Malchin Peak Mountaineering Tour
A non-technical mountaineering experience in the Altai. Join the adventure and climb one of Mongolia’s most famous peaks.
Hi! Sain uu! I’m Breanna, an American travel writer and adventurer living in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for more than 8 years.
I’ve written for and been featured in National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveler, CNN, Forbes, The Guardian, and the New York Times, among others.
I first came to Mongolia like most people do, as a tourist! I quickly fell in love with the freedom of the landscapes and the hospitality of the people around the country. I soon found myself returning for longer and longer periods, eventually moving everything here (including my Land Cruiser 78).
Today, I’m really proud of the tours and experiences my partner Aagie and I have curated for travelers from around the world. Each experience came from my own desire to explore parts of the country in a more meaningful way, getting to really know the country through the eyes of the locals, not just as a tourist.
A non-technical mountaineering experience in the Altai. Join the adventure and climb one of Mongolia’s most famous peaks.
An 8-day group photography tour to track, observe, photograph, and learn about Pallas’s Cats in the wild. All skill levels are welcome to join.
Ethical Snow Leopard group tour with a specialized itinerary for photographers. Led by award-winning Mongolian photographer and wildlife expert.
A group trip to the reindeer herder families of Mongolia. Ride horses and reindeer through beautiful fall foliage during this 12-day tour.
Ethical 11-day tour led by a snow leopard expert-guide and award-winning wildlife photographer. Highest chances of sighting in the wild.
Everything you need to know about traveling to Ulaanbaatar in 2026.
Observe and photograph Pallas’s Cats during this 8-day photography tour. One of the best places in the world to spot these small wild cats!
This best of Mongolia tour highlights all the sights you shouldn’t miss as a first time visitor: Gobi Desert, Kharkhorin, Orkhon Valley.
This isn’t a tour, this a cultural exchange. Immerse with a local family for an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime.
Looking to learn more about food in Mongolia? Explore some of the national dishes and what you need to know if you’re vegan or vegetarian.
Expert-led tour to spot White-naped Crane, Demoiselle Crane, Steppe Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, and Golden Eagle along major migratory routes.
Horse trek through the beautiful Khangai Mountains during this 12-day adventure (includes 6 days of horse riding).
Horseback and reindeer riding, homestay with a reindeer herder family, and experiencing the remote and rugged taiga are all a part of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
Guide rates, how to hire a car and driver, and other budgeting tips for planning a cost effective Mongolia trip in 2026.
Experience the thrill of Eagle Hunting by living with and learning from one of the most well-known Eagle Hunters in Western Mongolia. Spend time getting to know this traditional way of living in an intimate, private setting – it’s just you, your guide, and the Eagle Hunter! Ride horses out for a hunt and flying practice, learn about traditional Kazakh handicrafts, try your hand at archery with a local master, and attend the small, local Tolbo Eagle Festival to cheer on your host as he competes!
Stay one night with a local herder family, cheer on reindeer races, admire ice sculptures, and immerse in Mongolia’s unique culture and traditions.
The most educational tour of Ulaanbaatar, designed to walk (and drive) you through the country’s greatest historical eras. Visit five of Ulaanbaatar’s most important landmarks, from ancient nomadic displays to the democratic revolution, and get a crash course in how Mongolia became the country it is today. The perfect tour for history lovers!
Calling all nature lovers and photographers, join us fall 2026 to track and observe snow leopards in their natural habitat. Book Now: September 28 – October 7, 2026
Book this top-rated day trip to search for wild Przewalski’s horses and visit the cultural Mongol Nomadic Camp. Available any time of year, including winter.
Mongolia’s winter temperatures might be between -25 and -40 C, but there are still plenty of things to do. From dog sledding to ice festivals, these are the 10 best things to do in winter in Mongolia.
During this 10-day Eagle Hunter & Local Eagle Festival Tour, live with a an Eagle Hunter and his family. Attend the Altantsugts Eagle Festival, one of the smaller, more local, and fiercest competitions for Eagle Hunters in Mongolia.
Tours to Mongolia can be expensive. Here are our top tips for finding cheap tour operators, experiences, and places to stay in Mongolia.
Wild camp in the snow leopard’s natural habitat and learn from a local protected area research biologist about Mongolia’s ghost cats. A photographer and wildlife lover’s dream trip! Join this 9-day expedition March 20 – 28, 2026 (3 Spots Left!).
