Telmen Lake in Western Mongolia
Day 12 of 17 – Mongolia Road Trip
We left the Great White Lake region early and spent most of the day driving west — more than eight hours across changing terrain. We crossed a mountain range before descending into the vast open plains of western Mongolia, a region known for some of the country’s largest and most isolated lakes.
Somewhere along the way we stopped at a small cave formation — barely visible from the outside — where a narrow crevice in the rock allowed a careful descent underground. Later, we had a simple roadside lunch in a small lakeside village before continuing toward Telmen Lake.
By late afternoon, we reached the shore — and decided this would be our wild camp for the night.
Sacred Lakes of the Steppe
Many lakes in Mongolia are considered sacred, and fishing is often avoided out of respect for local beliefs. As a result, settlements are rarely built directly along the shoreline. Most lakes remain quiet and largely untouched.
Telmen Lake felt especially remote. No visible infrastructure, no passing vehicles — just wide open steppe meeting calm water.
It was the perfect place to camp in the wild.
Marmots and Corsac Foxes
Not long after setting up camp, we noticed movement in the surrounding grasslands. Marmots — common across Mongolia’s plains — were the first to appear.
But then we spotted something far more exciting: Corsac foxes. An entire den, with young pups cautiously emerging from their burrow.
Getting close required patience. I crawled slowly through the grass and eventually placed my camera near the den, using a remote trigger to capture images without disturbing them.
Watching the fox family interact against the backdrop of the open plains was one of the most memorable wildlife encounters of the trip.
Camping on the Shore of Telmen Lake
As evening approached, the silence became almost complete. The nearest village was hours away, and only a handful of families lived anywhere near the lake.
No buildings. No roads. No artificial light.
Just water, grassland, and sky.
The sunset reflected softly across the surface of the lake, painting the plains in warm colors. Camping in such isolation felt deeply peaceful — Mongolia at its most untouched.
