Discovering Mongolia authentically: your tips

Hi everyone, Happy to be back on our travel exchange and advice site. There are four of us heading to Mongolia from June 22 to July 15, 2025. We’ve wanted to visit Mongolia for a long time, but for various reasons, the trip kept getting postponed. This year is the one. The flight tickets are booked, and we’re in touch with several agencies to organize what seems like a classic itinerary (Gobi, Khangai, and Lake Khuvsgul), including attending a Naadam festival outside the capital. Yes, but here’s the thing—with so much hope riding on this destination, I’m afraid of being disappointed by what we’ll find. Let me explain. The way we travel has changed over time. Discovering a country these days seems to be more about influencers than travel guides. Consumer-focused travel seems to have taken over from genuine exploration. So, if you have any tips for helping us discover authentic sites and avoid certain mistakes… we’re all ears. Thanks in advance for your replies, and happy holidays to everyone.

I forgot to mention that I wanted to visit the Tsaatan region, but our incompetence with horses made us abandon the plan.

Well, this is definitely the area where tourist traps are the most common (a bit like with the Himba in Namibia...)

Hey Jp, I was pretty sure I’d get a message from you. What do you mean by "this area"—the Tsaatan region? You’ve got experience in this part of the world. Any pro tips? Hope you’re having a great holiday!

Hi Thierry, Sure, I was talking about the Tsaatans "country." It seems—though I haven’t verified this—that some people take advantage of the tourist interest they generate to earn substantial income... by setting up camps near classic trails, allowing "tourists" to bring back beautiful, typical photos of their camps and way of life. The "real" ones are much more discreet and far from the areas covered by agencies. But again, this is just what I’ve been told—I can’t confirm it... though after seeing the difference in the "locals’" behavior over two years, I can believe it. As for authenticity... it’s hard to give advice without first clarifying what you mean by that. And since you’re traveling with a guide, just let them know—before you arrive—which regions you want to see and, most importantly, what kind of interactions you’re looking for with Mongolians. In theory, they should understand your expectations and help you avoid overly touristy experiences. I have a couple of neighbors who took a trip inspired by the routes in Cécile and Laurent’s guide (https://www.overlandaventure.com/produit/mongolie/). Their guide took them where they wanted and found accommodations with locals, away from tourist zones. So maybe check out that guide to get a better idea of which areas to explore and which to avoid. Happy planning!

Thanks so much for your reply. I’ll dig into this and check with my guide. I’m well aware that the word "authentic" is a bit out of place. Even though we’ve been trying to travel ethically for over 35 years, we’re still tourists who, just by visiting, contribute to the “denaturing” of that authenticity. Have a great evening.

Go to the Tsaatan people (I went twice, 2002–2009, following them on horseback during an autumn camp migration). Just so you know, you’ll need a special permit that takes a while to get in UB or Mörön, as it’s a border zone and the permit is required.

You can reach the camps from Tsagaanuur by hiring horses and guides in the villages, and it takes 1–2 days to find the first camps, depending on the season. Nowadays, there are tipis rented out to tourists... things are changing... but if your guide knows someone or has family up there who might live a bit off the beaten path, then it’s more "authentic"?

There’s also another way to reach the Tsaatan via a village (the name escapes me) near Rech..., but I don’t know much about it and can’t provide reliable info.

Following the suggestions in the book mentioned might also give you ideas, because in the steppe, it’s easy to find lodging with nomads—just knock on a yurt door and ask. No one is ever left outside in Mongolia!

You can get to Tsagaanuur by bus, but be warned—it’s a long trip since it’s a remote area with few buses. Plan for at least 5 days from UB, though things may have changed post-COVID.

I’ll send you a reliable contact in a PM who could answer your more specific questions.

Happy New Year!

Good luck with your planning

Thanks for your valuable advice.