Tent Camping in Mongolia

Mongolia is a stunning country with a harsh, mountainous landscape and an arid climate. Even in its apparently arid areas, like the Gobi Desert, temperatures plunge below zero. Nevertheless, arranging and taking a camping trip through Mongolia's countryside is worthwhile despite these inconveniences. Travelers enjoy camping, and this region boasts a few fantastic camping spots to keep the standards of Mongolian adventures excellent. You may simply set up camp everywhere, from the expansive lake vistas to the mysterious sand dunes, but you might need to be aware of some crucial information before going to a tent camp in Mongolia.

Tent camping under clear night sky in Mongolia

Read through this blog to save time on your research about camping gear needed for wild camping and things to keep in mind before you head camping.

Rooftop Tent vs Ground Tent - Camping Gear in Mongolia

As a replacement for ground tents, rooftop tents are gaining popularity. Especially among campers, off-roaders, and overlanders. This article demonstrates and contrasts using a rooftop tent vs a ground tent. We'll talk about convenience, setup time, price, safety, affordability, usability, and more. This article should assist you in selecting the ideal camping shelter for your upcoming vacation.

Rooftop Tent in Mongolia

A rooftop tent attaches to the roof rack or roof bars of your car. Depending on the tent's design, you just unfold or pop up the tent when you're set to camp. The tent may be folded or collapsed into a compact, aerodynamic bundle that remains attached to your roof as you travel.

You rest on the roof of the car, off the ground. Typically, a ladder is provided to aid with getting into bed. Usually affixed on 4X4 adventure or Overlanding vehicles are rooftop tents. For adventure tours in Mongolia, AVIS car rentals 4x4 offroad vehicles with rooftent are the best option one can choose.

A vehicle under clear night sky with a rooftop tent

AVIS offroad vehicles are equipped with rooftop tents that are more compact, lighter, and mountable on most vehicles/jeeps. Rooftop tents may accommodate 2 to 4 people, depending on their size.

Hardshell Rooftop tents vs Softshell Rooftop tents in Mongolia

Rooftop tents with hard shells have solid floors and ceilings constructed of fiberglass, plastic, or aluminum. Gas struts are used to help the majority of models open. The majority of the car's roof is covered by the tent's footprint.

Everywhere in the country, there are problems with rooftop wind noise upsetting campers' comfort levels during windy conditions. Fortunately, this issue may be avoided! The rainfly can be removed, earplugs can be used, or a rooftop tent with a sturdy hard shell be used. Still, the noise won't go away so try tying a bungee cord to the rail of your roof rack.

AVIS car rentals offer tourists with best offroad vehicles with a rooftop tent installed. So far, AVIS has been providing the best overland vehicles and rooftop tents to its customers.

Soft-shell rooftop tents can be folded open such that a portion of the tent hangs over the side of your vehicle. They unfold similarly to a pop-up book. The tent is holed up by a tangle of manually positioned poles, guy wires, and hinged poles. The waterproof soft fabric used to construct the tent body is either nylon or canvas. A sturdy, hinged foundation is where the tent is fastened.

Ground Tents in Mongolia

The sizes of ground tents are significantly larger than those of rooftop tents. 2-8 or more persons can sleep peacefully in a large ground tent. For individuals who wish to sleep within the same tent alongside their entire family and their pets, this type of arrangement works nicely. You have the opportunity to stay apart from your car while using a ground tent. After rainfall and surprising spring surges, it's essential to keep your distance from any water body at least 100 meters. You must also keep a fair distance from trees and falling branches in case of heavy winds. Find a protected area for your tent, ideally one where the morning sun shines early on it first thing in the morning.

This is useful in a variety of circumstances. For instance, you might want to set up camp at a peak and embark on a multi-day trip. All you need to carry with you is your ground tent, sleeping pad, and backpack. You can keep your tent at the camping site and continue driving if you want to stay at the same spot for several days.

A good ground tent for Mongolia

Ground tents are made of light fabric. This is essential because the tent must be portable and lightweight. These lightweight materials do have the disadvantage of being more fragile.

As Ground tents typically deteriorate more quickly than rooftop tents, so a high-quality ground tent should be very wind resistant and must not tear apart quickly.

The good thing is that the camping destination does not really have any kind of dangerous and life-threatening animals. So, a ground camping tent can be a good option unless it is made of good fabric and of high quality.

Talking about great quality, tents with inflatable poles instead of metal sticks are incredibly stronger and safer than any ground tent. These ground tents are not only perfect quality-wise, but they are also user-friendly. It only takes less than 60 seconds to set up these tents.

The greater the amount of wind resistance your tent has, the better. It should also be waterproof. Evenings can be windy, particularly in the Gobi Desert. Inflatable pole tents are wind-stable tents and camping equipment come highly recommended. They are quickly and readily built up with a hand pump. With that, these tents can also withstand a strong wind gust of 180 km/h without a problem.

