Mongolia Travel Package: Itineraries, Best Time to Go & Practical Tips - Voyage Privé
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Mongolia travel package


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A Mongolia travel package opens the door to vast steppes, nomadic culture and unforgettable adventures across the Gobi Desert. Whether you're seeking a short escape to Ulaanbaatar and Terelj, a classic circuit including ger camps, or an epic Trans-Mongolian railway journey to Beijing, this guide covers itineraries, practical tips and what to expect.

The most beautiful offers for Trans-Mongolian journeys

Trans-Siberian: Russia to Beijing – Moscow

Trans-Siberian: Russia to Beijing – Moscow

Embark on the legendary Trans-Siberian journey from Moscow to Beijing, with an unforgettable stop in Ulaanbaatar. This itinerary includes Lake Baikal's pristine shores and the chance to spend nights in traditional yurt camps, experiencing Mongolia's nomadic culture first-hand. Traverse vast steppes, meet local herders and witness landscapes that few travellers ever see. Perfect for adventurers seeking an epic multi-country rail odyssey with authentic Mongolian immersion.

What we love: The seamless blend of Russian grandeur, Mongolian wilderness and Chinese heritage, all aboard one of the world's most iconic train routes.

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Trans-Siberian: Russia to Beijing – St Petersburg

Trans-Siberian: Russia to Beijing – St Petersburg

Begin your Trans-Siberian adventure in the cultural heart of St Petersburg before rolling eastward to Ulaanbaatar and beyond to Beijing. This extended itinerary offers a Trans-Mongolian leg with optional yurt stays and local excursions into the steppe. Discover Genghis Khan's legacy, sample traditional dairy delicacies and sleep under star-filled Mongolian skies. Ideal for those who want the full Trans-Siberian experience with rich cultural stops along the way.

What we love: Starting in imperial St Petersburg and ending in Beijing, with Mongolia's wild beauty as the unforgettable centrepiece.

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Trans-Siberian: Moscow to Beijing – Moscow

Trans-Siberian: Moscow to Beijing – Moscow

This classic Moscow-to-Beijing route takes you through the heart of Mongolia, with a stop in Ulaanbaatar and opportunities to experience authentic nomadic life in yurt camps. Enjoy guided visits to local families, witness traditional horse culture and explore the capital's monasteries and museums. The itinerary balances iconic rail travel with immersive cultural encounters, making it a perfect introduction to Mongolia within a broader Asian adventure.

What we love: The chance to step off the train and into Mongolia's timeless steppe, staying in traditional yurts and meeting nomadic herders.

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Quick overview: what a Mongolia travel package covers

Understanding what's included in a Mongolia travel package helps you compare options and budget with precision. Here's what most packages cover and the main types available.

Typical inclusions: flights, transfers, accommodation and internal transport

A Mongolia travel package bundles international flights or rail segments for Trans-Mongolian routes, airport and station transfers, accommodation mixing hotels in Ulaanbaatar with ger camps in the countryside, internal transport such as domestic flights or robust four-wheel-drive vehicles, some meals including breakfast and dinner in ger camps, and guided excursions to national parks and cultural sites. Packages vary widely: some are all-inclusive with every meal and activity covered, while others provide basics and let you add optional extras. Trans-Mongolian itineraries bundle rail travel, select accommodation including yurt stays, and key transfers, offering excellent value and seamless logistics. Check each product page for detailed inclusions, meal plans, entrance fees and whether guides are English-speaking, ensuring the package matches your expectations and travel style before you commit.

Package types: short trips, classic itineraries and extended combinations

Mongolia travel packages fall into three main types. Short trips of five to eight days focus on Ulaanbaatar, Terelj National Park and perhaps one ger camp experience, ideal for first-timers or those with limited time. Classic itineraries spanning ten to twelve days add the Gobi Desert, multiple ger camps, camel treks and cultural visits, covering Mongolia's highlights in depth. Extended or combined trips of fourteen days or more often incorporate the Trans-Mongolian or Trans-Siberian Railway, linking Mongolia with Russia—Lake Baikal, Moscow or St Petersburg—and China via Beijing, perfect for epic overland adventures. These multi-country rail journeys include Mongolian stops and yurt camp stays as part of a broader itinerary, blending iconic train travel with authentic cultural immersion across three fascinating countries.

Where Mongolia fits in multi-country tours: Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Siberian legs

Mongolia is a natural stop on the Trans-Mongolian Railway, a branch of the Trans-Siberian that runs from Moscow via Ulaanbaatar to Beijing, and the Trans-Siberian Railway itself can include Mongolian extensions. Travellers board in Moscow or St Petersburg, cross Siberia, stop at Lake Baikal, then enter Mongolia at the border town of Naushki or Sükhbaatar, spend one to three nights in Ulaanbaatar with optional excursions to Terelj or a ger camp, then continue south to Beijing. This is one of the most popular ways UK travellers experience Mongolia—embedded in a bucket-list rail adventure. Curated Trans-Mongolian packages include yurt stays and guided visits, ensuring you witness the vast steppe, meet nomadic herders and enjoy authentic Mongolian hospitality, all while travelling aboard one of the world's most legendary train routes linking three continents.

Suggested sample itineraries

Choosing the right itinerary depends on your time, budget and interests. Below are three popular formats, from quick escapes to epic rail journeys.

Short escapes: highlights and who they suit

A typical five to eight-day Mongolia itinerary begins with arrival in Ulaanbaatar, where you spend a day exploring Gandan Monastery, the National Museum of Mongolia and the towering Genghis Khan statue. Drive two to three hours to Terelj National Park for hiking, horse riding and an overnight in a ger camp, perhaps visiting a nomadic family to learn traditional crafts and sample dairy delicacies. Return to Ulaanbaatar for departure, giving you a concentrated taste of Mongolia's landscapes and culture. This suits first-time visitors, those on a tight schedule, or travellers combining Mongolia with another destination such as a Beijing stopover. While standalone five to eight-day Mongolia-only packages are limited in current inventory, short Mongolian experiences can be part of longer Trans-Mongolian itineraries—contact customer service or check current offers for options tailored to your needs.

Classic ten to twelve-day itineraries: Ulaanbaatar, Terelj and Gobi

A classic ten to twelve-day Mongolia circuit starts in Ulaanbaatar with one to two days exploring the capital, then heads to Terelj for one to two nights in a ger surrounded by granite formations and pine forests. Fly or drive south to the Gobi Desert for three to four nights, visiting the Flaming Cliffs famous for dinosaur fossils, climbing the towering Khongoryn Els sand dunes, riding Bactrian camels and staying in remote ger camps where you meet nomadic herders. Return to Ulaanbaatar via Karakorum, the ancient Mongol capital, or the Orkhon Valley if time permits. This itinerary covers Mongolia's iconic landscapes and cultural highlights, ideal for adventure seekers and nature lovers. For dedicated ten to twelve-day Mongolia-only tours, check the latest offers or contact customer service for tailored options, as current inventory focuses on Trans-Mongolian rail packages.

Extended options and combinations: Trans-Mongolian journeys including Lake Baikal and Beijing

Extended fourteen to twenty-one-day itineraries combine the Trans-Mongolian or Trans-Siberian Railway with overland exploration. Depart Moscow or St Petersburg, travel across Siberia with a stop at Lake Baikal to visit Irkutsk and Olkhon Island, cross into Mongolia, spend two to three nights in Ulaanbaatar with excursions to Terelj or a ger camp in the steppe, then continue by train to Beijing with time to explore the Great Wall and Forbidden City. These journeys offer the best of three countries, blending iconic rail travel with cultural immersion. Trans-Mongolian packages specialise in these multi-country itineraries, with options for yurt stays, guided visits and flexible extensions. Explore our Trans-Siberian: Russia to Beijing itinerary for an unforgettable adventure linking Russian grandeur, Mongolian wilderness and Chinese heritage.

