Packing List for Mongolia

Mongolia requires a well-thought-out packing list. The conditions are extreme — from blazing sun to freezing cold to hours of dust in the jeep. Here's the most important:

Clothing (Layering Principle!)

• Warm sleeping bag (comfort range 0°C to −5°C): Ger camps have blankets, but your own sleeping bag is worth its weight in gold. It gets quite cold at night, even in summer.
• Fleece jacket + light down jacket: For the cold mornings and evenings.
• Rain jacket: Light and packable. Afternoon thunderstorms come quickly.
• Sun hat + sunglasses: The UV radiation at 1,500 m altitude is intense.
• Buff/scarf: Against dust in the jeep — your best friend on gravel roads.
• Sturdy hiking boots: For canyons, dunes, and uneven terrain.

Equipment

• Headlamp: There is no light in the steppe. Going to the outhouse at night without a lamp: impossible.
• Sunscreen (SPF 50+): Mandatory! The dry high-altitude air and strong sun burn the skin quickly.
• Toilet paper: There are no toilets in the steppe. Pack enough and a small shovel.
• Water bottles (reusable): 2–3 liters capacity. Your guide will refill them, but you need the bottles yourself.
• Earplugs + pillow: For ger camps (other guests, wind) and the jeep.
• Power bank: Sockets are only available in UB and some ger camps.

Gifts for Nomadic Families

• Sweets, colored pencils, and small toys for children
• Tea (loose black tea), flour, and rice for adults
• Snuff for older men (a traditional gesture)
• No money — it changes the dynamics of hospitality