available in Mongolia
offering Safaris
Reserves and Wildlife
Areas
Overview
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, located between Russia and China. With only around 3 million inhabitants, this large country has one of the lowest average population densities in the world. Mongolia’s landscape is relatively untouched, consisting of deserts and semi deserts, as well as forested mountain ranges and lake-dotted basins. About three-quarters of the landscape is made up of pasture lands, which support the large number of livestock for which Mongolia is well known. In this fascinating country, meet nomadic communities, see the two-humped Bactrian camel, explore the Gobi desert and visit the world’s oldest national park.
Bogd Khan Uul National Park is the world’s oldest national park established in 1778. It’s half an hour drive from the city of Ulaanbaatar (the only city in Mongolia) and is home to the historic Manzushir monastery.
Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, located in the northern region of the Gobi desert, is the largest national park in Mongolia and the second most protected. The park is made up of mountains, dunes, salt wetlands, dry valleys and oases. It’s also home to over 52 mammal species and over 200 bird species. Mammals of the area include the snow leopard, Gobi bear, wildcat and Siberian ibex. In this massive park, activities vary from hiking and cycling to camel safaris, horse riding, camping and bird watching.
Altai Tavan Bogd National Park is in western Mongolia, accessed by a two-hour flight from Ulaanbaatar to Ulgii town then roughly an 8-hour drive on dirt roads. As well as the highest mountains in Mongolia, the Tavan Bogd mountain range, the area consists of about 100,000 acres of forest and mountain, surrounded by grasslands. Here visitors can spot the Siberian deer, Siberian ibex, wild boar and many species of birds including the buzzard, woodpecker, and stork. Activities include hiking, climbing and bird watching.
Khyargas Nuur National Park wraps around the Khyargas Nuur lake, a huge saline lake over 75 km wide, surrounded by desert and scrub grass. On the lake’s north west shore, a gravel beach can be found which is popular with visitors who come to picnic, sunbathe and swim. The lake’s main attraction is a massive rock that sticks out of the water and attracts migratory cormorants and a variety of other bird life. At Khyargas, swim, picnic, bird watch or go on a lake safari.
Travel Seasons
- Jun-Aug – High Season. Warm and mostly dry weather in June and July, with some thunderstorms. Cooler temperatures and more rain arrives in late August. Book flights and accommodation in advance, especially around Naadam.
- May & Sep – Shoulder Season. Some ger (traditional yurt) camps may be closed. Weather can be changeable so plan for a cold snap. Fewer tourists means more available train and plane tickets.
- Oct-Apr – Low Season. Most ger camps and some guesthouses close, there may be discounts available. December and January are freezing cold while there is air pollution in Ulaanbaatar. March and April sees winds and dust storms. Activities available like dog sledding, ice skating and skiing.
- Overall May – October is the best time to travel, to avoid the cold.
General Information
- Capital – Ulaanbaatar
- Currency – Tögrög (MNT)
- Languages – Mongolian
- Size – 1,566,000 km2 (605,000 sq mi)
- Population – 3,278,290 (2020 estimate)
Travel Insurance
- Travel insurance is essential for all international travel. Click below to find out more:
Travel Health
- The CDC recommends the following vaccinations for Mongolia: measles, hepatitis A and typhoid. Check with your doctor which other vaccinations you might need and make sure your routine vaccinations are all up-to-date.
- Rabies can be found in dogs, bats and other mammals in Mongolia, so CDC recommends this vaccine for those who will be involved in outdoor and other activities (such as camping, hiking, biking, adventure travel, and caving) that put them at risk for animal bites.
Pros
- Experience Nomadic culture
- Vast, untouched landscapes
- True wilderness experience
- Warm welcome and hospitable locals
- Great hiking trails
Cons
- Travel can be rough at times, with only basic facilities in many areas
- Avoid going out on foot alone at night; foreigners stand out and can be targeted for attack because of their comparative wealth
Arriving in Mongolia
- Chinggis Khaan is the international airport in Ulaanbaatar. Shuttle buses and taxis can take you to the city centre.
