Tolbo Lake — Attraction in Tolbo

As our adventure in western Mongolia drew to a close, we found ourselves in a serene setting that seemed worlds away from the bustling horse races and the rugged lives of eagle hunters. Our final day brought us to the tranquil shores of Lake Tolbo, where we settled into a cozy cabin perched right at the water's edge.

Lake Tolbo, known locally as Tolbo Nuur, is a freshwater lake nestled in the Altai Mountains of Bayan-Ölgii province. Situated at an elevation of about 2,079 meters (6,821 feet) above sea level, the lake is a hidden gem that many travelers to Mongolia miss. Its crystal-clear waters, reflecting the surrounding mountains like a mirror, created a picturesque scene that seemed almost too perfect to be real.

The evening brought a spectacular sunset, with the sun dipping behind the Altai Mountains and painting the sky and lake in vibrant hues of orange, pink, and purple. It was a fitting final act to our western Mongolian adventure - nature putting on one last show before we bid farewell to this...

Lake itself is amazing to see, here in August, water is warm enough to swim on a local beach. To enter beach you need to pay 3000 in Mongol currency which is not much. Road to beach is so bumpy we drove on a grass next to road evading larger stones. Beach itself is very dirty as nobody is cleaning after themselves and cows are freely grazing and chewing on plastic and bones left behind by visitors. There are no facilities (toilet, changing cabin, trash cans or benches) or...

It is about 40 kms from ulgii center. Connected with paved road. A great beautiful lake, worthy to visit and even camp by...