Exploring Mongolia Independently

hi there,

personally, I wouldn’t, but in recent years, traveling by bus has become easier because the buses are better and there are a few more paved roads... The issue with buses is that they only connect big cities, and there’s not much to see in those cities—you’ll quickly get the lay of the land. To really experience Mongolia, the steppe, and the nomads, you’d need to be more self-sufficient.

From the big cities, you can find shared taxis, which often leave from the market square or train station to head toward smaller villages, but none of them run on a regular schedule. And once you’re in those small villages, there’s still not much to see. As they say, Mongolia is all about the steppe and the nomads—not the urban centers, which were created just 80 years ago by Stalin to house a clinic, post office, and school.

So the idea could be to take buses for certain routes—just keep in mind that the routes are star-shaped, meaning everything starts and ends in the capital. It’s rare to find intercity routes that don’t require backtracking through Ulaanbaatar. You’ll need to plan accordingly based on the area you decide to explore.

For example, you can take a bus to Dalanzadgad in the Gobi, and from there, a guesthouse can help you arrange a tour to explore the Gobi’s wonders. There are no buses that go from the Singing Dunes to Yolyn Am or the Flaming Cliffs, for instance. The bus runs twice daily and takes about 14 hours.

You can also take a bus to Kharkhorin—it’s about 6–8 hours daily and one of the few cities (along with UB) that offers monuments to see, like a museum.

I’d also suggest adding a few days with a nomadic family to your itinerary to experience daily life and steppe traditions. It’s an important part of the trip—without it, your discovery of this magnificent country won’t feel complete.

You can also rent bikes in UB (or buy them) and take a bus to a specific area, then explore the steppe and its stunning landscapes from there.

Happy to provide more info if you need it!

Did someone leave a mini guide here that's a bit old but might still help? Who has done this bus experience?

MONGOLIA BUS TRAVEL

JULY 2017

Itinerary: - Ulaanbaatar /10-hour bus/ Dalanzadgad 4-day tour in the Gobi Desert (price depends on group size and services...) Dalanzadgad /5h/ Yolin Am /2h30/ Hongor's Sands /2h/ Bulgan (supplies and public shower) /Bayanzag /2h/ Dalanzadgad (note: travel time is unpredictable, roads are unpaved).

Dalanzadgad /10-14h/ Ulaanbaatar (2 departures per day) Bus - Ulaanbaatar /8h/ Kharkhorin Kharkhorin - Orkhon Waterfall: 4-day horse trek in Naiman Nuur National Park. Orkhon Waterfall // Tsetserleg (very beautiful town) Tsetserleg // Tariat /12 km I did it on foot/ Lake Tsagaan Nuur and its volcano (hiking and volcano ascent) Bus Tariat /12h/ Ulaanbaatar

Food: 6,000–8,000 T Night in a yurt: 10,000–15,000 T Long-distance buses: 23,000–35,000 T My budget for 3 weeks: 500 €

Watch out! I traveled solo, independently, with my own food, tent, and all the gear. I joined two excursions: 4 days in the Gobi and 4 days on horseback.

Book bus tickets in advance (24–48 hours before departure). Treat or filter river water if you don’t have a bottle. For trekkers, buy a gas canister directly in Ulaanbaatar! You won’t find any elsewhere! Bring warm and lightweight clothes—temperatures can drop quickly if the weather turns bad.

Absolutely no problem traveling solo in Mongolia! It’s actually much more rewarding (personal experience).

For the Gobi, it’s mejet69 at yahoo.com (in English) where I stayed in UB (guesthouse 7 €/night/person) who advised me and put me in touch with a guesthouse directly in Dalanzadgad (can’t remember the name). I did my Gobi tour with them. She picked me up right at the bus exit, and her guesthouse is a 6–7 minute walk away! Otherwise, there are always touts when buses arrive! It’s really not complicated to find accommodation in Dalanzadgad or a guesthouse—the hardest part is making yourself understood to get to the right place ;)

happy travels