10 Things to Know Before Traveling to Mongolia – What First-Time Visitors Should Expect
When planning a trip to Mongolia, most travelers first search for famous destinations such as the Gobi Desert, Terelj National Park, Khuvsgul Lake, or activities like horseback riding.
But once you arrive in Mongolia, you may notice many things that you did not expect.
Why are travel distances so long? Why should you bring warm clothes even in summer? Why are there so few fences across the grasslands? And why can your mobile signal suddenly disappear once you leave the city?
If you are visiting Mongolia for the first time, here are 10 useful things to know about everyday life and traveling around the country.
1. Mongolia Is Much Bigger Than You Might Expect
Looking at Mongolia on a map and actually traveling across the country by road are two very different experiences.
Mongolia has a vast territory and a relatively small population, which means that many major travel destinations are located far from one another.
On a Gobi Desert tour, for example, spending several hours a day traveling by vehicle is completely normal.
However, these long drives are not simply time spent getting from one attraction to another.
Grasslands, deserts, mountains, herds of animals, and small settlements continuously appear outside your window. In Mongolia, the journey itself is part of the travel experience.
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2. Not Every Road Is Paved
One of the first things that may surprise travelers in Mongolia is the road system.
Major roads connecting Ulaanbaatar with larger towns are generally paved, but once you travel deeper into the countryside or the Gobi, you may spend significant time driving on unpaved roads.
In some areas, there may not even be a road in the conventional sense. Vehicles simply follow tracks across the open steppe.
For this reason, when planning a countryside tour in Mongolia, it is worth considering not only the destinations but also the type of vehicle used for the journey.
3. There Are Very Few Fences Across the Steppe
Travelers accustomed to fenced farmland may notice something unusual when looking across Mongolia's enormous grasslands.
There are often very few fences.
Horses, sheep, goats, cattle, and other livestock can be seen grazing across wide open areas.
This enormous, uninterrupted landscape is one of the reasons traveling through Mongolia can create such a remarkable feeling of space and freedom.
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4. The Weather Can Change Dramatically During a Single Day
In Mongolia, you may experience a cold morning, a warm afternoon, and another chilly evening — all on the same day.
Temperature changes can feel particularly noticeable in the open steppe and desert regions.
That is why packing only T-shirts because you are visiting during summer may not be the best idea.
Bringing clothes that can be layered, along with a light warm jacket and something to protect you from the wind, can make your trip much more comfortable.
When traveling in Mongolia, being prepared for changing temperatures is important even during summer.
5. The Sky Can Feel Enormous
One thing many travelers notice after leaving the city is just how big the Mongolian sky seems.
Outside urban areas, there are few tall buildings or structures blocking the horizon.
The grasslands stretch into the distance with an enormous open sky above them, creating a sense of space that can be difficult to appreciate from photographs alone.
On clear nights, remote areas with little artificial light can also offer wonderful opportunities for stargazing and seeing the Milky Way.
Sometimes, a quiet night in the middle of the Mongolian steppe can be just as memorable as visiting a famous attraction.
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6. Mobile Phone and Internet Coverage May Not Always Be Available
Using the internet in Ulaanbaatar and other major towns is generally straightforward.
However, when traveling through remote areas of the Gobi Desert or countryside, mobile coverage may become weak or disappear temporarily.
Before leaving the city, it can be useful to save important booking information, maps, and other necessary documents on your phone.
You may also want to let family or friends know that you will be traveling through areas where you might occasionally be unreachable.
And for some travelers, spending a little time away from constant messages and social media becomes an unexpected benefit of traveling through Mongolia.
7. Vehicles Are an Important Part of Traveling Around Mongolia
Because many of Mongolia's attractions are separated by considerable distances, vehicles play an important role in countryside travel.
Unlike destinations where tourists can easily travel between major attractions by train or public transportation, exploring Mongolia's remote regions usually requires road travel.
This is particularly true when visiting the Gobi Desert and other areas far from major cities.
When choosing a Mongolia tour, therefore, it is useful to look beyond hotels and sightseeing locations and also consider the vehicle, driver, and approximate daily driving distances.
8. Allow Extra Time for Traffic in Ulaanbaatar
After imagining Mongolia as a country of endless empty grasslands, the traffic in Ulaanbaatar may come as a surprise.
The capital has a large concentration of Mongolia's population, and traffic congestion can occur, particularly during busy periods.
This becomes especially important when traveling to the airport or catching an international flight.
On your final day in Mongolia, it is generally better to leave enough time for transportation rather than planning an extremely tight schedule before departure.
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9. Traditional Mongolian Food Features Plenty of Meat and Dairy
Traditional Mongolian cuisine has been strongly influenced by the country's nomadic lifestyle.
Meat — particularly mutton and beef — is common, while dairy products also have an important place in traditional food culture.
During your trip, you may encounter dishes such as Khorkhog, Buuz, Khuushuur, and Tsuivan.
Modern Ulaanbaatar, however, offers a much wider range of dining options, including Mongolian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Western cuisine.
Food choices can be more limited when traveling in remote regions, so travelers with allergies or special dietary requirements should communicate them before beginning their trip.
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10. Not Everything Will Always Go Exactly According to Plan
Traveling through rural Mongolia sometimes requires flexibility.
Weather, road conditions, livestock movements, and local circumstances can occasionally affect travel times or routes.
You may need to take a different track, wait for animals to cross the road, or arrive somewhere later than originally expected.
But these unexpected moments can also become part of the experience.
You might stop in the middle of an empty grassland, watch a herd of horses pass by, or unexpectedly encounter a spectacular sunset.
In Mongolia, traveling with a little flexibility and an open mind can sometimes lead to the most memorable moments of the journey.
In Mongolia, the Journey Between Destinations Is Part of the Experience
The beauty of traveling in Mongolia is not limited to famous attractions.
The long road toward the Gobi Desert, horses passing outside your window, enormous grasslands, changing weather, and stars above a remote ger camp can all become part of your Mongolia story.
So if you are visiting Mongolia for the first time, don't focus only on how many attractions you can fit into your itinerary.
Enjoy the journey between them as well.
You may discover a side of Mongolia that you never expected.
Recommended Mongolia Tours
Ready to experience Mongolia for yourself? Explore some of our recommended routes:
Central Mongolia – 4 Nights / 5 Days
Gobi Desert & Terelj – 5 Nights / 6 Days
Khuvsgul Lake, Central & Northern Mongolia – 6 Nights / 7 Days