The best accommodations Mongolia

Budget & Tips

There are different types of accommodation in Mongolia: hotels, yurt camps, guesthouses... Travelers with a small budget will have no problem to find economical accommodation by staying directly with local people, in guesthouses or by camping.

Bed and Breakfast. Hospitality is not an empty word in Mongolia, which is one of the few countries in the world where homestay is so widespread. It is always possible to ask for accommodation in a nomadic family, and it is extremely rare, if not impossible, to be refused. Guests will be invited to share the family dinner before the night. If you arrive in the ger with one or two people, the parents will probably ask their children to squeeze into a bed to free up one for the guests. Mattresses can also be set up on the north side of the ger on the floor. If there are more guests, it is likely that the entire family will move to a neighboring ger to give up their home for guests! Whichever solution the family adopts, it is most convenient to have one's own sleeping bag, or even a small foam mattress, which allows one to sleep next to the stove without forcing the locals into a game of musical beds. Nomads do not expect any payment for their hospitality, except sometimes in very touristy areas. On the other hand, you should have a supply of small items to give to the host families. Avoid offering alcohol, men drink enough without being encouraged to do so. It is better to give useful items (flashlights, candles, pencils, toys, notebooks, or candy for the children) or food (rice, pasta, cookies, and especially fruit, which is much appreciated).

Camping is the cheapest and easiest solution, but also the best adapted to the country. It is possible to camp everywhere, the only advice being to avoid settling too close to sacred places such as temples and övöos as well as to tourist accommodations (hotels, yurts...). However, some parks and protected sites prohibit camping and indicate it with signs. It is imperative to respect the environment by not leaving any garbage behind, and especially by being very careful with water. Campsites should be located about 60 meters from waterways, and no detergents (soap, dishwashing liquid, shampoo...) should be thrown into lakes and rivers. The ideal is to use a basin or a solar shower to wash oneself, and to disperse the water on the ground far enough from the watercourse so that the earth has time to filter the used water before it reaches the water table. For the same reasons, pit toilets should be located as far away from streams as possible, preferably more than 100 meters. It is advisable to make a hole and burn the paper.

You should also be very careful with campfires in areas where they are possible. It is necessary to favor the circles of old fires, in order not to multiply the burned zones, and to well delimit the hearth with stones. When you leave, make sure the fire is out: you should be able to get your hands on the fire without getting burned.

Campers should plan to be completely self-sufficient. The best camping sites are obviously far from cities and tourist campsites, and located in very wild places. This means that you should have enough food, gas or oil for the stove, and gasoline for the vehicle.

Yurt camps are the most classical accommodation in Mongolia, and often the only option in rural areas. However, beware, they are extremely few to be open off-season, that is to say between October and May. The comfort of these tourist camps varies greatly, and we can find very luxurious camps as well as very basic ger. Prices vary accordingly, from a few euros to several dozen euros per night

Guesthouses. The country has a good network of guesthouses to accommodate budget travelers. Count at least 10 US$ per night in a dormitory. In the capital, many have the advantage of being connected to each other. They organize tours of different lengths throughout the country. People who travel alone or in small groups and who do not want to ruin themselves to discover Mongolia will be well advised to refer to them to find travel companions to reduce the cost of their itinerary.

Hotels are numerous enough in the cities and capitals of aimag to be always able to find an accommodation. Their comfort is sometimes very basic, with showers more often cold than hot, common toilets, etc. Here again, you can find them at all prices depending on the level of comfort and standing desired.

To be booked

During Naadam, it is absolutely necessary to book in advance your accommodation in Ulaanbaatar. The hotels and guesthouses of the city are indeed taken by storm during this period of the year!

What's very local

The yurt, called ger by the locals, remains the most typical and common accommodation in Mongolia. Even in the middle of the city, it is possible to find ger camps to spend the night. Some camps include their own restaurant and sometimes a hard building with showers and sanitary facilities, for the most luxurious.

For food lovers

Breakfast is often included in the price and the local habit, to start the day well, is to eat salty. Often, the meal is composed of meat, sausage, bread and eggs. In Ulaanbaatar, some high-end establishments offer buffet breakfasts, with both savory and sweet options.

Smokers

Hotels set their own policy: they can choose whether rooms are smoking or non-smoking. If you are a smoker, ask for a room where you will be allowed to smoke so you don't have to go out.