This post may contain affiliate links. This just means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you for helping them promote their product or service. I don’t endorse any services I don’t personally use or recommend.
AKA our complete Mongolia Overland Packing List. This little list details exactly what you need to bring to visit Mongolia. No fuss or frills, just the essentials.
Don’t stress too much. You can get almost anything you forget off this list in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar.
Mongolia is as wild a destination as they come. Even the tamest trip on a guided tour through the Gobi desert requires a carefully packed bag. Adventures on your own into the Taiga (like our 3-week road trip) require careful planning and a well-stocked kit. In fact, your life just may depend on it.
We’ve constructed two packing lists in this post.
The first is a general Mongolia packing list that anyone who visits the country should make sure to bring or buy before they leave the capital of UB. The second list is our complete Mongolia overland packing list. This list covers everything you need to travel independently in the country. This second list can also be helpful for those who are planning on hiring a driver or guide of their own (rather than an all-inclusive tour) and camping as you travel in remote Mongolia.
Read this guide to decide if overland travel in Mongolia is for you.
Mongolia Packing List for Everyone
Important Note: 90% of travel to Mongolia occurs in the summer months of June-September. This is because the weather outside those months is harsh and inhospitable. Many tourist destinations close up completely outside that time window. So, for the sake of being an actually useful blog post, both my packing lists are going to assume you will be traveling in these slightly warmer and more temperate months.
I’ve gone ahead and linked products that I personally use & recommend.
Clothing
- Sandals. I used Teva. I love them because they are super lightweight.
- Hiking boots or tennis shoes.
- Warm thermal base layers.
- Leggings. 2 pairs.
- Hiking or travel pants. Prana is my personal favorite.
- Shorts.
- Comfy variety of shirts. Tank top, t-shirt, and long sleeve.
- Rain jacket.
- Fleece zip-up jacket for layering.
- Coat. Doesn’t have to be a parka but it should be warm for cold nights.
- Hat. This is more for sun coverage than actual warmth.
- Warm wool socks. 2 pairs.
- Regular socks and underwear.
Extras
- Toiletries.
- Universal charging device. I’ve used this one for years.
- Laundry sheets. Expect to do all your laundry yourself in sinks if you do laundry at all.
- Sunscreen. 50 SPF+
- Bug Repellent. DEET-preferred.
- Sunglasses.
- Lifestraw Water Bottle.
- Microfiber towel. For showering.
- Earplugs. For some reason, kids are always playing basketball at the ger camps until late at night.
If you are planning on taking a tour or hiring a guide this is really all you’ll need to plan for yourself unless you’re told otherwise.
Where to get Supplies in Ulaanbaatar
If you’ve forgotten something dire or are planning on overlanding in Mongolia (like we did) there are plenty of places in UB where you can pick up what you need.
Read More: Everything you need to know before you go to Mongolia.
Outdoor Clothing + Camping Gear
Here are my favorite places in town to get gear.
Altai Tavan Bogd Outdoor Equipment Store
Standard camping equipment and clothing.
Ayanchin Outfitters (Near the Ibis)
Great outdoor gear and high-quality clothing.
State Department Store
Right in the center of town and a popular place to pick up a SIM card. They have shops with lots of supplies.
Drive Mongolia
This is a last resort. If you are hiring a car from Drive Mongolia then you could ask him to get some of the necessary goods you are missing or see if he has donations from past renters. For example, we left our pillows with him for future campers.
Grocery Stores
Labeled as *Cynep Mapket* you’ll find that the supermarkets in UB are pretty well-stocked. You won’t find much clothing or camping-specific gear here but you’ll be able to find daily essentials like lighters, pillows, blankets, cups, soap, propane, all the good stuff.
Mongolia Overland Packing List
Here’s our entire kit list for driving a 4×4 vehicle across Mongolia without a guide.
This is EVERYTHING you need (and where to get it) to plan the perfect independent trip through Mongolia. Be sure to also bring all the items listed on the basic Mongolia packing list above, as well.
A few essential camping items were provided to us by Drive Mongolia in our vehicle rental. They were included in the price. If you are planning on renting a car from him be sure to check in and see what’s included in your kit so you know what to bring or buy yourself. I’ve simply marked the kit included with our vehicle as “Drive Mongolia” below.
Mongolia Overland Packing List: Basics
- Tent (Drive Mongolia)
- Sleeping Bag. (Drive Mongolia) Was not super warm but it did the job in August.
