Mongolia is not a country that most people consider a tourist destination when traveling in Asia, but if you like nature and the feeling of freedom, Mongolian tourism has a lot to offer. It’s easy to get there – just a two-hour flight from Beijing to the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, and from there it’s easy to visit the best places in Mongolia.
If you like hunting, fishing, Camping or Trekking, you will definitely like some of these best activities in Mongolia. It is one of the most pristine destinations in the world and offers many opportunities to visit wild but safe wilderness areas.
Most of the year, Mongolia is a cold country – in fact, Ulaanbaatar is the coldest capital in the world, with temperatures up to 40 degrees below zero in winter – but the summer months from June to August are a very pleasant time of year to visit the best tourist sites in Mongolia.
The ideal time to visit is when the Naadam takes place. The dates vary from year to year, but are usually in mid-July. If it is the Naadam Festival, almost every city has events across the country with horse racing, ring action and traditional Mongolian sports like archery.
The only drawback of visiting the Naadam Festival is that it is the busiest time of the year for tourism in Mongolia, and therefore the prices for flights and hotels are higher than other seasons. It is also necessary to book in advance during the Naadam festival, while at other times of the year it is normal to arrive in Ulaanbaatar only with the first nights, and then book en route.
Here is our selection of recommendations that experienced travelers make about some of the main tourist attractions in Mongolia:
Gorchi Tereli National Park
A few hours from the capital, Gorkhi Tereli National Park is often the most popular tourist attraction in Mongolia, where visitors travel to discover the unique wild areas of the country. There are a variety of accommodation options, from inexpensive to luxury hotels, but most adventurers choose to stay in one of the “Gers” – a traditional tent-like structure in Mongolia used by nomads as they cross the country.
There are a number of tourist camps offering accommodation in the Gers in the national park with facilities such as a western campsite, or if you want a real wildlife experience, you can book a trip with a private guide to stay in a Ger in the steppes (the Mongolian name for the grassy plains where nomads live), or if you want to
In the national park there are a lot of easy hikes, and horse riding and climbing are also offered in the tourist places of Mongolia. On the way to the Gorkhi Tereli National Park, you can visit the massive Statue of Genghis Khaan, made from 250 tons of stainless steel – an impressive sight. Excursions to the national park or private tours to the steppes can be booked through any travel agency in Ulaanbaatar.
Altai Mountains
For those who have time to travel further from the capital and discover some of the most remote wilderness areas in Asia, the Altai Mountains in the far west of Mongolia offer some of the best off-road hunting expeditions on the continent. This part of the Mongolian sights can only be visited with a guide and first requires a flight to the city of Ulgii, then a road trip and finally off-road in four-wheel drive vehicles.
The rugged landscape of mountains and lakes is breathtaking as you head west, and it’s a Utopia for adventurous wildlife photographers, as the area is home to deer, wolves and wild bears. Lynxes and snow leopards can also be seen during the winter months. No wonder the Altai Mountains are considered one of the best places to visit in Mongolia on your next vacation.
This is part of tourism in Mongolia, where nomads roam the plains on horseback with golden eagles in search of hares and foxes. In summer, there are also opportunities for hiking and horseback riding, but most of them go to the Altai Mountains to experience the rugged landscapes, seclusion and solitude of the region.
Khovsgol Lake
Although Mongolia’s tourist attractions are mainly a summer destination for most foreign visitors, some people who don’t mind subzero temperatures (and have the right winter clothes available) go to the annual Khovsgol Lake ice festival in the north of the country.
In summer, the national park around Lake Khovsgol is popular for hiking, horseback riding and bird watching, and there is also fishing, but in winter the lake freezes over and most of the Action takes place on ice.
At the end of February, the horse-drawn sleigh races that take place on the ice are an incredible spectacle and there are musical and cultural shows that, despite the cold, create a very festive atmosphere. Lake Khovsgol requires a one-hour flight from Ulaanbaatar to Murun, and then about 90 minutes by road from there.
Bator
After all, we must not forget that the capital itself has a lot to offer tourists. You will arrive and depart in Ulaanbaatar, so why not leave a few days at the beginning or end of your trip to look around the city. The city is an interesting mix of old and new buildings, old people dressed in traditional clothes and young people in recent Western fashion.
