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Consider this your Mongolia Bucketlist. These are the best things to do in Mongolia and more importantly HOW to experience them for yourself. Mongolia is one of the most naturally beautiful, vast, and culturally interesting destinations I’ve ever visited. If you follow this list you’ll get to see the majority of those spectacular landscapes and better understand the culture of the country before you go.
I’m also going to include some super overrated things you SHOULD NOT do in Mongolia at the end of this list.
18 Best Things to Do in Mongolia For First-Time Visitors
You can’t leave the country without knocking off the majority of this Mongolia bucketlist.
1. Sleep Inside a Nomad’s Ger
A ger is probably the symbol most synonymous with Mongolia. If you haven’t seen them, they are essentially a white circular tent held up by a wooden skeletal frame. They have one door, usually four twin beds lining the walls, and a wood stove in the center. These gers are vital for life on the Taiga and are used by the nomads and farmers today. Staying in a ger, warmed by the wood fire you’ll get the best night’s sleep.
The key is to find a “real” ger experience and not a tourist camp. Because you’ll run into huge collections of gers set up strictly to accommodate tourists. These aren’t bad and you’ll definitely utilize them at one point or another on your trip but you should strive to stay at ONE ger that is owned and operated by a single family. Sometimes it even involves staying WITH a local family.
How To Do It Yourself: The small town at the foot of Amarbayasgalant Monastery has a collection of families that run a very basic ger. Between the nearly 20 gers I’ve slept in around Mongolia, this was one of my favorite families.
2. Camp in the Vast Mongolian Wilderness
Wild camping in Mongolia is 100% free, encouraged, and should be on the top of your Mongolia Bucketlist. There is quite literally nothing better than pitching a tent in the remote corners of Mongolia. Sometimes we would find a scenic river to sleep by or a huge grassy field to camp in…but no matter what it’s truly idyllic.
How To Do It Yourself: You can rent/buy camping equipment from any of the outdoor shops in UB or bring your own.
3. Try Traditional Mongolian Food
I’m a firm believer that eating the traditional food of a country is essential to understanding the culture. Or experiencing what life is like as a local…even if it’s just a tiny slice. The “must-eat” Mongolian meals are…
- Buuz. Hand-folded meat dumplings. 7/10 delicious level.
- Huushuur. Fried meat pockets. 10/10 favorite.
- Tsuivan. Chinese-influenced noodle stir fry w/ hand-cut noodles. 8/10
- Lavsha. Noodle Soup. 6/10
- Goulash. 5/10.
The most traditional dish I ate during my time in the country was actually a whole-boiled sheep. On day one we ate the organs. The following days we began working our way through the more palatable meat.
How To Do It Yourself: The best way to eat Mongolian food is to seek out small crowded restaurants in every town you pass through. We had the most luck at lunch. The more remote the better. UB didn’t have much in terms of traditional Mongolian from what I found.
4. Climb the Singing Sand Dunes for Sunset
Khongoryn Els. I’ve actually got a whole blog post describing this Gobi Desert sight and why you must visit. It’s also got a whole bunch of tips to make your visit go as smoothly as possible.
How To Do It Yourself: Read my dedicated blog post and be sure to plan one overnight stay in this part of the Gobi Desert.
5. Seek Out the Endangered Ibex of Yolyn Am
Mongolia is one of the only places to see the Siberian Ibex and their massive curved horns. These sheep-like animals are endangered and rare to spot.
There are lots of other cool animals to spot in Mongolia too. Cute yaks, fuzzy camels, late-night kangaroo mice, soaring vultures (another Yolyn Am fave), barking Pica, and roaming foxes. Just to name a few.
How To Do It Yourself: Yolyn Am is the best place to spot these Ibex expertly navigating the limestone cliffs. Golden hour late in the afternoon or early morning is the best time. Read my whole blog post on Yolyn Am for more tips to plan your visit.
6. Visit the World’s Last Truly Nomadic Reindeer Herding Tribes
The Tsaatan people are the last of Mongolia’s true nomads. They also happen to ride reindeer. Their camp is essentially on the edge of the earth. It’s in Siberia and only accessible via a two-day drive from civilization and then a 4-8 hour horseback ride. It’s an incredible experience, one I will never forget, and I recommend it to everyone.
How To Do It Yourself: Read my full blog post on visiting the Tsaatan. I lay out ALL the different ways to visit them and what you need to know before you commit to go.
7. Try the Local Alcohol.
As revolting as it may be. There are two different kinds of locally distilled alcohol. One is called Airag and is the highly-esteemed local favorite. It’s also the more vile of the two. Airag is creamy and white fermented mare’s milk. It tastes a little like warm cheap white wine mixed with whole milk. Overall 0/10, maybe the worst alcoholic beverage I’ve consumed.
