ELLIE AWhatever you plan on doing when in Mongolia; visiting the Flaming Cliffs, riding a camel in the Gobi Desert or spending the night in a yurt, you need to pack all of the essentials you will need to make your trip to Mongolia one to remember (for all of the right reasons). So use this Mongolia packing list to help you enjoy every second of your time here, no matter what the weather (beware… it can get very cold) or your choice of activities and entertainment. We’ve got you covered!
Mongolia Packing List
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Read our Mongolia travel tips…
How do the locals dress in Mongolia?
The capital city of Ulaanbaatar is where you will see the local women dressed very similar to most western women. High heels and tops and jeans are the norm. If you go to a club in the capital you can wear a cute little black dress and heels and fit in well with all the local women. Under their deels, Mongolians usually wear baggy trousers and a t-shirt. In the winter Mongolians wear sheepskin coats and cloaks with inward facing wool for extra warmth. Shepherds in some parts of Central Asia, have traditionally worn a loose hooded felt cape, called a kepenek that keeps them dry in the heaviest of downpours.
What is a Deel? A deel is traditional Mongolian clothing made from cotton, silk, wool, or brocade and worn for centuries by the Mongols and other nomadic tribes in Central Asia.
Think about the weather and climate when creating your Mongolia Packing List
The weather in Mongolia varies by the hour! It can be very hot during the day and then freezing at night. You’ll want to bring a rain coat with you at all times, even if it looks like it’ll be sunny when you set out for the day. There’s also windstorms so bring sunglasses, and a scarf even on warm days. Temperatures in Mongolia can drop to as low as -40°C during winter so it’s best to go during the summer in June, July and August.
You might also like: Top 10 Things To Do In Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
In A Nutshell;
Pack multi-functional items and clothing that you can layer up depend on the weather. So bring T-shirts (long and short sleeved), cotton polo-neck, cotton slacks, shorts, fleece or cashmere jumper, small thin scarves (so useful), lightweight jacket, cotton, light and very thick wool socks, outdoor waterproof boots, lightweight shoes or sandals, sun hat if its Summer and a thick beanie hat that covers your ears if its Winter. Don’t forget your sunglasses and thermal underwear!
Clothing To Pack
Trousers x2: Pack trekking trousers that double triple-up as trousers you can wear for general sightseeing and even on the plane too. This saves room in your luggage. If necessary make use of your hotels laundry service. I like these boot cut outdoor stretch pants because they fit quite snug and flatter your figure (you CAN look good while hiking without offending the locals). They’re also stain, rain and UV resistant.
A pair of jeans: If you’re visiting a big city and just want to look and feel normal.
Short Sleeve T-shirts x2: Pack 1 breathable lightweight t-shirt that can be worn during the day or for a hike.
Long Sleeve T-shirts x2: Icebreaker is a really great brand for keeping you warm or cool depending on the weather. Choose pale colors like beige or light grey to help keep you cool.
1 dress: Cute boho maxi dresses will be perfect for most places in Mongolia.
Lightweight Fleece: Pack one that’s lightweight and quick to dry like this beauty.
Sports Bras x2: If you’re trekking, hiking or just doing a lot of sightseeing pack sports bras.
Headband or Buff: Get one like this that can double-up as a scarf to cover your hair in temples and a headband for sweat absorption and to keep your hair out of your face. You can use it as neck support to sleep on public transport too. This will be incredibly useful and you will be so glad you packed one.
Footwear To Pack
Sandals: These will be what you wear during the day for most sightseeing, the sandals you pack for Mongolia need to be lightweight and comfortable. A pair of Tivas (very popular) or Chacos (which I use) will work great. For the evening if you want to look a bit more stylish then consider packing a pair of Uin Loafers which will be perfect to wear on the plane too.
Hiking Boots: If you plan on going off the beaten path in Mongolia or just doing some hiking (hello… Khustain National Park) your boots can seriously make or break your trip. Make sure they’re broken in properly before you go. Most importantly, you should not be able to ever feel your big toe touch the front of the boot. These mid-rise waterproof hiking boots by Hi-Tec are a great choice for hiking in Mongolia.
Flip Flops: Bring a really cheap pair of flip flips or buy a pair when you arrive and give them away when you leave.
Gear To Pack
Day Pack: I love Osprey’s Daylight Plus Daypack which comes with a hydration pocket for your Hydration pack which you’ll need if you plan on doing any hiking or trekking.
