Hire a kayak and explore Lake Khövsgöl

Centered on glorious Lake Khövsgöl, this is the prettiest national park in the country.

Hire a kayak or a horse from a nearby ger camp and explore the wooded shores of the 2,700-sq-km lake. Otherwise, lace up your hiking boots and climb the peaks above the lake.

It's a great area to explore at a leisurely pace and for once you won't need a jeep to get around.

The village of Khatgal, at the southern end of the lake, is fittingly rustic. This is the staging point for tours around the lake and the only place to hire equipment horses and guides.

Khatgal is home to several quiet ger (yurt) camps, where a few dollars gets you a cozy bed in a ger and dinner at communal cook outs.