Mongolia Walks & Tours

Mongolia offers vast steppe landscapes, desert wilderness and rich nomadic culture, with the best regions to explore including the Gobi Desert, the Mongolian steppe, the Altai Mountains, the Khan Khentii Mountains and Ulaanbaatar.

Gobi Desert: Mongolia’s Gobi Desert combines sand dunes, dramatic cliffs and fossil-rich landscapes ideal for desert exploration and trekking.

Mongolian Steppe: Endless grasslands define the Mongolian steppe where travellers journey across remote landscapes shaped by centuries of nomadic culture.

Altai Mountains: Western Mongolia’s Altai Mountains offer spectacular trekking through glacier valleys and high alpine landscapes.

Khan Khentii Mountains: The forested Khan Khentii Mountains offer remote wilderness landscapes where travellers ride on horseback through the homeland of Genghis Khan, following the paths of Mongolia’s nomadic horsemen.

Ulaanbaatar & Naadam Festival: Mongolia’s capital Ulaanbaatar hosts the vibrant Naadam Festival each July, where traditional competitions in wrestling, horse racing and archery celebrate the country’s enduring nomadic heritage.

The best time to travel to Mongolia for hiking, trekking and adventure touring is generally Jun–Sep, when temperatures are comfortable and conditions are favourable for exploring landscapes, national parks and cultural highlights such as the Naadam Festival in July.

Mongolia has a continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. Temperatures typically range between -5°C and 30°C (23°F–86°F) depending on the season.

Travelling outside the main season can still be rewarding, with quieter trails, seasonal landscapes and unique experiences depending on rainfall, wildlife activity or snow conditions.

Mongolia is +8 hours ahead of UTC/GMT

Mongolian is the primary and official state language, spoken by 95% of the population. The language was written using the unique Mongolian vertical script until the 1940s, when it was replaced by the Cyrillic alphabet. The traditional alphabet is now being slowly reintroduced in schools, with the government planning to officially reinstate the traditional Mongolian alphabet at some point.

Many different dialects of Mongolian are spoken throughout the country, as well as other languages: Khamnigan Mongol, Kazakh, Tuvan and other Turkic languages.

Russian is the most common foreign language in Mongolia, followed by English. Korean is becoming increasingly common due to the many Mongolian ex-pats working in South Korea. Chinese, Japanese, German and various other European and Asian languages are also spoken.

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USD cash is the most easily convertible currency although bear in mind that many other currencies such as AUD, GBP, NZD, CAD are also widely convertible in Ulaanabaatar.

In recent years ATMS have become very common in Ulaanbaatar, as well as vendors (big and small) accepting credit card/debit card payments. We recommend that whilst having some cash with you is always a good backup, withdrawing local currency via an ATM as the simplest way of procuring cash. TIP: You can withdraw cash at the airport on arrival with the help of the guide/driver who meets you. Just make sure your card is activated for overseas usage, and you know your card access details. Please note that ATMs in Mongolia do have maximum withdrawal amounts per transaction which is usually somewhere between 400,000-800,000 MNT. This may mean that before heading out into the remote country you make more than one withdrawal.

It is very difficult to change money outside of the capital Ulaanbaatar, so please ensure that whatever you intend to spend during the journey you have in local currency.

Please note that if bringing USD cash denominations less than $50 incur a poorer exchange rate.

ATMs outside Ulaanbaatar are few (they do exist in Olgiiy) and VERY unreliable.

Many shops and restaurants (only in Ulaanbaatar) accept visa, Mastercard, Amex and JCB.

Cash advances can be made at the banks for a fee.

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Electricity in Mongolia is 230 Volts, at 50 hertz. The most common pin type is C. (2 round prong).

The Government of Mongolia has extended the temporary exemption from visa requirements for the nationals of 34 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, the UK for stays up to 30 days to the end of 2026. These 34 countries join the current 27 with existing exemptions which include the US and Canada. All other nationalities should check with your nearest embassy or consulate for visa requirements.

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.