Orkhon Valley

The Orkhon Valley has been traversed by totemic names like Genghis and Kublai, and was once the home of the great Khans and the hub of power that propelled the Mongol Horde's march throughout Asia and Europe. Today, this rich history is recognized by a UNESCO World Heritage Tag, which also honors the deeper traditions of nomad existence, which may still be observed among the gallery trees when white-fabric yurts sprout up.

Of course, Orkhon Valley is now a popular tourist destination, with visitors flocking to view the renowned Karakorum ruins, search for the fabled palaces of Xanadu, marvel at frozen waterfalls, and find peace in the rustic Buddhist monasteries. It's in the picturesque Orkhon Valley, virtually smack dab in the heart of Mongolia, where the holy mountain-forest of Otuken was thought to be.

The divine authority to reign on Earth was provided to the monarch by ruling over the region where the ancestral spirits dwell. As a result, every Turkic kingdom that rose, reigned, and fell in the steppe felt its ownership to be extremely important.

• Location: Mongolia
• Timing: Open all day
• Famous for: fabled palaces of Xanadu
• Entry Fee: Free
• Best Time To Visit: between June and August.