Ulaanbaatar is an autonomous municipality; the aimag which surrounds it is called Tov, which means “central’. Just an hour’s drive from Ulaanbaatar are restored monasteries in beautiful valleys, and mountains with some wonderful hiking. A large section of the aimag is part of the Gorkhi-Terelj, Khan Khentii and Bogdkhan Uul national parks. 

Tov may not be the wildest or most spectacular aimag in Mongolia, but it’s an excellent place to start your exploration, or to see some of the countryside if your time is limited. It has a network of good unpaved and paved roads, so you can easily use public transport to make day or overnight trips from the capital. 

The province is well-known of its springs, Janchivlan, Buuruljuut, Khundgan, Estii, Yestii, Suuj. Lakes include Dukhum, Davst, Gungaluutai, Tsaidam, Tsakhir. Tourist attractions include historic places, such as Noyon Uul, Gua dov, Terelj durvulj, Tonyukuk’s grave, poems of prince Tsogt carved in rock in Duut, as old as 450 years, impressive are the ruins of ancient cities of Hunnu, Uighur, Turkish Khanates in the province.