Getting around Mongolia
Asia
From Europe ✈️
Direct flight from Paris
No (1-2 stopovers)
Duration
10-15h with 1 stopover (Istanbul, Moscow, Beijing, Seoul)
Indicative round-trip price
600-1000 EUR A/R
Book
2-4 months ahead (summer is in high demand)
Recommended airlines
Local transport
Bus
Cheap city buses in Ulaanbaatar (U Money card); minibuses (mikr) and long-distance buses to the aimags, slow but economical.
Train
Transmongolien (Mongolian Railways) : axe nord-sud reliant la Russie à la Chine via Oulan-Bator. Couchettes à réserver des semaines à l'avance en été.
Taxi
UBCab et Taxon à Oulan-Bator (comme Uber, souvent paiement cash, numéro mongol requis). Éviter les taxis informels de rue.
Metro
No metro in Ulaanbaatar.
Essential apps
Common routes and indicative prices
| From | To | Mode | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulaanbaatar | Dalanzadgad (Gobi) | Vol intérieur | 1h15 | 110-190 EUR |
| Ulaanbaatar | Gobi Desert | 4x4 with a driver (tour) | 2-3 days by road | 60-120 EUR/day for a car |
| Ulaanbaatar | Lake Khövsgöl (Mörön) | Vol intérieur | 1h30 | 120-200 EUR |
| Ulaanbaatar | Kharkhorin (Orkhon) | Minibus / 4x4 | 6-8h | 10-40 EUR |
Indicative prices for 2025-2026. Fares vary by season, demand and how far ahead you book.
Vehicle rental 🛵
Scooter / Motorbike
Rare and not advised (huge distances, dirt tracks)
Car
60-120 EUR (4x4, often with a driver) / day
Licence + international permit
International permit : Required or strongly recommended
Transport scams to know ⚠️
Pickpockets at markets and on buses
Vols à la tire au Narantuul, grand magasin d'État et bus 7/11, surtout pendant Naadam.
Tip :Bag in front of you, no wallet in your back pocket.
Fake policeman
Fake check on Sükhbaatar Square followed by a search of your wallet.
Tip :Don't hand anything over, ask for official ID and the police station.
Taxi informel
Voitures 'partagées' qui surfacturent ou détournent le trajet le soir.
Tip :Order via UBCab or Taxon, agree on the price beforehand.
Practical tips
- Book the Trans-Mongolian sleepers very early: they sell out weeks ahead in summer.
- For the steppe and the Gobi, hire a 4x4 with a driver-guide: the tracks are unmarked.
- Domestic flights save whole days given the immense distances.
Other transport guides
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