The Top Things to do in Mongolia

Mongolia, a land of sweeping steppe and timeless tradition, epitomises Central Asia. Cradle of the mighty Mongol Empire and birthplace of Genghis Khan where just under half of the population continue to live a traditional nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle, Mongolia is a vast land of great beauty, history and timeless customs. Whether attending one of the many vibrant festivals, staying in a traditional ger with a local family, experiencing the country’s epic landscapes and national parks, visiting an age-old Buddhist monastery or learning about the nation’s political and artistic heritage, this guide highlights a selection of the top things to see and do in Mongolia.

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Naadam is Mongolia’s best known festival and takes place throughout the country each July with the biggest celebrations held in Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar. Rooted in centuries-old nomadic tradition, Naadam, the name of which translates as ‘games’, originated as a way to test prowess in wrestling, horse racing and archery, all skills essential to battle. The modern festival continues this tradition and whilst the wresting competition remains the domain of men, archery events are also contested by women and children regularly take part in horse races spanning dozens of miles. Away from the games, Naadam, at its heart, is a display of Mongolian culture where attendees don their finest attire, food is freely shared and traditional music fills the air.

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One of the best ways to truly understand Mongolia is to stay in a ger. An enduring, and much loved, symbol of Mongolia’s nomadic heritage, gers embody mobility and self-sufficiency, can be dismantled and transported in hours and reflect the traditional lifestyle that still defines much of rural Mongolia. Crafted from a wooden lattice frame, sturdy poles and layers of insulating felt with a central stove to provide warmth in harsh sub-zero winter temperatures, staying in a ger provides a window into a way of life that has changed little over the centuries. Ger camps can be found throughout Mongolia, although most are in the Gobi Desert, Terelj National Park and Orkhon Valley. They also come in all shapes and sizes from authentic nomadic camps or family-run setups to more comfortable resorts.

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The Gobi Desert stretches across southern Mongolia. Spanning roughly 1,600 kilometres from east to west, this vast expanse is Asia’s fifth-largest desert and is a realm of extremes where scorching summers temperatures can soar beyond 40°C and winters plunge to -40°C. The Gobi’s topography is equally as varied from gravel plains and rocky outcrops to shifting sand dunes and wind-sculpted canyons with one of these dramatic rock formations, the Flaming Cliffs close to Bayanzag, a palaeontological treasure trove where dinosaur eggs were first unearthed. The Gobi is also the setting for Karakorum, the ancient Mongol capital with ties to Genghis Khan, and this arid expanse also supports close to 30% of the world’s population of Bactrian camels.

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Mongolia’s national parks showcase the nation’s vast and untamed beauty, spanning steppe, desert, mountain and taiga, clear alpine lakes and volcanic landscapes. These protected areas also harbour a wide range of wildlife including snow leopard, Bactrian camel and endangered Przewalski’s horse. Whilst many of Mongolia’s national parks are remote and inaccessible, both Terelj and Hustai are easily reachable from Ulaanbaatar. Terelj National Park offers excellent hiking and is noted for its granite rock formations, meadows and dense larch forest whilst the rolling steppes of Hustai National Park are home to Przewalski's horse, one of the last remaining wild horse species, as well as deer, gazelle, wild boar, argali, Ibex, wolf and lynx.

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To understand Mongolia’s political, religious and artistic history visits to both Gandantegchinlen Monastery and Bogd Khan Palace are a must. Located on opposite sides of the Mongolian capital, the sites encapsulate pivotal chapters in Mongolian history where faith and sovereignty intertwined. Founded in 1835, Gandantegchinlen Monastery is the nation’s most significant Buddhist monastery and is the centre of Mongolian Buddhism with golden-roofed temples, prayer halls and towering gilded statues. Bogd Khan Palace served as the imperial winter residence of the Bogd Khan, monarch of the first independent Mongolian state who lived from 1869 to 1924. The palace blends Chinese, Tibetan and Mongolian architectural styles and houses a nationally significant collection of fabrics, thangkas, weapons, furniture and books.

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Set in the far north of Mongolia close to the Siberian border, Lake Khovsgol is a protected waterbody located within the wider Khovsgol National Park. This pristine alpine lake, believed to have been formed by tectonic activity five million years ago, is Asia’s second-largest freshwater lake and fed by over ninety rivers. Surrounded by rugged taiga forest, alpine meadows and dramatic mountain ranges, Bronze Age burial mounds and Turkic stone monuments, the national park is home to the nomadic Tsaatan reindeer herders and is a haven for wildlife including argali sheep and Siberian ibex. Lake Khovsgol is also the setting for the annual Khovsgol Ice Festival in early March where ice sledding, horse-drawn sleigh races, tug-o'-war and archery competitions take place on the frozen lake.

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The vast steppes of remote and rugged western Mongolia are home to the Kazakh eagle hunters who uphold a centuries-old tradition, using trained golden eagles to hunt foxes and hares. Clad in fur-lined robes and riding atop sturdy horses, birds perched on gloved arms, they represent a direct living link to Mongolia’s ancient nomadic heritage. Passed down through generations, this art demands patience, skill and deep respect for the land, requiring harmony between hunter and bird in a relationship developed through years of tutoring and trust. This best way to witness this incredible practice is to attend the Golden Eagle Festival which is held each year in October. Competitions test the eagles’ agility in pursuing prey whilst horsemanship displays and archery events also take place.

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