The Complete Guide to Cycling Mongolia

Mongolia is famous in the popular imagination for two things - Genghiz Khan and Cashmere wool. It is a very special country. With a population density of only 2.3 people per square kilometer, Mongolia is the least densely populated country on earth. And yet, the Mongols under Genghiz Khan built the largest contiguous empire in history.

For cyclists, Mongolia is special for its vast steppes and its unique Gobi desert, both of which provide excellent settings for a cycling adventure.

Here's all you need to know about cycling in Mongolia.

Topography

Mongolia is a landlocked country in north Asia sandwiched between Russia to the north and China to the south. It is situated between the latitudes 41° and 52°N and longitudes 87° and 120°E.

Spread over an area of 1,566,500 sq. km (603,909 sq mi), Mongolia is the second-largest landlocked country in the world after Kazakhstan, and the 18th largest country in the world by land area overall.

To get an idea of Mongolia’s vastness, consider this - Mongolia’s southern end is located at the same latitude as Rome, while its northern end is located at the same latitude as Berlin.

However, with a population of only 3.5 million living across its vast area, Mongolia is also the world’s least densely populated country.

This makes cycling Mongolia an adventure quite unlike any other. In fact, when cycling in Mongolia, it is very much possible to go days without encountering another person.

Mongolia’s topography consists primarily of rolling hills and plateaus. With an average elevation of 1,580 m (5,180 ft), Mongolia is clearly a highland country. The lowest point in Mongolia is the Khokh Nuur Lake in the easternmost Dornod province located at 560 metres (1,840 ft) above sea level.

Geographically, Mongolia is a part of the Great Eurasian Steppe, a vast region of temperate grasslands that extends over 8,000 kilometres (5,000 miles) from the Danube in Romania to Mongolia. The steppe is characterized by vast plains where the rainfall isn’t sufficient to allow for the growth of trees, forests, or the cultivation of land at any significant scale, but at the same time, is just enough to allow grasses and shrubs to grow.

This vast steppe grassland that covers the modern-day nations of Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine, southern Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and parts of China shares several cultural similarities, the most notable being the presence of nomadic cultures of wandering horsemen who were also excellent archers.

In fact, the horse was first domesticated in these steppe grasslands. Long before the silk route, the steppe route stretching from Mongolia to Romania was one of the world’s earliest east-west trade routes.

The Gobi desert covers most of southern Mongolia. It is the 6th largest desert in the world, and the largest cold desert outside of the polar regions.

Flora

Mongolia’s flora corresponds to its various climatic zones. Since about 55% of Mongolia’s land area is an elevated grassland, various types of grasses and flowering plants dominate the landscape. Rhododendrons of different colors are found in the grassland, while the elusive edelweiss flower is also occasionally found.

Northern Mongolia is home to Siberian cedars, Siberian larches, pines, firs, aspens, and poplars. In the deserts of southern Mongolia, the saxaul is a common tree. It is a hardy tree that grows up to 4 meters, has a lifespan of up to a 100 years, and has wood so dense that it sinks in water. The desert-dwelling nomads use it as firewood.

Fauna

Perhaps the most distinctive Mongolian animal, and one that visitors are most likely to spot when cycling in Mongolia is the Bactrian camel. The double-humped bactrian camel is a northern cousin of the single-humped dromedary camel and is native to the highlands of Central Asia. It has longer hair than the dromedary camel, and this hair is used for making items such as rugs and carpets.

The other animal that Mongolia is famous for is the horse. It was the horse that enabled the Mongols led by Genghiz Khan to establish the largest contiguous empire in history.

The Przewalski’s horse, also known as Takhi or the Mongolian wild horse, is the national animal of Mongolia. It is a rare and endangered variety of wild horse, and only a handful of individuals now remain in the wild.

Other endangered wild animals native to Mongolia are the snow leopard, Pallas’ cat, the Gobi bear, and the rather odd-looking Saiga antelope.

The falcon is the national bird of Mongolia, and falconry has been an important part of Mongol nomadic culture. The Kazakh tribesmen on western Mongolia are known using golden eagles for hunting, and the Golden Eagle festival is a major event held in the westernmost Bayan-Olgii province where ethnic Kazakhs predominate.

The event is held in early October each year, and sees Kazakh horsemen decked out in their traditional attire competing for prizes in eagle-handling events and archery.

Climate

Mongolia has a cold and dry continental climate on the whole. This is influenced by its geography, which has three distinctive features:

1. It’s northerly geographical location, being located just to the south of Siberia
2. It’s relatively high average altitude of 1,580 m (5,180 ft) above sea level making it one of the highest countries in the world
3. It’s remoteness from the sea, with the nearest ocean being 645 kms (400 mi) away Winters in Mongolia are predictably cold, with temperatures sometimes dropping as low as - 30°C (-22°F)

Despite this, Mongolia receives abundant sunshine averaging 257 days a year. It’s dry climate means there is little rainfall in most parts, with certain areas of the southern Gobi desert receiving no rainfall at all.