For the first time ever, Meanwhile in Mongolia is going to the Winter Horse Festival! Join our founders Aagie and Breanna on this inaugural scouting trip and be a part of this one-of-a-kind winter event! Travel to Khentii Province, the home of Chinggis Khaan, with us from November 21 – 24, 2025 (4 days, 3 nights).
12-day road trip adventure to the must-see sights of the Gobi: Flaming Cliffs, Khongoryn Els, White Stupa, and more. Plus, secret spots only locals know about! End the trip with a nomadic family homestay and horseback riding. Booking now for May 24 – June 4, 2026.
Book the best car rental and travel Mongolia at your own pace. No tour, no guide, just you and the open road. Find the best rental car options, prices, security deposit details, and more.
Where is the White Stupa, Mongolia’s famous limestone cliffs in the Gobi Desert? Follow these travel tips and don’t miss this must-see attraction.
Planning your first trip to Ulaanbaatar and not sure where to stay when you arrive? I’ve hand-picked these 7 incredible boutique, locally-owned hotels in the city center just for you.
A complete guide to the top 7 things to see and experience in Mongolia in Autumn. Eagle Festivals, the most beautiful helicopter ride to the burial site of Chinggis Khaan, and more. Plus, important things to know when you plan a trip to Mongolia in the September, October, and November shoulder season.
Live life alongside a hardworking nomadic herding family and help with chores, ride horses, learn to cook traditional Mongolian food, and more during this small-group tour. Dates available in April, June, July, and August 2026.
Train with the Mongolian horseback archers featured on the National Geographic show Superskilled with Eva zu Beck. Beginner riders welcome! Booking now for July 1 – 3, 2026 and July 14 – 16, 2026.
Visit the Dukha reindeer tribe and ride reindeer. Walk on a frozen Lake Khuvsgul and immerse yourself with National Protected Area Park Rangers. A 12-day winter tour into the heart of beautiful northern Mongolia. This trip isn’t just an adventure, it’s an expedition! Dates for this winter tour are February 3 – 14, 2026.
Planning a trip to Mongolia and not sure how to plan the perfect itinerary? Here are quick tips to help or book my trip planning service.
The National Naadam Opening Ceremony is the hardest ticket to score in Ulaanbaatar. Here are a few useful tips for attending.
Where to camp, safety advice, and other important things to know when renting a car or driving through Mongolia on your own.
Where to get your Toyota serviced in Ulaanbaatar as an English-speaking foreigner and my top tips for overlanding in Mongolia.
Aglag Monastery can only be described as two things: odd and beautiful. Visit this unique spiritual oasis during this day trip from Ulaanbaatar.
How to get a taxi in Ulaanbaatar including the price per kilometer. Helpful apps to download, plus safety tips and passenger etiquette.
Experience Mongolia’s famous Naadam Festival during this 9-day small group tour. Live with a nomadic family, ride horses, and attend a local Naadam July 5 – 13, 2026. (Book now before it sells out!)
Learn how Mongolia’s largest cashmere brand goes from goat to coat. Behind the scenes at the factory and shopping at the Factory Store.
Iconic in look and durability, why the furgon is the preferred mode of transportation across Mongolia. Especially for tourists ready to navigate the country’s rugged terrain.
The top 10 things I always need when camping or doing homestays in Mongolia. The most comprehensive Mongolia camping packing list.
Immerse in Mongolian nomadic culture by horse trekking through the beautiful Orkhon Valley during this 8-day Mongolia tour. Live with nomadic families, bond with semi-wild Mongolian horses, and experience this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Riding out July 13 – 20, 2025.

Start your Mongolian travels with this essential day tour of Ulaanbaatar, the country’s spiritual and historic capital city.
The most popular things to do in Bayan-Olgii – live with Eagle Hunters, search for snow leopards, climb the Altai Mountains, and more.
Book this 4-day nomadic homestay trip and experience the best of Mongolia. Includes two days of horseback riding. Book anytime, available all seasons.
Have an evening ceremony with a powerful Shaman. Ask questions and get answers. One of the most interesting experiences to have in Mongolia.
Book this 9-day horse trek through Central Mongolia, through the stunning lands of horseman and yaks, June 10 – 18, 2025. Intermediate to advanced riders welcome. Join us for this first-time pioneer ride!
An honest review of the Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar, one of the city’s best 5-star hotels.
Family travel tips plus the perfect 4, 6, and 9-day family-friendly itineraries to get the most out of your trip to Mongolia.
Book an airport transfer from Chinggis Khaan International Airport into Ulaanbaatar or vice versa. Rates starting at $50 USD. Safe and reliable.
