Mongolia 2026: Ulaanbaatar, Gobi Desert, Khövsgöl Lake, Karakorum and Naadam Complete Guide
Browse more guides: Mongolia travel | Asia destinations Mongolia 2026: Ulaanbaatar, Gobi Desert, Khövsgöl Lake, Karakorum and Naadam Complete Guide TL;DR Mongolia is the country I keep telling friends to visit before the wider tourist crowd catches on. The numbers tell part of the story: 1.7 million km² (the 16th largest country on Earth), only 3.4 million people, and roughly 2 people per km², the least densely populated sovereign country in the world. Around 30% of Mongolians still live a semi-nomadic life on the steppe with sheep, goats, yaks, camels and horses. I came for the Naadam Festival (11-13 July, UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2010), stayed for the Gobi Desert dinosaur country, and left already planning a return to Khövsgöl Lake. Indian travellers get a 30-day visa-free window in 2026 with an onward ticket and proof of accommodation. The big anchors: Ulaanbaatar with the 26 m Migjid Janraisig Buddha at Gandantegchinlen Monastery and the 40 m steel Genghis Kha...