Mongolia has vast distances and limited paved roads. How do you actually move across the country? Flights for long hops, 4WDs for everything else. Our honest guide to transport logistics.
Munkhbayar Bat-Erdene
Mongolia is the size of Alaska. Its road network is 49,000 kilometres total, of which only 8,100 km are paved. Travel across the country is slow, bumpy, and expensive per kilometre. Budget accordingly.
Aero Mongolia and Hunnu Air run scheduled flights. Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad (Gobi gateway): 1h 15m, 280 USD round trip. UB to Ulgii (Altai): 3h, 320 USD. UB to Khuvsgul: 1h 30m, 240 USD. Flights cut 2-3 days from driving itineraries. Worth it for premium trips.
Our fleet: Toyota Land Cruiser 200 series (5-passenger) for groups, Mitsubishi Delica for rougher routes. Fuel consumption 16-20 litres per 100 km on rough terrain. Plan 50-70 kilometres per hour average on countryside routes, slower in the mountains or after rain.
From Moscow to Beijing via Ulaanbaatar. Total journey 6,000 km over 6-7 days. The Mongolia portion is 1,100 km, 32 hours, absolutely worth doing. Book second class (4-berth cabin) for the experience. We can arrange the full Trans-Mongolian grand journey with 4-5 nights in Mongolia en route.
Mini-vans and shared jeeps run between provincial capitals. Not recommended for foreign travellers: schedules are uncertain, drivers speak little English, and breakdowns are common. Our private vehicles are 10x the cost and 1000x the comfort.
Yes, actually. Our expeditions include horse sections through roadless steppe (Khangai, Khuvsgol, Orkhon) and camel sections through deep Gobi (Khongoryn Els). These are not gimmicks, they are the honest way to reach places vehicles cannot.
We do not recommend this for foreign travellers. Rural Mongolian driving involves unmapped tracks, river fordings, and vehicles requiring specialist repair skills. Our drivers have 10-20 years on the roads we drive. Self-driving is a recipe for being stuck 200 km from help.
Terelj National Park: 90 minutes. Kharkhorin (Karakorum): 6 hours (paved). Dalanzadgad: 10 hours (partial paved). Khuvsgul Lake: 12 hours (mostly paved). Ulgii: 27 hours (mostly gravel). Fly instead.