- Pillows. This was our single best purchase at the supermarket. Not only did it make camping more comfortable but most of the gers have flimsy or non-existent pillows. Trust me, you’ll want it.
- Camping chairs (Drive Mongolia)
- Sleeping mats (Drive Mongolia)
- Local SIM card.
- Downloaded Maps.Me map.
- Google Translate app.
- Extra: Garmin watch. This came in handy so many times. On a few occasions, only Garmin (not Google or maps.me) had the route we needed to take to our destination. This was mostly used in the Tsaagaanuur area.
Note on SIM cards: You should have one person get Unitell and another Mobiphone so you have the best chance at coverage in all areas of the country. You can easily (and relatively quickly) get a SIM at the state department store on the second floor OR at one of the branch offices for the cellular company of your choice.
Mongolia Overland Packing List: Recovery Kit
- CASH. CASH. Lots of it. In remote areas, there are no working ATMs. Honestly, it’s best to just stock up on all the cash before you leave UB and save yourself the hassle of finding a working ATM. On the reverse end of that, you should exchange all your cash at the end of the trip before you leave the country as Mongolian is a closed currency and you’ll face difficulties exchanging it once you leave.
- Tow Rope or vehicle with winch (Drive Mongolia)
- 2 Spare Tires. (Drive Mongolia)
- Basic Repair kit for your vehicle. (Drive Mongolia) Even if you don’t know how to use it all, it’s possible that a passing local will be able to help if the kit is there. Ours had all sorts of nuts, bolts, and wrenches.
- Air compressor for tires. (Drive Mongolia) You’ll need to deflate when you’re driving on sand in the desert.
- Gauge to read air in tires. (Drive Mongolia) Important for when your deflating and relating.
- Satellite Phone. Drive Mongolia can provide this but we managed without it. This is for ensuring rescue in an emergency and would be a good thing to have.
- 20L rooftop container full of extra gas/diesel. (Drive Mongolia) You may need it in some remote areas.
- Cooking stove. (Drive Mongolia)
- Butane fuel for the stove. It’s always good to have extra because you burn lots more than you think.
- Cup, plate, silverware, knife, pot, and pan. (Drive Mongolia)
- Washing bin for dishes, clothes, and yourself. (Drive Mongolia)
- Food storage bin with a lid. (Drive Mongolia)
- Multi-tool.
- Lantern for lighting your camp.
- Egg carriers. If you want eggs for breakfast these are very important. You’ll lose lots of eggs otherwise on the bumpy roads.
- 3 days worth of food, water, and butane. You should never travel with less. Just in case of emergency. This is about 6-10 liters of water per person.
- Lighters. A lot of them because they tend to be shit. Matches as a back-up.
- Baby wipes. For showering.
- Garbage bags. For cleanup.
- Vodka and cigarettes for rewarding people who inevitably help you when you’re lost or stuck.
Electronics and Entertainment
- Charging cords and adapter for the car.
- Zoom lens and drone.
- Kindle, dice, and cards for games and relaxing at night.
- External charging device.
Easy Meals to Make While on the Road in Mongolia
As an added bonus, here are the meals we made ourselves and the food we had on hand while driving around the country.
Keep in mind you’ll probably have only one pan and one pot.
1. Potato Hash w/ SPAM and/or canned veg
Fresh veggies are few and far between in Mongolia. We threw them in when we could find them. Usually bell pepper, onion, and garlic.
2. SPAM, cheese, and egg sandwiches
There was a lot of SPAM for protein on this trip. This is because it keeps well when you don’t have refrigeration.
3. Instant ramen soups.
Read More: 18 Bucketlist-worthy things to do in Mongolia.
4. Pasta with veggies, (SPAM), and red sauce.
5. Oats for breakfast.
The thicker cut with dried fruit is better.
6. Instant coffee and instant hot chocolate.
Not a meal I know, but essential for my enjoyment of life on the road.
7. Nutella and Jam sandwiches
Better than peanut butter.
8. Gas station snacks for the long drives
Pringles (work best for storage in the car), gummy and sour gummy snacks, fruit and nut mixes, apples, bananas, gum, assorted biscuits, and filled cookies. There were TONS at the local grocery stores.
Keep in mind you’ll likely be super tired from a long day of driving and want simple meals.
This is essentially everything you need to travel to Mongolia. Whether you are visiting on a tour or traveling independently this Mongolia packing list has all your bases covered. I highly recommend reading my other posts on traveling Mongolia independently and which sights are really worth visiting in the country before your trip! Mongolia is a country where a little preparation goes a long way toward making your journey comfortable.
No Comments