Hot springs in Mongolia
 

My new Gizi map of Outer Mongolia shows lots of hot springs. Does anyone have experience with them? We always try to bathe in nice hot springs wherever we run across them (i.e Saline Valley in Calif., Liard in northern BC).
Will be in Mongolia w/Unimog in June-July 2010.

Charlie

Charlie: There are hot springs in a few areas of Mongolia. I wouldn't say "lots." Some were developed as spas by the Russians and still operate that way, though they are very run down and old-fashioned. Sort of like entering 1950's Russia. One of those is Hujirt, just SE of Kharkhorin.

There are some completely natural hot springs about 1/2 way up the western side of Lake Huvsgul. They are almost impossible to get to overland (even in a unimog!) unless you are on horseback or hiking, but you could get there by renting a boat.

The best hot springs I found were at a ger camp near Tsetserleg that catered to Japanese tourists. Lovely outside rock pools to soak in. There is another ger camp just 100 meters away that is also OK, but not as nice (but cheaper!). Near the town of Tsenkher (aka Tsenher), about 60-90 minutes driving from Tsetserleg.

Scott