Start here · Essential guide
Mongolia Travel Logistics Explained
A plain overview of the practical decisions that shape a trip to Mongolia: distances, transport, lodging, money, connectivity, health and flexible timing.
Planning a Trip
Practical Travel Skills
Money, connectivity, lodging, roads and everyday logistics.
Food Safety and Staying Healthy on the Road
Common-sense eating, drinking and hygiene habits for travelers in Mongolia, from city restaurants to herder camps, with a reminder to check health advice.
Ger Camps, Guesthouses and Homestays
A comparison of the main lodging types in Mongolia, from tourist ger camps and city guesthouses to stays with herder families, and how they differ in comfort.
Getting Around Ulaanbaatar
How buses, taxis and walking work in Mongolia's capital, plus general notes on traffic, congestion and staying safe on the streets.
Hiring Drivers and Guides: What to Look For
General criteria for judging a driver or guide in Mongolia, from experience and communication to vehicle condition and clear agreements, without naming any company.
Money and Payments in Mongolia
An overview of the Mongolian tugrik, card use in cities, why cash matters in rural areas and sensible habits for carrying and exchanging money.
Phones, SIM Cards and Internet in Mongolia
What to expect from mobile coverage and internet in Mongolia, from reliable service in cities to patchy or missing signal in remote areas, and how to prepare.
Roads and Driving in Mongolia
Why paved roads are limited in Mongolia, how dirt tracks work, what affects road conditions and why most visitors travel with local drivers on remote routes.
Tipping, Gifts and Small Courtesies
General remarks on tipping in Mongolia and on appropriate small gifts and courtesies for hosts, guides and drivers, with an emphasis on respect over amount.
Toilets, Showers and Bathing on the Steppe
Frank, practical notes on toilets, showers and washing in Mongolian ger camps, homestays and open country, and what to bring to stay clean and comfortable.
Travel Insurance and Emergency Planning
Why remote travel in Mongolia makes travel insurance and evacuation cover worth considering, what to check in a policy and how to prepare for emergencies.
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