Essential Mongolia Travel Guide: Packing Tips, Local Advice & Expectations

Mongolia’s weather loves to keep you on your toes! You can go from sunny skies to chilly winds all in a single day.

Just look at this photo from June 2024—yes, snow in late June. Can you believe it?

That’s why layering is your best friend here. Think lightweight base layers, cozy mid-layers, and a windproof, waterproof jacket to stay comfortable no matter what. And don’t forget, Mongolia’s weather can be extreme—ranging from bone-chilling cold in the winter, where temperatures can drop to -40°C, to scorching hot in the summer with highs reaching 35°C.

Friendly reminder 💡

• Bring a hat, gloves, and a scarf even in summer—early mornings and evenings can be surprisingly cold.
• Don’t forget sunscreen and lip balm. Mongolia is known for its high altitude and dry climate, so the sun is intense, and the air can be harsh on your skin.

In Ulaanbaatar, you’ll find modern hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. But once you leave the city, healthcare becomes limited. Most rural areas rely on small district centers (called soums), which may only have a basic clinic—often with minimal staff, supplies, and equipment.

Besides, the medical infrastructure in remote regions is often very basic. So getting to a well-equipped hospital might take hours or even days, especially in isolated areas. On top of that, cell phone coverage may be unreliable, making emergencies harder to manage.

💡 Be prepared:

• Bring a personal first aid kit with essentials like bandages, antiseptic, painkillers, and medications for stomach issues or colds.

• Pack enough prescription medication to last your entire trip—refills may not be available.

• Consider travel insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation.

• Talk to your doctor before the trip to make sure you’re up to date on vaccinations and in good health for travel.

Exploring Mongolia means long drives through breathtaking, untouched landscapes—vast, rugged plains stretching endlessly to the horizon, where the land seems to go on forever. Mongolia is one of the least densely populated countries in the world, with just around 3.6 million people spread across a territory nearly the size of Western Europe. The sheer vastness of the country means you can drive for hours and not see another soul or a single building, only endless stretches of open land.

Mongolia is huge—over 1.6 million sq km—but only about 4.5% of the roads are paved. Most of your journey will be on dirt or gravel tracks, which means bumpy, dusty rides, especially in summer.

The dry terrain kicks up a lot of dust, so be ready for swirling clouds that settle on everything. It’s a small inconvenience, but you’ll quickly get used to it.

The landscape itself is diverse and rugged, from the sweeping grasslands and the rugged Altai mountains to the desert of the Gobi in the south. You might find yourself crossing dunes one moment, and rocky highlands the next. But with all that beauty comes a bit of a challenge—many of the roads are impassable during the rainy season when the mud and flooding can make driving even harder.

🚙 Friendly Reminders for the Road

• Keep extra fuel, snacks, and water—gas stations can be hundreds of kilometers apart.

• Bring power banks or a solar charger—electricity isn’t always available in remote spots.

• Travel with a pro guide and driver. It might cost more, but it ensures safety, smoother routes, and richer cultural insights. Totally worth it.

If you plan to use your phone in Mongolia, check with your provider about roaming charges and coverage. Service can be spotty outside Ulaanbaatar. Mobile connections in Mongolia increased by 77,000 (+1.6%) from early 2024 to early 2025, according to Data Reportal.

But there are things you should keep in mind.

Mongolia uses both GSM and CDMA networks, so make sure your phone works with these before your trip. Roaming is possible but can be pricey, and coverage outside Ulaanbaatar can be hit or miss.

However, don’t count on having service in remote regions like the Gobi or deep steppe. In those places, it’s best to:

• Prepare for a digital detox
• Let someone know your route in advance
• Keep a physical map or offline travel guide just in case

Disconnecting might feel odd at first—but it’s also one of the best ways to fully experience Mongolia’s wild beauty.

In this list, we’ve covered the basics of packing for Mongolia, but as you probably know, we have four distinct seasons. To make sure you’re fully prepared for whatever weather conditions and surprises come your way, it’s important to pack according to the season you’ll be visiting.