Mongolia asks something of you before you arrive: pack for four seasons in a single day. In June the dawn is 4°C and the noon is 28°C. In February the dawn is -30°C and so is noon. Layering is not a suggestion. It is the system.
The Core Layers (Every Season)
A merino wool base: long-sleeve and long-john, worn next to the skin regardless of month. A mid-layer fleece. A shell that is both windproof and waterproof. Good wool socks, at least three pairs. Proper hiking boots broken in before you board the plane.
Summer (June to August)
Add a brimmed hat. The steppe sun is fierce and the shade is somewhere else. Sunscreen 50+. Long trousers, shorts are fine in a ger but outside, the mosquitoes find you fast. A light down jacket for nights. Yes, nights.
Winter (December to March)
A proper down parka rated to -30°C. Insulated boots, not fashion boots. Thermal glove liners under heavy mittens. A balaclava or neck gaiter. Hand warmers. If you are riding horseback in winter, we will provide the dell (wool overcoat), but pack your base layers.
Shoulder Seasons (April-May, September-November)
This is Mongolia's most underrated window. Pack both summer and winter gear. Wind is the defining condition. A proper windbreaker saves the day.
What Not to Bring
Hairdryers. Cotton t-shirts (they soak and stay wet). Heels. Expectations of Wi-Fi in the countryside. Expectations of the Mongolia you saw in the Netflix documentary.
Everything else, we handle. Ger warmed before you arrive. Every route chosen for you. Every guide named.