9-day group tour to Mongolia’s Ten Thousand Camel Festival. Celebrate Bactrian camels and camel herding culture Jan 25 – Feb 2, 2027.
Travel tips from a local for exploring Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, including 11 of the best things to do when you visit. Only 70 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar!
From the best time of year to visit to how to get a SIM card and where to register with immigration, these tips will help you plan your visit to Mongolia.
Payment terms and conditions and cancellation policy for tours booked through MeanwhileinMongolia.com.
Learning how to speak Mongolian language is not easy. Whether you’re ordering food in the city or exploring the countryside, use this cheat sheet to help you get by.
From festivals dating back to the days of Genghis Khan to events celebrating Mongolia’s nomadic heritage, these festivals, holidays, and events are worth planning a trip around.
Flying to Mongolia on Turkish Airlines? Use this helpful Istanbul Airport guide and maximize a long or short layover at Istanbul International Airport (IST).
With temperatures that drop below -30°C (-22°F), there are a few things you need to know about traveling to Mongolia during the winter season. Plus, I share my packing essentials to help you stay warm, even when it seems impossible.
Design your own traditional Mongolian deel (clothing) and have it custom-made to fit in Ulaanbaatar.
Tips for renting, buying, or joining a motorcycle group tour in Mongolia. Recommended rental and tour companies, plus what to expect.
Tour Narantuul, Ulaanbaatar’s Black Market with a local. Find the perfect traditional Mongolian deel, authentic souvenirs, affordable cashmere, and more.
The most comprehensive and useful advice for camping in Mongolia. Follow these tips to have a safe, fun, and fulfilling adventure.
Known as Naran Tuul, Ulaanbaatar’s Black Market is as far away from the tourist traps – and local – as it gets. Here’s what you need to know when you visit.
This 11-day winter adventure tour takes to meet the last tribe in the world that still rides reindeer, the Tsaatan Tribe.
Join in as 300+ Shamans perform ceremonies and rituals before meeting intimately with a local female Shaman clan. Plus, experiencing nomadic living and the connectedness to nature in Mongolia.
Throat singing, traditional dance, horse headed fiddle concerts, and more. Show times, how to buy tickets, and locations.
When it comes to the best restaurants in Ulaanbaatar, there are plenty of great spots for grabbing a bite to eat and drink any time of day.
The best places to shop for a traditional Mongolian deel in Ulaanbaatar, for every budget and style.
The best restaurants for eating local Mongolian food in Ulaanbaatar. Try suutei tsai, buuz, khuushuur, tsuivan, and more.
Everything you need to know about traditional Mongolian mounted archery. Including the history and how to join a training camp and channel your inner Mongol warrior.
Meet local families and spend Mongolian Lunar New Year learning the ancient traditions associated with this important holiday. Plus, travel to the Gobi Desert to Shambala and Khamariin Monastery to get a better understanding of Mongolian Buddhism, February 27–March 6, 2025.
These Buddhist monasteries and temples in Ulaanbaatar are the best place to learn, practice, and witness Mongolia’s most practiced religion.
Planning a trip to Ulaanbaatar and wondering what free things there are to do? These are the 26 best places and things to do, recommended by a local.
The best hotels and places to stay in Terelj National Park, Mongolia. Five-star yurts to local family experiences.
If you’re looking for the cheapest hostels and guesthouses in Ulaanbaatar, these are them. Find photos, my review of each, and what to know about booking a cheap tour through your hostel.
This women-only trip includes living in a yurt, meeting local nomadic families, riding horses, kayaking, and soaking in the most beautiful scenery in the world August 11 – 17, 2024.
Live and work from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia June 2 – 8, 2024. Meet local entrepreneurs and get a taste of Mongolian culture.
Let us custom curate your perfect city itinerary now. Starting at $175 USD, local guide included.
My honest review of the Holiday Inn, and why I think it’s one of Ulaanbaatar’s best hotels for the budget.
While Ulaanbaatar is not typically known for its vegetarian options, the city has been undergoing a subtle food revolution. Discover the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Ulaanbaatar.
Expert tips on how to get to the city center fast, cheap, and easy. Plus, where to exchange money, get a SIM, and more at Ulaanbaatar airport (UBN).

Not sure what you need to know about visiting Mongolia? One traveler shares the 5 things she wishes she knew before arriving.
Tourists should always offer a small gift when they enter a family’s home in Mongolia. Here I explain a few gift ideas as well as things to know.
Learn to cook Mongolian cuisine from a professional chef at this cooking class in Ulaanbaatar.