Due to this, Mongolia is also known as the land of blue skies. It’s clear blue skies and low population density means that stargazing at night is a spectacular experience. Mongolia in fact, is known to have among the clearest night skies in the world.

Summer in most parts of Mongolia lasts from June to August, while fall lasts from September to October. This is also the best time for cycling Mongolia, with average temperatures being in the range of 20-25 °C (68 - 77°F).

Winter sets in in November and lasts till March. The winter is especially severe in northern Mongolia, which has a taiga-like climate similar to that of Siberia which it borders to the north.

Economy

With a GDP per capita of a little over $6,000 in 2024, Mongolia is classified as an upper-middle income country. In the global rankings, this places it somewhere between Kosovo and Ukraine when it comes to GDP per capita.

Mongolia has large deposits of several minerals including copper, coal, tin, tungsten, and gold. Mining, in fact, accounts for 30% of all industry in Mongolia.

The production of cashmere wool products obtained from goats is another big industry, with Mongolia being the second largest producer of cashmere wool in the world. Gobi Cashmere, formerly owned by the Mongolian state but privatized in 2007, is one of the largest producers and exporters of cashmere wool products in the world.

However, over reliance on commodity and mineral extraction, as well as livestock for wool and fiber has led to concerns related to environmental degradation and overgrazing of pastures.

Mongolia was aligned with the Soviet bloc for most of the 20th century. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Mongolia’s export-driven economy relies heavily on China.

Mongolia is vast. However, most cycling in Mongolia happens only in two regions:

1. The Mongolian Steppes

Steppes cover most of Mongolia which isn’t the Gobi desert. This includes its northern, central, eastern, and western parts.

However, Mongolia has different types of steppes, depending on the geography of the region. The two most important steppe regions of Mongolia are:

Eastern Mongolian Steppes

The Eastern Mongolian steppes are the largest remaining tract of temperate grasslands on earth. It is a vast expanse of green upon a landscape of rolling hills for as far as the eye can see in every direction. The grasslands are home to thousands of Mongolian gazelles, the endangered Saiga antelope, the Mongolian wolf, and several thousand nomadic herders.

The steppes are listed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

Selenge-Orkhon Forest Steppe

The Selenge-Orkhon forest steppe is unique in that it is home to forests, rather than merely being a vast plain devoid of trees, which is how most steppes are.

Being located in north-central Mongolia, it is a palearctic region, acting as a transition zone between the Russian Taiga biome to the north and the grassland steppes to the south. The steppes are located on either side of the Selenge river, and are fringed by mountains reaching over 2,000 m (6,561 ft) in altitude.

The famous Orkhon Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in this steppe.

2. The Gobi Desert

The Gobi desert in southern Mongolia is the coldest sandy desert in the world. However, not all of it is sandy. Large parts of the Gobi are rocky, arid lands, while some parts of the Gobi are steppe grasslands as well.

The Gobi desert was where the first ever dinosaur eggs were found in 1923. It continues to be a hotspot for paleontological and archaeological discoveries with several fossils of extinct animals and other ancient artifacts being discovered.

Despite being a desert, the Gobi is rich in wildlife. It is home to some of the most endangered fauna on earth. These include the Gobi bear, which is endemic to the Gobi desert,and of which only 31 individuals are left in the wild.

Cyclists however, are more likely to spot herds of wild bactrian camels, the Mongolian wild ass, and black-tailed gazelles.

The best routes for cycling in Mongolia are located either in the steppes or in the Gobi desert.

1. Uran Togoo - Ikh Tamir - Khangai - Orkhon Valley

This is a route that unfolds in the north-central Mongolia steppes.

It starts from Uran Togoo. A series of four extinct volcanoes in the northern Bulgan province. From here, the route heads south and west into Ikh-Tamir and eventually the famous Orkhon Valley which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on account of its extensive temperate grasslands, and the nomadic cultures it has supported for millennia.

The ancient city of Karakorum, the capital of Genghis Khan. The Erdene Zuu Monastery, the oldest surviving Buddhist monastery in Mongolia is also located here.

2. Dalanzadgad - Gegeet Valley - Khongor Els - Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs

This is a route that explores the best of Gobi desert.

It starts from Dalanzadgad, where the steppe transitions into the desert. It is located in close proximity to glacial ice fields. The sand dunes of Khongor Els, rising up to 200m in the backdrop of the surrounding grasslands make for quite a spectacle. The route on most days presents a good mix of flats and hills so that one never gets bored.

The highlight of this route are the Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs, a range of eroded sandstone cliffs that sparkle a bright orange in the sunlight, and which offer a great cycling experience. The first dinosaur fossils were found among these cliffs back in the 1920s.

