Highlights
Ulaanbaatar
The capital is a fast-growing city where most visits begin. See Gandan Monastery and its giant standing Buddha, Sükhbaatar Square with its statue of Chinggis Khaan, the National Museum of Mongolia, and the Zanabazar Fine Arts Museum for Buddhist sculpture.
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
Granite rock formations, including the famous Turtle Rock, forested valleys and ger camps are within easy reach of Ulaanbaatar. On the way, the huge stainless steel equestrian statue of Chinggis Khaan at Tsonjin Boldog towers over the steppe.
The Gobi Desert
The Gobi is mostly gravel plains, but it also holds the tall Khongoryn Els dunes, known as singing sands, the red Flaming Cliffs at Bayanzag, where some of the first dinosaur eggs were found, and the narrow Yolyn Am gorge, which can hold ice well into summer.
Kharkhorin and Erdene Zuu
Near the site of Karakorum, the 13th-century capital of the Mongol Empire, stands Erdene Zuu, one of the oldest surviving Buddhist monasteries in Mongolia, surrounded by a wall of white stupas. It lies within the UNESCO-listed Orkhon Valley cultural landscape.
Khövsgöl Lake
A deep, clear lake in the far north, close to the Russian border, ringed by larch forest and mountains. Reindeer-herding Tsaatan communities live in the taiga to the west, and the lake freezes solid in winter.
Naadam festival
Mongolia's national festival in July celebrates the three manly sports of wrestling, horse racing and archery, with the biggest events held in Ulaanbaatar and smaller, often more personal festivals in provincial towns.
Altai and the Golden Eagle Festival
In Bayan-Ölgii province in the far west, snow-capped peaks of the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park rise above Kazakh communities who hunt with trained golden eagles. Eagle festivals are held in early autumn.
Interesting facts about Mongolia
- Mongolia is the least densely populated sovereign country in the world, and around half of its people live in Ulaanbaatar.
- Ulaanbaatar is generally regarded as the coldest capital city in the world, with winter temperatures regularly falling far below freezing.
- The Mongol Empire, founded by Chinggis Khaan in the 13th century, became the largest contiguous land empire in history.
- Livestock, including horses, sheep, goats, camels and yaks, vastly outnumber people in Mongolia.
- Mongolian is written in the Cyrillic alphabet in daily life, but the traditional vertical Mongolian script is still taught and used, and is seeing a revival.
Best time to visit
June to September is the main travel season, with warm days, green steppe and passable tracks; July brings Naadam and the busiest period. Nights are cool even in summer, and the Gobi can be very hot by day. September and early October bring autumn colours and the eagle festivals in the west, but it gets cold quickly. Winter, from November to March, is extremely cold, though clear and dry, and suits only well-prepared travellers. Ulaanbaatar often has heavy air pollution in winter.
Practical information
| Capital | Ulaanbaatar |
|---|---|
| Currency | Mongolian tögrög (MNT) |
| Languages | Mongolian |
| Plugs | Type C, E, F |
| Voltage | 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 102 police, 103 ambulance, 101 fire |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Not traditionally expected, but tipping guides and drivers at the end of a tour is common and appreciated, as is around 10% in restaurants in Ulaanbaatar. |
Getting around
Outside Ulaanbaatar, paved roads link only some provincial centres, and most journeys follow dirt tracks across the steppe. The usual way to travel is with a driver and guide in a sturdy vehicle, often a Russian-built van or a Land Cruiser, staying in ger camps or with herding families. Domestic flights reach distant provinces such as Bayan-Ölgii and the Gobi, saving days of driving. The Trans-Mongolian railway runs through Ulaanbaatar between Russia and China. In the capital, traffic is heavy; taxis and ride-hailing are the easiest way around.
Staying connected in Mongolia
Mobile coverage is good in Ulaanbaatar and in provincial and district centres, with 4G in the capital and many towns. Between settlements, across the open steppe, in the Gobi and in mountain areas, there can be no signal for hours or even days. Many ger camps have limited power, and some offer Wi-Fi only in a central building. Download offline maps and tell your family you may be out of reach. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land in Ulaanbaatar.
See Mongolia eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Mongolia
- UBCab: A local ride-hailing app for taxis in Ulaanbaatar.
- Maps.me: Offline maps with tracks and small settlements, useful across the steppe and the Gobi.
- Google Translate: Mongolian is supported, helpful when your guide is not around.
- XE Currency: Convert tögrög prices, which run into large numbers.