{"id":7443,"date":"2026-10-20T04:03:48","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T19:03:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/?p=7443"},"modified":"2026-11-08T09:38:23","modified_gmt":"2026-11-08T00:38:23","slug":"mongolia-travel-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/mongolia-travel-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Things to Know Before Travelling to Mongolia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Riders on the Mongolian steppe\" src=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_6302.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Sain baina uu! I&#8217;m Sugi from Tsogto Mongol Horse Riding Tour.<\/p>\n<p>I was nervous before my first trip to Mongolia too: the internet is patchy, the toilets are outside, and I kept worrying about Wi-Fi and whether I could charge my phone. In this guide I cover 12 topics first-time visitors ask about \u2014 toilets, showers, water, food, language, internet, safety and more \u2014 based on our staff&#8217;s experience and feedback from our guests.<\/p>\n<h2>Mongolia Is Easier Than You Think<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Nomad ger in summer\" src=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/61925DD8-C94C-46C1-9FDA-A6BD3E38F06D-edited-scaled.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Even if you are worried about the language or facilities, joining a tour with an English-speaking guide lets you enjoy life on the steppe from day one. Around 30\u201340% of our guests travel solo, including many women, and some guests who met on a tour come back together for the next trip.<\/p>\n<h2>1. Toilets<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Outhouse toilet at a nomad family's camp\" src=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/14705912_1129450673808040_3782354896767216004_n-768x576-1.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Toilets depend a lot on where you stay and the season. Ulaanbaatar hotels and our tourist ger camp (in summer) have flush toilets; nomad families have outdoor pit toilets; on tent nights and while riding or driving, you go outdoors. In winter the flush toilets at the ger camp are closed because pipes can freeze.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Never flush toilet paper anywhere in Mongolia \u2014 use the bin, or drop it into a pit toilet.<\/li>\n<li>While riding, you go during breaks behind a rock or hill. In a vehicle, tell the driver early and they will stop somewhere out of sight of the road.<\/li>\n<li>Carry some toilet paper or tissues \u2014 even in Ulaanbaatar, paper is sometimes outside the cubicle or missing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Details: <a href=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/mongolia-toilet-shower-guide\/\">toilets and showers in Mongolia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>2. Showers<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Shower room at Erdene Tourist Ger Camp\" src=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Image_20260627_151256_985.webp\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There is often no shower on the steppe. Our ger camp has hot showers in summer; nomad family gers and tent camps have none. On tent nights you use bottled water to wash your face and brush your teeth. Large wet wipes are a lifesaver \u2014 with them, a few days without a shower is surprisingly comfortable.<\/p>\n<h2>3. Water and Health<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Bottled water and snacks\" src=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/IMG_2073.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t drink the tap water \u2014 drink bottled mineral water. On our tours we provide one bottle of water per person per day; you can buy more locally, and hot water, milk tea and coffee are free.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Vaccinations:<\/strong> none are required to enter Mongolia, but check with your doctor or travel clinic about recommended ones (such as tetanus, hepatitis A and B, typhoid and rabies), especially if you will spend a lot of time outdoors.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dogs:<\/strong> nomads&#8217; guard dogs are vaccinated against rabies every year, but please keep your distance and don&#8217;t feed them.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Stomach:<\/strong> bring your usual medicines and something for an upset stomach. Unpasteurised dairy products can carry brucellosis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>4. Food<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Mongolian mutton dish\" src=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_3958.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Mongolian food centres on mutton, and so do the meals on our tours. It is difficult for us to change meals for other meats or for allergies, so please ask us before booking if you have dietary needs. At our camps we cook in a way that is easy to enjoy, and guests often tell us they liked it. I didn&#8217;t like mutton at home myself, but the food at our camps was genuinely delicious!<\/p>\n<p>If you are worried, bring a few instant noodle cups \u2014 tourist camps will give you hot water. More: <a href=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/traditional-mongolian-food\/\">traditional Mongolian food<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>5. Language<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"With a nomad family in winter\" src=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_2822.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The official language is Mongolian, written in Cyrillic. On our English-guided tours, your English-speaking guide stays with you, including while riding. With nomad families, translation apps and gestures go a long way \u2014 on my first winter stay, I couldn&#8217;t finish my salty milk tea, and at the next meal the mother quietly switched it to black tea without a word being said.<\/p>\n<h2>6. Internet and Charging<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Solar panel next to a ger\" src=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/imgp2483_14159674194_o-2-scaled.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Mobile signal is weak on the steppe: nomad gers usually have only 3G, and sometimes nothing at all. Expect video streaming and calls to be difficult. At tourist camps you can charge in each ger, but the power comes from a generator and may be slow. Nomad gers generally can&#8217;t offer charging, so bring a power bank. Sort out a SIM card or eSIM before you arrive.