If travel to Mongolia isn’t already on your radar it should be. Here’s why, plus my recommendations for things to do and see in Mongolia on a short trip.
Travelling Mongolia isn’t really on the average tourist’s radar, but since I was living in Hong Kong (which isn’t super close by but is at least in the same hemisphere) planning a visit there was always in the back of my mind.
However, after nearly five years in HK and travels to nearly every other country in the region, I still hadn’t made it to Mongolia.
Why? Turns out that going to Mongolia, even from HK, isn’t particularly cheap nor easy. And as someone who mostly plans their trips around cost and convenience, this meant a visit to Mongolia kept getting put on the backburner, while I flitted around to places like Japan, Thailand, and Myanmar. *cue the world’s smallest violin*
But last year, as my move back to The Big Apple loomed, I decided to bite the bullet, throw down the cash, and make the time (and energy) for a recon trip. I went to Mongolia for 5 days in June (yet froze my buns off?!) and rocked the adventure solo dolo (thinking about travelling alone? Peep my tips for solo travel here).
And you know what? It was everything.
But before I get into what I did, here are a few quick facts about Mongolia for you geography buffs out there.
Facts and figures (aka why you should go to Mongolia in the first place)
-Mongolia is one of the most sparsely populated nations in the world, with only 4.3 people per square mile.
-Mongolia is known as the “Land of Blue Sky” because it has 260 days of sun a year.
-There are 13 times more horses than humans in the country, and sheep outnumber humans 35 to 1.
-Mongolia is home to one of the world’s last surviving nomadic cultures, and these nomads still live in traditional tents known as gers or yurts. These portable dwellings are round and covered with animal skins or felt to retain heat.
-Mongolia is perhaps best known for its steppes, or endless expanses of grasslands. These prairie regions are characterized by their lack of trees.
Intrigued? I sure was. Here’s what I did on my trip to Mongolia and why my stay there was amazing.
Top things to do in Mongolia (aka why my trip to Mongolia was everything)
I visited the coldest capital city in the world– Ulaanbaatar
Did you know that Mongolia’s capital city of Ulaanbaatar is the coldest in the world? Temperatures in January are as low as −36 to −40 °C, eek! My journey started from there, and this was the view from my hotel room.
Heck, since I’m sharing, here is what my hotel room looked like. I was hosted by the J Hotel, a very clean, new-ish hotel found a short cab ride away from Ulaanbaatar’s sites.
(Sidebar: I was very happy to luxuriate in that king size bed since I the previous night’s sleeping quarters consisted of stretching myself across three metal chairs in Beijing’s airport, where I had a 9 hour overnight layover. Remember when I mentioned that getting to Mongolia was inconvenient? I wasn’t joking).
Truth be told, Ulaanbaatar doesn’t have loads of must-sees or things to do from a tourist perspective, and I found it to have a bit of a weird vibe. That may or may not be because I had a bit of a “situation” at the Naran Tuul Market– while I was wandering amongst the outdoor stalls a male vendor roughly grabbed my arm (perhaps to get me to look at his goods?) and wouldn’t let go for at least 10 seconds as I tried to, then eventually succeeded, in pushing him away. As he was speaking in Mongolian, I have no idea what he actually wanted.
Please note: I wouldn’t say that I feared for my safety, but that, combined with a couple of lecherous glances/advances I got from men (no doubt emboldened to do so since I was a female foreigner travelling on her own) definitely contributed to the sketch factor.
At any rate, apart from that, I spent most of my two days in the city walking around and taking photos. Both nights I was in town I ate at Hazara, a very good (if pricey) Indian restaurant about a twenty minute walk from my hotel.
While I don’t recommend visiting Ulaanbaatar as a top thing to do in Mongolia, it’s highly likely to be your first point of entry into the country anyway, especially if you arrive by plane.
I went into the Mongolian steppe, got to stay with a Mongolian family, and got to sleep in a ger
Folks, if you’re looking for a top thing to do in Mongolia– this is it! In all honesty, this is what most (if not all) tourists come to Mongolia for.
The best way to experience Mongolia when you’re short on time is to go on a tour. I thus partnered with Idre Tour on a 3 day, 2 night adventure in the Mongolian steppe.
It was an epic experience that took me through two of the country’s major attractions: the Khogno Khan Uul Nature Reserve and Gorki-Terelj National Park. The tour was made all the more poignant by the fact that I was “unplugged” in all senses of the word: I had no access to electricity, running water (yup, no showers), or internet for 72 hours!
While I’m an internet addict, the opportunity to appreciate nature without the constant distraction of my phone/Whatsapp/laptop was nice. The opportunity to travel by myself (I was the only person on my tour for the 3 days) was nice, too.
Over the course of the tour I stayed with two different Mongolian families and slept in a “ger”, which I mentioned before is a traditional tent dwelling. However, while I enjoyed this authentic Mongolian experience, it was very cold at night, even in June!
The tour company was great. Not only did they arrange everything with the families, they also provided transportation from Ulaanbaatar to the steppe and back. I was accompanied by a local guide and a driver every step of the way– they not only explained everything about Mongolia’s unique culture, nature, and history, but also served as translators and chefs.
