Mongolia Travel Packing List: Essential Items to Bring Before Your Trip
Are you planning a trip to Mongolia?
Mongolia offers experiences that are difficult to find anywhere else—from endless grasslands and the Gobi Desert to star-filled night skies, horseback riding, camel trekking, and traditional ger stays.
However, Mongolia has significant temperature differences between day and night compared with your country . Once you travel outside the cities, facilities such as shops, electricity, showers, and other conveniences may also be limited. For this reason, packing carefully before your trip is especially important. If you are planning a longer journey to destinations such as the Gobi Desert, Terelj, Tsenkher Hot Spring, or Khuvsgul Lake, use the following Mongolia travel packing checklist to prepare for your trip.
1. Luggage and Suitcase
For checked baggage, we generally recommend one suitcase per person, up to 23 kg.
Many Mongolia tours involve long-distance travel by vehicle, so a very large suitcase can be inconvenient. A 20–24 inch suitcase is usually easier to handle and load into tour vehicles. Baggage allowances vary depending on the airline and ticket type, so please check your airline's baggage policy before departure.For longer tours, we also recommend bringing a small backpack or day bag for frequently used items such as your passport, phone, power bank, water, sunscreen, and other essentials.
2. Warm Jacket and Long Pants
Mongolia has a large temperature difference between day and night. Especially in May and September, nighttime and early-morning temperatures can fall to around 5–6°C (41–43°F), so we recommend bringing a warm jacket.
Even during summer, temperatures in the grasslands and desert can drop quickly after sunset. It is best to bring clothes that can be layered, along with a windbreaker or warm jacket for cold and windy conditions.
Long pants are also essential for horseback riding and camel trekking. Shorts may cause your skin to rub against the saddle, so comfortable long pants are strongly recommended.
3. Hat and Sunscreen
Many areas of Mongolia are at relatively high elevations, and sunlight and UV exposure can be strong. There is also very little shade in the open grasslands and the Gobi Desert. We recommend bringing a wide-brimmed hat or another hat that provides good sun protection.
Sunscreen is also essential for protecting your face and skin. If you are spending a full day outdoors, remember to reapply sunscreen regularly.
4. Sunglasses
Strong sunlight and reflected light from Mongolia's open grasslands and desert landscapes can make your eyes tired.
We recommend bringing sunglasses with UV protection. They are particularly useful during Gobi Desert tours, long drives, horseback riding, and camel trekking.
5. Comfortable Shoes and Slippers
A Mongolia trip often involves walking through grasslands, deserts, rocky areas, and other natural terrain.Comfortable walking shoes, sneakers, or lightweight hiking shoes are recommended. If your itinerary includes the Gobi Desert or trekking, shoes with good grip are particularly useful. We also recommend bringing slippers or sandals for use at ger camps, especially when walking between your ger, the bathroom, and shower facilities.
6. Swimsuit | For Tsenkher Hot Spring
If your itinerary includes Tsenkher Hot Spring (Цэнхэр / Tsenkher Hot Spring), please remember to bring a swimsuit. A regular swimsuit suitable for an indoor swimming pool is appropriate for using the hot spring facilities. Bringing your own slippers or sandals can also be convenient.
7. Personal Toiletries
Amenities at Mongolian ger camps can be different from those provided by hotels. We recommend bringing your own personal toiletries, including: Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap or body wash, shampoo, conditioner, facial cleanser, and personal skincare products.Some ger camps provide towels, while others may not. Therefore, it is a good idea to bring your own towel or an extra towel. In particular, towels are generally not provided when staying with nomadic families in traditional gers. Hair dryers may also not be available at many ger accommodations, so bring a personal hair dryer if you need one.
8. Power Bank
A power bank is one of the most useful items to bring on a Mongolia trip.
Outside Ulaanbaatar, particularly in remote grassland and Gobi Desert areas, electricity may be limited or temporary power outages may occur. If you frequently use your phone for photos and videos, we recommend bringing a power bank with sufficient capacity. If you use a camera, consider bringing spare camera batteries as well.
Please note: Power banks are generally required to be carried in your hand luggage rather than checked baggage. Check your airline's current regulations before flying.
9. Personal Travel Essentials
Once you leave Ulaanbaatar, it may be difficult to immediately purchase certain personal items. If you regularly use particular personal or travel essentials, it is best to bring them with you. Wet wipes, tissues, hand sanitizer, lip balm, and moisturizer can also be particularly useful because Mongolia's climate is generally dry.
10. Passport | The Most Important Item!
Your passport is the most important item for your Mongolia trip. Please check your passport before departure and make sure it has sufficient validity for your trip. In case your passport is lost, we recommend keeping a photocopy of your passport and a digital photo or scan on your phone or another secure location. It is also recommended to bring two passport-size photos in case they are needed in an emergency. Always keep your passport in a safe place while traveling.
11.Address Information for Entry into Mongolia
If you need to provide a local address or contact number when entering Mongolia, you can use the following information:
Address:
Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Bayanzurkh District, 6th Khoroo, 22B, Door 201
Tel:
+976 8809 3431
Mongolia Travel Packing Checklist at a Glance
Before departure, make one final check:
✓ Passport
✓ 2 passport-size photos
✓ 20–24 inch suitcase
✓ Small backpack or day bag
✓ Warm jacket
✓ Long pants
✓ Sneakers or hiking shoes
✓ Slippers or sandals
✓ Hat
✓ Sunglasses
✓ Sunscreen
✓ Personal toiletries
✓ Personal towel
✓ Power bank
✓ Spare camera batteries
✓ Personal travel essentials
✓ Wet wipes and tissues
✓ Snacks and, if needed, simple Korean side dishes
✓ Swimsuit if your itinerary includes Tsenkher Hot Spring
A Well-Prepared Mongolia Trip Is an Even Better Experience
Traveling in Mongolia is quite different from a typical city vacation.
You can drive across endless grasslands and the Gobi Desert, explore the wilderness on horseback, experience Mongolia's vast landscapes, and spend your nights in traditional gers beneath a sky filled with stars.
Because much of the journey takes you away from cities and deep into nature, a little extra preparation can make your trip significantly more comfortable and enjoyable.
The items you need may vary depending on the season, destination, and itinerary, so please review your packing list once more before departure.
Prepare for a safe, comfortable, and unforgettable journey through Mongolia with Sky Tours Mongolia.