Tent Camp vs Ger Ger Camp - Wild Camping in Mongolia

Tent Camping in Mongolia

With tent camping, you avoid the headache of booking ger camps in Mongolia.
Tent camping is carrying your personal tent and putting it in a secluded area to enjoy nature in its purest form.
While tent camping, you have the freedom to set up your tent anywhere in the countryside, along the river, or in the vast lands.
Tent camping is free, all you have to pay is to buy a strong and high-quality tent.
A sleeping bag on the ground beneath the stars is a part of tent camping.
The temperature in a tent can be adjusted in a few different ways. You can use a thinner or heavier sleeping bag, unzip or seal the tent flap, and dress in thinner or thicker fabrics.
To keep unwanted neighbors away when camping, you must either hang your goods or store them in your van.
You have privacy in your own tent camp.
When camping, you should look for the closest, cleanest stream to get your water from, however, you may still need to purify it or boil it to make sure it's safe.

Ger Camping in Mongolia

Booking of ger camps in rush season can be a pain in the head. Most ger camps are full to capacity. If there are some available camps, the cost of staying in them will be very high.
Ger Camps consists of setting up a framed structure with sometimes modern conveniences like power and a refrigerator in a natural setting. Restaurants and activities are a short distance away as well.
Ger camps are built at specific destinations in Mongolia, so you have limited freedom of choice.
Staying in ger camps is costly. You can save some money if you choose to stay in your own rooftop tent or ground tent.
Ger Camps consists of a cozy queen-sized bed with fresh bedding underneath a transparent dome that allows you to see the stars in the night sky.
When you stay in a ger, though, you don't have temperature issues because most accommodations have air conditioning and heaters.
You take your belongings and everything into your ger camp. You even have warm clothes and a refrigerator for your meals.
Privacy is somewhat compromised while staying in a ger camp.
The majority of ger camps provide a water source with access to purified water.

FAQs about camping in Mongolia

Is Wild Camping Legal in Mongolia?

Since practically everywhere in Mongolia is considered public land, wild camping is permitted almost everywhere from great lake vistas like green hills on the Orkhon river bank to sand dunes of the Gobi desert. However, there are a few points to bear in mind. You must not camp in the government's strictly protected areas. While camping in national parks, you must take authorization from the management of the park. Under no circumstances you should camp near the borders of Mongolia or in a National park.

Did the Mongols live in tents?

A yurt (ger in Mongolia) is a portable, round home that is covered in felt or another material and constructed from a lattice of flexible poles. They are a reliable, strong kind of tent. In Mongolia and most of Central Asia, yurts have long been the predominant kind of housing.

Their typical height is a little over 2 meters (6 feet), with a somewhat rounded top rising an additional meter. A classic yurt's central iron furnace for burning wood is surrounded by a tall chimney that extends past the roof. A shower tent is also placed near the ger camp.

Is a yurt warmer than a tent?

The insulating components of a yurt are lighter than those of a tent and better at trapping heat inside at night, giving you the impression that you are in a natural setting.

Did Genghis Khan live in a tent?

Yes. Yurts/gers are particularly connected with Mongol herders and hunters, and famous people like Genghis Khan used them (r. 1206-1227 CE)

What are Ger Camps?

Gers are modest fixed camps that have been specifically designed and maintained for tourists. Gers are the classic yurt-like tents used mostly by Mongolian nomads for millennia. They have a wooden table and stools as well as mattresses and linens, and they are warmed by wood and otherwise coal furnace.

What is the difference between a yurt and a tent?

Although yurts and tents have some commonalities, including wood panels, yurts are bigger and more sturdy than a typical tent because of their lattice wall and braced compressive ring, making them more resilient in strong winds. Tents, in contrast, are easier to set up and take down than yurts.

How much does a ger cost in Mongolia?

A Mongolian ger can be purchased for between $500 and $600 USD, however, the price can increase significantly based on the materials and decoration. You're looking at about $6,000 USD for your completely furnished Mongolian ger if you wish to save some time and buy one.

Are rooftop tents really worth it?

A rooftop tent is ultimately cost-effective if you anticipate using it frequently. The added convenience and safety of a rooftop tent may be worth the additional expense even if there are many standard tents available for far less money.

When is the best time for camping in Mongolia

The best time to visit Mongolia is between May and mid-October. While April remains primarily known for its cold weather, May's temperature is already tolerable. The winter season will begin at the end of October. June to September is considered to be an absolute high-season ranges and is best for camping along with horseback riding. During this time, temperatures are warm and largely dry, with only occasional thunderstorms. It is advised to visit the Gobi Desert in April and May, as well as in September and October when temperatures are reasonable.