Mongolia travel — frequently asked

Traditional Mongolian food is built around meat (mutton, beef) and dairy. Expect dishes like buuz (steamed dumplings), khuushuur (fried dumplings), tsuivan (noodles) and lots of milk tea. Ulaanbaatar has excellent international restaurants — Korean, Italian, Indian and a growing café scene.

Yes, in UB easily. In the countryside it requires planning — we bring vegetables, rice, pasta and protein alternatives on tours with vegetarian travelers. Vegan is harder once you're staying with herder families, where dairy is the entire food culture, but we make it work.

Modest, practical clothing. Don't wear short shorts or revealing tops when visiting families. Take off your hat indoors. Don't step on the threshold of a ger — it's considered bad luck. Always accept what is offered (even just touching it to your lips is fine if you don't want to eat it).

In Ulaanbaatar, often — among young people and in tourism. In the countryside, rarely. All Tuul Travel guides speak fluent English (and several speak French, German, Japanese or Chinese — ask if relevant).

As soon as the minimum group size — usually 4 travelers — is booked and paid. Once that happens, the trip runs even if no one else joins. We mark these "Guaranteed" on this page and email everyone already booked.

Only in cases of force majeure — major weather event, border closure, government restriction, etc. In that case our standard cancellation-by-us policy applies; see booking terms.

Yes — your deposit goes toward your trip, which is confirmed. The standard cancellation-by-you schedule applies if you cancel later. Travel insurance is essential.

No. The price is the same. Guaranteed status just means certainty — you don't have to wait to see if it runs.

Yes — most itineraries can be set up as private trips. For 4+ travelers there's usually no extra cost; below 4 a small supplement applies. Send us a request.

Yes — Mongolia is one of the safest countries in Asia for travelers. Violent crime is rare.

The main risks are pickpocketing in crowded areas of Ulaanbaatar (markets, Naadam stadium), road conditions in remote areas (always travel with experienced drivers), and weather exposure. Outside of cities you are usually safer than at home.

Yes — Mongolia is broadly considered safe for solo women. Apply the same common-sense precautions you would in any major city after dark. Many of our most enthusiastic returning travelers are solo women.

No vaccinations are mandatory for entry. Routine vaccinations (MMR, Tdap, Hepatitis A & B) are recommended. Rabies is worth discussing with your travel clinic if you'll be working with dogs or wild animals. There is no malaria.

UB tap water is treated but most locals and travelers drink bottled or filtered water. In the countryside, we provide filtered water on all our tours and recommend a personal Steripen or filter bottle as backup.

Yes — we require travel insurance for all our tours. It must cover medical evacuation (helicopter rescue from remote areas can run $20,000+). World Nomads and SafetyWing are popular options; check that your policy covers horseback riding or trekking if applicable.

The Mongolian Tugrik (₮ / MNT). Roughly 3,400 MNT to USD 1 as of May 2026 — rates fluctuate.

ATMs are common in Ulaanbaatar and provincial capitals. Cards work in city hotels and restaurants. Cash is essential once you leave UB — bring USD or EUR to exchange, and always carry small Tugrik notes for the countryside.

On a Tuul Travel tour, all meals, transport and accommodation are included. Extras (souvenirs, drinks, tips) average $20–40 per day. Independent budget travelers can manage on $40–60/day in cities, more in the countryside where logistics dominate cost.

Tipping is not traditional but is appreciated on guided tours. We suggest $8–12/day for your guide and $5–8/day for your driver as a fair starting point. Restaurant service is sometimes included; check the bill.

Visa and Mastercard work in most UB hotels, restaurants and supermarkets. American Express and Diners are rarely accepted. Outside UB, plan for cash — many ger camps and all herder families are cash-only.

It depends on the tour. Cultural and Gobi tours require only normal walking ability. Horse riding and trekking tours assume a basic level of fitness — you should be comfortable walking 4–6 hours per day. High-altitude treks like Tavan Bogd require good fitness and prior trekking experience.

Our scheduled departures run with 4–12 travelers. Most tours can also be arranged as private trips for couples, families or small groups of friends. We do not run "big bus" tours — our maximum is 12.

Send us an enquiry through the contact form or email info@tuultravelmongolia.com. We'll reply within 24 hours with availability, pricing and a draft itinerary. A 30% deposit confirms; the balance is due 30 days before arrival.

All in-country transport, accommodation (hotels, ger camps, family stays), all meals, English-speaking guide, park fees, internal flights when applicable. Not included: international flights, travel insurance, visa, alcoholic drinks, tips.

Most of what we do is custom. Tell us your dates, group size, interests and rough budget — we'll build the trip around you. There's no extra fee for customization; the itinerary just needs to be locked in 60+ days before departure.

Cancel 60+ days before: full deposit refund. 30–59 days: deposit forfeited. Under 30 days: 50% of full price. Under 14 days: full price. This is why travel insurance with trip cancellation cover is essential.

Citizens of 34 countries — including the USA, Canada, Germany, Japan and South Korea — can visit visa-free for up to 30 days.

UK, French, Australian and most other European travelers need an eVisa, which is applied for online and usually issued within 3 working days. Always check Mongolia Immigration for the latest list before booking.

Visa-free entries allow up to 30 days. eVisas are issued for 30 or 90 days. Extensions are possible at Immigration in Ulaanbaatar — easier through a tour operator than alone.

A passport valid 6+ months past your entry date, your visa (if required), and ideally a printed booking confirmation. Customs is straightforward. There is no longer a tourist tax on entry as of 2025.

Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN), 52 km south of Ulaanbaatar. Direct flights from Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Frankfurt (summer), Bangkok and Moscow. We can arrange airport pickup as part of any tour.

Mid-June to mid-September is the high season — warm days, green steppe and all festivals active including Naadam (11–13 July).

May, late September and October are quieter and still beautiful. Winter (Dec–Feb) is sharp and cold (–30°C in Ulaanbaatar) but offers Ice Festival, Eagle hunting and stark beauty.

Ulaanbaatar averages –20°C to –30°C in January and is the coldest capital city on Earth. The countryside can drop to –40°C. Winter tours are possible — we run Eagle Festival and Ice Festival trips — but you must be properly equipped.

July is the wettest month, but rain comes in short afternoon showers rather than all-day drizzle. The Gobi gets <130 mm annually — it is genuinely desert. The Khangai and Khövsgöl regions are wettest.

Ulaanbaatar is at 1,350 m. Most tour destinations sit between 1,200–2,000 m and require no acclimatization. High treks like Tavan Bogd (3,400 m+) need a couple of days to acclimatize, which we build into the itinerary.