Top 10 things to do in Mongolia

Horse sledding at Khuvsgul lake

A list of the top 10 things to do in Mongolia with reasons by Nomadic Trails Mongolia.

1. Watch Horse Racing at a Naadam Festival

The whole country enjoys and celebrates the biggest local Festival of July, Naadam. Strong, big, and tough wrestlers’ action on the field, precision archery shooting, and horse racing competitions are all rewarding experiences that you can get while attending Naadam. Above all the horse race, with so many steeds, cheerful kid jockeys’ and horsemen around you. It is the nomads’ biggest gathering in the whole country.

While watching the Naadam Festival in the countryside and not in the big city, you will feel as if you are one of the locals already and feel the joy of the Naadam Festival to the fullest!

Visit the Naadam Festival organized on July 11-13 on our “Naadam Festival Tour“.

Horse race during Naadam Festival
Horse race during Naadam Festival
Naadam Festival Mongolian horse race
Naadam Festival Mongolian horse race

2. Ride a Mongolian Horse

Now that you have watched a horse race, why don’t you experience horse riding by riding a Mongolian small horse yourself?

Without riding a horse here in Mongolia a trip simply is not fully complete. These small almost pony size horses are very strong and trusty companions. Remember horses here are mostly semi-wild ones that freely walk and feed around their pastures, which is all the nature in Mongolia. 

Feel the joy of riding Mongolian horses, especially in the steppe and the secluded Taiga!

Find more about our adventure-filled “Horse Riding Tour” here.

local men bringing their horses for Horse riding tour to Altai Tavan Bogd
Local men bringing their horses for Horse riding tour
Top things to do in Mongolia Horse riding
Horse riding to North Mongolia

3. Camp in the wild

While you’re at it, why not spend the night in the wilderness in tents’?

One of the amazing things about wild camping in Mongolia is that you can pitch your tents almost everywhere you want unless of course, you bother someone. There are plenty of beautiful spots you could easily choose from in Mongolia from flower-filled meadows to breathtaking hills.

Waking up to the sound of horses or even cows munching on the grass near your tent will not happen in many countries in the World.

Imagine wildflowers, bird songs, and wild games…

There are several trips where you get to experience tenting camping: “Horseback Riding Tour”, “Spiritual Shaman Tour” and “Dukha Reindeer Herders Tour”

tented camp site with flowers and horses
Tented camp site with flowers and horses
Tented camping on Adventure tours in Mongolia
Tented camping in remote lands of Mongolia

4. Visit reindeer tribes

On the topic of horse riding, do you know that you can visit the reindeer herder tribes in the North of the country with a good horse ride? You can also visit them with a drive too, but only during the cold seasons.

There are 24-26 families with a population of 320 people living near the Russian and Mongolian border. The Border was closed in the mid 20th century and those ones who were traveling back forth couldn’t travel back to either side. The ones that remained on the Mongolian side of the border spread to the east and west banks of River Shishged and now are respectively East and West Taiga reindeer tribes.

Enjoy the hospitality of the Tsaachin or reindeer people on our “Dukha Reindeer Herders Tour” and “Winter Reindeer herders Mongolia Tour”.

Reindeer-Summer Mongolian Reindeer Herders tour
Taiga Reindeer during Summer Mongolian Reindeer Herders tour
Reindeer elders with the tribe strongest during seasonal migrating to spring camp
Reindeer elders with the tribe strongest during seasonal migrating to spring camp

5. Gaze at millions of stars

Here in Mongolia the wide and open sky at night just makes you want to look at it more and more. You cannot stop yourself from talking about the Milky Way, Big Bear, or Ursa Major, and so on. On many days in the summer we could admire the sky because of beautiful clear nights.

It is a huge night sky! Big wide and open…

Staying overnight in Mongolian ger under starry night sky
Traditional Mongolian yurt under starry night sky
Tours Mongolia - traditional mongolian yurt under starry night sky
Traditional Mongolian yurt under starry night sky

6. Have a meal with the Locals

There aren’t too many varieties of meals in the countryside but imagine eating a whole goat. This meal is traditionally offered to respected visitors and guests. Meat on bones and hot stones are the main parts of the meal.

Nowadays Mongolians still keep their meat-heavy meals. Even so, vegetarian meals are also becoming popular in the country. Ulaanbaatar city has a wide range of cuisines from Western and Asian that meet most budgets.

Enjoy a meal with the locals all around Mongolia:

Central parts of Mongolia “Mongolian Horse Archery Tour”

Northernmost parts of Mongolia “Spiritual Shaman Tour”

Westernmost parts of Mongolia “Eagle Festival Tour Mongolia”

Hospitality of a local Kazak family on tour with Nomadic Trails
Hospitality of a local Kazak family on tour with Nomadic Trails
Dinner with Local family at Altai town
Dinner with Local family at Altai town

7. Live in Ger

Want to experience living in gers most locals live in? Wooden, mostly orange furniture make up gers – traditional Mongolian dwellings, and they are quite cozy to live in. Adding to this there is a stove with heat that is just perfect for your chilly nights and pouring rain outside!

Yurt or Ger? Turkic word-Yurt that travels around a lot carries the same meaning as this dwelling but with a slightly changed interior. 

Nothing beats camping in a Ger, you can even stand inside it with your full height!

Experience sleeping in gers on our trips such as “Golden Eagle Festival Tour” and ger camps on “Khuvsgul lake & Mongolian Gobi Tour”.

