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Young eagle hunter in Mongolia

Best Things to Do in Mongolia

Iconic Attractions & Hidden Gem Travel Experiences

Mongolia

Mongolia is one of those countries that stirs the imagination of adventurous travelers. Landlocked, sparsely populated, and one of the few places left where nomadic lifestyles still thrive, Mongolia is truly a place to get away from it all -- unless you visit during one of its colorful festivals (the spirit of Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan -- featured in the recent Netflix series Marco Polo -- lives on at Naadam, a festival featuring traditional sports like horse-riding, wrestling and archery). The Gobi Desert is here, along with huge lakes, hot springs, mountains, and marshes. Ready for an adventure with yaks and yurts? We're here to help.

Top Mongolia Experiences

  • Bouncing through Gobi National Park in a van, taking in spectacular desert landscapes, especially the amazing Flaming Cliffs.
  • Taking a guided tour of the National History Museum
  • Hearing the strange sound that is khoomi throat singing.
  • Walking around the ancient Buddhist monastery of Erdene Zuu
  • Dinosaur hunting in Ikh Bogd Mountain!
  • Seeing famous archaeological sites at Altai Tavan Bogd National Park
  • Attending the annual Eagle Festival in Ulgii, and watching eagle hunters and archers compete in a variety of contests.
  • Trekking at the beautiful Naiman Nuur lake, naturally formed from years of volcanic eruptions
  • Riding a horse along mountain trails in Terelj National Park.
  • Seeing the majestic Singing Dunes from the back of a camel, before making the long, hard climb to the top to watch the sunset.
  • Staying a night in an authentic Mongolian home, called a "Ger"

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Things to do in Mongolia - Expert’s guide

1. Karakorum 

Located in the northern part of the Orkhon Valley, Karakorum was once the capital for Genghis Khan’s empire. The site was originally a simple settlement before a walled palace was constructed and the city became a center for trade for 40 years. It is said that Genghis Khan used this settlement as his base before his campaign into China

Today travelers can visit the archeological site and learn about the development of the Mongol Empire and explore the vast grasslands around the site. 

2. Gobi Desert

Gobi Desert in Mongolia

The Gobi Desert is the largest desert and brushland in Asia and one of the top sites in Mongolia. This huge stretch of land isn’t only made up of massive sand dunes but also green mountains and home to the largest dinosaur bones ever discovered. 

The Gobi Desert is vastly untouched and pristine. When visiting make sure to pack plenty of sunscreen, hats, and water as this part of Mongolia can be very desolate.  

3. Ulaanbaatar

City of Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia

The capital of Mongolia stands in stark contrast to the image Mongolia conjures up in guidebooks. While much of the country outside of Ulaanbaatar is home to nomadic tribes, Ulaanbaatar is a city that has recently prospered from mining. The city is a combination of its long history with Buddhist monasteries, Soviet apartment and office buildings, and modern shiny skyscrapers. 

Most tours of Mongolia begin and end in Ulaanbaatar as the city is centrally located and near to two of the country’s major national parks. 

4. Gandantegchinlen Monastery 

“The Heart of Buddhism,” Gandantegchinlen Monastery is often thought of as the center for Buddhism in Mongolia. Originally constructed in the early 1800s the monastery prospered until the rise of Communism when many of the monasteries were destroyed throughout the country. Gandantegchinlen avoided destruction and later reopened and is now a working monastery with hundreds of monks living there. 

5. Ikh Nartiin Chuluu National Preserve 

Explore Mongolia’s diverse landscape and wildlife by visiting the Ikh Nartiin Chuluu National Preserve. The preserve is located in the East Gobi Province of Mongolia and is primarily made up of semi-deserts and grassland. 

The preserve boasts a wide range of wildlife including polecats, dwarf hamsters, Mongolian gazelle, eagles, and owls. The reserve’s most famous residents are the endangered Argali sheep and the reserve is one of the few places left where the sheep are found. 

6. Naadam Festival 

Men on Horseback During Naadam Festival in Mongolia

One of the best times to visit Mongolia is during the Naadam Festival. Held every July, the Naadam Festival is Mongolia’s version of the Olympic Games. Three events are held reflecting traditional practices of the Mongolian people - horse racing, archery, and wrestling. 

In addition to the events, the festival includes parades, musicians, food vendors, and more. The festival is a one-stop-shop to learn about the history and culture of Mongolia. 

See all Mongolia festival tours »

7. Lake Khuvsgul 

Lake Khuvsgul Mongolia

Lake Khuvsgul is a massive freshwater lake located in northern Mongolia near the Russian border. The lake is one of the most pristine in the world and is surrounded by grasslands and large mountain ranges. When visiting during the warmer months you will be able to see elk, wolverines, and Siberian moose. 

If you visit during the winter, you’ll be able to check out the Khuvsgul Ice Festival. The lake completely freezes over during winter and is where Mongolia’s annual ice festival is held on top of the frozen lake. 

8. Orkhon Valley 

One of the most storied areas in Mongolia, the Orkhon Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its long prehistoric history and continued importance for traditional nomadic tribes. The massive grassland is home to many nomadic tribes and archaeological sites. Discoveries dating back thousands of years to Turkish memorial sites have been found in the Orkhon Valley. 

