Top 10 Things to Do in Mongolia

The best things to do in Mongolia revolve around its nomadic culture and vast open landscapes: staying in a ger, riding horses, watching Naadam and travelling overland through the Gobi and the mountains. This list covers the whole country; the capital has its own guide to things to do in Ulaanbaatar.

1. Stay with a nomadic herding family

A homestay in a family ger is the most memorable part of many trips. Depending on the season you may help milk animals, make dairy products or round up livestock. Arrange it through an operator who works with families regularly and pays them fairly, and learn basic ger etiquette before you arrive.

2. Ride a Mongolian horse

Mongolian horses are small, hardy and central to rural life. Short rides are offered at most ger camps, while multi-day treks run in the Orkhon Valley, around Lake Khövsgöl and in Khentii. Ask for a calm horse and a helmet if you are a beginner.

3. Watch Naadam

The national Naadam festival, held in Ulaanbaatar on 11–13 July, features wrestling, horse racing and archery, the "three manly games". Smaller local naadams in provincial and district centres are often more intimate and easier to photograph; their dates vary from year to year.

4. Climb the dunes and ride a camel in the Gobi

At Khongoryn Els you can scramble up the dunes for sunset and ride a two-humped Bactrian camel led by a herder. Combine it with the ice-filled gorge of Yolyn Am and the Flaming Cliffs of Bayanzag for a classic Gobi loop.

5. Explore dinosaur country

The Gobi is one of the world's richest fossil regions. Bayanzag and other sites have yielded dinosaur eggs and skeletons, and museums in Ulaanbaatar display famous finds such as Tarbosaurus. Collecting or buying fossils is illegal, so admire them where they lie.

6. Hear throat singing and the horsehead fiddle

Khöömei (throat singing) and the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) are both recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. Catch an evening folk show in Ulaanbaatar, or listen to local musicians at a ger camp or a countryside festival.

7. Visit Buddhist monasteries

Erdene Zuu in Kharkhorin, Amarbayasgalant in Selenge province and Gandan in Ulaanbaatar are active monasteries where you can watch morning chanting. Walk clockwise around temples and stupas, dress modestly and ask before photographing inside.

8. Taste traditional food and airag

Try khorkhog (meat cooked with hot stones), buuz dumplings, dried curds (aaruul) and, in summer, airag, the fermented mare's milk offered in herding households. Take a small sip if you are unsure; politely touching the bowl to your lips is perfectly acceptable.

9. See the Golden Eagle Festival

In Bayan-Ölgii, Kazakh eagle hunters gather each autumn, usually in early October, to show their skills with trained golden eagles. Dates are set locally and can shift, so confirm them with the organisers or your tour operator before booking flights.

10. Take an overland road trip and stargaze

Crossing the steppe by 4x4 or in a classic Russian UAZ van is an experience in itself, with stops at herders' gers, ovoo cairns and remote soum centres. Far from cities, the night sky is exceptionally dark, especially in the Gobi.

Practical tips

• Book homestays, festivals and long treks through a reputable operator and confirm dates well ahead.
• Summer (June–September) suits most activities; winter brings ice festivals and Tsagaan Sar but requires serious cold-weather gear.
• Respect local customs: accept food and drink with the right hand, and do not step on the threshold of a ger.
• Activities, prices and festival programmes change, so check details with your operator or the event organisers.