What to pack for travel to Mongolia?

As some travellers say “Mongolia is a land of unexpected”. According to Mongolia’s geographic locations and its 4 distinctive seasons, what to pack for your Mongolia tour depends hugely on which season you are travelling to Mongolia, and what type of journey you are willing to including an organized tour or a wilderness expedition. We know that every traveller’s packing list is different and each of us has our own travel needs. With this in mind, we recommend the following general travel packing lists for Mongolia tours.  If you feel there is something else you should bring with you, please do so, and when in doubt contact us for advice. 

Travel packing list for summer tours to Mongolia:

As one of the highest countries in the world, with an average altitude of 1580 metres above sea level. The high central Asian mountain ranges protect the country against the humid air masses which basically creates an extreme continental climate with a temperature range to suit. Mongolian weather has a reputation and is known for its sharp fluctuations with warm, short summers and long, dry and very cold winters. Mongolian summer days can be hot in the sun but cool in the shade, while the nighttime can get downright cold. You want clothes you can pile on and peel off as you’re charging across the countryside on a horse or hiking desert dunes on a camel. Play it safe and dress modestly. You might see some cleavage and tight jeans in Ulaanbataar, but on the steppes and in the Gobi it is out of place. Clothing is important for Mongolian trips. Days are warm and nights are a bit chilly, even if you travel in summer in the Gobi. So you will always need layers and warm clothes.

1. Casual clothing for travel/city: There is no specific dress code in Mongolia, especially in Ulaanbaatar, you can wear anything do western people wear in daily life. You may want to bring an extra folding bag, so you can leave any spare items in the hotel or at our offices.

2. Clothing out of the city: Since the weather in Mongolia is highly unpredictable, you need to be prepared.

• Backpack or soft bag: best if foldable.
• Cotton T-shirts: two to three T-shirts will usually suffice.
• Two long-sleeved shirts: one lightweight, fast-drying, light-coloured, preferably with buttons down the front so you can wear it open over a T-shirt for sun protection; and one medium weight for cold evenings.
• Two pairs of lightweight trousers: if one pair has zip-off legs that can double as shorts, this is ideal.
• Shorts: the fast-drying kind.
• Underwear: fast drying. Sports/Athletic bras offering good support are best.
• Socks: socks should be of a material that keeps your feet dry and allows your feet to breathe.
• Fleece jacket or warm sweater/jumper: we find a fleece jacket with a full-length front zipper to be the most practical, and a wind-stopper fleece the best for spring and autumn.
• Waterproof shell/rain jacket or poncho: In most cases, a waterproof/windproof shell with a hood is ideal. Ponchos are more practical on a horse trek as they cover your saddle and keep your seat dry. Jackets or ponchos for horse treks should be of subdued, darker colour and preferably of a material that does not crackle or rustle. Some Mongolian horses are spooked by unfamiliar bright/light colours and noises from plastic or nylon rain gear.
• Towel: a travel towel that is compact, very absorbent, and fast drying.
• Walking shoes: should have sturdy soles and good support
• Sandals: to be worn around camp, in the shower, and when wading in streams or lakes. The best kind has adjustable straps around the ankle and will stay on your feet if you are walking on a slippery stream bed.
• Bathing costume: for bathing in the hot springs, or in lakes and streams.
• Sunglasses: should offer high UV protection.
• Spare glasses/contact lenses: carried in a sturdy case.
• Personal medications: our First Aid kits are equipped with basic First Aid supplies, but by Mongolian law, we are not allowed to dispense any medication. You should bring common medicines for headache, stomach upset, diarrhoea, colds or allergies, based on your experience and your knowledge of what you might require. Ensure you have a sufficient supply of all prescription medications.
• Sunscreen: choose one with at least an SPF of 20, more if you are light-skinned. A sunscreen in stick form that can be applied to lips, nose, cheeks, and the tops of your ears is very handy.
• Insect repellent: read the label carefully and avoid those that are toxic to fish and amphibians, or wash the repellent off well away from rivers, lakes, and streams.

3. Clothing for horse or camel riding:

• Day pack
• Riding pants: Long pants like jeans, breeches, or jodhpurs. (Shorts and inner leg pant seams can chafe.)
• Boots: Comfortable sturdy worn-in walking boots/shoes
• Gloves: A lightweight, quick-drying glove. You will be pulling a lot from the bridle.
• Enough pairs of socks and pairs of high wicking sock liners.

4. Clothing for mountain climbing:

• Hiking boots (for treks): waterproof and breathable, with Gore-Tex boots being the best for Kharkhira and other Altai treks. This is a permafrost area, and water is trapped at the surface, so it will be difficult to avoid some wet ground. We recommend that you bring an extra pair of shoes, in case your boots get wet.
• Waterproof pants: should fit over your other pants, and from May through September without a lining or should have a very light, breathable lining.
• Leggings: to avoid water from penetrating through the top of your boots.
• Extra set of clothing: sealed in a nylon bag, to be carried during hiking days.

