Endless steppe, nomad camps and the dunes and cliffs of the Gobi.
Mongolia is one of the least crowded countries on earth, and its scale is the main attraction. Beyond Ulaanbaatar, open steppe runs to the horizon, dotted with white gers and herds of horses. The Gobi offers the singing dunes of Khongoryn Els and the red Flaming Cliffs, while the north holds the clear waters of Khövsgöl Lake and the historic Orkhon Valley around Kharkhorin.
Trips feel like expeditions: long drives on dirt tracks, nights in ger camps and meals of mutton, dumplings and milky tea. Hospitality from herding families is a highlight. June to August is the main season, with mild weather and the Naadam festival of wrestling, archery and horse racing in July. Winters are among the coldest of any capital city.
Best time to visit Mongolia
June, July, August.
Places to visit in Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar: Mongolia's capital and home to nearly half its people, with Buddhist monasteries, fine museums and open steppe just beyond the city.
Gobi Desert: Southern Mongolia's great desert of gravel plains, towering dunes, ice-filled canyons and cliffs where dinosaur eggs were found.
Khövsgöl Lake: A deep, clear alpine lake near the Russian border, surrounded by larch forest, mountains and the camps of reindeer-herding peoples.
Kharkhorin: The site of Karakorum, the 13th-century Mongol capital, now home to Erdene Zuu, Mongolia's oldest surviving Buddhist monastery.
Essentials
Currency: Mongolian Tugrik (MNT)
Language: Mongolian; Russian among older people, English in tourism
Plugs: Type C / E, 230 V
Driving: Right side
Time zone: UTC+7 to +8
Tipping: Not expected; tip guides and drivers on tours
Getting around: Distances are huge; most travellers use a 4x4 with a driver and guide
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking