Long a stopping point between China and Russia, Ulan Bator is a small urban zone amidst expansive plains and vast deserts. Within city limits, the Mongolian capital features museums, a unique Buddhist culture and a look at a disappearing way of life. After growing under the Soviet regime, the city is now experiencing a renaissance of growth and development.

Chris Yager, founder of Where There Be Dragons, a company that leads groups of students and adults to lesser-known destinations in Asia, finds that "the people who are inspired by plateaus, deserts, valleys and a wide expanse of land will be blown away by the beauty of Mongolia." Though Mongolia is thought of as a nomadic nation, Ulan Bator is rapidly modernizing. Standard Soviet-era buildings are now making way for colorful Lamaist buildings that celebrate the country's dynamic religious life.

The region shares Tibet's piety. According to Yager, "Tibetan Buddhism has cross-pollination. Dalai Lama is actually a Mongolian word." Founded in the 15th century, the city was the home of the Bogd Khaan or Living Buddha, Mongolia's equivalent of the Dalai Lama and the Bodg Khaan's Winter Palace now houses a cultural museum.

Mongolian culture is emerging throughout Ulan Bator with small art galleries, street presentations and shows. Even the food is seeing an upgrade in the city. Famous for mutton, Mongolia has an up and coming culinary scene. Restaurants in Ulan Bator specialize in Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese and Latin American cuisines plus numerous fast food restaurants.

50 miles north of Ulan Bator, Terelj National Park offers the vistas for which Mongolia is best known. The park is home to towering peaks, the famed tortoise rock -- a turtle-shaped formation that people can climb inside -- and animal species that include bears, deer and moose. The region is also Genghis Khan's birthplace. This July, a luxury resort, Terelj Resort Hotel, will open nearby with a luxury spa designed to resemble an 18th-century palace and situated amid nature trails and walking paths.

Though Ulan Bator does not offer the posh comforts of many destinations, it is unparalleled in its natural splendor. Yager is drawn to Mongolia for "the idea of going to the end of the road and then walking beyond it to find something special."

Ulan Bator

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