Travel packing list for winter tours to Mongolia:

Mongolian winter is cold, but not that extreme cold as some people say. The winter in Mongolia has its own beauty, and bigger chances to experience authentic nomads life.  You have to be prepared for a huge temperature range, it can be 10°C above one day and -40°C the next night. Due to its temperature ranges, a 3-layer system is preferred. Specifically based on wearing a base, middle and outer layer. For all winter trips in Mongolia, you need to bring all three layers. The 3-layer system should protect you from the outside environment and conditions, whilst allowing for maximum heat retention. It should be flexible to allow for changing conditions. Here is our general packing list recommendation for our winter trips to Mongolia.

• Base layer: You need to wear a base layer, preferably something made of wool, or any thermal and quick-dry synthetic. Avoid cotton as much as possible. Cotton will hold moisture, and moisture could freeze. Wool is a great insulator, and even if it gets wet, won’t freeze. The main objective of the base is to keep you dry. A nice example is this Thermal shirt.
• Mid Layer (Insulation): The base is to keep you dry, and the medium is to keep you warm. So the best mid-layer outfits are comfy and warm items like fleece, but wool or cashmere also works great. An example of a nice fleece mid-layer is this Fleece Jacket.
• Outer Layer: So, we covered dry and warm. Now to keep the wind and snow away, you will need a waterproof and wind-resistant jacket and snow pants. For an example of what to look for, check this parka and these snow pants. Or you could consider purchasing a thick Mongolian winter deel (traditional ¾ length wraparound coat) at the start of your trip for around $200.
• You need all the 3 top layers – not only if you go hiking, but skiing or will also be near snow. This is especially true for kids, they are smaller and can freeze quicker.
• Wool socks: Warm feet are a must around here! And wool socks are the best. As mentioned above, even if they become wet, they won’t freeze and they are great for insulation. Consider taking light synthetic/polypropylene liner socks as wearing these helps to prevent chafing. Then take medium weight wool hiking socks for wearing on top of the liner sock.  Wool socks are worth it. See example: wool socks.
• Boots: From late September, there can be snow and ice anywhere in Mongolia. If you want to be able to walk without sliding, and also keep those toes warmed up, you need snow boots. I wear them even to go to the store. You may opt for chunky pull on calf-length style boots, or more lightweight hiking boots just with ankle support. However, anything that would be reasonably described as ‘shoes’ should be avoided for outdoor use.
• Gloves and warmers: Extremely important! Don’t forget a good pair of gloves or mittens. Fingers are rather small and freeze up quickly if you don’t keep them warm. Besides, if you come all the way to Mongolia, you might want to have a little playtime in the snow. Be prepared.  An example of good gloves. If you forget or lose your gloves, quality Mongolian-made leather gloves can be bought in many of Ulaanbaatar’s markets and stores for around $10.
• Hats: Not only to keep you warm but also to cover your ears and avoid frostbite. You can also use a headband/ear warmers. Make sure they are wool, fleece or, if you are in Mongolia already, camel and cashmere are also good and can be bought inexpensively.
• Scarves: Keep your neck warm and cosy. I can’t stress it enough that being warm is not only for a comforting reason but for a survival reason. Temperatures can drop to below -40C. So, yeah… It gets really cold. Balaclavas are an option too. They will keep your head and neck warm and cosy.

Other equipment or accessories to pack for Mongolia trips:

• Headlamp/flashlight: a headlamp is preferable, as it leaves your hands free.
• Spare batteries/bulbs and possibly a slimline rechargeable battery pack to recharge your phone
• Binoculars/camera: carried in a soft padded case if possible.
• Cables and adaptors for charging phones, cameras, etc. If you have 12V adapters to charge from the car’s cigarette lighter, please bring these along.
• Back-up battery: In your nomadic family visiting days, horse/camel trekking days, mountain climbing days or anytime you are in a rural area, there is no electricity/power supply enough for charging cameras, drones even mobile phones.
• Camera, tripod(s), drone(s) other relevant equipment: There are too many beautiful scenes to photograph in Mongolia. But it’s not accessible to buy this type of equipment in rural areas (anywhere out of Ulaanbaatar). Remember that cameras and photography equipment are relatively expensive in Ulaanbaatar compared to western countries or even in other Asian countries.
• If you are a keen photographer, it’s better to bring a polaroid camera. Take a photo with nomadic families, with their kids and leave the photo as a small thank you gift.
• Money belt/pouch: it is preferable to have a flat pouch that can be worn inside clothing.

Additional Equipment to pack for Mongolia trips:

• Sleeping bag: At each of Way To Nomads’ camping tours, we provide a sleeping bag to our guests freely. But if you consider hygiene reasons, we recommend that you should bring your own sleeping bag. We recommend sleeping bags rated warm for temperatures down to -5C for summer travel, -15C to -20C for spring and autumn, and -40C for winter
• Sleeping mats: If you are on a trip that involves camping we do provide simple sleeping mats but we suggest you bring your own Thermarest or something similar for extra comfort if you have one and can fit it in.
• Resealable (Ziploc) plastic bags: Bring a sufficient quantity to protect your documents, money, camera, binoculars, and other items from water, sand, and dust. A few extra bags are handy for repacking wet clothing until you reach your next camp and can dry them out.
• Waterproof bag cover (on treks and horse treks, expedition-style trips): One large enough to cover your backpack or bag and a smaller one for your day pack.
• Earplugs: We do not provide earplugs. Some people prefer bringing earplugs to our camping tours due to safety reasons from insects or any bugs when you are sleeping in the forest or anywhere.
• Travel pillow(s)