Getting Around
- Mongolia relies heavily on domestic flights to travel around this huge, sparsely populated country with little infrastructure. With 16 paved airstrips across the country, almost all are served directly from Ulaanbaatar.
- Arrive at the airport at least one hour before your flight. Flights can be overbooked even if you have a ticket, flight number and allocated seat number. If you can, make sure your luggage has gone on the plane.
Visas
- You should have a visa before you travel to Mongolia. A Mongolian visit visa is usually valid for a stay of up to 30 days within six months from the date of issue. Full details can be found at Immigration of Mongolia.
Mongolia Safaris
Safari to the Gobi Desert – Small Circuit
- 10 Days
One of the most arid landscapes on earth, the Gobi Desert is home to many endangered species adapted...
-
Country:Mongolia,
-
Departures:Array
-
Length:10 Days
-
Start/end:Start in Ulaanbaatar , end in Ulaanbaatar
The Gobi Desert – Big Circuit
- 16 Days
Join us for a journey through the Gobi Desert’s ancient mountains, green glens and sand dunes, against...
-
Country:Mongolia,
-
Departures:Array
-
Length:16 Days
-
Start/end:Start/end in Ulaanbaatar
Golden Eagle Photo Safari
- 8 Days
Hunting with eagles is very much an ancient tradition of the Central Asian nomadic tribes and still kept...
-
Country:Mongolia,
-
Departures:Array
-
Length:8 Days
-
Start/end:Start/end in Ulaanbaatar
Zavkhan – Land of Nomads – Cultural Safari
- 14 Days
Flanked by the breathtaking high mountain range of Khangai Nuruu, Zavkhan offers some of the most varied...
-
Country:Mongolia,
-
Departures:Array
-
Length:14 Days
-
Start/end:Start/end in Ulaanbaatar
Partners offering Safaris in Mongolia
Countries in the same Region
India
- 0 Partners
- 0 Tours
A country full of colour, natual beauty, incredible wildlife and remarkable architecture, as well as a tapestry of races, cultures and philosophies, India is a soul-stirring and wondrous place to visit. The diverse landscapes are breathtaking, while the national parks provide ample opportunity of close encounters for wildlife enthusiasts.
Sri Lanka
- 0 Partners
- 0 Tours
After years of uncertainty, stunning Sri Lanka is opening up, brimming with breathtaking wonders to be explored – sandy beaches lined with palm trees, rich green foliage, verdant tea plantations, impressive wildlife, rich cultural heritage.
Vietnam
- 0 Partners
- 0 Tours
Vietnam is a beautiful country with a multitude of unforgettable adventures waiting to be experienced. The fast paced mega-cities are teeming with life and activity which contrasts with the raw natural...
China
- 0 Partners
- 0 Tours
China is home to both the world’s oldest living civilization and the world’s largest human population. The Great Wall of China, temple-topped mountain sides and sprawling rice terraces are just some...
Russia
- 0 Partners
- 0 Tours
Russia has a formidable pool of recreational resources, including natural landscapes of endless variety and inimitable beauty, monuments of history and cultural heritage, unique engineering structures, and unmatched cities, towns and smaller communities.
Nepal
- 1 Partners
- 0 Tours
The kingdom of Nepal is wedged between the majestic Himalayan montain range and the tropical foothills of northern India. It is an adventure travellers paradise, filled with snow capped peaks, mystical monastries and surprising wildlife encounters, offering trekking in the north and wildlife parks in the south.
Kyrgyzstan
- 0 Partners
- 0 Tours
Along the ancient Great Silk Road, Kyrgyzstan boasts incredible natural beauty; dramatic mountains, thermal springs, summer pastures, rich flora and fauna as well as fascinating nomadic traditions and yurt-dwelling shepherds.
Borneo
- 0 Partners
- 0 Tours
Home to one of the oldest rainforests in the world, spectacular coastline, high mountain ranges, an abundance of incredible wildlife and extensive biodiversity, Borneo sets the perfect scene for a memorable adventure.