But more about the nomadic families I stayed with. They welcome travellers into their homes, despite speaking zero English and being unable to communicate. This is so amazing to me. The first family I stayed with consisted of an older couple who I called “Grandma” and “Grandpa” as I struggled to pronounce their names (Mongolian language is not easy). Though we couldn’t talk to each other without the aid a translator, their sincerity, simplicity, and kindness brought a tear to my eye. I’ll share more about the experience (for example getting the chance to sample traditional Mongolian food!) in a future post.
I went camel trekking in the Gobi Desert
Livestock is the main source of livelihood in Mongolia, so there were animals EVERYWHERE. Sheep, goats, camels, horses, and pigs are raised commercially. I love farm animals and got to play with a ton!
But one of the most amazing things to do in Mongolia is to ride a camel through the Gobi Desert, which I had a chance to do on my tour (I also took a selfie with a yak and watched bulls get in a fight with each other steps away from my ger, but I digress).
Camel trekking in Mongolia is all the more special since the type of camels found here are rare: while one-hump camels are all over Africa, the Middle East, Australia, and North America, the two-hump variety are native to Mongolia and aren’t found en masse anywhere else.
No doubt, camel trekking is a top tourist attraction in Mongolia. I thus jumped at the opportunity to ride a two-humped beauty through the Khogno Khan Uul Nature Reserve, which is home to the southern part of the Gobi Desert.
I got to visit the Genghis Khan Statue Complex– the largest horse statue in the world
Whether you call him Genghis Khan or Chinggis Khaan, there’s no disputing he is an integral part of Mongolian history. Genghis is the founder and emperor of the Mongolian empire, so you’re guaranteed to see his name and likeness throughout the country. It was thus no surprise that on the third day of my tour, we made a stop at the Genghis Khan Statue Complex, only located about an hour outside of Ulaanbaatar.
The complex is mainly built around a massive monument memorializing the mighty warrior atop his trademark horse– a random fact is that it’s actually the biggest equestrian statue in the world at over 130 feet high!
Even more random is that the complex also houses one of the biggest boots in the world– it’s composed of over 300 cowhides!
I got to reconnect with myself
Beyond all the stunning sights and attractions Mongolia has to the offer, one of the best things about going was the opportunity to reconnect with myself through solo travel, a practice of which I’m a huge advocate (especially for women). In particular, my days out in the steppe, sans distractions like the internet, gave me time to relax and ponder life’s big questions.
Yes, you should go to Mongolia!
So, in a nutshell, if you are interested in escaping to a less touristy destination that has loads of nature, quiet, culture, and wide open spaces where there are more animals than people (#antisocial), Mongolia is definitely the place for you. Just don’t go in the winter months because if it was that cold in June I can’t imagine what it’d be like in January!
Would you ever travel to Mongolia? What do you know about the country?
85 Comments
Oh wow!
I love it when someone shares their experience after traveling to a rarely-visited-not-flooded-with-tourists-kinda country.
Those are countries I yearn to see…Thanks for sharing the experiences you had in Mongolia!
Thanks so much Caroline!! I’ve been meaning to blog about Mongolia for ages but am only now just getting around to it!
Hello everyone, my name is Elisa Keily I am so overwhelmed with joy all thanks to Dr Raypower spell. My husband left me for another woman a few years back and I was very devastated cause I never did anything wrong to him, I was left with my two kids and a job that pays little. I was almost giving up until I saw a testimony online about Dr Raypower and I decided to contact him.I explained my problem to him and he assured me I’ll see a positive result after 24hurs, surprisingly my husband came back the day after the spell begging me to forgive him and promised to never leave. My husband has been back for 6 months now and we’ve never had any issues, am glad I didn’t doubt Dr Raypower cause he sure can solve any problems with fast relief you can also contact him for help now
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I would love to go to Mongolia! Although I’ve been reading about industrial pollution in Mongolia which is really sad. A lot of western companies who know the government who do anything when they dump toxic or radioactive waste throughout Mongolia 🙁
Eek! I’m not very knowledgeable about that but I wouldn’t be surprised! Mongolia’s neighbour China has a huge problem with industrial pollution too!
Wow!! Mongolia is not really on my top ten list to visit (or anywhere near my top ten, to be honest) – cost and convenience, like you said – I am really intrigued by it seeing as Turks trace our ancestry back to the Mongols, and it would be really impressive to experience my roots, so to speak.
The history is insane. I wish I had more time to explore the country and to learn more about it!
Wow, this was indeed an amazing read. I never knew that such rustic beauty existed in Mongolia. There are often places like this ignored by people and only those lucky enough to know their true identity can explore their beauty. Thanks a lot for sharing this as Mongolia is definitely on the top of my list now.
Yay I’m glad to hear that! The only reason Mongolia was on my radar is because I lived in Asia already!
Incredible post, Oneika! Ever since I started seeing photos of Mongolia, I’ve wanted to visit and spend a few disconnected weeks experiencing its beauty. It looks like you had a wonderful time, and you’ve really captured it beautifully!
Thanks so much Kay! It was really lovely over there!