Gers at Golden Eagle Festival Mongolia site
Gers at Golden Eagle Festival Mongolia site
Ger camp in Gobi during sunset
Ger camp in the Gobi during sunset

8. Experience the Golden Eagle Festival

Want to stay in a ger but also have a once-in-a-lifetime experience with the great Eagle Masters and be a part of the locals of the west? Search no further.

Enjoy smaller festivals with fewer tourists and more local crowds at the Local Golden Eagle Festival. These festivals are so full of color from the traditional costumes of Kazakh and Mongolian tribes. With slightly more equine games such as Horse archery, and female horse rider competitions this local festival will offer you the experience of a lifetime you have been looking for.

See our “Eagle Festival Tour Mongolia”

Eagle Hunter close up shot
Eagle Hunter close up shot
Majestic group of Eagle Hunters at eagle festival Mongolia
Majestic group of Eagle Hunters at eagle festival Mongolia

9.Visit Monasteries

There are many styles of monasteries that you can see here in Mongolia, such as Tibetan, Chinese, and of course Mongolian.

There are several temple complexes and monasteries in Ulaanbaatar city, such as the Gandan Monastery complex, Choijin Lama Temple now used as Museum, etc

Outside the city, there are many notable monasteries. Amarbayasgalant Monastery of the 18th century, Erdene-Zuu located at the ancient capital of Mongols Kharkhorin, and Aglag Creation Monastery complex with many unique rock carvings and takes a good hike to see the whole complex and many more. Join our Naadam Festival Tour.

Amarbayasgalant monastery Lamas chanting
Amarbayasgalant monastery Lamas chanting
Karakorum Erdene zuu monastery from the inside
Karakorum Erdene zuu monastery from the inside

10. Ride Mongolian Bactrian camels.

In our last Top 10 things to do in Mongolia;

Speaking about animals, it is impossible not to mention Mongolian camels.

In the Gobi Desert, two-humped camel riding is a must-do activity. Not so fast a ride but a different and unforgettable experience nonetheless. Some camels even have fun “haircuts”, which is a definite photo-worthy highlight of a trip to the south parts of Mongolia.

Mongolians say Camels are living dinosaurs in the Gobi. If you are wondering why, why not travel to Mongolia and ask your question personally from the locals?

You can visit the Gobi and ride camels on our “Naadam Festival Tour” as well as our ” Mongolian Gobi Desert and Khuvsgul Lake Tour”.

Local boy's lazy day with his camel in the Mongolian desert
Local boy’s lazy day with his camel in the Mongolian desert
Gobi Tour colorful sand dunes
Gobi Tour colorful sand dunes

Related Destinations

Old Eagle Hunter with his eagle at Eagle Festival Mongolia
Ulgii town
Horse riding to Dukha tribe in Northern Mongolia
Dukha Tsaatan Tribe Summer Camp
Dukha Reindeer Herders Tour Autumn view with Tee-pee
Dukha Reindeer Tribe Autumn Camp
Gobi sand dunes of southern Mongolia
Khongor Sand Dunes
Gun Galuut rivers of Central Mongolia
Gun Galuut National Reserve

Social Media

BLOG TAGS

RELATED BLOGS

Golden Eagle Hunters
Mongolian Falconry – The Art of Hunting with Golden Eagles
Tournament participants at flag Naadam Festival
Naadam Festival Mongolia
eagle photography tour
Top 5 Photography Tours Mongolia

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Send us a quick email!

Full Name*
Email address*
Your message*

Like this article?

Related TRIPS

Horse riding to Dukha tribe in Northern Mongolia
Adventure Tour Mongolia

Horse Riding Mongolia – A journey off the beaten track

Visit the Tsaatan Reindeer Herders while riding your trusted steeds through untouched land during this Horse Riding Mongolia adventure tour
Mongolian shaman
Adventure Tour Mongolia

Spiritual and Shaman Tour Mongolia 2024

A life-changing spiritual journey to the Mongolian wilderness where you heal your body and soul while enjoying the hospitality of a shaman.
Tailor-Made Tour Mongolia

Tailor-Made Tours Mongolia

Our travel experts will help create an exceptional journey according to your vision. With 18 years of experience, the Nomadic Trails team will carefully plan
Wrestler customary circling of flag at Naadam Festival
Cultural Tour Mongolia

Nadaam Festival Mongolia – Naadam Festival Tour 2024

Visit the Golden Gobi, the ancient capital of Mongols Kharkhorin, and discover nomadic culture first-hand by visiting the Naadam Festival Tour Mongolia 2022.
Walking on Sand dunes in Gobi
Best Selling Tour Mongolia

Gobi & Khuvsgul Lake Tour Mongolia

Highlights of this Gobi and Khuvsgul lake tour are the many natural wonders of both Gobi and Taiga and the ancient capital of Mongols, Kharkhorin.
Adventure Tour Mongolia

Reindeer Tour Mongolia or Tsaatan, Dukha Reindeer Tribe

Experience the hospitality and the nomadic culture of the Dukha Mongolian Reindeer Herders at the secluded Taiga in Northern Mongolia.
Golden eagle festival parade
Best Selling Tour Mongolia

Ulgii Golden Eagle Festival Tour 2024

Find out 2021 Golden Eagle Festival dates, locations and the best offered itinerary. It is one of the must see festivals organized in Asia.
eagle photography tour
Best Selling Tour Mongolia

Golden Eagle Festival Mongolia 2024 -2025 Locally enjoyed festival

This local Golden Eagle Festival in September 15-16, 2023 is perfect for an up-close experience with both the locals and the tournaments.