Planning guide
Can You Travel Mongolia Independently (Without a Tour)?
Short answer
Yes. Independent travel in Mongolia usually means one of: hiring a driver (with or without a guide) and designing your own route; joining shared trips from Ulaanbaatar guesthouses; using long-distance buses and flights between towns and arranging local transport from there; or self-driving. What you can't easily do is reach most sights by public transport alone — the last stretch almost always needs a local vehicle.
“I don’t want a tour” is a perfectly reasonable position in Mongolia. Here are the real options.
Option 1: Hire a driver, design your own trip
The most popular independent approach. You choose the route and stops; the driver provides transport and route knowledge. Add a guide if you want communication and context. See hiring a driver.
Option 2: Shared trips from guesthouses
Many Ulaanbaatar guesthouses and small operators run shared trips with other travelers. Budget-friendly and sociable; quality varies — ask about the vehicle and group size.
Option 3: Buses and flights + local drivers
Buses from Ulaanbaatar reach provincial centres; domestic flights reach Dalanzadgad, Mörön, Ölgii, Khovd and others. From there, arrange a local driver for the last stretch (guesthouses can help). Slow, flexible, cheapest — and requires patience and some tolerance for uncertainty.
Option 4: Self-drive
Possible with the right experience. See self-driving Mongolia.
What makes independent travel work
- Flexibility — weather, roads and schedules change.
- Cash for the countryside.
- Offline maps and a translation app.
- A local SIM for calls with drivers. See SIM & internet.
- Buffer days.
Where Mongolia Relay fits
We’re not a tour company, and we’re happy to help travelers who don’t want a tour — for example, by recommending a driver for part of the trip, or checking whether your self-designed route is realistic. Tell us what you’re planning.
Questions travelers ask
Can I travel Mongolia by public bus?
Long-distance buses connect Ulaanbaatar with provincial capitals and some towns. They're cheap but slow and don't reach most natural sights. From towns you'd hire a local driver.
Is independent travel cheaper than a tour?
It can be, especially for budget travelers using buses and shared trips. A private driver for one or two people isn't necessarily cheaper than a well-priced small-group tour.
Mongolia Relay
Planning a Mongolia trip?
Tell us what you have in mind — dates, who is traveling, what matters to you. A real person reads every message and replies within 48 hours. No obligation, and if you don’t need our help we’ll tell you.