Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape
By Brandon
What is the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape?
The Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape is a large area of land in Central Mongolia that is home to several archaeological sites, ancient cities, historic monasteries, and beautiful landscapes.
Covering an area of roughly 1,220 sq. km or 470 sq. miles, the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape is a popular getaway for those looking to venture from Mongolia’s capital city, Ulaanbaatar. Outside of visiting the main attractions like Kharakhorum, Erdene Zuu Monastery, and the Orkhon Waterfall, visitors can experience what it is like to ride a horse, eat local Mongolian dishes, and even stay in a yurt in the Orkhon Valley.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. Making a purchase through an affiliate link will mean a small commission for this website. This will not affect your price.
Why is the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape a UNESCO World Heritage site?
The Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape was added to the UNESCO World Heritage site list in 2004. According to UNESCO, the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape merits World Heritage status because of the several archaeological sites uncovered in the region, especially the city of Karakorum. It held great importance over the centuries within Central Asia: it was home to the Mongolian Empire, “it reflects a particular Mongolian variation of Turkish power,” Mongolian Buddhism developed here, and it was a Uighur cultural center as well.
As UNESCO describes it, “… extensive trade networks and the creation of large administrative, commercial, military and religious centers” developed, arising from the nomadic peoples that moved through the region. Their culture of nomadic pastoralism “is still a revered and indeed central part of Mongolian society and is highly respected as a ‘noble’ way to live in harmony with the landscape.”
What can you expect on a visit to the Orkhon Valley?
The region is about 360 km (224 mi) southwest of Ulaanbaatar. It’s a little too far to accomplish as a day trip. Visitors will generally book a tour with a local company as a multi-day trip. Most often, an overnight stay in the Orkhon Valley is included in tour packages to Central Mongolia.
Here are some possible tours:
- Though it does not appear to visit the waterfall, this 3-day tour stops at Kharkhorum and Erdene Zuu Monastery. It also includes a yurt stay and a camel ride, among other stops.
- This 5-day tour, besides all the sights listed in this article, includes hiking, horse trekking, and camel riding.
- If you want a real adventure, try this 10-day tour. It goes to all the sights mentioned here, but also includes a 5-day horseriding tour in the Khangai Mountains.
Driving to the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape is achievable by personal vehicle but a tour guide is recommended. After all, you learn so much more with a guide who is from the area, knows the history, plus makes stops at all the significant sites.
Most tours will stop at the Kharkhorum Museum, Erdene Zuu Monastery, and the Orkhon Waterfall. The ancient city of Kharkhorum still exists today, but after years of warfare and politics it is no longer what it used to be. Genghis Khan established the city in 1220 AD and it became the capital of the Mongol Empire. Although you will most likely stay in Kharkhorum, there is not much city left to see.
Instead, you will see the remains of the Erdene Zuu Monastery. The monastery dates back to 1586. During its prime, there were 60 temples and more then 500 structures within the monastery. Today, only a handful of temples and structures are left.
The Kharkhorum Museum is definitely worth a visit. The museum is a great introduction to the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape. There are exhibits on tombs, artifacts, and other finds in the Orkhon Valley.
For a nature escape, the Orkhon Waterfall is another must-visit attraction within the Orkhon Valley. This 20-meter-tall waterfall is in the middle of nowhere surrounded by beautiful nature.
Plan on staying in a yurt every night while visiting the Orkhon Valley. During my travels to the Orkhon Valley, I stayed at a mix of yurt camps and with nomadic families.
Is the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape worth visiting?
The Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape is an essential destination in Central Mongolia. I recommend that you at least stay the night in the Orkhon Valley as the area is massive and it’s far from Ulaanbaatar. I
believe it is worth a trip outside of Ulaanbaatar, and most multi-day tours of Central Mongolia include it. A minimum of two days in the Orkhon Valley gives visitors a chance to see all the main attractions and stay in a yurt.
What sorts of travelers would like the Orkhon Valley?
Mongolia is not for everyone. The environment can be harsh, the food is heavy on the meats, and outside of Ulaanbaatar it is mainly nature. I highly recommend visiting the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape if you love nature, don’t mind long car rides, and are open to try anything.
Tips for visiting the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape
Visiting Mongolia’s Orkhon Valley should be treated like anywhere else in Mongolia. Plan for harsh environments, temperature changes, and being outside the majority of the time. Bring proper footwear, layers, and other necessities for being outside most of the day and night.
One major thing to note is that many yurt stays have rather unpleasant toilet situations and many restrooms do not have toilet paper, so plan on bringing your own toilet paper and wet wipes.
Driving in Mongolia, distances are far, sometimes several hours at a time. If you get car sick, bring motion sickness medication. Talking about medication, bring stuff to assist with upset stomachs in case that comes about.
Mongolia has several other UNESCO sites, mostly along the border with Russia to the north (and two of them are transnational sites, shared with Russia). The nearest to the Orkhon Valley are some of the “Deer Stone Monuments and Related Bronze Age Sites.”
Where is the Orkhon Valley?
The Orkhon Valley is in Central Mongolia. It is well connected by major roads: 360 km (224 miles) southwest of Ulaanbaatar. The most convenient and best way to get here from the capital city is by car. You can drive here by yourself or book a trip through a tour company.
From Ulaanbaatar to Kharkhorum, plan on driving at least five to six hours. Although the roads are nice, there will be multiple animal crossings, traffic, and potentially areas where you need to leave the road and go off road. Most sites within the Orkhon Valley have free parking areas.
Have you been to the Orkhon Valley? If so, do you have any additional information or advice about this UNESCO World Heritage site? Please add your comments below!
Text and photos provided by Brandon of Zimmin Around the World.