Getting in

• Chinggis Khaan International Airport, Ulaanbaatar: This is the gateway almost every foreign visitor uses. It has international links including Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing, Istanbul, Frankfurt and several Chinese and Korean hubs; onward travel into the countryside is by road or limited-frequency domestic flight.

Getting around

For countryside travel, a 4WD with a competent driver-guide is the sensible default: tracks are often unmarked, fuel is sparse, river crossings change and breakdowns are not theoretical. Domestic flights are worth the money for Ölgii/Bayan-Ölgii, Mörön/Khövsgöl and some Gobi itineraries, but operate only a few times weekly, so keep a buffer before international flights. Trains are cheap and atmospheric on the north–south corridor but are too slow and limited for most short itineraries; self-drive is for genuinely experienced backcountry drivers, not optimistic first-timers.

Money

The currency is the Mongolian tögrög (MNT). Cards work reliably in much of Ulaanbaatar, but carry cash for ger camps, rural shops, drivers and incidental expenses; do not assume ATMs or card terminals outside provincial centres. Tipping is not as standardized as in North America, but modest tips for good guides, drivers and camp staff are appreciated.

Getting in

• Chinggis Khaan International Airport, Ulaanbaatar: This is the gateway almost every foreign visitor uses. It has international links including Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing, Istanbul, Frankfurt and several Chinese and Korean hubs; onward travel into the countryside is by road or limited-frequency domestic flight.

Getting around

For countryside travel, a 4WD with a competent driver-guide is the sensible default: tracks are often unmarked, fuel is sparse, river crossings change and breakdowns are not theoretical. Domestic flights are worth the money for Ölgii/Bayan-Ölgii, Mörön/Khövsgöl and some Gobi itineraries, but operate only a few times weekly, so keep a buffer before international flights. Trains are cheap and atmospheric on the north–south corridor but are too slow and limited for most short itineraries; self-drive is for genuinely experienced backcountry drivers, not optimistic first-timers.

Money

The currency is the Mongolian tögrög (MNT). Cards work reliably in much of Ulaanbaatar, but carry cash for ger camps, rural shops, drivers and incidental expenses; do not assume ATMs or card terminals outside provincial centres. Tipping is not as standardized as in North America, but modest tips for good guides, drivers and camp staff are appreciated.