Mongolia Itinerary Planner

Don't plan your trip until you check your logic.

As locals, we see the same calculation error happen every summer. Travelers arrive with a checklist—ride a camel, see a monastery, gallop on the steppe—only to realize too late that they have left the story unfinished.

They spend 14 days bouncing in a van through the arid south, missing the ecological crown of the country: The North.

Full Disclosure: We have one bias. We believe a Mongolian expedition is incomplete without the Taiga. Whether you want a rugged road trip or a luxury flight, all paths generated by this tool ultimately lead North to the "Blue Pearl."

Which path is right for you? In 60 seconds, this tool analyzes your travel dates and style to match you with the perfect logistical plan—whether you want the "Greatest Hits" road trip or a direct luxury flight.

Don't want to take the quiz? Scroll down to browse our 3 recommended routes.

Preview: The 3 Routes We Compare

  • The Strategy: Maximum serenity. Zero road fatigue. The most direct path to the Blue Pearl.

    For the traveler who values depth over breadth. Most tourists lose 40% of their vacation staring at the back of a driver's seat. This route skips the long road entirely. You fly direct to Murun (MXV), giving you more days to explore the Taiga forest, visit the Reindeer tribes, and relax by the lake.

    The "Insider" Bonus: The UB Culture Extension Because you fly, you "buy back" 4 days of travel time. We recommend using those saved days for a "Civilized Stopover" in Ulaanbaatar:

    • History: Visit the Chinggis Khaan Museum or the massive Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue (paved road).

    • Dining: Eat at The Bull (Hot Pot), Zalaat Garden (KBBQ), or Veranda (Italian with a view).

    • Shopping: Buy cashmere at the source at Gobi or the State Department Store.

    Take the quiz above to see if this matches your schedule.

  • The Strategy: The Essential Expedition. The only route that shows you the true scale of the country.

    The Route: UB → Elsen Tasarkhai (Mini Gobi) → Kharkhorin (Ancient Capital) → Khorgo Volcano → Dalai Eej Resort (3 Nights) → Fly back.

    Why we love it: This route solves the dilemma of "seeing it all" and ticks off the entire "Classic Mongolia" checklist. Instead of driving days to the deep Gobi, you stop at Elsen Tasarkhai to see sand dunes, ride camels, and gallop on the green steppe right on your path. You stand on the ground of Genghis Khan's ancient capital at Kharkhorin, exploring the massive monastery built from its rubble, before finishing your journey at the ecological crown of the country: Dalai Eej Resort.

    Take the quiz above to see if you have enough days for this loop.

  • The Strategy: The Ultimate Contrast. From the dinosaur lands of the south to the deep blue north.

    The Route: Gobi Desert (3 days) → Fly UB → Fly Murun → Dalai Eej Resort (4 Nights).

    The Reality: We call this "Hard Mode." This route combines the singing sands of the south with the cooling waters of the north. It requires more time, stamina, and budget (more flights), but for the right person, it is the ultimate experience of Mongolia's extremes.

A collage of a Mongolia road trip adventure featuring a Suzuki Jimny driving on the open steppe, a rainbow over the grasslands, and a traveler jumping on the sand dunes at Elsen Tasarkhai (Mini Gobi).
A cinematic split-screen comparison showing the golden steppes of the Gobi Desert on top and the deep blue alpine waters of Khuvsgul Lake on the bottom, representing the complete North-South Mongolia expedition route.
A luxury picnic setup with wine by the shore of Khuvsgul Lake, paired with a panoramic view of the calm blue water and cloud reflections. A visual guide for a fly-in Mongolia tour itinerary.
A cultural tour of Ulaanbaatar featuring the golden Janraisig Statue at Gandan Monastery and Soviet-era mosaics in the city center.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The South (Gobi) is spectacular, but it is an arid, demanding desert. If you want the "Classic Mongolia" image of green grasslands and galloping horses, you actually find that in the North and Center.

    Khuvsgul is a sanctuary—lush alpine forests, reindeer tribes, and massive freshwater reserves. We believe the perfect Mongolia expedition should always end in the North to "wash off the dust" of the steppe before you fly home.

  • The best time to visit Mongolia to combine the Gobi and Khuvsgul is between mid-June and late August.

    • July: The peak season. The warmest weather and the Naadam Festival, but also the busiest traffic.

    • August: The best month for the North. The lake is warmest (swimmable!), and the bugs from early summer have died down.

    • September: Beautiful autumn colors, but nights in the Gobi and at the Lake will be freezing.

  • No. If you take the Sky & Lake route, we arrange a private driver for you. If you take the Steppe Voyage, you can simply hire a "Car and Driver" in Ulaanbaatar without paying for a full tour agency package.

  • This is a question of logistics. The Altai Mountains are incredible, but they are over 1,500km away in the far West. Including them requires a completely different itinerary (and usually expensive domestic flights) that doesn't fit neatly with the Central/North axis. This tool focuses on the routes that maximize landscape diversity for the standard 1-2 week trip.