| Let's face it. The typical vacations in the tropics, in a | | | | Ever since Genghis Khan captured our imaginations, |
| ski lodge and in a cruise ship can seem boring after | | | | we have always wanted to visit Mongolia, mingle with |
| one too many trips to these places. You will want | | | | its people and absorb its culture. Since the country is |
| something unique, something adventurous and | | | | as safe as ever, it is time to fulfill our dreams to |
| something more memorable simply because life is too | | | | meet the descendants of the great founder of the |
| short to be spending vacations in boring places. | | | | Mongol Empire. |
| Well, if that's your desire, you should ask a travel | | | | We expect to sleep in a ger, the Mongolian family's |
| agent about the possibilities for an adventure travel | | | | traditional yurt-like home, which will definitely be an |
| trip to exotic places doing things that you would | | | | experience unto itself. We will look forward to |
| never have thought to do on your vacation. No, we | | | | drinking the famous symbol of Mongolian life in the |
| are not talking about illegal and illicit activities here - | | | | steppes, the airaq or fermented mare's milks. Most of |
| just vacations that will pump adrenaline into your | | | | all, we are anticipating the horse rides through the |
| system and still keep you alive to tell the exciting | | | | great steppes, the treks to the forests of the |
| tale. Here then are our top three picks for an | | | | Altai-Sayan Montane and the sightings of unique |
| adventure vacation. | | | | wildlife like the snow leopard and the lynx. Whoever |
| Visit the Stans | | | | said that a tropical vacation is the best there is has |
| If you are curious about what happened to the | | | | yet to see the wonders of Mongolia! |
| Central Asian countries formerly under the Soviet | | | | Ski in the Andes |
| Union, then it is time to plan your trip to the five | | | | Tahoe, Whistler and Aspen can be boring to the |
| stans. Yes, you read that right - the five stans, | | | | most jaded skier. And so, off to the Andes |
| namely, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, | | | | Mountains we must go. We suggest going in October |
| Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The best time to visits | | | | when the spring weather brings with it clear skies, |
| is either on the month of May or September when | | | | corn snow and snowcapped summits, all of which are |
| the climate is usually at its best. | | | | perfect for skiing downhill and then hiking back uphill. |
| You can pretend to be a modern-day Marco Polo | | | | Or maybe with a horse. |
| precisely because few Westerners have seen the | | | | We must caution that this trip is not for the faint of |
| wonders of these independent countries since the | | | | heart or the weak of legs. At heights of 1,400 |
| days of, well, Marco Polo. Your mind will wonder at | | | | meters above sea level, vertigo is the last of your |
| the Saka petrolglyps, the Zenkov Cathedral and the | | | | worries. Then again, why worry when you can ski |
| Bibi Khanym mosque while you arms will be full from | | | | down the slope, enjoy Mother Nature as you swoop |
| the equally wondrous woven carpets and other | | | | by and just feel good to be alive? |
| souvenirs. Did we mention that these countries have | | | | Life is too short for boring vacations. Go out there |
| majestic vistas as well? | | | | and have the adventure of a lifetime. |
| Trek in Mongolia | | | | |