Mongolia – Ulaanbaatar | 21.-23.06.2025
Country #117
Mongolia greeted me with one of the most meat-heavy food cultures I’ve ever experienced. Almost every dish is based on beef — exactly what a carnivore dreams of.
Even though 45% of the entire Mongolian population lives in Ulaanbaatar, the real soul of the country is still out in the countryside, where many families live traditionally in gers (yurts).
My stay:
I landed in the evening at Ulaanbaatar Airport. After withdrawing some local currency at the ATM, I took a taxi to the city center for around 30 USD. I stayed at the Kempinski Khan Palace, which was an absolute bargain for a 5-star hotel at just 150 USD per night.
Because I arrived late and slept long, my first “breakfast” turned into lunch at noon. I ordered every local dish on the menu and quickly realized that everything was meat-based — pure heaven for me.
Day 1 was relaxed. I simply walked around the city center. Ulaanbaatar feels like a city in transition — lots of new high-rise buildings under construction, but many cafés and streets still have that developing-country vibe. Interestingly, you can easily explore the whole city center on foot in one day.
Day 2 was the highlight. I did an 8-hour guided tour that took me to the giant Genghis Khan Statue, the museum underneath it, a nomadic family living in a traditional ger, and I even got to ride a horse and a camel, plus hold a massive eagle on my arm.
This countryside tour was easily the best part of my time in Mongolia — I highly recommend it.
One fun fact: a one-hour foot massage costs only 24 USD.
