A land of staggering emptiness, Mongolia stretches from the Gobi's dunes and dinosaur-fossil cliffs to alpine lakes and endless grassy steppe. Outside frenetic Ulaanbaatar, nomadic herders still live in felt gers, move with the seasons and welcome travellers with airag and hospitality. Riding horses or camels, sleeping in a ger camp and watching the Naadam festival of wrestling and archery are the classic experiences. Distances are vast and roads often rough, making this…
Nikita Mikhalkov's “Urga” (1991), Golden Lion winner in Venice, immortalised life on the Mongolian steppes.
Mongolia is the least densely populated country on Earth: barely 2 people per km² — and in the countryside, horses far outnumber humans.
Outside Ulaanbaatar, coverage fades fast: download maps and translations before the steppe. An eSIM helps: the UBCab app in town, steppe weather and offline GPS from your yurt.