Things To Do
in Shagonar

Rolling ridges and pine stands offer sweeping landscapes, especially dramatic at sunrise and sunset — ideal for wide-angle shots and layered horizons.

Lively market scenes, traditional food stalls and portraits of local vendors provide candid cultural photography opportunities.

Riverside meadows with grazing livestock, tents and shepherds — great for pastoral scenes and capturing daily rural life.

Traditional tents, interior dairy-work scenes and family portraits are intimate subjects if you ask permission politely.

Mutton cooked with hot stones inside a sealed container — smoky, tender and communal; best found at family meals, special events or rural guesthouses.

Must-Try!

Fried meat pies similar to Mongolian pastries — widely available at markets, roadside stalls and small cafés.

Steamed dumplings filled with minced mutton; often sold at markets and during holidays.

Dried curds or cheese-like snacks made from fermented milk — a staple of nomadic snacking, sold in markets.

The town market where locals buy fresh dairy, smoked and cured meats, bread, vegetables and homemade preserves — great for tasting boortsog, cured mutton and local cheeses.

Small stalls near transport hubs sell fried pastries (khuushuur), tea and snacks — convenient for a quick, inexpensive bite.

Show deference to elders in greetings and seating; traditional communities place value on age and seniority.

Remove shoes when entering private homes and some guesthouses; hosts will usually provide slippers or ask you to go barefoot.

Always ask permission before photographing individuals, especially elders, religious items or family ceremonies.

If offered food or drink by hosts, accept at least a small portion as refusing can be seen as rude; reciprocate with thanks or a small gift if possible.

Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory; in cafes and restaurants a small tip (5–10%) or rounding up is fine, while taxi drivers and small vendors may only expect rounding up. When hosted by families, bringing a small gift or paying for a meal is a good way to show thanks.

Cash (Russian rubles) is king in Shagonar — small businesses and markets may not accept cards. ATMs may be limited; withdraw cash in Kyzyl. Some larger guesthouses take cards but plan for cash for most purchases.

Warm days and cool nights with long daylight hours make summer the best time for hiking, horseback riding and outdoor photography; expect dry steppe and occasional rain in July.

Very cold, with below-freezing temperatures, snow and icy conditions — excellent for experiencing winter nomadic life but prepare for limited services and challenging road travel.

Short spring with thawing roads and muddy periods; wildflowers begin to appear in late spring and herds move to fresh pastures.

Crisp, colorful early autumn with good visibility and fewer mosquitoes; nights cool quickly, and the tourist season winds down.