{"id":124525,"date":"2025-03-10T16:30:40","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T16:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/adventure\/a-mongolia-packing-list-to-prepare-for-the-unexpected\/"},"modified":"2025-03-10T16:30:40","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T16:30:40","slug":"a-mongolia-packing-list-to-prepare-for-the-unexpected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=124525","title":{"rendered":"A Mongolia Packing List to Prepare for the Unexpected"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Disclaimer:<\/strong> This post contains affiliate links to handpicked partners, including tours, gear and booking sites. If you click through or buy something via one of them, I may receive a small commission. This is at no extra cost to you and allows this site to keep running.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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In a country of diverse landscapes and unpredictable weather, how do you prepare and what should be on your Mongolia packing list?<\/p>\n

Mongolia is a land of the unexpected, taking you across a diverse range of landscapes from flat, barren land and mountainous terrain to the heat of the Gobi Desert. The weather can be unpredictable, and the travel landscape is challenging to navigate.<\/p>\n

So how should you prepare for and what should you be packing for Mongolia \u2013\u00a0 a beautiful country untouched by the overdrive of tourism and relatively unknown?<\/span><\/p>\n

Mongolia Packing List<\/span><\/h2>\n

For Getting Dirty \u2013 Pack Things You Don\u2019t Mind Getting Ruined<\/span><\/h3>\n

Having old clothes that are easily disposable later become a large part of your packing for an Overlanding trip in Mongolia. More so if you travel by truck. Still, even if you are travelling around the country in jeeps there is also a big possibility that you will get stuck along the way \u2013 and you may just need (or want) to get involved with the process of digging and pushing a vehicle out of the mud.<\/p>\n

I ended up using an old pair of pyjama pants, but a friend used waterproof trousers; easy to wash and dry out afterwards.<\/p>\n

Generally, travelling in Mongolia runs the risk of getting your hands dirty in these kinds of situations, including having to walk through muddy areas and shallow water, so expect the worse to happen and stock up on the baby wipes and hand sanitiser.<\/p>\n

I embraced it as part of the travelling experience, but many people in my group stood on the sidelines not wanting to get involved because they hadn\u2019t done their research on the place \u2013 and they were the ones who sadly enjoyed the whole experience the least.<\/p>\n

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For Multiple Landscapes and Seasons \u2013 Pack Hot and Cold Clothing<\/span><\/h3>\n

I expected Mongolia to be chilly in the evening so had packed a cardigan, leggings and a fleece. Yet, the further into Central Mongolia we travelled the colder it was at night. I luckily had packed a compression sack full of super warm clothing for my forthcoming Everest Base Camp trip, and I was surprised when I had to use my thermal top, thermal leggings and my down jacket! In the day time, shorts and a vest top will suffice, but a long sleeve top is sometimes helpful for the slight chill or a rain jacket for the unexpected downpour.<\/p>\n

If you are camping, then it\u2019s wise to get a sleeping bag that\u2019s at least a Season 3. There\u00a0will\u00a0be nights when\u00a0you need that extra warmth!<\/p>\n

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For Sandflies and Mosquitos \u2013 Pack Strong Bug Repellent\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

When heat and humidity lingers, our flying friends like to make an appearance. Within the first few days, I managed to get a few sandfly bites and then the mosquito bites began to appear rapidly. I get bitten easily so became a regular super tasty treat for the little critters here, especially on my face! Pack the repellent and the after-bite creams and lotions. It\u2019s not a malaria-risk area, so you don\u2019t need to worry about anti-malaria medications.<\/p>\n

There are also areas where flies are commonplace \u2013 the kind that lands on you and does not move unless you brush them off. They are entirely harmless, so don\u2019t be alarmed and only become a pain if you are bush camping and nature calls.<\/p>\n

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For Time in the Desert Sun \u2013 Pack Strong Sun Protection<\/span><\/h3>\n

Sunscreen is a must, with more frequent applications needed for the areas approaching and in the Gobi Desert. When it\u2019s hot in Mongolia, it\u2019s scorching! The sky is piercing blue and clear, and there is no pollution meaning the sun is strong. So pack the sun lotion, at least Factor 30 \u2013 it can sometimes catch you off guard, even if you are sitting outside for an hour.<\/p>\n

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Preparing for Mongolia<\/span><\/h2>\n

