- Mongolia received record-breaking visitors last year becoming a popular travel destination
- Mongolia offers vast landscapes, low population density, and authentic nomadic culture
- Infrastructure improvements and social media have increased Mongolia's accessibility and appeal
"Would you consider Central Asia or Mongolia instead of more mainstream places such as SEA (South East Asia)?"
A few years ago, a question popped up on Reddit, the kind that often predicts where travel trends are headed.
The user went on to explain the fatigue many long-term travellers and expats were beginning to feel. Southeast Asia, especially places like Thailand, had become oversaturated.
Expat hubs such as Chiang Mai were no longer cheap, no longer quiet, and certainly no longer undiscovered. In contrast, Central Asia and Mongolia felt barely mentioned, almost invisible in mainstream travel conversations.
The post compared Chiang Mai to Ulaanbaatar and Astana and argued that the supposedly "remote" options were actually cheaper.
This was four years ago.
Who Is Visiting Mongolia Now
Data shows in 2024, the largest source markets were China, Russia and South Korea, followed by Japan and the United States. Proximity plays a role, but the growing interest from long-haul travellers suggests Mongolia is no longer seen as too difficult or too remote.
What To Do In Mongolia: A Seven-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Ulaanbaatar
Arrive in the capital and acclimatise. Visit the Gandantegchinlen Monastery, explore the National Museum of Mongolia, and get a sense of the country's layered history. Evening food spots in the city offer a mix of traditional Mongolian and modern Asian cuisine.
Day 2: Terelj National Park
A short drive from the capital brings you to wide valleys, rock formations and open grasslands. Stay in a ger camp, hike to Turtle Rock, and experience your first night under Mongolia's famously clear sky.
Day 3: Drive towards the Gobi
Begin the journey south. The landscape changes dramatically as grasslands thin into semi-desert. Stop at small settlements and experience the scale of the country through long, uninterrupted drives.
Day 4: The Gobi Desert
Explore the Flaming Cliffs, known for dinosaur fossil discoveries, and walk through the Khongoryn Els sand dunes. Camel rides and sunset views define the day.
Day 5: Nomadic stay
Spend time with a nomadic family. Learn daily routines, ride horses, and understand how life adapts to extreme climates. This is often the most memorable part of the trip for visitors.
Day 6: Kharkhorin and the Orkhon Valley
Visit the ruins of Kharkhorin, once the capital of the Mongol Empire. The surrounding Orkhon Valley offers waterfalls, monasteries and grazing lands rich in history.
Day 7: Return to Ulaanbaatar
Travel back to the capital for last-minute shopping, museums, or a final city meal before departure.
The Future Of Mongolia's Travel Boom
Mongolia's rise is not accidental. It reflects a broader shift in traveller priorities. People are increasingly seeking destinations that feel less crowded, culturally grounded and unscripted. Mongolia delivers all three.
The country will enter a new phase. The challenge will be maintaining its sense of wilderness while accommodating growth. For now, though, Mongolia occupies a rare position. It is popular enough to be accessible, yet still underrated enough to feel like a discovery.
For travellers who feel they have already seen or are bored with Central Asia's greatest hits, Mongolia offers something else entirely.