Let’s start with getting there. Which is no easy feat. (Pro tip: book your flight through Hong Kong and take advantage of the great lounges there. Hello, Cathay Pacific’s six lounges.).

Once you’ve finally arrived in Ulaanbaatar, the country’s capital and the starting point for pretty much all the best adventures, get your last fill of life’s little luxuries – maybe hit the spa, or indulge on Korean barbeque, because life outside of the city is much simpler, but that’s exactly what you’re there for.

And while it’s common that Mongolians in the city speak English, don’t expect much of that once you get outside of the capital. Traveling with a translator is certainly not a bad idea, but you just might surprise yourself with how much communicating you can actually do with simple hand gestures and a few key phrases.

And even though you’ll want to travel here in June, July and August, keep in mind that unexpected changes in the weather, like blizzards in the far north, aren’t out of the question.

So, what makes Mongolia one of the most fascinating destinations in East Asia? Well, these adventures, to start.

Visit the Tsaatan Tribe

Spending time with the Tsaatan Tribe, the last nomadic tribe that herds and rides reindeer in the world, is like something out of a fairy tale. Besides a landscape that goes from beautiful rolling steppe to treacherous bogs and rocky mountainsides in minutes, there’s just something magical about seeing someone ride up to the teepee you’ve made home for a few days on a reindeer. Getting there is no small feat – my journey included a flight from Ulaanbaatar to Mörön, two-days of off-roading in a UAZ-452 Russian furgon, and two-days on horseback. But once you’re there, you’re a part of the tribe. Drinking reindeer milk tea, making noodles, herding in the reindeer at night, milking them in the morning, riding them to visit the neighbors or forage for juniper – it’s one of those experiences that will have you pinching yourself every few minutes.
Go to the Kazakh Eagle Hunters

Wolf-skin cloaked nomads wielding beautiful golden eagles and 4,000 years of tradition – that’s just the beginning of what’s so fascinating, and alluring, about paying a visit to the Kazakh people in the western part of the country. Not to mention, watching as an eagle soars through the air at speeds upwards of 200 mph is pretty bucket list-worthy. Once a year, in the Bayan-Ulgii Province located in the Altai Mountains of Western Mongolia, the Golden Eagle Festival brings out the best Kazakh hunters from the area, pitting them against one another in competitions that test the speed, agility and accuracy of their golden eagles. It’s an experience you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

October’s Golden Eagle Festival (October 6th – 7th, 2018) is an ideal time to visit.

There are plenty of ways to live in Chenggis Khaan’s footsteps (or as we call him in the west, Genghis Khan). You can do a day tour from Ulaanbaatar and get an idea of the history, economy and political climate of Khaan’s day, which is an easy introduction to Mongolia’s past.

But, for those looking for a little bit more (okay, a lot more) adventure, do it right and travel back to the 13th century and take on the steppe by horse. Horses played an integral role in Khaan’s success, thanks to his supply point route messenger system (called the Yam system), which acted as a relay messenger system for horses. Every 14 to 40 miles riders can switch horses (or pass on documents and goods to a fresh rider), eat and find shelter. This is the system that helped Khaan conquer the largest contiguous empire in history, from Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia and China, in his prime.

From Khentii National Park, where the steppe meets the forest, to visiting with a nomadic family in the valley of Jargalant River, trekking through the country this way is certainly one of the coolest (and most bragworthy) ways to experience Mongolia.

Companies like Discover Mongolia offer ‘Follow in the Steps of Genghis Khan’ horse treks.

Cross the Gobi

One of the greatest parts about visiting Mongolia is the diversity that you can find in the terrain across the country. The steppe and the mountains in the north are one thing to experience, but the Gobi Desert in the south is something completely different, and just as spectacular.

The fifth largest desert in the world, and the largest in Asia, the Gobi isn’t all sand – there’s plenty of exposed bare rock here as well, making it one of the most unique (and challenging) terrains you’ll find anywhere. Set off by horseback to cover the most ground and discover wild Bactrian (two-humped) camel, horses and wild gazelle along the way, along with the last desert-inhabiting bear, the Gobi bear.

Stay in traditional gers during your journey (and keep in mind that desert nights can get cold), meeting with nomadic families all along the way, learning about the history and culture of the country firsthand.

You can also take on the desert by van, if horses aren’t exactly your thing.

Nomadic Expeditions leads tours from Ulaanbaatar to the Gobi and back by van.

Travelers interested in visiting the Gobi Desert can cross it by either horse or van. (Credit: Shutterstock)

Motorbike or Road Trip Across the Country

Whether you want to follow the trail of Chinggis Khaan, hightail it across the steppe or set off through the Gobi, there’s no wrong way to see Mongolia. And each of these trails are wildly different – just remember: the only thing you can ever count on here is the unexpected. From the weather to the bumpy terrain across the flatlands of the steppe, barren and unforgiving dessert in the Gobi, and everything in between along the Chinggis Khaan route, this will certainly be an unforgettable adventure for one reason or another.

Published Date:2018-08-29