How Much Driving Is Really Involved in Mongolia Tours?

Let's address the elephant in the 4WD: Mongolia tours involve a LOT of driving.

Most travelers underestimate this. Brochures show stunning photos of dunes and gers, but they don't convey the 6-hour daily slog across roadless steppe. Here's the honest breakdown—driving times, road conditions, and whether it's truly worth it.

Why So Much Driving?

Mongolia is the world's 19th largest country (1.56 million sq km) with a population of just 3.3 million. Most people live in Ulaanbaatar. The rest is empty space—grasslands, deserts, mountains, lakes—separated by hundreds of kilometers.

Key Facts:

• Only 2,800 km of paved roads outside the capital
• Tourist sites are 300–700 km apart
• No trains or domestic buses to remote areas
• Nomadic routes, not highways, connect destinations

Translation: If you want to see the Gobi Desert, Khuvsgul Lake, and ancient monasteries, you're spending 30–50% of your trip in a vehicle.

Typical Driving Times by Itinerary

7-Day Gobi Desert Loop

Total Driving: ~35–40 hours Average per Day: 5–6 hours

| Day | Route | Distance | Time | | --- | ----------------------------- | -------- | ------- | | 1 | Ulaanbaatar → Tsagaan Suvraga | 420 km | 7–8 hrs | | 2 | Tsagaan Suvraga → Yolyn Am | 250 km | 5–6 hrs | | 3 | Yolyn Am → Khongoryn Els | 180 km | 4–5 hrs | | 4 | Rest/explore dunes | 0 km | 0 hrs | | 5 | Khongoryn Els → Bayanzag | 200 km | 5 hrs | | 6 | Bayanzag → Middle Gobi | 300 km | 6–7 hrs | | 7 | Return to Ulaanbaatar | 280 km | 6 hrs |

Longest Day: Day 1 (7–8 hours). Many tours break this into 2 days.

10-Day Central + Gobi Tour

Total Driving: ~50–55 hours Average per Day: 5–6 hours

Adds:

• Kharkhorin (Orkhon Valley): +4 hours each way
• Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake: +6 hours round-trip

12-Day Khuvsgul Lake + Gobi

Total Driving: ~70–80 hours Average per Day: 6–7 hours

Khuvsgul alone is 14–16 hours each way from Ulaanbaatar (unless you fly). This is the ultimate test of your driving tolerance.

What Mongolia's Roads Actually Look Like

Paved Roads (10% of travel)

• Smooth asphalt from Ulaanbaatar to provincial centers (Choir, Mandalgobi)
• Speed: 80–100 km/h

Gravel/Dirt Tracks (60% of travel)

• Hard-packed dirt, washboard bumps, occasional potholes
• Speed: 40–60 km/h
• What It Feels Like: Constant low-level vibration. Bring a neck pillow.

Off-Road Desert/Steppe (30% of travel)

• No defined road—drivers follow GPS and nomadic tire tracks
• Rocky patches, sandy stretches, river crossings
• Speed: 20–40 km/h
• What It Feels Like: A slow-motion roller coaster. Everything rattles.

Seasonal Hazards

• Spring (April–May): Mud from snowmelt, impassable in places
• Summer (June–August): Dust storms, sudden thunderstorms creating bogs
• Autumn (Sept–Oct): Generally best conditions
• Winter (Nov–March): Ice, snow drifts, extreme cold

Example: The Gobi's Khongoryn Els dunes are accessible via sandy tracks. Even in a Land Cruiser, you'll crawl at 30 km/h, sometimes stopping to deflate tires for traction.

How to Survive (and Enjoy) the Drives

1. Choose the Right Vehicle

Best: Toyota Land Cruiser, Mitsubishi Pajero (high clearance, solid suspension) Avoid: Russian vans (UAZ "bukhanka"). Cheaper but bone-rattling.

Nomada tours use modern 4WDs with air conditioning—non-negotiable for Gobi summers (35°C+).

2. Break Up Long Drives

Don't attempt 8-hour marathon days. We design itineraries with:

• Photo stops every 1–2 hours (herder camps, scenic overlooks, wildlife)
• Lunch breaks at roadside spots or small towns
• Short hikes to stretch legs (mini-canyons, rock formations)

Example: On the UB-to-Gobi drive, we stop at:

• Baga Gazryn Chuluu (granite rock formation)
• Local herder family (tea, fresh dairy, cultural exchange)
• Petroglyphs or dinosaur fossil sites

3. Bring Entertainment

Reality: Cell service disappears 50 km from Ulaanbaatar. WiFi doesn't exist.

Pack:

• Downloaded podcasts, audiobooks, playlists (10+ hours)
• Kindle or physical books
• Journal for writing/sketching
• Noise-canceling headphones (vehicle noise is constant)

Pro Tip: Audiobooks make the time fly. We recommend Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford.

