Back to basics, getting dirty and struggling with the lack of modern amenities we too often take for granted is part of what travelling in Mongolia is all about. The Overlanding vehicle used to travel to Mongolia and around. The summer season between May to September is said to be the best time to go to Mongolia. Rainfall is at its highest between June and September, balancing out the heat while keeping the forest and valley lands, in particular, lush and fertile.
I travelled to Mongolia in July and experienced a lot of rainfall alongside high temperatures. While petty crime and pickpocketing are common in the capital, Ulaanbataar, Mongolia is a relatively safe place to travel, and I never encountered any significant problems. It pays to be more streetwise and alert in the city, as you would in any other. As the landing and departure point for tourists, opportunism poses a higher risk. Despite the lack of infrastructure and the relative isolation when travelling through the country, the only minor issue we encountered was related to the high levels of alcoholism in the country.
We saw drunk drivers on our long drives and an occasion or two when inebriated locals came to our makeshift camp out of curiosity. Even then, it never felt threatening, and we were always within the safety of our group. On the whole, we rarely saw other people, and when we did, we were met with kindness, invited into homes and welcomed into common spaces such as markets and small-town social spaces. Therefore, in Mongolia, it pays to get yourself a local guide, join a small group tour, formulate a small group of your own in Ulaanbataar or be equipped with general wilderness survival skills if going out there entirely on your own.
When I was planning my travel to Mongolia, Dragoman was the only company offering Mongolia tours that lasted more than ten days to two weeks.
The day overland journey was the first trip itinerary of its kind they were running here, which included Inner Mongolia. My favourite adventure travel people, and partners, G Adventures, offer Mongolia tours that all start and end in Ulaanbaatar. This day local living trip includes staying with three different families in Gers to experience life as a nomad. Mix historical monuments with cultural moments, exploring pastures, forests, lakes and national parks by foot and horseback while helping your host families prepare traditional dinners and learn the skills of their nomadic trades.
G Adventures, in partnership with National Geographic Journeys, offers a two-week comfort adventure through Mongolia. This mini adventure takes you to it and throws you right into the buzz of traditional Mongolian festivities. Mongolia is expensive to travel in and around due to the very nature that it is not overly touristic. Due to the lack of infrastructure, a tour with a local guide and appropriate transport can often be necessary to cover more ground.
For those on a budget, day trips can be taken from Ulaanbaatar, or you can try and plan some shorter day trips from the city. If you are not a national of one of the visa-exempt countries listed below, you will need a Mongolia visa. It is cheaper to apply directly at a Mongolian Embassy either at home before you leave or in the country you are travelling in prior. You will need a valid passport, passport photos and supporting trip documents alongside a completed application.
Allow one working week for processing. Some Embassies provide a one-day service for an extra charge. A day tourist visa on arrival is available for tourists coming from European and other countries where there are no Mongolian Embassies present, obtained at Ulanbataar Airport or the Mongolian land borders. I got my visa in London months before my trip. Those from Ukraine require a form of invitation.
You can find further information on the Embassy of Mongolia website. I spent 20 days Overlanding in and across the central and western Mongolian plains. We travelled in a big clockwise circle from Ulaanbaatar, through the scorching Gobi Desert to beautiful lakes, forests, canyons and waterfalls, all the while passing vast herds of wild horses, camels, goats, yaks and cows.
In the evening, check out the singing, dancing and contortion talent at the Cultural Show before hitting a few bars and pubs. The golden feet outside the Gandan Monastery Ulaanbaatar. We set off in the truck from Ulaanbaatar to drive to the Baga Gazryn Chuluu rock formations in the Gobi desert.
Due to heavy traffic when getting out of the city and general road conditions we got delayed and so decided to set up bush camp for the evening. Be prepared for delays in Mongolia but delight in being the only people in the area. All the space is yours.
We got to Baga Gazryn Chuluu — rock formations worshipped by locals who make pilgrimages here partly because legend states that Ghengis Khan camped here — before journeying to the Gobi Desert. Layers of Baga Gazryn Chuluu rock formations in Mongolia. A hike to Baga Gazryn Chuluu as part of a Mongolia travel itinerary. On the way, we got to experience the famous Nadaam Festival when we passed through the local town of Mandal Govi.
It was full of wrestling, horse racing, archery and fairground style fun. I got such an interesting insight into the nomadic herder lifestyle by staying with this family. I helped them bring their livestock in for the evening while my guide got to work preparing a special meal of Mongolian Barbecue for all of us. This was by far the best meal I ate throughout my entire 2 weeks in Mongolia.
Mongolian Barbecue is not prepared like a traditional barbecue, as you can probably tell from the photo. This dish was seriously so good, and the only meal I had in Mongolia where the meat was actually tender enough to eat in large quantities. For dessert, the family brought out a giant pot of homemade yak milk yogurt and sugar. It went fantastic with the fresh wild blueberries we picked a couple days before. Today we will continue our drive for hours to reach Ger camp at the shore of the pristine blue pearl Lake Khuvsgul.
The lake is sacred as the Mother Lake by Mongolians. Enjoy walking along the lakeshore. We will be staying overnight in a Ger camp. In the morning before we left I got to try my hand at milking yaks for the first time. Needless to say, I was not very good. I definitely slowed down the milking process more than helped, but it was fun and I now have a new appreciation for the skill of milking cows by hand.
