Altai Mountains, MongoliaVideo: 4K Ultra HD Video, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Mongolia
Mongolia, made simple: open steppe, desert dunes and nomad hospitality
Mongolia is one of the last great open landscapes on earth: endless grassland, the sand dunes and dinosaur cliffs of the Gobi, clear northern lakes and families who still move their gers with the seasons. This guide takes the guesswork out of visas, cash, seasons, long drives and ger etiquette so you can travel with confidence.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry rules, seasons, packing and travel advice, answered
- LandingChinggis Khaan airport, the ride into Ulaanbaatar and your first evening
- Your days in MongoliaSteppe, desert, lakes and mountains, planned at a realistic pace
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day in the capital is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain how tours, cash and cards work so nothing catches you out.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Mongolia should feel like freedom, not a gamble. We answer the worries about distance, weather and remoteness before they start, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
Going home to family in Ulaanbaatar or the countryside after years in Korea, the US or Europe, or dreaming of the steppe for the first time? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your MongoliaThe Gobi, the northern lakes, the old capital in the Orkhon valley or the eagle hunters of the far west: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules, the right season, cash and current travel advice, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for food, culture, nature and stays in each area.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to shape your days around Mongolia's long distances.
Everything your Mongolia trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Ulaanbaatar, Terelj, the Orkhon valley, the Gobi, Lake Khuvsgul and the Altai, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred restaurants, monasteries, markets, ger camps and viewpoints, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Ulaanbaatar and stays across the country.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Mongolia trip
Ulaanbaatar, the old capital, then the Gobi
Most first trips start with a couple of days in Ulaanbaatar, then head west to Kharkhorin and the Orkhon valley and south into the Gobi for dunes, canyons and the Flaming Cliffs. Add Lake Khuvsgul in the north if you have more time, or fly west for the Altai.
- Gandan Monastery and Chinggis Khaan Square in the capital
- Erdene Zuu monastery in the old imperial capital
- The singing dunes of Khongoryn Els
- A night in a family ger on the open steppe
Start with the destinations
See how the capital, steppe, desert, lakes and mountains fit together.
Mongolia destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Distances in Mongolia are huge and many roads are dirt tracks, so the right pace matters more than anywhere. Our free planner helps you choose a realistic route and season.
- Realistic driving days
- The right season for Naadam, the Gobi or winter
- Where to base yourself
Where to go in Mongolia
From the capital and the green valleys of the centre to the Gobi in the south, the lakes of the north and the Altai in the west.
Central Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar
Mongolia's lively capital, where Buddhist monasteries, Soviet blocks and glass towers meet the open hills.
Read the guidePhoto: Marcin Konsek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tuv Province
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
Granite tors, larch forest and riverside meadows a short drive from Ulaanbaatar, ideal for a first ger night.
Read the guidePhoto: Marcin Konsek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Central Mongolia
Orkhon Valley and Kharkhorin
The UNESCO listed valley of Karakorum, Erdene Zuu monastery, waterfalls, hot springs and herding families.
Read the guidePhoto: Bernard Gagnon, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Southern Mongolia
Gobi Desert
Singing dunes, red dinosaur cliffs, ice filled gorges and camel herders across southern Mongolia.
Read the guidePhoto: Marcin Konsek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Northern Mongolia
Lake Khuvsgul
A deep, clear lake ringed by larch forest and mountains near the Russian border, with riding, kayaking and winter ice.
Read the guidePhoto: Yaan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Western Mongolia
The Altai and Ulgii
Mongolia's Kazakh far west, with eagle hunters, snow peaks, glaciers, high lakes and ancient rock art.
Read the guidePhoto: Bernd Thaller from Graz, Austria, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Mongolia safe to visit?
Mongolia is generally a safe and welcoming country. The main risks are pickpocketing in busy parts of Ulaanbaatar, drunk people late at night, road accidents on long drives and harsh weather in remote areas. Read your government's current travel advice before booking.
Do I need a visa for Mongolia?
Many nationalities can visit Mongolia visa free for a set number of days, while others need a visa or e-visa arranged in advance. Rules depend on your passport and change from time to time, so confirm on Mongolia's official immigration site or your nearest Mongolian embassy before you book.
When is the best time to visit Mongolia?
June to September is the main season, with green steppe, open roads and the Naadam festival in mid July. May and early October are quieter and cooler. Winter is very cold but suits travellers who want the Ice Festival on Lake Khuvsgul and snowy landscapes.
Can I use cards in Mongolia?
Cards work widely in Ulaanbaatar hotels, supermarkets and restaurants, and ATMs are common in the capital and provincial centres. In the countryside you will need tugrik in cash, so take out enough before you leave the city.
What is the capital of Mongolia?
Ulaanbaatar, a fast-growing city in a valley on the Tuul River. Almost half of the country lives there, and it has the main international airport, the best museums and most of the hotels, so nearly every trip starts there.
How many days do I need in Mongolia?
Ten days covers Ulaanbaatar, Terelj and a loop to the Orkhon valley or the Gobi. Two to three weeks lets you combine the Gobi, the centre and Lake Khuvsgul, or fly west to the Altai.
Ready to find your Bliss in Mongolia?
Use the free trip planner to turn ideas into a route that fits your dates and budget.