June to August is the best time to visit, when the weather is warm, the steppe is green, and the valleys are full of newborn animals. Even in summer, nights can be cold, so pack layers.

Mongolian food is shaped by nomadic life, so expect plenty of meat, dairy, and dough. Favourites include buuz (steamed dumplings), khuushuur (fried meat pastries), tsuivan (fried noodles), and suutei tsai, a salty milk tea served everywhere you go.

Mongolian is the official language and is written in Cyrillic. English is spoken by some people in Ulaanbaatar, particularly younger people, but rarely in the countryside. Having a guide can be handy to help out with translation.

Mongolia uses the Mongolian tögrög (MNT). Cards are widely accepted in Ulaanbaatar, but you’ll need cash in the countryside, where there are very few ATMs. We recommend withdrawing what you need before we leave the city.

If you’re looking for somewhere that feels truly different, Mongolia is it. It’s the most sparsely populated country in the world, so you can walk or ride for hours without seeing another person.

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Think nights in a ger with the stove lit, galloping herds, bowls of milk tea with your hosts and skies full of stars.

Yes, Mongolia is generally considered a safe destination for travellers. As with anywhere, take sensible precautions in Ulaanbaatar, where pickpocketing can occur in busy areas.

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In the countryside, the main things to be aware of are the remoteness and the changeable weather. Always follow your guide’s and horsemen’s instructions, particularly around the horses.