Hunter on horseback with an eagle, Altai Mountains, Mongolia
Mongolian boots

Silk Road Guide

Mongolia

Legacy of the Great Khan

Plan my trip Start with the essentials
Enter the guide

Silk Road Guide

Orient your journey

  1. 01

    Entry and exit formalities

    Visas, borders and documents.

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  2. 02

    When to go and weather

    Seasons, weather windows and road conditions.

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  3. 03

    Getting around

    Roads, passes, distance and travel time.

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Explore the country on the ground.

Find places that shape your route, and somewhere to pause along the way.

Find your way into the landscape.

Explore different ways to spend time here. Open an activity guide for local context and ideas to discuss when planning your trip.

Khongoryn Els, Mongolia

Drive

Open Steppe: Driving Mongolia’s Boundless Horizons

Photo: Alexander Popovkin on Unsplash

Aerial photo above Mongolia

Flight

Sky Nomads: Aerial Views Over Mongolia’s Majestic Landscapes

Photo: Altansukh E on Unsplash

Bustling local market in Mongolia

Handicraft

Crafting Heritage: Mongolia’s Artisan Traditions

Photo: Periwinkle Luffa, BlueMelon

woman sitting on sand field

Health and Wellness

Natural Sanctuaries: Wellness Retreats in Mongolia’s Serene Landscapes

Photo: Patrick Schneider on Unsplash

Hiking in Khongoryn Els

Hiking

Steppe to Summit: Hiking Through Mongolia’s Diverse Terrains

Photo: Sarah Lachise on Unsplash

a group of stupas sitting on top of a lush green field

Historical Sites

Ancient Footprints: Exploring Mongolia’s Rich Historical Tapestry

Photo: Alexander Popovkin on Unsplash

Show 7 more activities
Saddlebag

Horse Riding

Steppes Bound: Horseback Adventures Across Mongolia

Photo: Fadhil Abhimantra on Unsplash

Altai Tavan Bogd Mountain, Malchin peak, Mongolia

Mountaineering

Peak Adventures: Conquering Mongolia’s Rugged Mountains

Photo: Bolatbek Gabiden on Unsplash

Kid with baby lamb, Mongolia

Nomadic Lifestyle

Living with the Land: Embracing Mongolia’s Nomadic Traditions

Photo: Tom Schuller on Unsplash

Flora Mongolia

Observing Flora

Botanical Journeys: Discovering Mongolia’s Plant Diversity

Photo: Victor He on Unsplash

Rafting on the Orkhon and Selenge Rivers in Mongolia

Rafting

River Thrills: Rafting Mongolia’s Untamed Waters

Photo: Periwinkle Luffa, BlueMelon

Volunteering activities in Mongolia

Volunteering

Hands-On Impact: Volunteering in Mongolia’s Communities

Photo: Periwinkle Luffa, BlueMelon

Wildlife watcher searching the vast landscapes of the Gobi Desert with binoculars

Wildlife Watching

Wild Encounters: Tracking Mongolia’s Native Species

Photo: Periwinkle Luffa, BlueMelon

Silk Road Guide

Read the land

Use the authored regions to build a first spatial picture, then open each region for local detail.

