Travel Preparations for Mongolia

Preparing for a trip to Mongolia means sorting out documents and insurance early, planning for long distances with limited services, and carrying enough cash and the right gear for remote areas. Use this checklist in the weeks before you leave; each topic is covered in more depth in other Handbook guides.

Documents

• Passport: check its validity (usually at least six months beyond arrival) and that it has blank pages.
• Visa or e-visa: confirm whether you need one with the Mongolian Immigration Agency or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular service, and apply in good time.
• Registration: if you will stay longer than the period set by the Immigration Agency, plan to register soon after arrival.
• Copies: keep paper and digital copies of your passport, visa, insurance and tickets, separate from the originals.
• Permits: border zones and some protected areas require permits or entry fees; tour operators usually arrange these.

Travel insurance

Buy travel insurance before you go, and read the policy. For Mongolia it should cover medical treatment and emergency evacuation from remote areas, which can be very expensive. If you plan to ride horses, trek at altitude or join adventure activities, check that these are covered. Note your insurer's emergency number and your policy number somewhere both you and your guide can find them.

Health

See a doctor or travel clinic four to eight weeks before departure. Make sure routine vaccinations are up to date and ask about hepatitis A and B, typhoid, rabies (relevant if you will be in remote areas or around animals, including dogs) and tick-borne encephalitis if you will spend time in northern forests in spring and summer. Bring enough prescription medicine for the whole trip, plus extra, in original packaging. Medical facilities outside Ulaanbaatar are basic, so pack a personal first-aid kit and treatment for stomach upsets. Drink boiled, filtered or bottled water.

Money

Tell your bank you are travelling and carry at least two cards. Plan to withdraw or exchange tögrög in Ulaanbaatar before heading to the countryside, where card payment is often unavailable. Bring some clean US dollar or euro notes as an emergency reserve. If you are on a tour, budget for tips for your guide and driver.

Driving in Mongolia

Most visitors travel with a hired driver, which is strongly recommended in the countryside: tracks are often unmarked, fuel stations can be far apart and navigation takes local experience. If you plan to drive yourself, you will generally need an International Driving Permit together with your national licence; check the current requirements before you go. Mongolia drives on the right. Avoid driving at night, watch for livestock on the road, and carry spare fuel, water and a means of communication in remote areas. Traffic in Ulaanbaatar is very heavy at peak times.

Connectivity

Mongolia's main mobile networks, including Unitel, Mobicom, Skytel and G-Mobile, sell prepaid SIM cards with data; buy one at the airport or in the city with your passport. eSIM options may also be available. Coverage is good in cities and around provincial and district centres, but there are long stretches with no signal in between. Download offline maps, translation tools and key documents before leaving Ulaanbaatar, and ask your operator whether they carry a satellite phone or messenger for emergencies.

Final checklist before you fly

Confirm your flights and transfers, share your itinerary with someone at home, check the weather for the regions you will visit, pack layers, charge your power banks, and save emergency contacts, including your country's embassy in Ulaanbaatar and your tour operator, on your phone and on paper.