The complete guide
Plan your Mongolia trip
A practical starting point for a first trip. Facts that change are dated below. Last checked 18 Jul 2026.
Visa & entry
Mongolia expanded visa-free access in recent years, so many travelers now enter visa-free or with a quick e-visa. The rules are fluid, so always confirm on evisa.mn before you book. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months. Checked 18 Jul 2026.
When to visit
Mongolia is often called the Land of Blue Sky, with many clear days a year, but winter drops toward minus 40C. The main travel window is May to September, and July brings Naadam. The grid below rates each region by month.
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gobi | ||||||||||||
| Altai | ||||||||||||
| Khövsgöl | ||||||||||||
| Central | ||||||||||||
| Eastern |
Sample budgets
Rough estimates per person, per day, covering transport, stays, and meals. These are planning figures, not quotes. Mongolia is not a cheap destination: distances are huge and infrastructure is thin.
| Tier | USD / day (estimate) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | $45 | Shared van, basic ger camp meals, public transport between aimags, self-guided |
| Mid-range | $120 | Private 4x4 with driver, tourist ger camps, English-speaking guide, all meals |
| Comfort | $280 | Private Land Cruiser, premium ger camps such as Three Camel Lodge, senior guide, some domestic flights |
Packing checklist
Check items as you pack. Your list is saved on this device only.
Summer
Shoulder
Winter
Health & safety
- No mandatory vaccinations. Hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly recommended for longer trips. Check with your doctor.
- Altitude: some Altai treks climb above 3,000m. Acclimatize a couple of days before going high.
- Tap water is not reliably safe outside Ulaanbaatar. Drink bottled or boiled water.
- Medical evacuation insurance matters here. Serious cases are often evacuated to Seoul, which is expensive without cover.
- Crime is generally low, but pickpocketing happens in Ulaanbaatar markets and crowds. Keep an eye on your phone.
Money & cash outside UB
ATMs exist in aimag (province) capitals, but they can run dry or reject foreign cards. Bring enough USD or EUR cash for the countryside and exchange in Ulaanbaatar. Ger camps in the countryside usually do not take cards, so pay in tugrik or USD.
Exchange rate around 1 USD to 3,580 MNT (checked 18 Jul 2026, and it moves daily). As a rough feel, a plate of buuz costs somewhere around 4,000 to 6,000 MNT.
Ger etiquette
Do
- Enter with your right foot first.
- Accept offered tea with your right hand, or both hands.
- Sit where the host indicates, usually to the left of the door for guests.
- Bring a small gift: fruit, sweets, or something for the family.
Do not
- Lean on the central columns of the ger.
- Touch another person on the head.
- Point your feet at the hearth or the altar.
- Flatly refuse offered food or drink. At least take a small taste.
Useful Mongolian phrases
A few words go a long way. Pronunciations are approximate, meant to be readable rather than exact.
| Mongolian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Sain baina uu | sain bai-nuu | Hello |
| Bayarlalaa | baya-rla-laa | Thank you |
| Tiim | teem | Yes |
| Ügüi | oo-gooy | No |
| Khaana baina? | khaa-na bai-na | Where is it? |
| Khed ve? | khed veh | How much? |
| Khool idye | khool eed-ye | Let us eat |
| Süütei tsai | soo-tay tsai | Milk tea |
| Airag | eye-rag | Fermented mare milk |
| Ger | gair | Felt tent (yurt) |
| Yavya | yav-ya | Let us go |
| Bayartai | baya-rtai | Goodbye |