Arkhi is a stronger version of this fermented milk that is then distilled (often in a home distillery on the stove) to become a transparent liquor. Unfortunately, it still retains some of the earthy taste of farm animals but is overall better than Airag.
How to Do It Yourself: It’s as simple as staying with a local. Both times we tried the beverages we were staying at a local ger camp and gifted the concoctions by our hosts. If you don’t have any luck with it, you can usually purchase Airag in plastic liter bottles near tourist areas like Khuvsgul Lake or anywhere domestic tourism is popular.
8. Watch the Sun Sink Behind the Flaming Cliffs
The flaming cliffs are a bright orange desert formation in the heart of the Gobi Desert. They are one of the most popular sights in Mongolia and are visited by every tour or independent traveler in the country. While they are impressive to visit at any time of day…they are significantly more impressive at sunset.
Fun Fact: Most of the fossils found in Mongolia come from this region. They are still digging up full skeletons each year.
How To Do It Yourself: I’ve got a blog post for that.
9. Spot the Ancestors of the Domesticated Horse in Hustai National Park
Hustai is not all that far from the capital city but it looks like a world away. Once you leave the pavement and start heading toward the park, you’ll be engulfed in tall grasses and won’t see a single manmade structure as far as the eye can see. Until you hit the handful of gers that is.
The reason to visit Hustai NP is not just beautiful scenery though. The reason it was created was to protect the re-introduced Przewalski Horse. Locally called Takhi, these horses are the closest relative we have alive today to truly wild horses. They had gone totally extinct in the wild until Mongolia reintroduced them to their native habitat. If you’re an animal lover this is a great place to visit.
How To Do It Yourself: Read my full blog post on how to get there and where to camp as well as how to time your visit for prime horse viewing!
10. Camp at the Foot of White Stupa for Sunrise
The White Stupa was my favorite place in all of Mongolia’s desert. Hand’s down. It’s a difficult landscape to describe. Soft, crumbling sandstone interlaced with bright colors from the soil minerals have created a jagged landscape that can be viewed from the top of the cliffs and from below. I highly highly recommend camping at the base of the stupa because it’s the best campsite in the country for desert views.
How To Do It Yourself: You probably guessed it. I’ve got a blog for that.
11. Take a Horseback Ride on a Stubby Mongolian Stallion
Mongolia’s horses are known for two things. Being of a short and stout build. And being easily startled while on the trail. Not great for inexperienced riders like myself, but I wasn’t going to go to Mongolia and NOT ride a horse. There’s this saying “A Mongolian without a horse is like a bird without wings”. That goes to show you how important a role the horse plays in the country.
It’s also just a really cool way to see the countryside. Especially if you aren’t planning on driving Mongolia yourself.
How To Do It Yourself: You will ride a Mongolian horse (plenty) if you plan to visit to Tsaatan tribe with Zaya. #6 on this list. If that’s not enough horse for you, Khuvsgul Lake is another popular spot for scenic meandering horseback rides. Your ger or homestay host can almost always arrange that for you.
12. Time Your Visit for Nadaam Festival
Nadaam is the largest festival in Mongolia. It’s here that thousands of people gather in celebration of Mongolian traditions. You can witness the three traditional games here firsthand. Horse racing, archery, and wrestling. Sometimes they combine the tasks. It’s an incredible display of athletic ability and the single most important festival when it comes to Mongolian culture.
How To Do It Yourself: Visit during the festival! The festival is slated to be July 11th – July 13th in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
13. Make it to the Altai Mountains!
I am enamored with the Alpine environment of Altai. It looks absolutely breathtaking. Snowy mountains with perfect pointed peaks, clear lakes with forested shores, and lots of hiking. It’s the most remote region of Mongolia and a stretch for most travelers to fit into their itinerary. But no doubt, it’s worth the effort. This is our bucketlist item for our next visit to Mongolia.
How To Do It Yourself: Give yourself enough time. Not only do you need to reach Altai which could take 3-5 days on the ground, but you need to give yourself ample time for the guided treks through the mountains themselves. There are plenty of tour operators in the country that can make this happen if you have a 3-week stay.
14. Drive the Country Yourself. Without a Guide.
This is how we traveled in Mongolia. Despite all the advice to hire a guide or driver. We wanted a raw unadulturated adventure after relaxing for a couple of weeks in the inhabited islands of the Maldives. While I can say that self-driving in Mongolia was difficult and not for the faint-hearted, it is totally doable for prepared travelers. If you can muster the courage, I recommend it wholeheartedly. Just check out Drive Mongolia for the best rentals.
How To Do It Yourself: We have a series of blogs for that.
Can You Road Trip Mongolia Independently? (Tips for Self-Drivers & Car Rentals)
Routes. Off-road rules. Where to rent your car. Everything you need to know to…
EPIC Self-Drive Mongolia Itinerary: Gobi Desert, Altai Mountains, & Reindeer Tribes
The perfect 3-4ish week itinerary for independent travelers.
The Best 2 Week Mongolia Itinerary: Craters, Lakes, and Solitude
Explore the Gobi Desert, Khorgo Volcano, Hustai National Park, stunning monasteries, and more. This…
15. Visit Terelj National Park and Hike the Green Hills
Another day, another Mongolian National Park. This is the closest national park to Ulaanbaatar and therefore the busiest in the country. I thought that would take away from the experience, but it was still wonderful. I guess you really don’t have to worry about crowds in the least densely populated country in the world. Visit the park, stay overnight, and take at least one hike through the rolling green hills and lush terrain that make this area worth protecting.
How To Do It Yourself: Read my full guide to Terelj National Park.
16. Visit a Mongolian Monastery
There are more than 1,000 Buddhist sites in Mongolia. But there are two that stood out to me when we planned our trip Erdene Zu (the nearly 500-year-old monastery of the ancient capital city Kharkhorin) and Amarbayasgalant Monastery (one of the largest in the country). While it’s neat to visit both if your itinerary allows, Amarbayasgalant was one of my favorite stops in the country and should not be missed. It’s the vastness of the grassland it sits in and the remote location that make it a cool find.
How To Do It Yourself: For more tips on visiting Erdene Zu or Amarbayasgalant.
17. Stargaze in Some of the Darkest Skies on Earth
Least densely populated country in the world with only 1 or 2 places that could even be considered a city? Obviously, this is the best country in the world for star-gazing. There’s not even any comparison.
How To Do It Yourself: The best stars will be viewed far from cities or towns and while you are wild camping. Essentially you just want to leave behind all the light pollution you can so while ger camps are sometimes good for gazing, it’s better when there no manmade structures with lights around.
18. Ride in a Russian Van
If you’ve gotten this far on the list and HAVEN’T yet ridden in a Russian Van I would be surprised. These are the main modes of transport within the country. That and the Prius. But the vans are used as buses between towns, on group tours, and a common car for Mongolians to own in more remote destinations when high clearance and reliability are necessary. You can even rent one for yourself to drive if you want (although I do think there are better options).
How To Do It Yourself: Take a shared transport between cities/towns!
4 Things That Aren’t as Cool As They Are Made Out To Be in Mongolia
Before anyone loses their mind, this is based on my own personal preferences and travel style. I’m a doer and much prefer experiences to museums so if you’re a big history buff or museum fanatic then maybe you’ll love the things below.
1. Ulaanbaatar
The blasphemy begins. I was basically bedridden by a mysterious illness I picked up in the Maldives during my entire time in Ulaanbaatar so take this with a grain of salt. From the little I did see of the city, I was totally underwhelmed. It’s very Soviet-era and ugly. It’s polluted, the food is bad, it’s busy and crowded. I once saw it referred to as “a scar on the otherwise beautiful Mongolian landscape” which sums it up to me.
2. Any and all museums in the country.
From UB and beyond. If you’re used to a more Western-style museum with English translations and carefully thought-out exhibits, most of these museums are going to surprise you if not downright disappoint.
This is funny because if you Google the “best things to do in Mongolia” 99% of the lists showcase these two things I’ve listed above as some of the best things to do in Mongolia. But if you travel to this remote corner of the world I can pretty much guarantee you’re here for wild nature and vast beautiful landscapes. Not a history museum.
3. The Food
Obviously, you have to try the food in Mongolia. That’s why it’s on the list above. But if I can speak candidly, it’s the worst cuisine I’ve ever had. Mostly because each meal consists of boiled, unsalted, sheep meat. In some form or another. This is a survivalist way of cooking meat and it tastes horrible. But then again, that’s not really the point of eating for those living on the edges of starvation.
4. The Large Group Tours
I was really surprised by how generic and cookie-cutter most of the Mongolia tours on offer were. Essentially every company packs a Russian Van full of people and takes them to all the same sights. Flaming Cliffs, Yolyn Am, Khonghorin Els, Kharkhorin, and UB. They can pack this route tightly into 1-2 week trips and charge you an arm and a leg for this service. Honestly, I just think people would be better off hiring a driver, driving themselves, or tagging along with other travelers using the FB Group for Mongolia Travels.
Tourism is new in Mongolia and right now I think many people are all doing the same things. This will likely change as other tour organizations take root.
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