Boortsog, or traditional Mongolian fried bread, is the most common cookie made by Mongolians. It is eaten as a dessert and snacks. Upon entering a home here, boortsog will be the first thing a Mongolian family will treat you with, along with milk tea. Throughout Central-Asia, boortsog goes by similar names and is the most common cookie of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
Tsuivan Recipe
Tsuivan, or noodle stew, is one of the most popular Mongolian dishes—adopted from abroad and perfected by Mongolians. It’s a very popular dish beloved in every family’s home and served in most local restaurants. This dish is prepared in many different ways. Some people make it using only flour and meat, but some add fresh vegetables. Here at the Three Camel Lodge’s Bulagtai restaurant, we serve this dish fresh seasonal vegetables. Below is the easy way to make this most delicious dish.
Birds of the Gobi Desert
With 513 species, the birds of Mongolia are minor in number when compared to those of, say, India, with more than 1,300. However, the diversity of Mongolia’s is vast, with more than 60% being migratory, coming from far—and high. Some species travel here from oases in Africa, while Bar-headed guy fly above 26,000 feet, over the towering peaks of the Himalaya, to reach their summer grounds, where they raise their young. There are few endemic species in Mongolia, and approximately 50 to 60 species roam the skies of the Gobi Desert. Here are some of the most interesting must-see birds among Mongolia’s species.
Flora and Fauna of the Gobi
While a desert by every definition, the Gobi is hardly a lifeless expanse, as its widespread ecosystems include Desert Steppe, Semi Desert and True Desert. There are vast sandscapes of rolling dunes and barren cliffs before horizons of stark limestone. There is also the vegetation of the grassland areas of the Eastern Gobi Desert Steppe. And despite the harsh extremes of climate, drought-adapted trees, shrubs and flowers persist. The various regions and differing soil types of the Gobi have given rise to surprising species, providing expanses of lush green and beautiful punctuations of color. Visitors here discover incredible terrains with an otherworldly quality and mesmerizing beauty that is never forgotten. Read more “Flora and Fauna of the Gobi”
Travel That Transforms: An Earth Day Message
The environmental movement Earth Day began in 1970 to bring much-needed attention to the global challenges that need to be addressed, such as the climate crisis. And on this anniversary, many people feel inspired to take action—either on climate change, or supporting renewable energy, or looking to make more sustainable choices in the goods they buy. Yet not everyone realizes that these choices can extend into how you vacation.
Read more “Travel That Transforms: An Earth Day Message”
Three Camel Lodge Joins Beyond Green
April 15, 2021 – Three Camel Lodge is proud to announce that it has joined Beyond Green – a global portfolio of hotels, resorts, and lodges that exemplify sustainable leadership. Launched on November 17, 2020, Beyond Green was created to provide a more purposeful way to explore the world where good guests meet good hosts, presenting genuine hospitality by the people for the planet.
Read more “Three Camel Lodge Joins Beyond Green”
What to Expect When You Attend Naadam Festival
Festivals are more than just a celebration; they are a way to honor one’s traditions and history. However, some festivals are woven into the identity of a place. Holi in India. Dia de Los Muertos in Mexico. And, Naadam in Mongolia. Held annually in the summertime, Naadam is celebrated across the country, from the capital city of Ulaanbaatar to the remote towns of the Gobi.
Read more “What to Expect When You Attend Naadam Festival”
Q&A with General Manager Buyantogtokh Munkbayar
Buyantogtokh Munkhbayar, the General Manager of the Three Camel Lodge, shares the latest updates on our continued efforts to be a good host for our people, the planet, and our eco-travel guests who travel gently to visit our beautiful lodge in the heart of the Gobi Desert. As pioneers of sustainable travel and destinations, we strive year in and year out to further our mission, following three pillars of sustainable tourism. Three Camel Lodge has remained deeply integrated with our Gobi community, providing full-time employment, training, and promotion, while spearheading conservation initiatives protecting both our environment and our culture. Emerging from COVID, we now look forward to a return to travel this Summer as our country reopens for tourism.
Sustainable Shopping in Mongolia
We at the Three Camel Lodge are frequently asked for recommendations of the best shopping in Mongolia, which is renowned for its wool garments, hand-woven textiles, and traditional handcrafts.
Our store at the lodge makes available a full assortment of products produced by Mongolian vendors, whom we select based upon the quality of their products, and the extent to which their business benefits local communities.
Geology of the Gobi Desert
What surprises people the most about the Gobi Desert is that it is not all sand. The term desert conjures images of vast rolling dunes—and the Gobi certainly has these—yet this splendidly tranquil ecosystem covering more than half-a-million square miles contains fertile tracts as well. Perhaps more surprising still is that this arid landscape was covered in conifer forests and lush with lakes and streams about 80 million years ago. Read more “Geology of the Gobi Desert”