4. Embrace the Journey

Mongolia's beauty isn't confined to "destinations." The steppe itself—endless horizons, herder camps, wild horses—is the experience.

Mindset Shift:

• Don't see driving as "dead time"
• Watch landscapes morph (from grassland to desert over hours)
• Spot wildlife (gazelles, eagles, marmots)
• Engage your guide (ask about nomadic life, history, customs)

5. Pack Smart Snacks

Lunch is often picnic-style (bread, cheese, sausage, instant noodles). Ger camp dinners are hearty, but you'll get hungry on long drives.

Bring:

• Trail mix, nuts, dried fruit
• Chocolate bars, energy bars
• Instant coffee or tea bags
• Reusable water bottle (refill at camps)

Avoid: Heavy meals before drives (bumpy roads + full stomach = nausea).

The Upside: Zero Crowds, Maximum Freedom

Here's what you don't deal with in Mongolia:

• Traffic jams
• Tourist buses clogging sites
• Timed entry tickets
• "10 minutes per attraction" rushed schedules

You get:

• Private access to landscapes (the Gobi's Khongoryn Els dunes might be all yours at sunset)
• Flexibility to stop whenever (see a golden eagle? Pull over.)
• Conversations with herders (guides facilitate introductions)
• Solitude (some days you'll see 3–5 other vehicles total)

Example: At Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs), we've had clients spend an hour alone at sunset, walking among dinosaur fossils, with zero other tourists in sight. Try that at Machu Picchu.

When Driving Becomes Too Much

Signs You've Overbooked:

• 12+ driving hours in one day
• Only 1 night at each destination (constant packing/unpacking)
• No "rest days" for hiking, exploring, or just relaxing

Solutions:

A) Fly Instead of Drive

• Ulaanbaatar ↔ Murun (for Khuvsgul): Saves 2 days driving
• UB ↔ Dalanzadgad (Gobi): Saves 1 day each way
• Cost: $150–250 round-trip
• Trade-Off: Miss overland scenery, rely on flight schedules

B) Focus on One Region

• 7 days in Gobi alone (thorough exploration, leisurely pace)
• Skip the "hit all highlights" approach

C) Add Rest Days

• 2 nights at Khongoryn Els (climb dunes, camel ride, relax)
• 2 nights at Khuvsgul (kayak, hike, read by the lake)

Talk to our planners about balancing driving vs. destination time.

Is It Worth It?

Honest Answer: If you're uncomfortable with long drives, Mongolia may not suit you.

BUT—

• The landscapes are unlike anywhere else (Sahara meets Patagonia meets Siberia)
• Cultural encounters (herder families, festivals) are authentic, not staged
• Wildlife sightings happen during drives (not just at parks)
• The sense of remoteness is profound

Who Thrives:

• Road trip lovers
• Photographers (golden hour drives = magic)
• Introverts (long quiet stretches)
• Adventurers who value the journey

Who Struggles:

• Those expecting European-style trains between sites
• Travelers with back/neck issues (consult a doctor first)
• Impatient types who see driving as "wasted time"

Our Driving Philosophy

At Nomada, we don't hide the reality of Mongolia's roads. Instead, we:

• Design realistic itineraries (no 10-hour daily marathons)
• Use comfortable vehicles (Land Cruisers with A/C, not rickety vans)
• Hire skilled drivers (ex-rally drivers who know every shortcut)
• Build in flexibility (if you're exhausted, we adjust)

We'd rather you spend 7 days fully enjoying the Gobi than 10 days burned out from overdriving.

Sample Realistic Itinerary (8 Days, Balanced Pace)

Day 1: UB → Baga Gazryn Chuluu (4 hrs drive, afternoon hike) Day 2: Baga Gazryn Chuluu → Tsagaan Suvraga (3 hrs, sunset photos) Day 3: Tsagaan Suvraga → Yolyn Am (5 hrs, gorge hike) Day 4: Yolyn Am → Khongoryn Els (4 hrs, arrive for sunset) Day 5: REST DAY at dunes (camel ride, climb, relax) Day 6: Khongoryn Els → Bayanzag (5 hrs, evening at Flaming Cliffs) Day 7: Bayanzag → Middle Gobi (6 hrs, herder family visit) Day 8: Return to UB (6 hrs, lunch stop in Mandalgovi)

Total Driving: 33 hours over 8 days (~4 hrs/day average) Rest Days: 1 full, plus shorter drives on 3 days

See full itinerary or customize this trip.

Final Thoughts

Mongolia's driving isn't a bug—it's a feature. The country's vastness is central to its beauty. Embrace it, prepare for it, and you'll understand why travelers call it transformative.

If you want temples every 20 km, visit Japan. If you want to disappear into the world's last great nomadic landscape, knowing you'll earn every vista through hours on rough roads, Mongolia awaits.

Ready to hit the road? Explore our tours or ask us about custom routes tailored to your driving tolerance.