Top experiences and activities to include in a package

A Mongolia travel package should go beyond sightseeing—immersive activities and authentic encounters make the journey unforgettable. Here are the must-do experiences.

Staying in ger camps and experiencing nomadic life

A ger, or yurt, is a traditional felt tent used by Mongolian nomads, and staying in a ger camp immerses you in this timeless way of life. Tourist camps provide comfortable beds inside each ger with clean linen, wood stoves for heating, and shared or private bathroom facilities nearby. Communal dining gers serve traditional meals including mutton, dairy products and dumplings, while evenings bring the chance to listen to throat singing, stargaze in unpolluted skies and meet nomadic families. Activities include visiting herder camps, learning to make dairy delicacies, helping with livestock, and experiencing authentic hospitality. Ger camps range from basic to boutique, but all offer an authentic taste of nomadic life. Trans-Mongolian packages include nights in yurt camps, ensuring comfort and cultural immersion, with opportunities to witness horse culture and sleep under vast Mongolian skies in remote, pristine settings.

Gobi Desert excursions: camel treks, sand dunes and fossils

The Gobi Desert delivers otherworldly landscapes and unforgettable adventures. Ride two-humped Bactrian camels across the dunes, climb the towering Khongoryn Els known as the Singing Dunes for their musical sands, explore the Flaming Cliffs at Bayanzag where dinosaur eggs were first discovered, visit the Yolyn Am canyon with its ice gorge even in summer, and stay in remote ger camps under vast desert skies. Gobi excursions run three to four days, accessed by domestic flight from Ulaanbaatar or long four-wheel-drive journeys across the steppe. The silence, sense of adventure and raw beauty are unparalleled. While current inventory focuses on Trans-Mongolian rail routes, some packages may offer optional Gobi extensions—check product pages or contact customer service for details on adding this iconic desert experience to your itinerary.

Horse trekking, cultural visits and local festivals including Naadam season

Mongolia is the land of the horse, and horse trekking through Terelj or the steppe is a quintessential experience, suitable for beginners and experienced riders alike. Cultural visits include monasteries such as Gandan in Ulaanbaatar and Erdene Zuu in Karakorum, museums including the National Museum of Mongolia, and Genghis Khan monuments celebrating the empire's founder. Meeting nomadic families offers hands-on learning of traditional crafts, horsemanship and daily life. The Naadam Festival from July eleventh to thirteenth is Mongolia's biggest event, featuring wrestling, horse racing and archery—the three manly games—alongside colourful costumes, throat singing and traditional food. Attending Naadam offers unparalleled cultural immersion, but book well in advance as packages fill quickly. Trans-Mongolian itineraries can be timed to coincide with Naadam or other festivals; contact customer service for seasonal departures and festival-focused options.

Practical information before you book

Before booking your Mongolia travel package, check these essential practicalities—visas, weather, health and insurance—to ensure a smooth, safe journey.

Best time to go: seasons and weather by month

Mongolia's extreme continental climate shapes when you visit. Summer from June to August is peak season with warm days reaching twenty to twenty-five degrees Celsius, ideal for ger camps, festivals including Naadam in July, and Gobi exploration, though it can be crowded and pricier. Spring in May and autumn in September offer fewer crowds, pleasant temperatures and beautiful landscapes with wildflowers in May and golden steppe in September, perfect for photography and horse trekking. Winter from November to March is bitterly cold, minus twenty to minus forty degrees Celsius, but offers unique experiences such as ice festivals, winter nomadic life and the Trans-Mongolian Railway through snowy Siberia—only for hardy travellers. Recommend summer for first-timers, shoulder seasons for value and flexibility. Trans-Mongolian packages run throughout the year; check departure dates and seasonal highlights on product pages to match your preferences and tolerance for cold.

