Destinations
Where to go in Mongolia
Mongolia is huge and its regions are far apart. Most trips focus on one or two. Here's what each region offers, how far it is, and who it suits.
Not sure which region fits? Compare Gobi vs Khövsgöl or Gobi vs Central Mongolia, or see how many days you need.
Start and end point
Central Mongolia
Variety within a few hours of the capital: steppe, small dunes, monasteries, the Orkhon Valley, hot springs.
Tuv, Övörkhangai, Arkhangai & Bulgan
Central Mongolia: The Most Varied Region per Hour of Driving
Central Mongolia combines steppe, sand dunes, monasteries, hot springs, volcanic lakes and horse country within reach of Ulaanbaatar. Routes, timing and who it suits.
Central Mongolia · Övörkhangai & Arkhangai
Orkhon Valley: Waterfall, Monasteries and Horse Country
The Orkhon Valley is a UNESCO-listed river landscape in Central Mongolia: Orkhon Waterfall, Tövkhön Monastery, nomad camps and some of Mongolia's best accessible riding.
Central Mongolia · Övörkhangai
Karakorum (Kharkhorin): The Mongol Capital and Erdene Zuu
What remains of Karakorum, the 13th-century Mongol imperial capital, and how to visit Kharkhorin and Erdene Zuu Monastery — what to expect, time needed, and how it fits a trip.
Near Ulaanbaatar · Tuv province
Terelj: Mongolia's Easiest Escape from Ulaanbaatar
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park is 1.5–2 hours from Ulaanbaatar: granite valleys, ger camps and easy horse riding. When it's a good idea, what to expect, and its limitations.
Central Mongolia · Tuv province
Hustai National Park: Mongolia's Wild Horses, Two Hours from Ulaanbaatar
Hustai National Park is where Przewalski's horses (takhi) were returned to the wild from 1992. How to visit from Ulaanbaatar, when to see the horses, and how it fits a trip.
Central Mongolia · Arkhangai province
Arkhangai: Hot Springs, Volcanoes and Green Valleys
Arkhangai is Central Mongolia's green, mountainous heart: Tsenkher hot springs, Tsetserleg, Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake and the Khorgo volcano. What's there and how it fits a trip.
The Gobi
Desert, dunes and red cliffs in the south. A road trip region.
The north
Lake Khövsgöl, larch forest and riding country near the Russian border.
The east
Khentii forests, Chinggis Khaan’s homeland and the open eastern steppe. Few visitors.
The far west
High mountains, glaciers and Kazakh eagle-hunter culture. Usually reached by air.
Far west · Bayan-Ölgii, Khovd & Uvs
Western Mongolia: Altai Mountains, Kazakh Culture and Eagle Hunters
Western Mongolia — Bayan-Ölgii, Khovd and Uvs — means high mountains, glaciers, Kazakh communities and eagle hunting. How to get there, when to go and what it involves.
Far west · Bayan-Ölgii
Altai Tavan Bogd: Glaciers, Lakes and Mongolia's Highest Peak
Altai Tavan Bogd National Park in far-western Mongolia: Potanin Glacier, Khüiten Peak, Khoton and Khurgan lakes, permits, access from Ölgii, trekking difficulty and season.
Mongolia Relay
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