Grand Tour Mongolia

Route suggestions:

1 week

Route A) Central Mongolia

Route B) Gobi Desert

Route C) The north of Mongolia with Khuvsgul lake

2 weeks

Route D) Central Mongolia and Gobi Desert

Route E) Central Mongolia and northern Mongolia

3 weeks

Route F) Gobi Desert, Central Mongolia and northern Mongolia

Route G) Gobi Desert, Altai Mountains and the north of Mongolia

4 weeks

Route H) Gobi Desert, Altai Mountains and the north of Mongolia

FAQs

Activities

Horse riding in Mongolia

This is a dream that many want to realize. We recommend you to do short idyllic and guided horse riding and not to jump directly into multi-day tours. Mongolian horses and the Mongolian saddle are unlike a horseback ride back home. Horse riding is offered in many yurt camps and by nomads. Central Mongolia is especially suitable for horse riding around Kharakorum (for example at the Ugii lake).

Camel riding in Mongolia

Camel riding is a very special experience, especially along the dunes like the Khongor Sand Dune in the heart of the Gobi Desert or the "mini" Gobi Elsen Taserkhai in central Mongolia.

Offroad driving in Mongolia

Offroading and camping in Mongolia is definitely an amazing and fun experience. There are only very few countries where this combination is possible to the fullest off the beaten tracks and Mongolia is next to Namibia one of the last overlanding and camping heavens. The tracks through the steppe and deserts in Mongolia are an absolute highlight for every off-road fan! Also camping in the land of nomads is very special. You can freely camp in the nature. Just choose your campsite and watch the stars in the clear sky. Detailed camping tips can be found in our Camping Guide and driving tips in our Offroad Guide.

Fishing in Mongolia

Fishing in Mongolia is very unique and can be challenging. There are special species of fish here, such as the largest salmonid species in the world, which can get over 60 years old and up to two meters long. Carp and pike are particularly good at catching Ugii Lake in Central Mongolia. Yurt camps offer guided boat rides on the lake. Further details about fishing can be found in our Mongolia Fishing guide.

Best time to travel to Mongolia

The best time to travel to Mongolia is generally between mid-April and October. The Gobi Desert is the first region that can be explored in the spring from mid-April. In July and August the Gobi gets very hot and we recommend to travel between April and June or September to October. Especially beautiful in spring is to see the numerous newborn animals. Foals, baby camels, baby goats and little yaks run around everywhere!

In the summer months, Central Mongolia and especially Khuvsgul Lake in the north is a great destination. In the middle of July, the National Festival of Naadam takes place in each province and we strongly recommend to visit this spectacle in the countryside and to avoid Ulan Bator. There, the horse racing, wrestling and archery is still idyllic and less crowded.

In autumn, a trip across Mongolia into the Altai Mountains is amazing and the eagle hunters will be active again.

Packing list for your Grand Tour

Temperatures may fluctuate due to the continental climate. During the day the sun is strong and it warms up quickly. In the evening it usually cools down and you will feel the wind of the steppe. It is therefore recommended to pack clothes for warm and cold temperatures. In the Gobi it usually stays very warm at night during the summer months and a thin sleeping bag is enough. In the rest of the country, a warmer sleeping bag is recommended and especially in spring and autumn this is very important.

It does not rain much and the sky is mostly not covered in the "land of the blue sky". Therefore, sunscreen and sunglasses are also very important.

Please contact us for more information.

Mongolian Food

The Mongolian cuisine is primarily meat and dough-heavy (you can find more information about Mongolian food in our blog) and you will find in almost every small village a restaurant offering Buzz, Khushuur and a meat dish. There are also everywhere small supermarkets with the basics. Provincial capitals such as Dalanzadgad in the Gobi, Darkhan and Erdenkt in the north also have large supermarkets with many foreign products.

It makes the most sense to buy provisions for about 3 to 5 days from Ulaanbaator and to buy the rest on the way.

In Ulaanbaatar the new Emart (a Korean hypermarket chain) is a good "one stop shop". There you will find everything you need for a road trip. For Glamping and gourmet friends, Rosewood Restaurant with Rosewood Market and Butchery on Soul Street is a great place to go. Here you will find freshly baked burgers and sourdough bread (lasts longer) as well as a wide selection of barbecue products. Our tip is to take their vacuum packed and frozen home-made products, which are then also good to eat fresh after several days.

The camping set contains a gas stove. You should always have enough LPG 500ml gas bottles. These can be found in most supermarkets.

Navigation and Gas Stations in Mongolia

Navigation in Mongolia works best with a smartphone and the maps.me app. Download the app with the Mongolia map in advance on your mobile phone for free and buy a local SIM card from Unitel, Gmobile or Mobicom. With the app you can navigate without Cyrillic knowledge and without Internet connection. Make sure that you do not underestimate the distances and driving times. On the asphalt roads you drive mostly 40-80kmh and should not rush. Do not drive after dusk due to the many animals and difficult navigation.

Mongolia is the least populated country in the world and at the same time has an amazingly dense network of gas stations. Each small settlement has at least one gas station and along the main roads there are petrol stations at regular intervals. It is always advisable to fill up with 2/3 full tanks and visit more frequented gas stations with better fuel and to use additives at regular intervals (for gasoline cars the LIQUI MOLY Octane Plus for a higher Octane number and more power as well as the Injection Cleaner against corrosion, bacteria and water in the fuel. Diesel powered vehicles should use the LIQUI MOLY Super Diesel additive for more Cetan, power and against corrosion, bacteria and water). More information can be found in our Offroad Guide.

Roadside Assistance in Mongolia

If you get into an accident or damage the vehicle, please contact your vehicle rental company SIXT immediately. SIXT will help you immediately and if necessary send a mechanic or replacement car. MAS is a good local Roadside Assistance provider. More information can be found in our Offroad Guide.

More information and tips for this trip

United States and German citizens do not need a visa to stay for 30 days. Austrians and Swiss receive a visa from the Mongolian Embassy in Vienna and Geneva. Find more information here and contact us (contact@escapetomongolia.com)