When I arrived in Mongolia in 2009, there was only one luggage cart at the international airport. During my entire 10 days there, I saw very few other tourists.
During my trip, I explored what is considered the land of Genghis Khan in Khan Khentii Mountain National Park. We traveled through the endless green plains in a Russian van and on horseback, camping by the pristine rivers flowing through the surrounding snow-capped mountains. The remoteness and lack of mobile communication allowed for a true immersion in the world, evoking the feeling of being the only people on earth.
Days went by without seeing other people, but when we did see each other, the interaction was unforgettable. One day, a nomadic family beckoned us on horseback to drink a glass of Mongolia’s national drink, airag (fermented mare’s milk), a unique drink that I will never forget. One day, a local octogenarian doctor woman, unimpressed by our late afternoon arrival, refused our request to open a bridge that had a gate to which she was the only one who had the key, forcing us to pitch our tents in a nearby area with countless mosquitoes. Even after several bites, I was impressed by his steadfast denial, especially since we were probably the only travelers he had seen in days.
Tourism in Mongolia has grown significantly since my time there. In 2025, 850,000 people will visit Mongolia, which is a five percent increase from 2024, with travel increasing this year. The airport now serves 15 cities (many carousels), and the first five-star hotel recently opened in the capital, Ulaanbaatar.
What was once a sophisticated destination for outdoorsy, adventure travel types is now a destination for the city and luxury travelers—those looking to enjoy spa time, Mongolian musical performances such as throat singing and shopping for luxury items such as camel wool and cashmere, the latter of which Mongolia is the world’s leading exporter.
Getting to Mongolia from the US is also easier than ever. On April 30 this year, United will become the only US airline to fly to Ulaanbaatar, via Tokyo Narita (NRT), joining international carriers that already serve the country, such as Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul) and Korean Air (via Seoul).
When Breanna Wilson first arrived from Los Angeles, she was amazed at how different life was in Mongolia, as if she had stepped into the Wild West. He says: “Roads disappeared, yurts (or gers, as they are called here) began to appear everywhere, and animals roamed freely everywhere we looked. “It was amazing to see that people still lived like this—without the land and their animals without all the modern luxuries I was used to.”
He returned the following year on a cross-country motorcycle tour of the Urals, and has returned every year since, spending six to 10 months a year in Mongolia. In 2022, he and local Agarmaa Batjargal founded At that time in Mongoliaa small group tour operator that focuses on experiences with the locals, offering a variety of tours that allow guests to stay in gers and tented camps with families of racehorses, camels and reindeer. “Living like this with the locals is always a memorable experience,” said Wilson. “It’s one of the things that makes Mongolia so unique—people don’t just do it for tourism, they really live this way.
Days are spent exploring the outdoors, traversing alpine valleys, snowy plains, or the arid expanse of the Gobi Desert. Mongolia, the world’s 18th largest country, also has the widest temperature range in the world, from freezing -40°F in winter to hot +100°F in summer. With one of the continent’s harshest climates, wearing layers is essential year-round, as days can start cold and end hot. However, although the weather can be harsh at times, Mongolia is also known as the “Land of Eternal Blue Sky,” with 260 cloudless days a year illuminating the vast landscape.
When the Jalsa Urubshurow was launched Nomadic Expeditions in 1992, the country’s tourism industry was in its infancy—it was just a year after the collapse of the Soviet Union, of which Mongolia was a satellite country. Later, tourism changed from government control to the private sector. Hundreds of travel and resort companies have been launched in the past few decades, with significant growth in infrastructure over the past few years. “Mongolia has invested in roads, habitats and conservation, and the tourism community has become increasingly receptive to experiential travel focused on culture, entertainment, and remote areas,” Urubshurow said.
One of Nomadic Expeditions’ most popular tours is the Golden Eagle Festival in western Mongolia, which focuses on the ancient tradition of eagle falconry. In a less-visited region, access and infrastructure can be a challenge, which is why Nomadic Expeditions operates Three Eagle Camp, a nearby temporary camp for 12 gers in the foothills. In the shadow of Mount Tsambagarav, one of Mongolia’s most permanently snowcapped mountains, visitors can experience extraordinary hiking, trekking, horseback riding, overland driving, and intimate tours with local families from the region’s diverse ethnic communities, including the Uuld, Uriankhai archers, and Kazakh Eagle falconers. “Mongolia offers not only beautiful places, but a sense of discovery and depth of culture that is increasingly common in today’s world,” said Urubshurow.
For those looking for a little outdoor adventure or who prefer to book their trip with some luxury, it has just opened. Ayan Zalaat offers a new level of hospitality in Mongolia. The property is located in a protected village just outside the capital, Ulaanbaatar, near the Bogd Khan Uul Biosphere Reserve, with panoramic mountain views and a full spa. “Our vision was to create a place that feels modern and authentically Mongolian so that guests can experience local culture, the country’s creative and culinary culture, and high-quality hospitality,” said Tselmuun Nyamtaishir, founder and CEO of Ayan Hotels and Resorts Mongolia.
Visitors can listen to a live performance of traditional Mongolian throat singing, learn a folk dance, meditate with a resident Buddhist monk or immerse themselves in the surroundings, learning about the region’s history and nomadic traditions. On-site restaurants include Lost in China, which offers refined Chinese cuisine, and 8 Ounce Steakhouse. End the night with a cigar in The Smokey Room or a glass of wine in the private cellar.
There aren’t many places that remain as untouched as Mongolia, which is why it’s so rewarding to experience its spirited landscapes and nomadic culture before the rest of the world gets involved. This vast country is still under the radar, offering a huge range of experiences, culture and history that you won’t find anywhere else. In the past, you used to be brave enough to check, but now, the country is becoming more and more attractive to all kinds of travelers. A sense of adventure is still required, but alongside the herds of eagles, beautiful steppes and remote gers, there is now an additional indulgence option to add to the wonder of the landscape. Yes, you can still ride a reindeer with the last tribe in the world to do so, but now you can also relax in a massage bed after a day of cashmere shopping, as the exotic and luxurious meet in Mongolia’s newest chapter.
