Planning guide
Tipping in Mongolia: Guides, Drivers, Camps and Restaurants
Short answer
Tipping isn't a traditional Mongolian custom, but it is expected by guides and drivers working with international travelers. Commonly published guidance is around US$10–20 per traveler per day, shared between guide and driver, adjusted for service and group size. Restaurants in Ulaanbaatar: around 10% if no service charge is included. Tips are usually given at the end of the trip, in tögrög or US dollars.
Key facts
- Guides & drivers
- Commonly US$10–20 per traveler per day, shared (published guidance)
- Horsemen, cooks
- A smaller tip each, at the end
- Restaurants (UB)
- ≈ 10% if no service charge
- Currency
- Tögrög or US dollars
Tipping is a personal choice, but it’s good to know what’s normal so you can budget for it.
Commonly suggested amounts
- Guides and drivers: published guidance from several sources clusters around US$10–20 per traveler per day, shared between them. Some operators suggest a percentage of the trip price on private trips instead.
- Horsemen, cooks, camel herders: a smaller amount each, at the end of their part of the trip.
- Ger camp staff: optional; some camps have a shared tip box.
- Restaurants in Ulaanbaatar: around 10% where no service charge is added.
These are guidelines, not rules. Tip more for exceptional service, less if something went wrong.
How to give it
At the end of the trip, ideally in an envelope, handed to each person (or one envelope per crew member). Tögrög or clean US dollar notes are both fine.
Budgeting
On a 10-day private trip for two, guidance at the lower end implies a few hundred US dollars in total tips. Add it to your trip budget.
Questions travelers ask
Should I tip the driver as much as the guide?
Many operators suggest similar amounts, because drivers work very long days on rough roads. Adjust to your experience.
Is the tip included in my trip price?
Usually not. If a quote says tips are included, ask how they're distributed.
Sources and further reading
We link sources for facts that matter (prices, entry rules, dates, distances). Third-party prices are what those sources published, not quotes from us.
- Official CIA World Factbook — Mongolia travel facts (tipping)
- Local operator Tour2Mongolia — Tipping in Mongolia
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