Tours of Mongolia include stops in the Orkhon Valley to visit the sites and also stay in traditional gers that are scattered throughout the valley. 

9. Tsagaan Suvarga 

Similar to the Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi Desert, the Tsagaan Suvarga is a naturally formed wonder in the Dundgovi Province. Tsagaan Suvarga (“White Stupa”) is famous for its cliffsides that have been eroded away by the wind. From far away, the cliffs are said to reflect that of a ruined ancient city because of the formations. The two main sites in Tsagaan Suvarga are the Lie and Stand Cave and the Back Mountain which is known for its cave drawings. 

10. Ulgii 

Ulgii is the main city in the Kazakh province of Mongolia. The city is heavily influenced by the local Kazakh culture and proximity to Central Asia as it was once the center for Islam in Mongolia. Ulgii is famous for its annual Golden Eagle Festival and is the starting point for tours into Kazakh. Kazakh is known for its falconry and one of the last places to see this practice still being used.

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Mongolia Tours Reviews & Ratings

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Max Jarombek
·
2022-06-01
Written on
Nomadic of Blue Sky Company Reviews by Nomadic of Blue Sky
Adventure Tour Mongolia
The tour of Mongolia was amazing. My guide Tom is the Best guide of Mongolia. His knowledge of Mongolia inside and out is awesome and his English fluently. My driver Nimka was very safe and clever driver. He knows all ways of Mongolia. Thank you Nomadic of Blue Sky for taking care of every step of the trip. You made exploring the vast regions of the country very easy.
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Carles Torrent
·
2022-05-01
Written on
Nomadic of Blue Sky Company Reviews by Nomadic of Blue Sky
Great Gobi and Golden Eagle Festival
Take it. It is a great tour, in a beautiful country, operated by efficient and knowledgeable people
Shahnaz Rao
·
2022-05-01
Written on
Nomadic of Blue Sky Company Reviews by Nomadic of Blue Sky
Eternal Blue Sky tour
Mongolia is a hidden gem tucked away between Russia & China, this beautiful country of 3 million inhabitants has lots to offer! Our travel agent Nomadic of Blue Skies designed an itinerary for 8 of us family members, ages ranging from 17 – 85! Mr. Uuganbayr Batbold (Boldoo), Director of the agency was personally interacting with me to plan the itinerary. We set off from Ulaan Baatar in two vehicles & explored central Mongolia for the next 7 days. The arrangements were superb, the vehicles were in good condition & we had skilled drivers Kuko & Pujai to transport us safely over the off road sections. We covered Terelj National Park, Khustai National Park to see the wild horses, at Elsen Tasarkhai we climbed the sand dunes, visited the Erdene Zuu Monastry, enjoyed the hot springs at Thenkher & had a stop over at picturesque Ugii Lake. The highlight of our trip was a visit to a typical nomad ger(tented dwelling). The couple welcomed us and served us some local delicacies. Our senior English speaking tour guide Mr. Tuvshoor was very professional and well informed about Mongolia. He was very attentive to our every request! The junior guide Ms Nara was very caring of my elderly parents. I would not hesitate to recommend Nomadic of Blue Sky as the preferred travel agent to organize a truly Mongolian Experience!
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Paul
·
2022-03-30
Written on
GlobalJourneys Company Reviews by GlobalJourneys
Best Travel Agency By Far!!
We have used Global Journeys a few times since 2013 to book our tours, accommodation, and flights; each and every time the level of service has been marvellous. The team at Global Journeys are very knowledgeable, reliable and customer focused. Global Journeys offer very competitive pricing rates. In view of the welcome return to a new normal after a few years in the doldrums for the travel industry due to COVID-19 there is rightfully/thankfully a surge back to booking holidays and tours again. We would highly encourage folks looking to book holidays/tours to at least consider contacting Global Journeys (https://www.globaljourneys.com). They help take the hassle and stress out of planning for your memory making journeys. Life is short, travel as often as you can. Afterall, travel is one of the best forms of education and self-discovery!
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Anonymous
·
2021-02-21
Written on
Nomadic of Blue Sky Company Reviews by Nomadic of Blue Sky
Great Gobi and Golden Eagle Festival
Tour was excellent! I can offer you to choose Nomadic of Blue Sky
Sheila
·
2020-08-21
Written on
Nomadic of Blue Sky Company Reviews by Nomadic of Blue Sky
Golden Voyage tour
This trip was AMAZING! Our guide, Tuvshuu, was extremely knowledgeable, fun, friendly and helpful. He even arranged vegan meals for me at each of our stops - from ger camps to hotels, to restaurants along the way. (The food was fabulous!) Our driver, Buugi, was also excellent. Some of the terrain was pretty rough and Buugi got us safely and comfortably through, even through a freak snowstorm! I’m a solo female traveler, as was the other woman on this tour, and I’ve honestly never felt more safe and well-cared for than I did with Nomadic of Blue Sky. Mongolia is unbelievably gorgeous. Breathtakingly beautiful. Absolutely my favorite place of the 17 countries I visited in my 6 month tour of Asia. You will love Mongolia and you will love Nomadic of Blue Sky! Just go!!
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