For the Language Barrier \u2013 Mongolian Phrases Are Hard to Grasp<\/span><\/h3>\n

In most countries, I find it easy after a few days to learn the basics of hello, goodbye, thank you and numbers in the given language but learning and speaking Mongolian is hard. When they talk, it\u2019s fast and in a low tone and almost in a mumble, making distinct words hard to understand and pick up. There is also a lisp-like pronunciation to certain words that don\u2019t come easily to the Western tongue.<\/p>\n

The one word I learnt properly was \u2018thank you\u2019 which is \u2018bayarlalaa\u2019. To me, that is the essential word to retain if any.<\/p>\n

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For a Lack of Variety in Food \u2013 Expect a Lot of\u00a0Beef Stew and Rice<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you rock up to a random town, there is a chance they may not be able to cater for everything listed on the menu so be flexible when it comes to the food and what they have available (especially if there are a few of you). In essence, it\u2019s mostly delicious, regardless of what they serve up.<\/p>\n

In Ger Camps, it is more than likely that nearly every meal will be a beef stew and rice variation. It\u2019s limited and when staying at multiple ger camps, tiring, but that\u2019s the way it is. I found washing it down with a beer took away the pain of repetition as well as multiple stops to snack shops which are pretty much everywhere catering to Western sugar and salt cravings!<\/p>\n

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Ulaanbaatar is Not Representative of Mongolia \u2013 Get Ready For Contrasting Landscapes<\/span><\/h3>\n

I wasn\u2019t a fan of the capital, Ulaanbaatar. I love cities, but this one felt dodgy. There are a few things to see and do including temples, museums and shopping and it has some great local restaurants and nightlife, but don\u2019t let your guard down as a lot of crime takes place here.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a city where the quick grips of opportunism have corrupted a beautiful way of life. Even some of the Mongolians I spoke to who live there said they were not the biggest fans of Ulaanbaatar. Unfortunately, it\u2019s just the best place for them to be for their line of work and a far cry from their rural, community-driven upbringing.<\/p>\n

Enjoy the city for a couple of nights but make sure you get out into the far reaches of this stunning country \u2013 it will be worth it, and you will get to see the real Mongolia.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong>How to Travel to Mongolia<\/a> \u2013 Overlanding the Least Densely Populated Country in the World.<\/p>\n

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Local Knowledge is Invaluable \u2013 Prepare to be Guided<\/span><\/h3>\n

Mongolia is the world\u2019s least densely populated country and one of its largest. This accolade makes it beautifully isolated and not ruined by tourism but also tricky to get around. I choose a comprehensive three-week Overlanding tour because I wanted to get out into the far reaches of the country. Most hostels in Ulaanbaatar only offer excursions that last a few days where you can hire a driver and a guide.<\/p>\n

Make use of Mongolian knowledge because it is invaluable. They know the nooks and crannies of their country better than anyone (even if they do draw maps on the ground) and when you look at how isolated the landscape is, you will see the skill in that. A guidebook doesn\u2019t always cut it if going alone.<\/p>\n

Mongolia is a fantastic place to explore that\u2019s different and not your typical kind of travel. Still, it\u2019s a country with minimal infrastructure so pack some patience and flexibility for an experience that\u2019s generally slower, more difficult, and with challenges, all of which will not deter from the overall experience you will have there, but add to the adventure!<\/p>\n

Mongolia Tours<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

At the time I was travelling, I was overlanding in Mongolia with Dragoman<\/a>, the only company offering Mongolia tours lasted more than two weeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

G Adventures also offers a broad spectrum of Mongolia tours, that all start and end in Ulaanbaatar. I can personally vouch for their overall service with a local guide, as well as their ethos in travel as a force for good, in supporting local enterprise and best practice.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Classic Nomadic Mongolia<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A 14-day trip, including highlights on a budget<\/a>\u00a0(from \u20ac1999), this Mongolia trip includes a Gobi Desert and Mongolian Grasslands stay, alongside packing in the major historical must-sees and cultural experiences that make Mongolia an unforgettable adventure.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Local Living Mongolia<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

This 10-day local immersion<\/a> includes heading out to sites of cultural and historical interest by foot and horseback while residing with three different families in Gers to experience life as a nomad.<\/p>\n

Go to the Naadam Festival in Mongolia<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

This trip takes you off the track<\/a> of the standard highlights and places you right into the heart of a traditional Mongolian festival.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n