Hi Oneika. I travelled on my own to Vietnam and Cambodia for 5 weeks 3 years ago, and admittedly I’m much older than you (47), but I felt kind of strange and out of place as a solo female traveller in this age group. Few people talked to me (especially fellow tourists) and it seemed as if most other travellers were in couples, groups or families in the countries I visited. I guess everyone’s experience is different (and I also acknowledge I’m not a particularly outgoing person), but even so, I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable travelling solo again for such a long period of time.
That’s totally fair! I hope you get to round up a group of friends to do this trip!
‘Love the post Oneika!
I would love to go to Mongolia. My dream is to do the Trans-Siberian or the Trans-Mongolian train journey, as I’m desperate to get back to Russia!
It was almost a thing last year, but I opted to go to the Philippines and Taiwan instead lol!
Some colleagues of mine did the Trans-Siberian last summer! I think the train trip would be a little long for me but it would definitely be interesting.
Outstanding pictures. I have never thought of visiting Mongolia but now I will research it and see what’s on offer. Thanks for the insightful post.
Yay! Glad this inspired you to visit!
I’d go for the textiles alone. Mama’s tunic was everything!
Haha! Right!?
I’ve wanted to visit Mongolia for years (mostly because I used to be a horse-crazy little girl and Mongolia is a home to a unique breed of wild horses, haha), but so far I haven’t had a chance to visit. You said it was quite expensive to get to, but once in the country, how pricey was it?
There are sooooo many horses! As for prices, I wouldn’t say it’s for a budget traveller. Most activities require a tour and tours can be pricey, BUT they often include all food and transport. The tour I did was about $300 USD but it included all food, accommodation, entry fees, and transfers.
Hey. I myself is a Mongolian and I live in Hungary. If Elina or anybody has a plan of spending a fraction of their SUMMER 2018 fun in Mongolia, don’t hesitate to hit me up/ask questions and travel together. Thanks Oneika for showing the beauty of this special country.
batzoriganar@gmail.com
I’ve always wanted to explore Mongolia but, no one was willing to travel to such a distant land with me. Since reading your blog I’m ready to “Grid my loins” and take that giant leap solo! Thanks for sharing your amazing adventure!
Yay! Glad to hear that!
Wow, love the photos and blog post about Mongolia. It’s been on my list for almost a decade, but like you, cheaper destinations win out. It’s great to know that a short ger excursion is available. If you were able to stay longer, what else would you have done or recommended?
So glad to see you went to Mongolia!! My sister was there for briefly for the Peace Corps (she cut her term short) a few years ago. We have been talking about going back since. I am going to share this with her. It is awesome to see solo WOC travelers going off the beaten path. I look forward to more posts about this trip.
Thanks so much for reading, Arley! You’re right, it’s perhaps not the most typical trip- WOC traveller or not! I hope you make it there with your sister soon!
Oh wow. Mongolia has been on my radar for years, but group tours are so expensive. Your blog is making me think it might be possible as a solo trip.
It looks amazing, and I love what you say about solo travel and reconnecting with yourself, as I couldn’t agree more!
I hope you go! It’s totally possible, and worth it!
Great post, so informative. Looking forward to my trip but until then, I guess I’ll have to make do with my playlist of Mongolian music: https://resfeberblog.tumblr.com/post/164440818755/comongolia-mongolia-playlist-a-playlist-on
Thanks,
Ian
How long did you stay in Mongolia for? I am going to HK in november but thinking about doing quick trip to Mongolia, realistically probably only have around 5 – 6 days. Is that feasible / worth the cost? Your trip sounded amazing.
Hi Oneika, your trip to Mongolia looks great. I was wondering if you still had the details for the company/tour you went with? As its itinerary sounds ideal.
Hi Oneika! Your trip to Mongolia looks amazing!!! I’m a solo traveler (sometimes) and others that my BF or friends tag along is cool! I travel to China a lot for work and was thinking of venturing off to Mongolia in October after my work is done to explore. I stay in Shenzhen near HK usually so to go to Mongolia I read from your info that is not so convenient. Regardless, I can figure it out! Is there a way you could share your itinerary, where you stood? a little more info 🙂 if possible. I will try to convince a Chinese friend that lives in Shenzhen to go, but if she can’t, I might just go alone! any help!! would greatly appreciate the info!
Hello Oneika! I truly support your solo travel concept. Though I have some foreign tours with amazing group of people, there is something so special traveling alone with just a guide, cook and driver. So glad I am able to read your Mongolia trip. At the end of this month (August/2018), I will be in Ulanbaataar for 6 days and 10 days to trek up Mt. Altai from Olgii. I am so looking forward to this trip and some of the points of interests you mentioned are on my list, booked and ready to go. Thanks for sharing…follow me at https//:walkingtheearth.blog. I am new in blogosphere, need to update more travel info. Take care and happy trails to you!!
Nice blog about Mongolia, but I have read many blogs on Mongolia and those blog says that its to hard to travel alone, but after I read your blog I gain courage to visit there… thanks for sharing your incredible experience…
Oh, I never knew Mongolia has so much to offer. Thanks for this post, now I have added it to my bucket list. Loved the part where you stayed with the locals and got to experience their life.
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