After breakfast and yak milking we said goodbye to our amazing hosts and continued on our way to Lake Khuvsgul. The water in Lake Khuvsgul is potable without any treatment, meaning you can literally drink straight out of the lake and not get sick. Upon arriving at the lake, we took a walk around the local town and the small tourist market before driving out of town to eat a picnic lunch by the lakeshore. The photo above is the view from our lunch spot.
You can see from here just how clear the lake is. The water in this inlet was so calm you could see the reflection of the sky on the surface.
After lunch we checked into our ger camp where we would be staying for the next 2 nights. After not being able to shower for the past 6 days, the shower experience here was just short of orgasmic. My hair has honestly never felt as soft as it did after two days of showering at Lake Khuvsgul. Not that that should be a reason to come, but, hey, it was a nice perk. Knowing how huge these gers are I was expecting to share accommodation with my guides as we had for most of the trip, but, to my surprise, I had an entire huge ger all to myself complete with a giant comfy bed and heated electric floors.
I could get used to this glamping thing. After checking in and taking what was possibly the best shower of my life, the afternoon was mine for the taking as there was nothing on the itinerary.
I spent most of the time until dinner frolicking along the lakeshore and taking way too many photos. At 7 pm I met my guides at the restaurant for dinner, which was surprisingly not Mongolian food. It consisted of none other than sweet and sour chicken and sushi. Maybe they get that by the end of our tour we might be sick of Mongolian food. Probably a valid assumption for most people. Today is the day to enjoy half a day hiking through the surrounding mountain for taking a panoramic picture over the lake.
An optional boat trip is available in the afternoon. My guides and I met for breakfast at the restaurant at am, where we had the chef prepare us a boxed lunch to take on our hike. I hike all the time at home. Maybe you can teach us. And hikers they were not. We hiked up to the top of the mountain, with a lot of huffing an puffing and numerous stops along the way.
After walking for about an hour from the ger camp to the top of the first mountain we stopped to eat our lunch at the viewpoint. As there was only one trail, I led the way back into the forest as we made our way over to the next mountain, stopping to wait for my guides whenever I got too far ahead.
The trail above Khuvsgul Lake is a beautiful forest lined path along the side of the mountain. Once we climbed up to the viewpoint where we sat and had lunch, the trail was relatively flat with just some gradual up and down slopes and we wound our way around the mountain.
We walked until we reached the second mountain viewpoint where it was time to turn around and head back so that we could leave enough time for a shower and rest before dinner. It truly is an absolutely unreal shade of blue. At kilometers 85 miles long and meters feet deep, Lake Khuvsgul is truly massive. Honestly, I had pretty low expectations for visiting Lake Khuvsgul. I would definitely come back again someday. In the morning we will travel to Murun town which will take 2 hours for kms. We will transfer you to the domestic airport taking a flight back to Ulaanbaatar.
Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel. Thus ends the trip. This morning I said goodbye to the beautiful Lake Khuvsgul and started my journey back to Ulaanbaatar. Once arriving at the airport, my guides made sure I got all checked in for my flight before saying goodbye and heading back into town.
As I sat in an airport packed with foreigners it was hard to believe that this trip I spent so long wanting to take was now not just a reality, but a memory. My time traveling through the Mongolian Taiga and living with the reindeer herders was both everything and nothing like I expected.
Mongolia is such a raw and beautiful place. The people are tough, yet incredibly kind and welcoming. The landscapes are rugged and vast, yet so pure and full of life. In short, Mongolia is a world of contrasts. And that is what makes Mongolia so special.
Like this post? Share the love and pin it on Pinterest! By purchasing a product or service through these links you are helping to support this blog at no extra cost to you! We only recommend products we personally use and love! I enjoyed seen them. Mongolia is a place that not so many people can travel. Very mystical place and interesting and culture. Good luck.
Thanks Haydar! Wow, what a great adventure. How did you communicate with the people? Nomad family, Dairy time However, we all know that it's quality that matters, not quantity. The Bottom Line Whatever your interests are and no matter the amount of time you have, you can still get to experience all of Mongolia in various ways.
Start building your family memories today! Need Help Planning Your Vacation? Our friendly local experts will respond to your request with lightning speed. The Impressive Story of Mongolian Music. Most Popular Top 10 destinations of Mongolia.
The Land of the Blue Sky. Haven't been to Mongolia? Here is what you have been missing. Sign up for the newsletter. Thank you for Signing Up. Mongolians are fully aware of the unique beauty of their country.
Ask locals and they will probably start gushing about the spectacular countryside, vast steppes, rugged mountains, clear lakes and abundant wildlife and livestock. Some areas are so remote you could drive a full day and see almost no signs of human habitation. Protected areas cover almost a fifth of the country and the government is looking to increase that figure.
Mongolia's nomadic culture is famous — visitors can sleep in a herder's ger traditional felt yurt , help round up the sheep, ride horses and simply "get back to nature. A culture of tremendous hospitality welcomes respectful travelers here. When traveling in Mongolia, however, keep in mind that guests are expected to reciprocate any forms of generosity, so when visiting families, always have a ready supply of gifts for the kids. Once half nomadic, Mongolia is changing rapidly as its citizens flock to Ulaanbaatar and other big cities for work and study opportunities.
Whether they are rural or urban, Mongolians take pride in their country's democratic institutions of civic participation.
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