DSLR Camera: For a trip of a lifetime that you know will set your instagram account on fire you might want to consider bringing your DSLR. That said, my camera on my iphone is so good I’m not sure I can justify the extra weight of a DSLR these days.
Related: Best Backpacks For Women Travelers – Editor’s Pick!
Accessories To Consider
Trekking towel: Fast drying, very absorbent, compact and lightweight; the Rainleaf micro fibre towel is one of the most popular choices and you can use it after your travels for the gym too and lots of other sweat-inducing things.
Drinking Bottle: Camelbak has really good options for easy to use water bottles.
Sunglasses: Pack polarized sunglasses with UV protection that can be worn at a high altitude too so you can double them up as trekking sunglasses and everyday sunglasses too.
Waterproof Sack: For valuable and electronics in case it pours down if your visiting during the monsoon season (oh and it will, but only if you’re not prepared… because thats life!).
Padlock & Chain: For your backpack, and keeping things safe in hotels, hostels and when sleeping on public transport.
Sleep sheet: So handy especially if you’re doing Mongolia on a budget.
Ziplocks: Trust me, they will come in handy!
Toiletries To Consider
If you plan on buying toiletries when you arrive to save space in your luggage be aware that their toiletry brands will be very different than what you’re used to so if you really like a certain product, bring it with you.
Sunscreen: Sunblock can be a bit of a rip off in a lot of places so consider bringing a small bottle with you.
Hand sanitizer & wet wipes: Buy them there.
Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel: Buy it there.
Toothpaste and toothbrush: Bring it with you so you can brush your teeth at the airport or on the first night if you don’t have time to shop. You can probably make do with a travel sized tube of paste considering you only need a pea size amount for each brush.
Deodorant: I would bring your preferred deodorant with you, it’s annoying having to use one you don’t like much plus they weigh nothing. I use an all-natural deodorant (without the aluminum) made in Bali because it smells like roses and does the job.
Makeup: Mascara, eyeliner and maybe some lip gloss is about all I use when in East Asia. During the Summer, concealer, powder etc will just get sweated-off the moment you step off the plane and then clog your pores up so really don’t waste your time.
Nail cutter and nail file: Bring it with you because there’s nothing more annoying than having a broken nail you can’t do anything about.
Toiletries travel bag: Bring a clear TSA approved travel makeup bag for liquids to speed up going through customs.
Optional Extras (we love)
Packing Cubes: Travel light and stay organized with these lightweight Eagle Creek packing cubes.
Re-useable Mini Cosmetic Bottles: Cute and high-quality travel bottles that won’t crack on you.
Hidden Pocket Scarves: Stash secret cash, lip balm and your passport in a sneaky scarf like this.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Where to buy your Mongolia travel gear
You really don’t need to spend a small fortune on all this travel gear for a trip to Mongolia. Besides you’ve already spent enough just getting to Mongolia. If you’re planning your trip in advance then you should be able to catch a sale at any good outdoor clothing store, there’s usually about three or four each year. I’ve bought everything from hiking boots to sunglasses by timing my shopping trips to coincide with a sale and saved between 40-75% each time. So planning in advance will save you a lot of hard earned cash.
If you don’t have time to wait for a sale, you can still get a good deal online. Of course Amazon is one of the best places to go to read hundreds of reviews and compare prices before making a purchase. Another bonus of shopping online for your travel gear is that you can save your legs for the walk around the Genghis Khan Statue Complex!
If you forget to pack something don’t worry, you can find everything you could possibly need when in Mongolia. But this shouldn’t be necessary because this awesome Mongolia Packing List is here to help you to not forget the essentials.
Travel Resources (we swear by)
Skyscanner for getting the best deals on Mongolia flights.
Booking.com for booking Mongolia hotel accommodation.
Hostelworld for budget travelers or anyone looking to meet travel buddies while backpacking in Mongolia.
GetYourGuide for the best tours and activities to do once you’ve arrived in Mongolia.
IVisa helps us know if we need a visa, how long it will take to process and how much it will cost.
World Nomads for travel insurance we can actually count on. You can read our many epic travel fails to fully understand why you need this!
For more Mongolia travel tips take a peek at our Mongolia Travel Guide which includes the Mongolia basics, top things to do, fun festivals, what to eat, where to stay and recommended trip planning resources.
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Did we miss something that you think should be included in this Mongolia Packing List? Let us know in the comments section below!