Magical Mongolia with Kids: Adventure of a Lifetime

If you’re dreaming of a trip that’s rich in local culture, raw beauty, and unforgettable adventures, Mongolia with kids is a journey like no other. But let’s be clear, this isn’t a trip for the faint of heart. Mongolia’s wide-open landscapes, nomadic traditions, and sometimes rugged travel conditions mean you’ll be trading creature comforts for once-in-a-lifetime experiences. If you love meeting locals, sleeping in gers under endless skies, and watching your kids learn from a culture vastly different from their own, you’ll be in your element here. If your perfect vacation involves plush hotels, predictable schedules, and easy access to lattes… you might want to bookmark this one for later. Either way, we want you to travel in a way that makes you happiest, because that’s how the best adventures happen.

What We Booked (and Why a Guide Matters)

We traveled in late July with TourMongolia on a custom family itinerary (ger homestays + simple ger camps). I can’t stress this enough: hire a driver and guide. Many routes are unpaved, signage is minimal, English is limited outside Ulaanbaatar, and the most memorable stays must be arranged ahead. Our guide handled logistics, driving, translation, and a real cultural connection. Plus, with a guide, you always get good family photos! Worth every tugrik.

One funny tidbit from our trip, our guide and driver played Mongolian Music Videos in the car for us the entire time. We got to play DJ some too, and we had sing-alongs. We are still laughing about some of the songs we learned!

We had unseasonal rain nearly every day of the trip. It didn’t stop any of the adventure, but we were glad to always have our raincoats and umbrellas with us.

The food in rural Mongolia is animal-based. It’s hard to find veggies here. When we were in tourist locations, we had no trouble finding vegetarian options for me, but when we were with the nomadic families, I just had to eat meat. If you have dietary issues, please check with the tour company before you book.

Health prep: before trips like this, we see our doctor, carry the meds we know (including a just-in-case antibiotic), and pack oral rehydration salts, probiotics, and familiar snacks. With kids and long distances, it’s smart to be self-sufficient. Stomach upsets happen, not because things are “dirty,” but because our systems are used to a very sanitized environment.

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Day 1 — Ulaanbaatar Warm-Up: Museums, Brunch, and Sleep

• Flights: Asiana from Seoul (3.5 hours). We tend to fly the cheapest we can find that fits our schedule, so we end up flying lots of different airlines.

• Food stop: BITES (easy brunch; open 8–22).

• Museums:
  • Chinggis Kahn National Museum
    • One of Ulaanbaatar’s newest museums, the Chinggis Khaan National Museum, offers an in-depth look at Mongolia’s rich history, from ancient nomadic traditions to the height of the Mongol Empire. Spread across several floors, the exhibits combine artifacts, immersive displays, and multimedia presentations to tell the story of Mongolia’s most famous leader — known here as Chinggis Khaan, not “Genghis Khan.” The museum does an excellent job of contextualizing his rise to power, his unification of the Mongol tribes, and the vast empire he ruled. It’s a great way to set the stage for the rest of your trip. Adults could probably spend several hours, but we spent an hour with the kids following their interests.
• Other options we didn’t explore:
  • Natural History Museum of Mongolia — quick primer on the landscapes and wildlife you’re about to see.
  • National Museum of Mongolia — gives kids the “big picture” of nomads, empire, Buddhism, and modern Mongolia.

• Sleep: Puma Imperial Hotel (two rooms; breakfast included). Completely fine accommodations – nothing fancy location was perfect for exploring historic downtown. I got up early and did a podcast epsidoe before we left.

A little context for kids: Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar (UB), is home to nearly half the country’s population. Outside UB, life spreads out fast – herding, seasonal moves, gers, and starry skies. This is why its essential you get out of the city!

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Day 2 — Gurvanbulag: Our First Ger Homestay (+ Horses & Archery)

This was our first big taste of nomadic life. We drove four hours west to Gurvanbulag, where we stayed in a guest ger next to a nomadic family. The kids tried everything—milking mares, sampling homemade yoghurt, and helping with dinner prep. We took a short horse ride and got a chance to break out the archery set our tour guides packed along. (Make sure you request this when booking!)

• Drive: ~4 hours west (mostly paved) to Gurvanbulag.

We had terrible traffic leaving UB. We sat for a long time, then the tour guide decided we would get out and walk to the big grocery store while the driver sat in the traffic. It was great to get the kids out of the car and fun to go shopping together. (Again, we listened to A LOT of Mongolian music.)

Khar Bukh Ruin

Along the drive, we made a few stops, including a rest stop with no power for lunch. We also visited these historical ruins, called Prince’s Ruins, which boast architectural findings from the 9th-10th Centuries. We walked the ruins with the guide while the kids caught grass hoppers.

Overnight in a Ger

One of the challenging parts of staying with a nomadic family is that you have to find them. We stopped in the closest town to get rough directions and pick up a few things they needed us to bring them. We ended up all getting a frozen yogurt bar as well.

Once we left town, things got a bit dicey. Teddy started getting car sick, and a storm was moving in. Our guide suggested we get out and walk a bit while the driver drove up the hill ot see if he could spot our family. We were told to look for 4 ger, 2 white cars, and 3 dogs. Even with the storm pressing in, the walk felt amazing. The fresh air was crisp and a nice change after the long day in the car.

We finally spotted them, but couldn’t figure out how to get over to them. Little streams were popping up everywhere. The driver stopped to chat with a few of the families who gave us directions to the host family.

Once we got to the house, it was non-stop activity despite the rain. You are, of course, welcome to go relax in your ger, but we chose to be out and about with the family.

• Hands-on: milking mares/cows, tasting homemade yogurt and dried curds, trying milk vodka (for adults), helping with dinner.
• Activities: horseback riding in the hills and dunes, archery for the kids

History nugget: Mongolia’s nomadic life has adapted for centuries to grass, water, and weather. Families still move seasonally with their herds. Gers go up in under an hour and are designed to be warm, light, and portable

This was truly an incredible experience. You do need to be able to put aside the creature comforts and lean into life on the farm.

Practical Notes for Families

• Road reality: paved blends into gravel and track; rain changes plans. A 3-hour drive can become five. Pack patience, audiobooks, card games, and snacks.
• Bathrooms: expect squat toilets and “nature.” Carry tissue, hand sanitizer, zip bags.
• Water & food: your guide will advise on safe water; we brought collapsible bottles, electrolyte packets, and a few “known” snacks for the kids.
• Sleep: gers are cozy but rustic. Nights can be cool even in summer—layer up.
• Money: cash is handy outside UB.
• Packing short list: layers, sun hat, buffs, rain shell, headlamps, wipes, power bank, small first-aid kit, motion sickness tabs, electrolytes, modest clothing for monasteries.

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This is Day 1 and 2 of our Ten-Day Trip in Mongolia.