Khentii is rolling forest-steppe east of Ulaanbaatar, associated with the birthplace and burial legends of Genghis Khan. The Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area covers river valleys and larch hills where hiking and fishing permits are controlled. Fewer tourists come here than to the Gobi, so tracks can feel empty even in summer.
Öndörkhaan has guesthouses and a regional museum with displays on the steppe empires. Fishing permits, when offered, are arranged through guides rather than at random riverbanks.
Birch and larch fill river valleys in Khan Khentii, and trout streams run clear after summer rain. Öndörkhaan has simple restaurants where drivers and guides swap route news over buuz dumplings.
Forest permits limit group sizes in Khan Khentii, which keeps trails quiet even in August. Horse strings follow ridge paths with views across uninhabited valleys green with summer grass.
Mosquitoes appear near forest streams in July, so repellent helps on afternoon walks.
Forest valleys
Guided hikes and rides in the protected area, often starting from Öndörkhaan. Khentii is the main draw of the eastern steppe.
Booking on adventuro
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