Why 2023 is the Ideal Time to Visit Mongolia

Mongolia, once a hidden gem due to its remote location and brief summer, has long been overlooked by many travelers.

However, with the country now easing entry requirements and enhancing its infrastructure, 2023 offers an unprecedented opportunity to experience it like never before.

Here are 10 compelling reasons why you should start planning your long-awaited trip to Mongolia today.

An expanding list of visa-free destinations

Mongolia has officially declared 2023 to 2025 as the 'Years to Visit Mongolia,' and citizens from 34 additional countries are now eligible for visa-free entry until the end of 2025.

This expansion includes several European nations, such as Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Norway, Spain, and the UK, along with Australia and New Zealand, bringing the total number of visa-exempt countries and territories to 61.

You can find the full list of eligible countries here.

After several delays, a global pandemic, and numerous controversies, the long-awaited Chinggis Khaan International Airport finally opened its doors in the summer of 2021.

With a capacity to handle up to 3 million passengers annually (double the capacity of the previous airport), along with 500 new parking spaces for aircraft and infrastructure designed to support increased domestic and budget flights, the airport marks a significant step forward in Mongolia’s tourism development.

Since the airport's opening, budget flights to Hong Kong by EZNIS Airways have resumed, and discussions are underway to reinstate direct flights to the United States.

A state-of-the-art new museum

The newly opened Chinggis Khaan Museum provides a captivating, modern perspective on Mongolia’s rich and complex history.

Boasting over 10,000 artifacts that span more than 2,000 years, the museum delves into the history of the Mongols and the vast empire they once built – and ultimately lost.

The museum showcases its collections across eight floors, featuring six permanent and two rotating exhibition halls. Free guided tours in English are available every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mongolia’s answer to Coachella

When people think of Mongolia, music festivals and conservation-driven art installations in the heart of one of the world’s largest deserts are probably the last things they imagine.

But that's rapidly changing, thanks to festivals like Playtime, Spirit of Gobi, INTRO Electronic Music Festival, and the Kharkhorum 360 Visual Art & Music Experience.

With international bands, DJs, and musicians from all over the world sharing the stage with Mongolia’s diverse mix of rappers, bands, and folk singers, the country could be one of the most underrated festival destinations worldwide.

Celebrate Naadam as it marks its centennial

The annual Naadam festival has always been a great reason to visit Mongolia, but with its 100th anniversary celebrated in 2023, now is the perfect time to experience it firsthand.

Though Naadam’s roots trace back to the time of Genghis Khan, who used horse racing, wrestling, and archery to keep his warriors fit between battles, it was only 100 years ago that the festival became an official national holiday.

Today, Naadam – held at Ulaanbaatar’s National Sports Stadium – boasts more modern additions compared to the simpler events of the Great Khan’s era.

Getting a ticket to the opening ceremony on July 11 is one of the toughest challenges in town.

Experience archery the Mongolian way

Mounted archery is making a comeback in Mongolia, thanks to experts like Altankhuyag Nergui, one of the sport’s top archers, and his academy, Namnaa.

At Namnaa, locals master the basics of Mongolian archery before taking their skills to the next level on horseback.

During the summer, academy students put on weekly exhibitions for curious onlookers. The academy also hosts full-day training sessions for those eager to try this exhilarating sport.

Learn the art of Mongolian calligraphy from a master

In a revival of Mongolia’s ancient traditions, the Mongol bichig – the traditional Mongolian script written from top to bottom and read from left to right – has seen a significant resurgence in recent years.

Visit the Erdenesiin Khuree Mongolian Calligraphy Center in Karakorum to learn from master calligrapher Tamir Samandbadraa Purev about this vital cultural heritage. While you're there, take time to explore the yurts filled with Tamir's artwork.

Trade in your horse for some horsepower

Combine Husqvarna’s new Norden 901 Expedition motorbike with Nomadic Off-Road’s newly launched Eagle Hunter Tour, and you’ve got one of the most thrilling adventures in Mongolia.

The tour takes a group of six riders on a 1,700-kilometer journey from Ulaanbaatar to Bayan-Ulgii, where they meet the renowned eagle hunters of Mongolia.

The only thing quicker than this adventure is how fast Nomadic Off-Road’s tours fill up.

Winter tours bring fresh perspectives

Joel Rauzy, a professional musher, has been leading dogsledding expeditions across the frozen Lake Khuvsgul for 18 years.

With fewer tourists, lower hotel rates, and the chance to witness one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes entirely frozen over, winter in Mongolia offers a truly unique experience.

Rauzy’s company, Wind of Mongolia, offers lake tours where each participant is assigned their own sled and team of dogs. Following Rauzy’s lead, mushers complete a loop around the lake. Activities like ice fishing are part of the experience, with travelers staying in winterized yurts and connecting with nomadic families along the way.

Scandinavian design meets Mongolia at Yeruu Lodge

Located in the heart of Selenge province along the Yeruu River, Yeruu Lodge was founded by Norwegian Eirik Gulsrud Johnsen, who first visited Mongolia in 2017.

With a Scandinavian-style restaurant, fully equipped yurts for guests, pétanque courts, kayaks, a driving range, mountain bikes, and a yoga area, the lodge is a perfect retreat for nature enthusiasts.

Completely off the grid, the lodge operates on solar power, uses thermal heating, and sources all its water from an on-site well, recycling it after use.

All glass, metal, and plastic used at the lodge is recycled, while food waste is composted to grow vegetables, berries, and herbs on-site.

The lodge is set to open in April 2023.