Imagine bouncing over rolling grasslands in a 4WD, with nothing but rolling green steppe extending in every direction. Mongolia is proof that roads (of the asphalt variety) are by no means essential for a road trip.
Such is the boundless landscape of Mongolia that awesome road trip adventures can be found just about anywhere you point your steering wheel.
In fact, m ost tours in Mongolia are cross-country driving itineraries, with a 4WD vehicle, driver and English-speaking guide provided as part of the package. For more control over the route, you can hire a private car and driver, or even get your own wheels and go it alone.
Whichever option you choose, you’re guaranteed dreamlike drives through some of the most mesmerizing and least populated landscapes on the planet. Here are three of our favorite Mongolia road trips to set you off on your journey.
Best road trip for sightseeing
Ulaanbaatar–Karakorum–South Gobi; from 1700km (1050 miles); allow from 5 days
Starting in Ulaanbaatar , this road trip packs in a lot of stops, starting with the remarkable Erdene Zuu Monastery in Kharkhorin, 360km west of the capital, and accessible via paved roads. Founded in 1586, Mongolia’s most important Buddhist site was built from the scattered ruins of Karakorum, the ancient capital founded by the son of Chinggis (Ghengis) Khan three centuries earlier.
Stop overnight in a ger (yurt) camp by the Orkhon River before venturing into the desert wilds of the mighty Gobi. The forlorn ruined monastery at Ongiin Khiid breaks up the epic, bumpy drive south to Ömnögovi – translating to ‘southern Gobi’ – the county’s driest, hottest and least populated province.
Much of the next phase of the trip is on unpaved tracks through sparsely vegetated steppe and rocky desert. You’ll need three to four days to visit the main sights, with a good choice of tourist ger camps at each stop.
First up are the eerily beautiful "flaming cliffs" of Bayanzag , the first place on Earth where dinosaur eggs were discovered, along with the remains of over 100 dinosaurs. Driving 150km southwest gets you to Khongoryn Els , where vast sand dunes soar up to 80m high.
Around 220km eastwards, in the wildlife-rich Yol Valley , you can hike, bike or ride a horse through a dramatic gorge in which seams of blue ice survive well into June. Keep going east to the provincial capital Dalanzadgad, where it’s back onto paved roads for the 550km straight shot north to Ulaanbaatar.
Planning tip: Aim to be in Khongoryn Els in the late afternoon with your camera ready – the dunescape is at its most photogenic in the light of the setting sun.
Best road trip for adventurous self-drivers
Ulaanbaatar–Khövsgöl Nuur; 900km (560 miles); allow three days
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