20 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Mongolia - Atlas Obscura

Unusual
Attractions
in Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Genghis Khan Statue Complex

Enormous statue of the Emperor of the Mongols.

PaperTiger

Added by PaperTiger

Khustain Nuruu National Park

The grassy landscape is home to the world's last truly wild horses.

Max Cortesi

Added by Max Cortesi

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

The Zaisan Memorial

A huge communist-era propaganda monument and mural that offers stunning views of the Mongolian capital.

Dampo

Kharkhorin, Mongolia

Erdene Zuu

The oldest Buddhist monastery in Mongolia has survived centuries of invasions, political shifts, and religious purges.

Max Cortesi

Added by Max Cortesi

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

International Intellectual and Puzzle Museum

An institution dedicated to curiosity, logic, riddles, and Mongolia's long history of puzzles.

Added by Mr Bucket

Urgun, Mongolia

Khamriin Khiid

Mongolian Buddhists believe this monastery in the Gobi desert to be the center of the world's spiritual energy.

Max Cortesi

Added by Max Cortesi

Shammar, Mongolia

The Mother Tree

This spiritual landmark for practicers of Shamanism is drenched in milk and vodka and covered in blue scarves.

Max Cortesi

Added by Max Cortesi

Tariat, Mongolia

Ovoos at Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake

A jagged silhouette of shamanistic stone heaps rises from the shore of this dazzling mile-high lake.

Max Cortesi

Added by Max Cortesi

See All 20 Things to Do in Mongolia See All 20 Places

Unique
Food & Drink
in Mongolia

Kumis

Gastro Obscura

Kumis

Infants and Genghis Khan enjoyed this fermented mare's milk.

Gastro Obscura

rachelrummel

Added by rachelrummel

Khorkhog

Gastro Obscura

Khorkhog

The true Mongolian barbecue.

Gastro Obscura

Alex Mayyasi

Added by Alex Mayyasi

Ul Boov

Gastro Obscura

Ritual & Medicinal

Ul Boov

Mongolia's "shoe sole cake" has the ritual significance of a Christmas tree or family shrine.

Gastro Obscura

Anne Ewbank

Added by Anne Ewbank

Boodog

Gastro Obscura

Boodog

To travel light, Mongolian warriors used animal carcasses as crockery.

Gastro Obscura

rachelrummel

Added by rachelrummel

Atlas Obscura Trips

Photographing Mongolia: An Expedition to the Golden Eagle Festival

Mongolia’s vast steppe, alpine meadows, and snow-capped mountains are a photographer’s dream. Come with us to explore dramatic landscapes and action-packed festivals by foot and on horseback, and through your lens.

Cam Cope, courtesy of World Expeditions

Explore Mongolia

Launch Map

Mongolia Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent Mongolia Activity

LaVaquera wants to go to Genghis Khan Statue Complex

Maarten has been to Beatles Monument

Maarten has been to International Intellectual and Puzzle Museum

Maarten has been to Genghis Khan Statue Complex

BryanKnight wants to go to Kharkhorin Rock

Stories
About Mongolia

Otgontsetseg milking one of the reindeer in her herd.

The Key Ingredient in This Bread Is Reindeer Milk

Mongolia's last reindeer riders don’t rely on their herd just for transportation.

by Breanna Wilson

August 20, 2019

Silk scroll painting of Kublai Khan on a hunting expedition.

What Life Was Like for Ancient Mongolians

Researchers studied the remains of 25 individuals for clues.

by Jonathan Carey

January 14, 2019

Caymans the horse, Floki the eagle, and me toward the end of my lesson at Dartmoor Hawking.

Learning the Ancient Art of Horseback Falconry

I spent a day with one of the few people on the planet still teaching the sport.

December 20, 2018

A reconstruction of <em>Halszkaraptor escuilliei</em>, an amphibious dinosaur discovered in Mongolia.

Found: A Dinosaur With Features Borrowed From Swans, Penguins, and Crocs

It's so unique that paleontologists initially doubted its authenticity.

by Vittoria Traverso

December 07, 2017

Two Bactrian camels belonging to a nomadic family relax in the Gobi.

The Transcendental Ritual of Mongolian Camel Coaxing May Soon Be Lost Forever

Khuus, khuus, khuus.

by Natasha Frost

August 31, 2017