To curious U.S. vacationers, Mongolia has a agency grip on some fairly wild superlatives. Below a sky that’s sunny roughly 250 days of the 12 months, the nation that’s greater than twice the dimensions of Texas is dwelling to roughly the identical variety of individuals as those that stay in Los Angeles. The landscapes, bracketed by Russia and China borderlines, have tales to inform, from the Steppe grasslands, the place Chinggis Khaan (aka Genghis Khan) as soon as rode, to the Gobi Desert, the place arid landscapes belie subterranean layers wealthy in coal, gold, and dinosaur bones. The nation is dwelling to arguably the weirdest competitors on earth, generally known as the Mongol Rally; the dreaded dzud winter phenomenon that sees temperatures drop to -50 levels Fahrenheit; and the Golden Eagle Pageant, for which fur-clad Kazakh hunters prepare wild raptors to hunt small recreation.
For vacationers, in 2025, Mongolia is changing into notably extra accessible. “The nation is coming into its fashionable self,” says journey advisor Tyler Dillon, who’s organized U.S. journey to Mongolia for greater than 15 years. “With the mixture of huge open areas, [clear] night time skies which might be laborious to seek out [elsewhere], and rising worldwide consideration, now’s the time to go there earlier than it shifts into one other gear.”
Right here’s a take a look at what’s new and taking place in Mongolia.
United’s new Mongolia flight, and visa-free journey
Beforehand, no U.S. airways provided routes to Mongolia. To get there, U.S. vacationers flew with worldwide carriers akin to Turkish Airways, Korean Air, or Lufthansa.
That’s going to alter subsequent month, when United Airways turns into the primary U.S. airline to function common flights to Mongolia. Beginning Could 1, United will launch three weekly direct flights from Tokyo’s Narita Worldwide Airport to Chinggis Khaan Worldwide Airport, in Mongolia’s capital metropolis of Ulaanbaatar. Pair this new leg with United’s nonstop routes to Tokyo from main U.S. cities akin to Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, and San Francisco, and the end result is a simple, one-connection ticket throughout the globe, arguably probably the most accessible path to Mongolia a U.S. airline has ever provided.
If you happen to fly there, don’t be stunned to seek out your self amongst passengers from everywhere in the world. Final 12 months, greater than half of the individuals passing by means of Ulaanbaatar’s airport had been worldwide vacationers, and officers anticipate the customer depend to develop in 2025.
One other bonus for journey to Mongolia: The federal government has prolonged its visa-free journey coverage that started in 2023, which means U.S. residents can keep in Mongolia for as much as 90 days with none particular paperwork.
New lodging and cultural locations
Vacationers coming to Mongolia ought to take a look at the brand new Chinggis Khaan Museum whereas within the capital. Because it opened in late 2022, it’s acquired popularity of its assortment of greater than 10,000 artifacts, exhibited throughout six flooring, together with work, sculptures, ironwork, and embroidery from earlier than, throughout, and after the Mongol Empire.
One other relative newcomer to Mongolia’s tourism scene is Yeruu Lodge, which opened in 2023 to welcome vacationers to the northern forested Selenge province. The lodge consists of 26 modern white gers, or yurts, starting from premium tents with en suite bathtubs to areas with a number of single beds, good for teams of mates. Along with the kinds of experiences you’d anticipate to attempt in Mongolia, like horseback using, the crew there gives kayaking, mountain biking, and yoga. There are two on-site eating places, considered one of which, the informal Bistro, doles out pub fare from two outside pizza ovens whereas diners can play bocce as they wait.
Adrenaline junkies would possibly head to the brand new Husky Lodge, opening this June, a ten-ger camp within the steppe of the Uvurkhangai area. It’s being launched by Nomadic Off-Highway, a dirt-bike tour operator primarily based in Mongolia that’s increasing into hospitality after 10 years of main roving journeys in less-commonly visited areas.
Moreover, late final 12 months, the Eagle Hunter Cultural Middle opened within the Bayan-Ölgii province, the place the famed eagle competition happens. The middle helps collaboration between Kazakh eagle hunters, guests, and conservationists. Guests can watch an eagle hunter demonstration, study in regards to the area’s historical past of falconry, store for artwork and textiles, depart for a close-by in a single day homestay, or set off horseback using—actions that the middle can organize.
A growth in new excursions and actions
Journey tour operator Nomadic Expeditions has introduced vacationers to Mongolia for greater than 30 years. “After we began the Golden Eagle Pageant, there have been solely about 10 eagle searching households in Bayan-Ölgii. Now, there are 300 to 400 eagle hunters,” says founder and CEO Jalsa Urubshurow. However because the success of that competition has continued to develop—together with different journeys Nomadic leads, together with each personal, customized journeys and set-date departures—different operators are launching new ventures.
In June, Intrepid Journey will launch its new “Trans-Mongolian Railway Journey,” an 11-day journey that begins in Beijing and ends in Ulaanbaatar. It consists of actions like staying in a single day in sleeper vehicles and assembly nomadic camel herders within the southeastern desert steppes of the Dornogovi province.
For vacationers wanting extra luxurious, this 12 months Black Tomato created a Mongolia itinerary as a part of its new “Pursuit of Feeling” choices, a group of journeys designed to match vacationers’ emotive frame of mind, from contentment to freedom. The 12-day Mongolia foray, by which vacationers keep in en suite gers like these operated by Mandala Mongolia (felt slippers and natural toiletries included), is centered round totally immersing vacationers within the location. “Mongolia is brimming with experiences which might be visceral and sensorial,” says Black Tomato cofounder Tom Marchant. “And the route itself is uncommon and compelling, together with the very far west of Mongolia, which frequently will get ignored.”
Mongolia’s animal kingdom is a serious draw
Unquestionably, considered one of Mongolia’s greatest conservation tales is the profitable reintroduction of the takhi. Beforehand known as the Przewalski’s horse, this stocky, near-prehistoric wild equine species dates again greater than 4,000 years and was as soon as extinct within the wild. At present, the most effective place to see them is in Hustai Nationwide Park, a day journey from Ulaanbaatar, the place a herd of greater than 400 roam.
In contrast to the takhi, many different endangered species stay in Mongolia with out authorities safety. A sign that that may change got here late final 12 months, when Mongolia’s Ministry of Atmosphere and Local weather Change formally designated October 25 as Khulan Conservation Day. The khulan, or asiatic wild ass, is a pale, slender-limbed equine and a keystone species of the nation’s Gobi Desert. Slightly below 80 p.c of your entire world’s khulan inhabitants lives on this arid terrain—making it heart stage for a brand new chapter of consciousness and conservation efforts.
On the similar time, the nonprofit Mongolian Bankhar Canine Venture is working to revive a distinct form of animal: the home Bankhar canine. This native breed historically protected nomads’ livestock herds from snow leopards and grey wolves and helped herders preserve wholesome pastoral practices. Because the org partnered with Three Camel Lodge in 2020 to increase the breeding program, guests to the camp can meet the stoic (however nonetheless fairly cute and fluffy) guardian canines.