Summer (June to September) is the best time for cycling in Mongolia. Expect daytime temperatures of 20 - 30° C (68 - 86°F) and evenings around 15°C (59°F). Summer is also the wet season and it may rain occasionally, especially in the steppe.

The month of July is also when Mongolia's most important festival, the Naadam Festival is held. The festival sees Mongolians compete for glory in the country's three primary sports - archery, wrestling, and horse riding. Naadam is most commonly celebrated between 11th to 15th July.

October is the start of autumn (fall), with daytime temperatures of 15°C - 25°C (59°F-77°F), and nights at 5°C - 10°C (41°F - 50°F).

The first week of October is when the Golden Eagle festival is held in western Mongolia in which Kazakh hunters on horseback attired in colorful traditional dresses display their trained golden eagles and their hunting prowess. A smaller Sagsai Golden Eagle festival is held in mid-September. Both these festivals are hugely popular among photographers. They are not a part of our cycling itineraries.

Mongolia is one of the few Asian countries where rice is not a staple food. Due to its dry climate, grain, fruits, vegetables, and spices have always been novelties. Traditional Mongolian cuisine has relied heavily on animal products - dairy and meat - with salt to taste.

Here are a few Mongolian dishes you must try when cycling in Mongolia.

1. Buuz

Buuz is an all-encompassing Mongolian name for meat dumplings that are widely eaten and loved across Mongolia. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to call buuz Mongolia’s national dish.

The meat used in buuz can vary from region to region. Although lamb and beef are the most common, reindeer or camel meat may also be used based on the region. For instance, in the Gobi desert, camels are more numerous than cows, while in the Mongolian north, reindeers are more commonly found.

Also, given Mongolia’s predominantly nomadic culture, most meat in Mongolia is free-ranging rather than factory produced. This means that the taste once again varies on the animal’s diet, which varies from region to region.

Finally different parts of Mongolia use different cooking techniques, which has an impact on how the meat, and by extension, the buuz tastes.

2. Boodog

There are probably only a handful of places in the world where you get to eat marmot. Mongolia is one of them.

Boodog is a trademark Mongolian dish made from barbecued Tarbagan marmot, or when the marmot isn’t available, barbecued goat. The dish is unique for the way it is prepared, as well as the novelty and difficulty in hunting down marmots.

Marmots are notoriously hard to hunt as they rarely venture far from their burrows, and their burrows are very deep. They’re hunted in the fall when they weigh considerably more as they prepare to hibernate during the cold Mongolian winter.

To prepare Boodog, the animal is deboned, and the flesh stuffed with heated stones and then barbecued in a sealed milk can called khorkhog.

3. Airag

Airag is the national beverage of Mongolia. It is a mildly alcoholic drink made from fermented mare’s milk. Airag has an alcoholic content of only 2-3%, and has a slightly sour, yet refreshing taste. It is also one of the few alcoholic drinks in the world that is a rich source of many vitamins and minerals including vitamin D, B vitamins and calcium. The great thing about Airag is that it can even be consumed by people who are lactose intolerant, as the fermentation process converts the lactose into lactic acid and ethanol.

It is a testament to the importance of the horse in Mongol culture that its most important beverage is also sourced from the horse. In most parts of the world, alcoholic drinks are made from grains, and in some cases like that of vodka, from potatoes. Airag is perhaps the only alcoholic drink made from milk.

When cycling in Mongolia, you are likely to find airag at most places. Do give this refreshing and nutritious drink a try.

Until 1997, Mongolia was a closed country, requiring a letter of invitation from a Mongolian citizen for visitors to be granted a visa.

However, today Mongolia has one of the most liberal visa policies in Asia, as the country seeks to encourage tourism.

Citizens of several countries are allowed to visit Mongolia without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. These include citizens of the US, the UK, all member countries of the European Union (EU), Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Turkey, Thailand, the UAE, Russia, and Singapore.

Additionally, citizens of the US, Brazil. Argentina, Chile, South Korea, and Serbia can visit Mongolia without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.

Citizens of India are eligible for a visa on arrival for stays in Mongolia of up to 30 days.

The complete list of visa-free countries, along with the e-visa application form can be accessed on the text

Currency

Mongolia's official currency is the tögrög or tugrik, abbreviated as MNT.

As of October 2024, 1 USD = 3,398 MNT

Travelers are advised to exchange their currency for MNT at the Ulaanbaatar airport. Most places outside of the capital Ulaanbaatar will only accept the MNT.

While credit cards may be accepted in cities, out in the country or in smaller towns, cash is used.

Given Mongolia’s remote location, its vast size, and small population, urban centers are few and far between, so it is always advisable to keep some cash in the local currency at hand.

Transport

The Chinggis Khan International airport is Mongolia's only international airport. Although serving the capital, it is located some 52 kms (32 mi) away from Ulaanbaatar. Most Mongolian provinces or aimags have a domestic airport.

