When I arrived in Mongolia in 2009, there was exactly one luggage cart at the international airport. During my ten-day stay there, I saw only a few other tourists.
During my trip, I explored what is considered the birthplace of Genghis Khan in Mount Khan-Khenti National Park. We crossed endless green plains on Russian minibus and on horseback, setting up camp near pristine rivers flowing from the surrounding snow-capped mountains. The remoteness and lack of cellular connectivity allowed for true immersion in the landscape, evoking the feeling of being the only person on Earth.
There were days we didn’t see other people, but when we did, the interactions were unforgettable. One day, a nomadic family while riding horseback waved us over for a cup of Mongolia’s national drink, airaj (fermented mare’s milk), a unique beverage that my taste buds will never forget. Another day, a local woman in her eighties, who disliked our late afternoon arrival, refused our request to open a gated bridge for which she was the only keyholder, forcing us to pitch tents in a nearby field infested with countless mosquitoes. Even after being bombarded with bites, I couldn’t help but be moved by her steadfast denial, especially since we were probably the only travelers she’d seen in days.
Tourism in Mongolia has grown dramatically since I have been there. In 2025, 850,000 people visited Mongolia, an increase of five percent from 2024, with travel trending higher this year. The airport now serves 15 cities (with multiple rotary cars), and the first five-star luxury hotel has just opened in the capital, Ulaanbaatar.
What was once a logistically complex destination for outdoorsy and adventurous traveler types, is now a place that can appeal to city travelers and luxury travelers as well – those looking to indulge in spa time, Mongolian musical performances like throat singing, and shopping for luxury items like camel wool and cashmere, the latter of which Mongolia is the world’s number one exporter.
Getting to Mongolia from the United States is easier than ever. On April 30 of this year, United will become the only U.S. airline to fly to Ulaanbaatar, via Tokyo Narita (NRT), joining international carriers already serving the country, such as Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul) and Korean Air (via Seoul).
When Brianna Wilson first arrived from Los Angeles, she was amazed by how different life in Mongolia seemed, as if she had stepped into the Wild West. “The roads were gone, tents (or tents, as they’re called here) started popping up across the landscape, and animals were roaming freely everywhere we looked,” she says. “It was surreal to see that people still lived this way – away from the land and their animals without all the modern conveniences I was used to.”
She returned the following year for a motorcycle adventure in the Ural Mountains across the steppe, and has returned every year since, spending between six and ten months a year in Mongolia. In 2022, she and Agarma founded the local Batjargal Meanwhile in Mongoliaa small-group adventure tour operator that focuses on experiences with locals, offers a wide range of tours that allow guests to stay in tent camps with families of racehorse, camel, and reindeer herders. “Living this way with the locals is always an unforgettable experience,” says Wilson. “It’s one of the things that makes Mongolia unique – people don’t just do it for tourism, they really live that way. Through the good and the bad, which we don’t even get to see very often.”
Days are spent exploring the outdoors, crossing alpine valleys, snowy steppes, or the vast, arid Gobi Desert. Mongolia, the 18th largest country in the world, has one of the widest temperature ranges on the planet, from icy -40°F in winter to scorching +100°F in summer. With one of the more extreme continental climates, dressing in layers is important all year round, as days can start cold and end hot. However, although the climate can sometimes be harsh, Mongolia is also nicknamed the “Land of Eternal Blue Skies,” with 260 clear days annually illuminating its vast terrain.
When Jalsa Urubshurow set off Bedouin missions In 1992, the country’s tourism sector was still in its infancy, and that was only one year after the fall of the Soviet Union, of which Mongolia was a satellite state. After that, tourism moved from government control to the private sector. Hundreds of travel and resort companies have been launched in the past few decades, with tremendous growth in infrastructure in the past few years. “Mongolia has invested in roads, accommodations and environmental conservation, and the travel community has increasingly embraced experiential trips that focus on culture, adventure and remote landscapes,” Urubchoro says.
One of Nomadic Expeditions’ most popular tours is the Golden Eagle Festival in western Mongolia, which focuses on the ancient tradition of eagle falconry. In a less-visited area, access and infrastructure can be challenging, which is why Nomadic Expeditions operates Three Eagle Camp, an intimate 12-person bivouac camp in the foothills. In the shadow of Mount Tsambagarav, one of Mongolia’s perennially snow-capped mountains, visitors can experience extraordinary hiking, trekking, horseback riding, overland drives, and intimate visits with local families from the region’s diverse ethnic communities, including Auld archers, Uriankhai, and Kazakh eagle falcons. “Mongolia not only offers beautiful natural scenery, but a sense of discovery and cultural depth that is increasingly rare in today’s world,” Urubchoro says.
For those who want a less adventurous outdoor excursion or prefer to bookend their adventure with some luxury, the hotel is newly opened I am wrong Offering a new level of hospitality in Mongolia. The property is located in a protected valley just outside the capital, Ulaanbaatar, close to the Bogd Khan Uul Biosphere Reserve, with sweeping mountain views and an extensive spa. “Our vision was to create a hotel that feels contemporary and authentically Mongolian for guests to engage with local traditions, the country’s creative and culinary culture, and world-class hospitality,” says Tsalmon Nyamtaisher, Founder and CEO of Ayan Hotels and Resorts Mongolia.
Guests can listen to live performances of traditional Mongolian singing, learn folk dance, meditate with a resident Buddhist monk, or immerse themselves in the surrounding area and learn about the region’s history and nomadic traditions. On-site restaurants include Lost in China, which serves gourmet Chinese cuisine, and 8 Ounce Steakhouse. End your night with a cigar in The Smokey Room or a glass of wine in the private cellar.
There aren’t many places as untouched by human hands as Mongolia, which is why it’s so rewarding to experience its windswept lands and nomadic culture before the rest of the world catches up. This vast country remains relatively under the radar, offering a wealth of experiences, culture and history that you can’t find anywhere else. In the past, you would usually challenge items to explore, but now, The country is becoming more attractive to all types of travelers. A sense of adventure is still essential, but alongside the eagle herders, stunning steppes and remote lands, there is now also a more fun option to add to the country’s wonder. Yes, you can still ride a reindeer with the last tribe on Earth to do so, but now you can also relax on a massage bed after a day of cashmere shopping, where extraordinary and luxury come together at Mongolia’s newest chapter.
