‘Most beautiful place I’ve ever been’ Extreme traveller says THIS remote country is best
MONGOLIA remains shrouded in mystery to most of the world, but Dr Andrew Murray believes it’s the experience of a lifetime.
Find out everything you need to know about Mongolia
The Edinburgh-dwelling extreme traveller has been to Mongolia before and this week, he’ll be back.
Dr Andrew Murray isn’t just extreme in his travels - he’s extreme in all aspects of his life.
Aside from being a GP and author, the 36-year-old likes to run marathons in his spare time.
But not just any marathons - the endurance athlete has competed in the harshest climates around the globe.
This week he’ll be adding to that impressive portfolio in Mongolia.
Andrew is returning to defend his title in the Ghengis Khan Ice Marathon.
On January 27, he’ll set off with a handful of other runners to tackle some of the most unforgiving terrain humans can access.
Mongolia is definitely the single most beautiful and impressive place I’ve ever been
Participants will battle through -35 degree temperatures, dodging dangerous wolves and staving off nasty medical conditions like frostbite and hypothermia along the way.
This might not sound like everyone’s cup of tea, but according to Andrew, it’s the best place on the planet.
He told Express.co.uk: “I love it - it’s definitely the single most beautiful and impressive place I’ve ever been.”
Mongolia hasn’t only blown Andrew away - Lonely Planet has voted it one of the top 10 places to visit in 2017.
And Andrew thinks everyone should have the chance to see it.
He explained: “I definitely recommend it to someone who’s travelling.
“Just going out and spending time with local families for some kind of genuine cultural interaction is wonderful.”
Andrew joins a multitude of other tourists who seem to agree on one thing: Mongolia gives you a unique sense that you’re the only person on earth.
This is owed largely to the population density of the nation. With just 3 million people inhabiting some 604,000 square miles of space, Mongolia is the most sparsely populated fully sovereign country in the world.
Andrew said: “Head out to the hills and find some space. There is almost a sense of nothingness. It is a completely different place. Get out there, it’s amazing.”
Mongolia might be freezing at far below zero temperatures now, but its summer climate reaches opposite extremes.
The country can range from around -40 right up to 40 degrees depending on the season.
Andrew recommends being organised when packing for either occasion.
And if it’s winter you’ve chosen, he advised: “Take warm clothing and footwear, all the adequate stuff. As long as you’re prepared for the conditions, you’ll be fine.”
Andrew once completed seven ultra marathons on all seven continents in one week, so when it comes to travelling, he speaks from a wealth of experience.
But he’s not done conquering the world just yet. He said: “I like going to exotic places so I quite fancy going to North Korea next.”
Most people would be shaking in their boots with a looming ice marathon in just a few days, but for a man who once ran from Scotland’s far north to the Sahara Desert, this race is no sweat.
He shared: “Experience is the best teacher so having been out there before is really helpful.
“I’ve got less anxiety about wolves, it’s more about coping in the temperatures.”
As for why this Merrell brand ambassador can’t stop running? “It just seems natural. The body is made to move.”