For instance, Dalanzadgad, which serves as a gateway to cycling in the Gobi desert, is connected to Ulaanbaatar by air.

The trans-Mongolian railway connects Ulan-Ude on the trans-Siberian railway line in Russia to Inner Mongolia in China. Connecting major cities such as Erdenet and Baganuur along the way.

Erdenet serves as the gateway to the Mongolian steppes.

The capital Ulaanbaatar is also connected to major cities by bus. Given Mongolia’s vast distances, bus journeys can often take up to 36 hours. However, bus connectivity between the smaller cities is limited. Tourists can also rent jeeps and vans to drive around Mongolia.

Language

Mongolian is the official language of Mongolia. It was traditionally written in the Mongolian script. However, since the 1940s, the Cyrillic script, used to write Russian, has also been widely used.

The younger generation of Mongols living in cities have functional knowledge of English. Although several signboards in Ulaanbaatar are in English, most signboards and public notices in smaller towns are in Mongolian.

Culture and Religion

Mongolia’s culture is influenced greatly by nomadic pastoralism, which is still followed by more than 35% of its population. The horse has been essential to Mongolia’s nomads, as have been animals such as goat, sheep, and camels.

Gers, or nomadic tents can still be found even in major cities such as Ulaanbaatar. Buddhism is the dominant religion in Mongolia, followed by over 90% of the population. Originating from present day India and Nepal, Buddhism reached Mongolia through Tibet and China, and Mongols predominantly follow Tibetan Buddhism.

The Mongol national symbol is the Soyombo, which derives from the Sanskrit word swayambahu, meaning self-created.

Naadam is the most important festival in Mongolia, and is held each year between July 11-13 in various provincial cities. The biggest Naadam is held in the capital, Ulaanbaatar. It’s a festival which sees Mongolians competing for the three traditional Mongolian sports - wrestling, archery, and horseback riding.

Wrestling continues to be the most popular sport in Mongolia. Mongolia has won several medals in wrestling and Judo at international competitions. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Bavuudorjiin Baasankhüü won a silver medal in the 48 kg category in women's Judo.

Falconry is also practiced among nomads, and the Golden Eagle festival held each year in the western Bayan-Olgii province in early October sees participation by the local ethnic Kazakh eagle hunters. It is frequented by western photographers in large numbers due to the colorful and extraordinary spectacle of nomadic hunters on horseback and dressed in their traditional clothing hunting with eagles in the backdrop of the stark steppe landscape.

Culturally, Mongolia was under the influence of the Soviet bloc until the 1990s. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the country has adopted a more pro-western policy. However, ties with Russia and China remain close as these countries are its only two immediate neighbors.

Appliances and Devices

Electricity is suppled in Mongolia at 220-230 Hz and 50 volts, which is the same as that used in most parts of the world except North America and Japan.

Mongolia uses the Type C and Type E power plugs and sockets.

Mobile Coverage

While Mongolia has excellent mobile coverage in its cities and towns, the steppes and the Gobi have little to no connectivity.

Mobicom is the most popular mobile service provider in Mongolia and has an English language app, allowing for more convenient mobile recharges.

As of March 2024, Starlink has become available in Mongolia. This is expected to improve connectivity to the remote areas of Mongolia.

Time Zone

Most of Mongolia uses the Eastern Mongolian Time which is UTC + 8.

The far western provinces of Bayan-Olgii, Khovd, and Uvs use the Western Mongolian Time, which is UTC + 7.

Read: Secret History of the Mongols, a work first written in the late 13th century, chronicling the rise and reign of Genghis Khan and his successors. It is considered a classic of world literature, and has been translated into over 40 languages.

Listen: The Hu, a Mongolian folk metal band who incorporate traditional Mongolian instruments and Mongolian throat singing into their music

Watch: Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan (2007) by Sergei Bodrov. It was nominated for the Academy Award for the Best Foreign Film

Eat: Tsuivan noodles cooked in sheep-tail fat with meat and vegetables

Drink: Arag, fermented mare milk

Learn: Traditional Mongolian wrestling

Experience: The art of making fine cashmere products from steppe goats

Our Mongolia bike tours are designed for cyclists who want to not only explore Mongolia but also experience it. Each guided bike tour we offer comes with a passionate local trip leader who will provide you with all the support you need, a support van that stays with you throughout the tour, world-class bikes and equipment, fine handpicked hotels, and plenty of tips and information on what to visit, where to eat local, and what to try.

Electric bikes are also available for cycling in Mongolia on our bike tours.

Get ready to discover the jaw-dropping kaleidoscope of Mongolian culture, history, and nature, and come to enjoy its roads with us!

For more information on cycling the most exciting destinations, why not have a look at our complete guides to cycling in Italy and cycling in Japan.