Curious with our travelers, Mongolia has a solid grasp of the finest wildest. Under clear skies for about 250 days of a year, a country more than twice the size of Texas lives in nearly as many people as those living in Los Angeles. The landscape, surrounded by parentheses by the border between Russia and China, contains stories that should be told from the steppes of the grasslands, to the Gobi Desert, where arid landscapes believe to be rich in charcoal, gold and dragon-spirit. This country has the strangest competition on the planet known as the Mongolian rally. terrible dzud A winter phenomenon in which temperatures drop to -50 degrees Fahrenheit. And the Golden Eagle Festival, where furry Kazakh hunters train wild raptors to hunt small games.
For travelers, Mongolia has become particularly accessible in 2025. “This country is in the modern self,” says travel advisor Tyler Dillon. “With the large open space, the combination of difficult-to-find (clear) night sky (other places), and growing international attention, it’s time to go there before moving on to another gear.”
Let’s take a look at what’s new and happening in Mongolia.
United’s new Mongolia flight and visa-free trip
Previously, US airlines did not offer routes to Mongolia. To get there, US travelers flew alongside international airlines such as Turkish Airlines, Korean Airlines and Lufthansa.
That will change next month when United Airlines becomes the first US airline to run a regular flight to Mongolia. Starting May 1, United will begin three weekly direct flights from Tokyo’s Narita International Airport to Genghis Khan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital. Combine this new leg with United’s non-stop routes from major US cities such as Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark and San Francisco and non-stop routes to Tokyo. As a result, it is one easy connection ticket from around the world and the most accessible route to Mongolia provided by US airlines.
If you fly there, don’t be surprised to be among the passengers around the world. More than half of those passing through Ulaanbaatar’s airport last year were international travelers, and authorities expect visitors to grow in 2025.
Another bonus for travel to Mongolia: The government has extended its visa-free travel policy that began in 2023. This means that US citizens can stay in Mongolia for up to 90 days without any special documents.
New Accommodation and Cultural Destinations
Travelers coming to Mongolia should check out the new Chinggis Khaan Museum while in the capital. Since opening in late 2022, it has been praised for its collection of over 10,000 artifacts on display on the sixth floor, including carving, ironworking and embroidery, before the Mongol Empire.
Another relative newcomer in the Mongolia tourist scene opened in 2023 to welcome travelers into the northern forested province of Serenis. The lodge consists of 26 contemporary white Garthor from a yurt, premium tent with ensuite bathtub to spaces with multiple single beds, it’s perfect for groups of friends. In addition to the kinds of experiences you’d expect to try in Mongolia, such as horse riding, the team there offers kayaking, mountain biking and yoga. There are two on-site restaurants, one of which serves pub dishes from a casual bistro and two outdoor pizza ovens, but diners can play bocce when they are waiting.
Adrenaline addicts may head to the new Husky Lodge, which will open in June this year.ger Camping in the grasslands of the Ubulkangai region. It is available by Nomadic Off-Road, a Mongolia-based dirt bike tour operator.
Furthermore, late last year, the Eagle Hunter Cultural Center opened in Bayan Zergie, where the famous Eagle Festival is held. The centre supports collaboration between Kazafu Eagle Hunters, Visitors and Conservation Theories. Visitors can watch Eagle Hunter demonstrations, learn about the local falconry history, shop for art and textiles, set out for a nearby overnight homestay, or leave actives that the centre can arrange.
New tours and activities boom
Adventure tour operator Nomadic Expeditions has brought travelers to Mongolia for over 30 years. “When we first started the Golden Eagle Festival, Bayanzergi had only about 10 Eagle Hunting families. We now have between 300 and 400 Eagle Hunters,” says founder and CEO Jalsa Urubshurow. But as the success of that festival continues to grow, other operators are launching new ventures along with nomadic leads on other travels, including both private, custom trips and set date departures.
In June, Intrepid Travel will launch a new “Adventures of the Mongolian Railway,” an 11-day trip that begins in Beijing and ends at Ulaanbaatar. This includes activities such as staying overnight in a sleeper or meeting nomad camel herdsmen in the grasslands of the southeastern desert of Donogobi Province.
For travelers looking for more extravagance, this year’s Black Tomatoes have created a Mongolian itinerary as part of the offering of a new “Pursuing Emotions,” a collection of travel designed to suit the traveler’s emotional state of mind, from satisfaction to freedom. Mongolia’s advance in 12 days. Garth It is centered around travelers who are completely immersed in the place, as is run by Mandala Mongolia (including felt slippers and organic toiletries). “Mongolia is full of visceral and sensory experiences,” says Tom Merchant, co-founder of Black Tomato. “And the route itself is unusual and persuasive, often overlooked, including its very west of Mongolia.”
Mongolia’s Animal Kingdom is a big draw
Without question, one of Mongolia’s biggest conservation stories is Taki. Previously known as the Przewalski horse, this stocky, almost foliage-like wild species dates back over 4,000 years ago and was once extinct in the wild. Today, the best place to see them is in Hustai National Park, a day trip from Ulaanbaatar.
Unlike takis, many other endangered species live in Mongolia without government protection. The signal that it could change came when Mongolia’s Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Climate Change officially designated as the Coolan Conservation Day on October 25th. Coolan, or Asian wild ass, is a pale, thin, slimy, slimy horse, a keystone species of the country’s Gobi Desert. Just under 80% of the world’s Coolan population lives in this arid terrain. This creates a central stage for a new chapter in awareness and conservation efforts.
At the same time, the non-profit Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project is working to restore different species of animals: the domestic Bankhar Dog. This native species traditionally protected herds of nomadic livestock from snow leopards and grey wolves, helping pastoralists maintain healthy pastoral practices. Since ORG partnered with The Three Camel Lodge in 2020 to expand its breeding program, visitors to the camp will be able to meet Stoic (but still cute and fluffy) Guardian dogs.
