Sports and leisure activities Mongolia

Budget & Tips

If you want to do sports without spending a cent in Mongolia, the best plan is to go hiking. The country is full of national parks and nature reserves, some of which are located just outside Ulaanbaatar. No need to go far!

Many outdoor activities can be organized at low cost: horseback riding, canoeing on the lakes and rivers of the country, fishing, climbing in the mountains... It would be a pity not to take advantage of the great landscapes of Mongolia and the natural treasures it shelters. It is especially for horseback riding that the country is renowned, and its steppes are well suited to the practice of this discipline. It is not difficult to find tours and guides, or to rent horses by the hour or by the day in the tourist areas.

In winter, snowshoeing is the most popular activity. There is only one ski resort in the country

What's very local

Traditional sports, which are highlighted during the Naadam festival, are Mongolian wrestling, archery and horse racing.

Wrestling is practiced in the country's stadiums and competitions can be seen during the Naadam, both in Ulaanbaatar and in small rural towns. As with all other wrestling in the world, the goal is to put the opponent on the ground, but there is no weight division. If the back, the hind leg or a knee touches the ground, it is won! If neither wrestler falls, the fight ends after three hours. Take advantage of your stay to go see a match, it is an unforgettable cultural experience and very local!

Archery is also one of the three Mongolian manly games. Since a few decades, this Naadam event is open to women, who stand at 60 m from the target and can shoot 20 arrows, against 75 m and 40 arrows for men.

Horse riding is practiced by almost all Mongolians, who know how to ride and learn very early. Some horse races organized during the Naadam see very young children competing, the youngest being about 5 years old.

Your documents please

Your documents will not normally be needed to organize activities, but some national parks require special permits for fishing. To enter the parks and reserves of some cross-border regions and to enjoy the hiking trails, you will also need a special permit to be collected in the capital ofaimag or in Ulaanbaatar before departure.

To be booked

In high season, it is easy to find agencies that organize tours or excursions to join, even at the last minute. Traveling independently is easy, especially in summer, and renting horses or a kayak at the last minute is always possible. However, if you want to organize a customized tour with planned activities in the countryside, it is best to start early and plan ahead, as drivers and guides can be overworked in the middle of the tourist season to get you to the parks you are interested in.

Main events

August is particularly rich in sports events. The Gobi March, the most difficult foot race in the world, takes place in the Gobi desert. The Sunrise to Sunset marathon is organized around the Khovsgol lake, in the sublime landscapes offered by the "blue pearl" of Mongolia. As for the Mongolia Bike Challenge, it is a bicycle race that takes place every year and whose route changes every year.