<\/p>\n<h2>7. Safety<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Busy street in Ulaanbaatar\" src=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_6119.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Mongolia is fairly safe for travellers, but pickpocketing and bag theft happen in Ulaanbaatar. We ask guests to avoid going out after 9 pm. New Year&#8217;s Eve in S\u00fckhbaatar Square is extremely crowded. More: <a href=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/is-mongolia-safe\/\">is Mongolia safe? 9 things to watch out for<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>8. Insects, Sun and Temperature Swings<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Insect repellent at a ger camp\" src=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_8043.jpeg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Summer sun is strong and the air is dry, and mornings and nights are cold. Even in summer, bring a down jacket for stargazing at night. In August there are hardly any mosquitoes, but there are flies. On my first summer trip I wasn&#8217;t prepared: sunburnt arms, peeling lips, a cold night \u2014 and a sleepless one after I left my insect repellent in my suitcase. See <a href=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/mongolia-weather-clothing-by-month\/\">Mongolia weather and what to wear by month<\/a> and our <a href=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/en\/mongolia-summer-packing-list\">summer packing list<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>9. Getting Around<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chinggis Khaan International Airport\" src=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/5.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>International flights arrive at Chinggis Khaan International Airport near Ulaanbaatar. From the airport to the city you can take a taxi or a bus \u2014 or, if you join our tour, we can pick you up. More: <a href=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/ulaanbaatar-airport-to-city\/\">getting from the airport to Ulaanbaatar<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>10. Money<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Currency exchange desk at the airport\" src=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_0848-scaled.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The currency is the tugrik (MNT). On our English-guided tours, you pay the tour fee in cash (US dollars or tugrik) on arrival, and drinks and souvenirs at our camps can be paid in US dollars. A guest once told us an airport ATM kept their card; when I tested it myself it worked fine, but I don&#8217;t particularly recommend relying on it. More: <a href=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/mongolia-money-guide\/\">money in Mongolia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>11. Health and Insurance<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Horse riding on the steppe\" src=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_3431-scaled.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Get travel insurance that covers emergency evacuation. Because our tours include horse riding, insurance is required. See the <a href=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/en\/riding-safety-manual\">riding safety manual<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/en\/mongolia-horseback-insurance\">insurance for horse riding in Mongolia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>12. Manners and Taboos<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Inside a tourist ger\" src=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/4%E4%BA%BA%E7%94%A8%E3%82%B2%E3%83%AB%E5%86%85%E9%83%A8.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When visiting a nomad family&#8217;s ger:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Don&#8217;t walk between the two central posts (<em>bagana<\/em>) \u2014 it is said to separate the couple of the house.<\/li>\n<li>Don&#8217;t enter or leave a ger with a load on your back.<\/li>\n<li>When offered food or drink, take at least a sip or a bite \u2014 don&#8217;t refuse without tasting.<\/li>\n<li>Give and receive things with your right hand.<\/li>\n<li>Step in with your right foot first.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>More about gers: <a href=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/mongolian-ger-guide\/\">the Mongolian ger explained<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>FAQ<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Riding in the snow in winter\" src=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_3339.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>How many days do I need in Mongolia?<\/h3>\n<p>We recommend five or six days to enjoy nature, culture, riding and food without getting worn out by travel. Ulaanbaatar and Terelj alone can give you a taste in three days.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I visit Mongolia in winter?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. It gets down to \u221220 to \u221240\u00b0C, but inside a ger with the stove going it can be warm enough for a T-shirt.<\/p>\n<h3>What should I check before I go?<\/h3>\n<p>Your own government&#8217;s travel advice for Mongolia, visa requirements for your nationality, and travel insurance that covers horse riding.<\/p>\n<h2>Ready for the Steppe?<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Summer steppe in Mongolia\" src=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_5556.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Toilets, water, food \u2014 once you know what to expect, there is nothing to be afraid of. Questions? <a href=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/en\/inquiry\">Contact us<\/a> any time.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/en\/tour\">&rarr; See our English-guided horse riding tours<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Toilets, showers, water, food, language, internet, safety and more: practical Mongolia travel tips for first-time visitors from local tour staff.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2939,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[349,348],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basics-getting-there","category-travel-preparation"],"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_2726.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7443\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mongol-jyouba-gakkou.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}