Mongolia

The updated Bradt Mongolia guidebook, now in its fourth edition, provides in-depth advice on all aspects of travel around one of the world's last great wildernesses, a massive country comprising rugged mountains, pristine rivers, deep lakes, vast deserts and seemingly unending grassy steppes. With only 3.5 million people, the world's second-largest landlocked nation boasts the lowest population density on Earth, which makes for deeply peaceful as well as eye-opening, unforgettable travel.

Full of untamed places, Mongolia is a uniquely alluring destination. The updated Bradt Mongolia guidebook helps reader revel in natural highlights including:

. the surreal rock formations of Gorkhi Terelj National Park;

. the open steppe and wild horses of Hustai National Park;

. the wide sands of the Gobi Desert;

. the lush Orkhon Valley;

. the ice-cold waters of Lake Khovsgol; and

. the imposing peaks of the Altai Range.

From Tsaatan reindeer herders and national hero Chinggis Khan to nomads, archers and eagle hunters, there is rich cultural history throughout Mongolia. Travellers can experience this at first hand, thanks to Mongolians' legendary hospitality. This is a country where local residents commonly invite visitors inside their ger (yurt) to share a meal and drink, the latter including airag (the national tipple, made from fermented mare's milk).

Bradt's Mongolia also examines what makes Ulaanbaatar (the country's dynamic yet gritty capital) tick, exploring its museums, eateries, markets and ramshackle neighbourhoods sprouting on hills overlooking the city. Here shimmering new high rises built with recently minted mining money stand next to decaying Soviet-era apartment blocks, while a fashionable young population pulses along the streets.

Given its immensity and scant infrastructure, Mongolia is not necessarily an easy place to get around. Written by a seasoned travel writer who has lived in and explored Asia since the early Noughties, this new edition of Bradt's Mongolia guidebook demystifies travel by complementing descriptions of destinations with listings of companies, drivers and personal guides who can make access less daunting. With more detailed treatment of where to eat and stay, national parks and outdoor activities than any competitor, the updated Bradt Mongolia guidebook is your perfect travel companion.