Endless steppe, nomad camps and the Gobi Desert
Mongolia is a vast, thinly populated country of grassland, desert and mountains between Russia and China. Many people still live as herders, and visitors can stay in gers, ride horses and join in summer festivals. The Gobi, Lake Khövsgöl and the Orkhon Valley are the classic regions. It suits adventurous travellers happy with long drives and simple comforts.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
The Gobi has high sand dunes, red cliffs and ice filled gorges. It is the classic multi day jeep trip from the capital.
The singing sand dunes of the Gobi, rising up to about 300 metres. Camels can be hired nearby.
Red sandstone cliffs where the first dinosaur eggs were found in the 1920s. They glow at sunset.
A narrow gorge in the Gobi mountains that can hold ice into summer. It is in the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park.
A deep, clear lake in the north surrounded by forest and mountains. Reindeer herding communities live in the region.
A broad valley of pasture and archaeological sites, including the old Mongol capital Karakorum. It has a waterfall and hot springs.
Mongolia's oldest surviving Buddhist monastery, enclosed by a wall of 108 stupas. It stands on the site of Karakorum.
The national festival of wrestling, archery and horse racing held each July. The biggest event is in the capital.
The capital's main working monastery, with a tall statue of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. Monks chant in the mornings.
A park of granite rocks and forest close to the capital, with ger camps and horse riding. Turtle Rock is a landmark.
A giant steel statue of Genghis Khan on horseback, with a viewing deck in the horse's head. It is about an hour from the capital.
Exhibits cover prehistory, the Mongol Empire and nomadic life. It is a good start to any trip.
Glaciers and peaks in the far west, home to Kazakh eagle hunters. Ancient petroglyphs here are a UNESCO site.
The place where Przewalski's horses, the last wild horses, were reintroduced. They are often seen at dusk.
Natural hot springs feeding pools at ger camps in a green valley. It is a welcome stop on long routes.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
The capital and start of all tours.
gateway, culture · Guide comingOld capital and Orkhon Valley.
history · Guide comingGateway to the Gobi.
gateway · Guide comingGateway to Lake Khövsgöl.
gateway · Guide comingKazakh west and the Altai.
culture · Guide comingA park with ger camps near the capital.
nature, gers · Guide comingSteppe, monasteries and parks.
Orkhon Valley, Erdene Zuu, Hustai
Desert dunes and dinosaur cliffs.
Khongoryn Els, Bayanzag, Yolyn Am
Forest, lakes and reindeer herders.
Lake Khövsgöl, Khatgal
High mountains and eagle hunters.
Altai Tavan Bogd, Ölgii
Desert, dunes, canyons and camel herders.
Khongoryn Els, Yolyn Am, Flaming Cliffs
Forest, lakes and reindeer herders.
Lake Khovsgol, Moron, Darkhad
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: June to September. Summer is warm and green, with the Naadam festival in July.
The Gobi is very hot in midsummer, and winters everywhere are extremely cold.
January. Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
3°F daily high, -6°F average, 0.1 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
The US State Department rates Mongolia Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; road travel and remoteness are the main risks.
Distances are huge, roads are often dirt tracks, and most visitors travel with a driver and guide.
Daily costs are moderate, but private tours with a vehicle add up.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Rules change, so check the Immigration Agency of Mongolia website and your own government's travel advice before you book. |
| Plugs | Type C, E; 220 V |
| Tap water | not safe |
| Tipping | Tipping guides and drivers at the end of a tour is customary. |
| Payments | Cards work in Ulaanbaatar, but carry cash in tögrög for the countryside. |
| Emergency | 103 ambulance, 101 fire, 102 police |
| Etiquette | Accept offered food or drink with your right hand. In a ger, move clockwise and do not step on the threshold. |
| What to wear | Dress modestly in monasteries. |
| Driving | On the right |
| Between cities | Most visitors use a tour with a driver and guide, often in a Russian UAZ van. Domestic flights link the capital to regional towns, and the Trans Mongolian railway crosses the country north to south. |
| Main airports | UBN |
| Ride apps | UBCab, local apps |
Genghis Khan united the Mongol tribes in 1206 and founded the largest land empire in history. Later the region came under Qing Chinese rule until 1911. Mongolia became a Soviet aligned socialist state in 1924. A peaceful democratic revolution in 1990 brought multi party politics.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.