One of the most respected travel guides, Lonely Planet, has crowned Mongolia as the top country to visit for 2024 for its landscapes, “wide-open spaces, adventures and culture”. Lonely Planet described the capital, Ulaanbaatar, as “teeming with people and unique attractions”.
Lonely Planet wrote: “Squeezed between Russia and China, Mongolia seems hard to reach given recent geopolitical events in its two large neighbors. But Mongolia’s doors are open and a tourism campaign has eased visa restrictions through 2025.” Following a challenging period welcoming tourists following the global pandemic, the launch of the “Welcome to MonGOlia” campaign shows the country’s effort to boost the tourism sector and reach its goal of one million tourists per year.
Mongolia has as its aim to reach one million tourists every year from 2023-2025 and its ads have focused on promoting its breathtaking landscapes, including frozen lakes, the Northern Lights, and once in a lifetime activities like reindeer sledging and camel racing.
Mongolia offers far more than being the world’s largest landlocked country—it’s a hidden gem, from the expansive Gobi Desert to the breathtaking Altai Mountains.
The country’s vast, untouched landscapes remain largely undiscovered as it only has a population of three million— less than half that of London.
Here, you can learn about the traditions of ancient nomadic culture away from crowds and tourist traps and see the many temples and monasteries such as the Gandan Khiid Monastery or the Erdene Zuu Monastery which is also on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Another UNESCO-inscribed event is the Naadam traditional festival that takes place every July and focuses on three traditional games which include horse racing, wrestling and archery as well as traditional dancing and music.
The incredible rock formations of the Gurvan Saikhan National Park are also a must, as is the Lake Khovsgol in the north which is the largest freshwater lake in the country and over 2 million years old, offering crystal clear waters and surrounded by many mountain ranges and forests.
