Burged (Eagle), Olgii (Cradle) and Malchin (herder) of the mountain sacred to local Kazakhs, Tuvans, and Mongolians. The national park is one of the most complicated, which covers an area of 630,000 hectarce and is home to three large freshwater lakes and 34 glaciers, plus several waterfalls. The park stretches from Russia along the Chinese border, following the Altai Mountain Range that divides China, Russia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan, for over 200 km. Because many prime areas of the park resides on the boarder between Mongolia and China, Mongolia and Russia, multiple Permits are required needed to see this National Park. Confusing local information makes the preparation quite difficult. Time was needed in Bayan-Ölgii for supplies, the journey relied primarily on camping.

RISING SUN ON TAVAN BOGD : Panorama of Tavan Bogd, where all peaks were revealed except Malchin peak. On the left is Alexander Glacier, and the right is Pontinin Glacier. The glacier‘s orientation makes this location difficult to photograph. Its not a sunset place because shadow sets in quick, and this is a sunrise view, and only the peaks get lighted while the glacier lies in the shade. Straight lighting gives white and blue on a sunny day, and gray on a cloudy day.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

OVVO & HORSE : Tavan Bogd is a holy place for Mongols, and locals can be seen offering and circling the Ovoo. Horses and herds graze the area in summer.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

BAYAN-ÖLGII

TAVAN BOGD GLACIER GRAVEL LIPSA sundown view of revealing the gravel lips which was accumulated by the moving glacier. Note that the base camp is visible on the far left along the lip.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

CONVERGING GLACIER AND RIVER ARTERIES : sundown view of revealing the gravel lips which was accumulated by the moving glacier. Note that the base camp is visible on the far left along the lip.

RIDING THE EDGE OF MONTANAN GLACIER : Horsemen can be seen riding along the edge of the glcier. That is the path to Malchin Peak and eventually to Kuitun peak.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

BAYAN-ÖLGII

TSAGAAN GOL DRAINING FROM TAVAN BOGD : Tsagaan Gol means White River, and it takes the name of the mineral filled water that flows from Tavan Bogd.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

GRASS CUTTING : Its late August and grass cutting and gathering is happening everywhere, in preparation for the upcoming winter.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

KHOTUN NUUR PANORAMA : There are 2 ways to get to the Khoton Lake area from Tavan Bogd: walking down the valley which is a relatively straight route or drive a big loop around the surround mountains. The left bank is green and picturesque, and the Chinese border is not too far away. An absolutely stunning area, but the weather was cloudy.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

SMALL LAKE & BIG LAKE : Somewhat unique is the abundance of little lakes within headland areas of Khotun Nuur.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

KHOTON NUUR NORTHERN BANK : Cloudy early morning with a spot on a headland near the northern bank of Khoton Nuur.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

CURIOUS AND WEARY MARMOT: Marmots are everywhere in the Tavan Bogd area. This one was curious when I approach, and he called out to me for a long time.

BAYAN-ÖLGII

BAYAN-ÖLGII

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Home : LANDS FROM THE MONGOL EMPIRE
This Chapter : MONGOLIA

Next Chapter : CHAGATAI KHANATE

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Next Story : HISTORICAL LANDSCAPE OF WESTERN MONGOLIA

Footnotes

Captured with OLYMPUS digital systems camera, E-systems from 2004, mirrorless PEN from 2009 and the OM-D from 2013

FootNotes

Captured with OLYMPUS digital systems camera, E-systems from 2004, mirrorless PEN from 2009 and the OM-D from 2013

© 2026 Kim Lau

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