Erdene Zuu Monastery
One of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in Mongolia, enclosed by a wall topped with white stupas. A few temples and a museum survive, and monks still hold services on site.
Kharkhorin (Karakorum)
The scenic Orkhon Valley and Erdene Zuu Monastery are nearby here, where the capital of the old Mongol Empire once stood.
Attractive locations
Kharkhorin Museum
Museum in the town explaining the history of Karakorum, the medieval Mongol capital. Displays include objects found in excavations and models that help imagine what the city looked like.
Orkhon Valley
UNESCO-listed valley of rivers and grasslands, central to the history of nomadic empires. Visitors find herder camps, ancient monuments, a waterfall and wide pastures, usually explored on a longer trip.
Shankh Monastery
Buddhist monastery south-west of Kharkhorin, restored after the 1930s and active again today. Its temples and quiet grounds give a feel for monastic life beyond the better-known Erdene Zuu.
Tövkhön Monastery
Hermitage perched on a forested mountaintop, linked to the Buddhist leader Zanabazar. The walk or ride up leads to temples and views over the valleys, and the site is a place of pilgrimage.
Karakorum
The site of the Mongol Empire's 13th-century capital, now mostly open grassland with few remains. The museum in Kharkhorin and the nearby Erdene Zuu Monastery help explain its story.
Ulaan Tsutgalan Waterfall
A waterfall in the Orkhon Valley where the river drops into a narrow basalt canyon. Visitors walk to viewpoints and often camp nearby in summer.
Airports
Arvaikheer Airport AVK
It is about 105 km in a straight line from Kharkhorin (Karakorum).
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Mongolia page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan-17.5 °C3 mm
- Feb-14.5 °C3 mm
- Mar-6.0 °C7 mm
- Apr2.4 °C11 mm
- May8.7 °C21 mm
- Jun15.1 °C50 mm
- Jul17.6 °C69 mm
- Aug15.2 °C58 mm
- Sep8.7 °C21 mm
- Oct0.4 °C9 mm
- Nov-8.3 °C6 mm
- Dec-15.6 °C3 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Dec. Wettest months: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Costs
Prices here are about 34% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 102. Fire 101. Ambulance 103.
local government
Mongolia tourist hotline (Government of Mongolia tourism site)
Helps with: The government's official tourism site lists a tourist hotline, along with police 102, ambulance 103 and fire 101.
Who qualifies: Tourists and other visitors in Mongolia.
Phone: +976 1900 1234
local government
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
Helps with: Mongolia's national emergency management agency. Its contact page lists emergency calls 101 and 105 and an office line and email for other enquiries.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Mongolia affected by an emergency or disaster.
Phone: 51-263581
Email: info@nema.gov.mn
Address: 6th khoroo, Sukhbaatar District, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
ngo
Mongolian Red Cross Society
Helps with: Mongolia's national Red Cross society. It runs first aid courses, disaster preparedness training, volunteer programmes and blood donation work.
Who qualifies: People in Mongolia who need its first aid, disaster or community services.
Phone: +976 77770508
Email: info@redcross.mn
Address: Peace Avenue (Enkhtaivan Street), Red Cross head office building, Sukhbaatar District, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mongolia
Helps with: The UN migration agency, with an office in Ulaanbaatar since 2011. It supports migration management, research and anti-trafficking training.
Who qualifies: Migrants and the government bodies that serve them. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +976 7014 3100
Address: United Nations House, Room 207, United Nations Street 12, Sukhbaatar District, 14201 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
local government
Police emergency number 102
Helps with: Reaches the police, including traffic police. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 102
local government
Ambulance emergency number 103
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance service. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 103
local government
Fire emergency number 101
Helps with: Reaches the fire service. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 101