Regional field key

  1. 01 ArkhangaiArkhangai is central Mongolia with water, grass and volcanic memory. Tsetserleg, Khorgo, Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake, Chuluut River and Tsenkher springs create a province of horse routes, ger camp…
  2. 02 Bayan-Ölgii
  3. 03 BayankhongorBayankhongor is a transition province: Shargaljuut springs, Bayankhongor town, Orog and Böön Tsagaan lake country, then drier roads toward the Gobi. Its value is the shift itself, where herd…
  4. 04 BulganBulgan sits between Khangai pasture, river valleys and northern forest-steppe. Uran Togoo, the Orkhon and Selenge basin, airag-producing households and quieter road links give the province a…
  5. 05 Darkhan-UulDarkhan-Uul is not a scenic detour; it is a working northern node. Darkhan city sits on the rail and road corridor toward Russia, with industry, agriculture, schools, markets and workshops s…
  6. 06 DornodDornod is eastern Mongolia at full scale: Choibalsan, the Kherlen River, Buir Lake, Menen steppe and Daurian wetlands. The province is shaped by herder movement, borderland history, migrator…
  7. 07 DornogoviDornogovi is the Gobi province of railway stations, border traffic and pilgrimage roads. Sainshand, Khamriin Khiid and Zamyn-Üüd make the desert practical: trains, trucks, water stops, repai…
  8. 08 DundgoviDundgovi is a middle-Gobi province of rock outcrops, wind and herder camps rather than a dune-only image. Mandalgovi, Baga Gazriin Chuluu, Ikh Gazriin Chuluu and Tsagaan Suvarga make travel …
  9. 09 Govi-AltaiGovi-Altai is built from contrast: sacred mountains, dry basins, hard passes and long roads. Sutai Khairkhan, Sharga Gobi, Eej Khairkhan and Altai town make travel here depend on wells, weat…
  10. 10 GovisümberGovisümber is Mongolia in compressed form. Around Choir, railway life, Shivee-Ovoo work, service roads and steppe pasture show how a small province can matter through movement, maintenance, …
  11. 11 KhentiiKhentii is a province of headwaters, sacred mountain practice and eastern steppe approaches. Burkhan Khaldun, the Onon and Kherlen rivers, forest-steppe camps and Chinggis Khan memory make t…
  12. 12 KhovdKhovd is western Mongolia through water, markets and mixed communities. Khovd town, Khar Us Lake, Jargalant, Altai foothills and basin roads connect herding, wetlands, Kazakh, Zakhchin, Torg…
  13. 13 KhövsgölKhövsgöl is northern Mongolia through lake shore, forest, taiga and horse tracks. Mörön, Lake Khövsgöl, the Darkhad Valley and Dukha reindeer-herder areas demand seasonal planning, ethical v…
  14. 14 ÖmnögoviÖmnögovi is the South Gobi with more than dunes: Dalanzadgad, Gobi Gurvan Saikhan, Bayanzag, Khongoryn Els, Yolyn Am, camel herders and mining roads. Travel here balances spectacle with heat…
  15. 15 OrkhonOrkhon is small, urban and industrial by Mongolian standards. Erdenet city and its copper-mining economy define the province through workers, apartment districts, schools, markets, rail link…
  16. 16 ÖvörkhangaiÖvörkhangai is central Mongolia with political memory still set inside pasture. Kharkhorin, Erdene Zuu, the Orkhon Valley, Tövkhön, Arvaikheer and river roads make the province a place where…
  17. 17 SelengeSelenge is Mongolia’s agricultural north: grain fields, river valleys, rail stations, Sükhbaatar town and the Russian border corridor. It adds farms, monasteries, markets and freight movemen…
  18. 18 SükhbaatarSükhbaatar province is the southeastern steppe around Baruun-Urt, Dariganga, Ganga Lake and Shiliin Bogd. It is a landscape of herder movement, volcanic hills, sacred ovoo practice, border r…
  19. 19 TövTöv is the province around the capital, though Ulaanbaatar is separate. Zuunmod, Hustai, Terelj access, Manzushir, Tuul River valleys and airport roads make Töv a place of weekend traffic, p…
  20. 20 Ulaanbaatar
  21. 21 UvsUvs is northwest Mongolia through basin, salt water and mountain edge. Ulaangom, Uvs Nuur, Khyargas Lake, Kharkhiraa-Türgen ranges and border roads create travel built around birds, herders,…
  22. 22 ZavkhanZavkhan is a west-central province of sacred mountain, rivers and sand. Uliastai, Otgontenger, Khar Nuur, Mukhart River and Bor Khyariin Els make travel here about mixed ground: Khangai heig…

Silk Road Guide

Explore the guide

01 PlanTiming, first decisions and the shape of the journey.
02 RouteArrivals, transport and movement across the country.
03 Stay & eatHow accommodation and food work on the road.
04 PracticalBorders, money, health and everyday travel realities.
05 UnderstandCulture, history and context for traveling with care.

Mongolia

Dispatches from the country

Hunter with an eagle, Altai Mountains, Mongolia
Field journal

The Mongolian Altai Eagle Festival

Tsenkher hot springsFestivals · Culture

Nestled in the village of Altai, within the Bayan-Ölgii Province of Mongolia, the Altai Eagle Festival is a unique and captivating annual event in early September. This festival offers a rare glimpse into the rich cultural heritage and stunning natural beauty of the region.

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Mongolian nomads are at their daily tasks, such as dairy processing, traditional cuisine, music, animal care, milking, livestock guarding and more
Article

Planning Tips for Mongolia

Tsenkher hot springsUseful Information

How arrivals, airports, buses, borders, roads and distances shape travel in Mongolia, especially for supported or multi-country itineraries.

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Batzorig Vaanchig mongolian throat signer, song of Chingis Khan
Field journal

Khumiy throat singing

Tsenkher hot springsBlog · Culture

Khumiy throat singing is a distinctive art form exclusive to select nationalities, including Mongols, Buryats, Kalmyks, Tuvans, Altaians, and Bashkirs.

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