How to enter living places without turning them into a stage
Cultural and practical etiquette for Mongolia: how to travel with respect, adapt to local settings and avoid turning hospitality into a performance.
Before the encounter
Good travel in Mongolia starts before the camera comes out. Customs, dress, hospitality, sacred places and family spaces can change by region and situation. Use this guidance to prepare, then let your guide and hosts help you read the moment on the ground.
Mongolia is a fascinating country for its culture, history, traditions and variety of landscapes. It is a country still unknown and little visited by travelers.
Visitors should not leave without having seen or tasted certain things that only exist in Mongolia: fermented mare's milk; a hike in the Gobi desert, on horseback or on camel back; see an eagle hunting training or a nomadic festival; sleep in a yurt; listen to a throat singing; discover Buddhist sites; and more.
Before leaving, soak up the history of Gengiz Khan or the journeys of Marco Polo.
Nomadic life is tough outside the capital Ulan Baator, so don't expect to ride on good roads, or a lot of comfort in yurts.
It's hot in summer, mosquitoes are waiting for you, and you have to protect yourself from the sun and drink enough not to get dehydrated.