Mongolia is a land of nomadic traditions, endless steppe, and Soviet-era legacies. It’s vast, sparse, and also completely raw.
need to know for traveling in Mongolia
Quick facts
Capital: Ulaanbaatar
Population: 3.5 million (131rd)
Languages: Mongolian (they use the Cyrillic alphabet)
Area: 1,564,000km² (18th largest country)
Visa
Free visa on arrival
Tours for Mongolia
Stay tuned, we’ll soon schedule an expedition into the country.
Travel Insurance
With its Backpacker plan, IATI Insurance is the best insurance for any kind of adventurous destination, like Mongolia.
Best time to visit
May to September is the ideal time to visit, with July and August being the peak season. For festivals, come in July for Naadam, and in September for the Eagle Hunters Festival.
In winter, Mongolia is completely frozen, but you’ll have it all to yourself—no tourists, only locals.
Money
The official currency is Mongolian Tögrög
1 USD = 3,500 MNT
Foreign cards, but having always spare cash is 100% recommended.
Budget: starting at $25 a day for budget backpackers; but expect to pay 4 to 8 times more if going on a tour and/or hiring a car with a driver.
Soviet & Communist heritage in Mongolia
While Mongolia was never formally part of the USSR, Soviet influence shaped its infrastructure, and education. They also adopted the Cyrillic alphabet in the 1940s. From austere apartment blocks and government buildings in towns and cities, the legacy of communism is still very visible. The capital, Ulaanbaatar—whose name means “Red Hero”—features the most prominent examples, but remnants can also be found in the many abandoned factories, Communist murals and old collective farms.
Top experiences in Mogolia
Living with nomads
Mongolia concentrates the largest population in the world of nomads, and staying with them is an essential part of understanding their culture.
Driving through the steppe
Mongolia is massively empty, and the only way to assimilate it is by driving across the steppe, preferably on a UAZ
Ulaanbaatar City Life
Where Soviet-era buildings blend with Buddhist temples, and where traces of nomadic culture remain highly visible in the lively bazaars, which attract nomads from the surrounding rolling steppe, all of that coexisting with a rising modern Mongolian society.
Experience country’s rawness
As soon as you leave the capital, few countries are as raw and traditional as Mongolia.
tips for Mongolia
Accommodation
In towns and cities, basic guest houses can be found all over.
In the country side, travelers always stay in ger camps (yurts)
Getting in
Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN) is the main airport. Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa have flights there regularly. Also, check the local airline (Mongolian Airlines (MIAT). Entering by land from China and Russia is also possible.
Transportation
Backpacking is rough and slow, but shared minivans and taxis run between major towns.