Understand
[edit]Elsen tasarkhai means "partial sands" in local language. For thousands of years these sand dunes network could not expand due to active vegetation zone and active permafrost zones closeness. Just at the north of great Gobi desert this unique piece natural sandy creation managed to remain among the grassland. Because of rare desert like and vegetation rich natural conditions the area has many rare plants that require close attention from the environmentalists and careful treatment from locals and tourists.
Get in
[edit]By car: From Ulaanbaatar city go to Arvayheer in Övörkhangai province to the south west and by 280 km go to the west and will reach Elsen Tasarkhai. The car ride will take 4-5 hours.
By plane: The Arvayheer Airport (AVK IATA) is served by regular flights from Ulaanbaatar and Altai.
See
[edit]Sand dunes in the north and south, mountains and green grasslands in the west and east there, nearby some dunes, small lakes and rivers cross.
Do
[edit]There are many casual sports games are organized by camps. Also horse riding and camel riding can be bought by hourly rates that ranges from 5000 to 10,000 tögrög per hour (2024). The area surrounded with sand dunes and grasslands and any hiking tour or horse tour is ideal.
At some parts of Elsentasarkhai there are rivers and small lakes cross so anyone can have boating tours and fishing tours.
Buy
[edit]Nearby tour camps small stands sell various souvenirs and handcrafts that produced by locals. Some interesting local clothing designs can be found from stands.
Eat
[edit]Tour camps offer various local and European dishes, also some locals offer fresh horse mare milk and other unique products.
Drink
[edit]Various milk drinks, local and imported beer and alcoholic drinks can be bought from local shops. Local tour camps and farmers also offer horse mares milk which is unique alcoholic drink.
Sleep
[edit]- Mongol Altai tour camp, ☏ +976 99053139.
- Bayan gobi tour camp, ☏ +976 99074464.
- Bichigt khad tour camp, ☏ +976 7727 9090.
Bringing your own tent and sleeping almost anywhere in the area is possible.
Go next
[edit]Go to Ulaan tsutgalan waterfall.
Go to Lake Khövsgöl.