Visas, entry rules and passport validity

UK passport holders do not need a visa for tourist visits to Mongolia of up to thirty days as of current regulations; always verify the latest rules on the Mongolian embassy website or gov.uk before travel. Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date from Mongolia. Travelling on the Trans-Mongolian Railway also requires a Russian visa, single or double entry depending on your route, and a Chinese visa or eligibility for the one-hundred-forty-four-hour transit exemption for Beijing. Apply for Russian and Chinese visas well in advance, eight to twelve weeks, as processing can be slow and requirements strict. Trans-Mongolian packages include detailed visa guidance in booking documentation, and customer service can advise on requirements, application procedures and timing. Ensure all visas are secured before departure to avoid delays or denied boarding at airports or border crossings.

Health, vaccinations and travel insurance tips

No vaccinations are legally required for Mongolia, but the NHS and travel clinics recommend being up to date on routine jabs including MMR, tetanus and diphtheria, plus hepatitis A, typhoid and, for longer stays or rural travel, hepatitis B, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Medical facilities in Ulaanbaatar handle minor issues, but remote areas have limited or no healthcare, making comprehensive travel insurance with medical evacuation cover essential. Drink bottled or boiled water, use insect repellent against ticks in grasslands, and pack a basic first-aid kit. Consider altitude in some areas above one thousand five hundred metres and extreme temperatures as health factors. Verify that your insurance policy covers rail travel, adventure activities such as horse trekking and remote ger camp stays. Check policy details when booking your Mongolia travel package to ensure adequate protection throughout your journey.

Mongolia offers a rare combination of untouched wilderness, authentic nomadic culture and epic rail journeys that few destinations can match. From the vast steppe to the silent dunes of the Gobi, from traditional ger camps to the legendary Trans-Mongolian Railway linking three continents, every moment delivers adventure and discovery. Register today to access exclusive offers, curated itineraries and handpicked experiences that bring Mongolia's timeless beauty within reach.

Mongolia travel package

Booking a Mongolia travel package is straightforward: browse options on dedicated travel platforms, especially Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Siberian itineraries that include Mongolian stops and yurt stays, compare inclusions such as flights or rail tickets, accommodation, transfers and excursions, check departure dates and visa requirements, then book online or contact customer service for tailored advice. Register to access exclusive member rates and flash sales. For standalone Mongolia-only packages, check the latest offers or request a bespoke quote from customer service teams.

Most Mongolia tour packages include international flights or Trans-Mongolian rail tickets, airport and station transfers, accommodation mixing hotels in Ulaanbaatar with ger camps in the countryside, internal transport such as domestic flights or four-wheel-drive vehicles, some meals typically breakfast and dinner in ger camps, and guided excursions to national parks, cultural visits and camel or horse treks. Exact inclusions vary by operator and package type, so always check the detailed itinerary before booking to ensure it matches your expectations.

The best time to visit Mongolia is June to September: warm weather, accessible ger camps and the chance to attend Naadam Festival in July. May and September offer fewer crowds and pleasant temperatures, ideal for photography and value. Winter from November to March is extremely cold but perfect for winter festivals and Trans-Siberian rail journeys through snowy landscapes. Choose summer for classic experiences, shoulder seasons for tranquillity and better pricing.

No, UK passport holders do not need a visa for tourist stays in Mongolia of up to thirty days. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your departure date. Travelling via the Trans-Mongolian Railway requires Russian and Chinese visas; apply eight to twelve weeks in advance. Always verify current entry rules on gov.uk or the Mongolian embassy website before booking and ensure all visas are secured before departure.

Ger camps range from basic to boutique, but most tourist camps are comfortable with beds, clean linen, wood stoves for heating, and shared or private bathrooms nearby. Communal dining gers serve traditional Mongolian meals. Expect an authentic nomadic experience that is simple, cosy and immersive. Facilities are more rustic than hotels, but stunning locations, starry skies and cultural encounters more than compensate. Pack layers as nights can be cold even in summer and bring an open mind for an unforgettable stay.

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