- Most trips start in Ulaanbaatar and head out by 4x4 with a driver-guide
- The Gobi, Khövsgöl Lake and the Orkhon Valley are the classic circuits
- Summer is short, so book Naadam dates months ahead
- Roads are rough and distances huge, so allow more time than the map suggests
- Airports
- Chinggis Khaan International, Ulaanbaatar (UBN)
- Flight time
- about 11-14h from London to Ulaanbaatar, usually with one stop
- Best time to go
- June-September; mid-July for Naadam, early October for the Golden Eagle Festival
- Currency
- Mongolian tögrög (MNT)
Mongolia is one of the last places where you can drive for a day across open grassland and see more horses than people. Around a third of the population still lives a nomadic or semi-nomadic life, and staying in a family's ger (yurt), riding with herders or watching the sun set over the Gobi dunes is the reason most UK travellers come. It is not a polished destination: roads are often dirt tracks, toilets can be basic and the weather changes fast, but the sense of space is extraordinary.
Mongolia is 8 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 7 hours ahead during British Summer Time. Plugs are the two-pin European type (C and E), so pack an adaptor, and traffic drives on the right. This Asia guide covers where to go, when, how to get there and what a trip costs in 2026.
Where to go in Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar
The capital holds almost half the country's people and is a mix of Soviet blocks, glass towers and ger districts. Give it a day or two for the Gandan Monastery, the Chinggis Khaan National Museum and a traditional throat-singing and dance show, then head out. Terelj National Park, with granite rock formations and ger camps, is about two hours away and makes a good first night on the steppe.
The Gobi Desert
The southern Gobi is not all sand, but it has the dramatic Khongoryn Els dunes, the ice-filled Yolyn Am gorge and the Flaming Cliffs at Bayanzag, where the first dinosaur eggs were found in the 1920s. Most people fly or drive to Dalanzadgad and spend four to six days touring by 4x4.
Khövsgöl Lake
In the far north near the Russian border, Khövsgöl is a deep, clear freshwater lake ringed by forest and mountains. It is cooler than the rest of the country, with horse riding, hiking and reindeer-herding communities nearby. Flights to Mörön cut a two-day drive.
Orkhon Valley and Kharkhorin
The UNESCO-listed Orkhon Valley was the heart of the Mongol Empire. Kharkhorin (Karakorum) has the Erdene Zuu monastery, and the valley's waterfall and hot springs at Tsenkher are easy additions on a central Mongolia loop.
The Altai and Bayan-Ölgii
The far west is home to Mongolia's Kazakh minority, snow-capped peaks and the Golden Eagle Festival in early October, when hunters show off their trained eagles. It is remote and best reached by domestic flight to Ölgii.
Best time to visit Mongolia
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring (April-May) | Windy, dusty and changeable; few visitors |
| Summer (June-August) | Peak season, green steppe, 20-30 °C by day, occasional rain; Naadam on 11-13 July |
| Autumn (September-October) | Clear skies, golden colours, cold nights; eagle festival in the west |
| Winter (November-March) | Ulaanbaatar is the world's coldest capital, often below -25 °C; for hardy travellers only |
Getting to Mongolia from the UK
There are no direct flights from the UK. The most common routes are via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines, via Frankfurt or Seoul, or via Beijing. Total journey time is usually 11-14 hours from Heathrow. The airport is about an hour south of central Ulaanbaatar, and traffic in the city can be very slow at rush hour.
Entry requirements
British passport holders have been able to visit Mongolia visa-free for up to 30 days under an exemption scheme that Mongolia has extended several times. Your passport should be valid for at least six months on arrival. If you plan to stay longer, you will need a visa in advance. Rules change, so check GOV.UK foreign travel advice before booking.
Getting around
Outside Ulaanbaatar, public transport is limited and roads are often unpaved, so most visitors travel with a driver-guide in a Russian UAZ van or a Land Cruiser, either on an organised tour or by hiring one through a local agency. Domestic flights with MIAT and Hunnu Air link the capital with Dalanzadgad, Mörön and Ölgii. Driving yourself is possible but not recommended for first-timers, as navigation off the main roads is tricky.
Pack layers even in July. A 30 °C afternoon in the Gobi can be followed by a night close to freezing.
Money and costs
The tögrög is the local currency, and cards work in Ulaanbaatar but not in the countryside, so carry cash for ger stays and small shops. Independent travel in the city can be done on around £40-60 a day. A private 4x4 tour with driver, guide, fuel, food and ger camps usually costs about £100-200 per person per day, depending on group size and comfort. Tipping your driver and guide at the end of a tour is customary.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mongolia safe for tourists?
Mongolia is generally safe and welcoming. The main risks are petty theft in Ulaanbaatar, road accidents and the remoteness of the countryside, so travel with a reputable operator and have good travel insurance.
How many days do you need in Mongolia?
Allow at least 10 days to see Ulaanbaatar and the Gobi or central Mongolia. Two to three weeks lets you combine the Gobi with Khövsgöl or the Altai.
When is Naadam?
The main Naadam festival takes place in Ulaanbaatar on 11-13 July each year, with wrestling, horse racing and archery. Smaller local Naadams take place across the country around the same time.
Do I need to speak Mongolian?
No, but English is not widely spoken outside the capital. A guide makes visits to nomad families far more rewarding.
Written by
Thomas Ski, mountains & expeditions editor
Thomas is happiest above the tree line or below the Antarctic Circle. He writes our ski, mountain and polar expedition guides.
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