Protected by endless deserts and untouched landscapes, an exotic and fascinating civilisation has managed to survive right up to the present day. In Central Asia is the land of the nomads, Mongolia, once a legendary and feared realm yet one that is full of natural beauty.

Today’s capital of Ulaanbaatar, or Red Corner, was some centuries ago nothing more than a small nomad settlement but now around a million people live there, one third of the country’s population.

The name Genghis Khan is synonymous with Mongolia. Under the leadership of this legendary monarch, the Mongols established the largest empire in history, a realm that extended across large areas of Asia, possessed more than a hundred million subjects and created a new high season of culture.

About an hour from Ulaanbaatar in Tov Province is the calm and tranquil, Manzushir, a charming area that is totally different to the densely populated metropolis. In addition to several tent-like huts, or gers, it is mainly the centuries old scattered remains from the high season of Buddhism that capture the attention.

The landscape enchants with its exotic splendour. Since 1997 the Khogno Khan Nature Reserve has been protected. It is part of the province of Bulgan one of twenty one provinces known as aimags. The natural landscape is beautiful, which is hardly surprising as Mongolia is the most sparsely settled country in the world.

Hunting with eagles is both common and traditional. Each October before the hunting season begins a popular eagle hunting festival takes place in Bayan Oglii. The birds with which the Kazakhs hunt are golden eagles that have a wing span of more than two metres.

Mongolia is truly a land of nomads, wonderful wilderness, unspoiled landscapes, centuries old traditions as well as fascinating cultural treasures and sanctuaries.