Everything you need to know if you’re staying near Ulaanbaatar’s Sukhbaatar Square at the Best Western Premier Tushin Hotel, Blue Sky Hotel & Tower, or the Shangri-La.
Ask me your Mongolia travel questions. From the itineraries I recommend to traveling safely and more, get the answers you’re looking for.
An honest traveler’s review of the Dostyk Hotel in Bayan-Ulgii Mongolia, including price, cleanliness, and what to expect for the included breakfast.
Monasteries, Mongolian calligraphy, and tales of the world’s greatest Khan, these are the 10 best things to do in Kharkhorin, Mongolia.
Book this 2-day helicopter tour package and visit the rumored burial place of Chinggis Khaan.
Citizens of the UK, France, Poland, Spain, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, and more can now visit Mongolia visa-free through 2025.
This Khuvsgul Lake 7-day itinerary includes it all.
Dates, location, travel tips, and more for attending Mongolia’s Golden Eagle Festival.
Looking for Mongolia’s best places to visit? This guide will tell you the best tourist attractions and historical landmarks by region.
The best museums in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from the newly opened Chinggis Khaan Museum to old favorites like the National Museum of Mongolia, and everything you need to know about visiting each.
The 29 best books on Mongolia to read before you visit, from novels to travel guides, and more.
Located behind Sukhbaatar Square, the Chinggis Khaan Museum isn’t to be missed when visiting Ulaanbaatar. Open daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
The best hotels to stay at in Ulaanbaatar with a neighborhood guide and essential Mongolia travel tips.
The Three Camel Lodge is often called the best luxury hotel in Mongolia, but is it? We checked in to check it out.
See the world’s largest equestrian statue, eat lunch with a local family, visit a mountainside meditation temple, and get to know Mongolia on this day trip from Ulaanbaatar.
The essential Mongolia packing list for every type of travel. Basic essentials including rain gear and hiking boots to sleeping bags and more.
As one of the biggest and most important festivals in Mongolia, Naadam is a special time to visit the country. We explain what Naadam is, how to attend, and how to travel in Mongolia during this time.
From winter lows (-40°C/-40°F) to pleasant summer highs (32°C/90°F), Mother Mongolia doesn’t mess around when it comes to the weather.
A new urban park and musical fountain, one grand parliament building, and weekly cultural events and festivals, Sukhbaatar Square is where life and locals come together in Mongolia’s capital city.
Mongolian food has long been misunderstood with traditional Mongolian ger and herder culture leaving little room for what may seem like finesse when it comes to Mongolia’s culinary traditions.
A tour for photographers and adventurers, photographer and Instagram influencer Max Muench has developed what just might be one of the coolest ways to experience Mongolia – the self-driving tour, Follow the Tracks.
From buuz to khorkhog and the Five Snouts in between, an explanation of Mongolian food and traditions around eating and drinking in Mongolia.
Mongolia’s quick actions and closed borders have made it a country safe from the spread of COVID-19. But that also means they’ve kept strict restrictions in place for travelers hoping to enter the country.
A week-long, all-inclusive, small group motorcycle adventure across the steppe riding out May 21 – 28, 2022.
From how to rent a car in Mongolia, to where to find the best 4×4 car rentals, and what to budget per day for your bucket list Mongolia road trip.
Rustic Italian cooking from one of the best chef’s in the city. Plus, a basil gimlet (and wine list) to die for.
With international flights all arriving and departing from Ulaanbaatar, it’s inevitable you’ll spend some time here. Make the most of your time in Ulaanbaatar with this helpful itinerary.
Many travelers ask: is Mongolia safe? And while, for the most part the answer is yes, it’s one of the safest countries in Asia, there are still a few things travelers should be cautious of. But, hey, that’s travel.
Thinking about that trip to Mongolia you’ve always dreamed about? Know these important things before planning your trip – they could save you time, money, and energy.

Only 612 steps stand between you and the best views of Ulaanbaatar at this Soviet monument.
Visit the world’s largest equestrian statue just 1.5 hours from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The “Great Place of Complete Joy.” If that doesn’t sell you on coming here, maybe the promise of throat chants and prayers by some seriously stylish monks who will zen you the fuck out, or the world’s largest indoor statue, will.
Travel insurance saved me $3,000 of out of pocket medical expenses when I had a motorcycle accident and had to have surgery in Ulaanbaatar.
From the US Embassy to the Embassy of Vietnam, these are the 18 embassies that foreign travelers will find in Ulaanbaatar, along with their addresses, phone numbers and links to their official websites.
Emergency numbers, public and private hospitals, embassy information and more.
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