Day 6 = Day Off!

Further to my last post - what a great day off we had. Hightlights included, getting real close to a Mongolian eagle, rode a 2 humped camel and drank beer on the banks of the Tuul River. 

We went to Terelj National Park. Its one of the many national parks of Mongolia. The Terelj tourist zone has a number of "tourist camps".

A small southern portion of the park is developed for tourists, with restaurants, souvenir shops, horses and camels for rent, and tourist ger (or yurt) camps. However, most of the park is undeveloped and difficult to access. Attractions include Khagiin Khar Lake, a 20m deep glacial lake 80 km upstream from the tourist camps, and Yestii Hot Water Springs, natural hot springs 18 km further upstream. The park also has a Buddhist monastery that is open to visitors. Park wildlife includes brown bears and over 250 species of birds. The Tuul River flows through the park. Apparently most westerners were introduced to this area when the CBS reality television program The Amazing Race visited the park in the second episode of its tenth season. Check out these pictures.