Wild Landscapes, Open Spaces and Adventures for All Ages
A family holiday to Canada is about sharing unforgettable experiences, whether that's spotting bears, watching whales, paddling crystal-clear lakes or riding gondolas into the mountains.
Whether you're crossing the Gobi Desert by four-wheel drive, riding out from a ger camp in Gorkhi-Terelj or exploring the Altai Mountains, Mongolia gives families the freedom to travel at their own pace with a private guide and driver throughout, distances planned around your children's stamina and Mongolia's vast open spaces give them room to explore without ever feeling rushed.
That freedom brings real variety to the day. You might spend the morning riding gentle Mongolian horses across the open steppe or sharing salty milk tea in a nomadic family's ger, then watch a golden eagle return to a hunter's wrist in the Altai Mountains that same afternoon, or simply cool off in the pool at a family-friendly hotel after a day of exploring. Parents tend to enjoy these experiences just as much as their children do, which is part of what makes Mongolia so rewarding as a family destination. Wildlife is a particular draw: at Hustai National Park, children love spotting Przewalski's wild horses, the last truly wild horse species on Earth, while in the Altai Mountains a golden eagle demonstration rarely fails to impress even a reluctant teenager, and both experiences are carefully managed by experienced local guides and handlers. The lodges and ger camps are just as well suited to families. Terelj Hotel, inside Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, has Mongolia's largest indoor pool for burning off excess energy, and a night or two in Ulaanbaatar lets older children discover the country's history through its museums, monasteries and the vast Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue just outside the city.
Family Holidays for Every Age
Mongolia comes into its own for families with children aged around eight and above, once they're ready to fully enjoy horse riding, camel trekking, hiking and longer overland journeys between regions. Teenagers in particular tend to love the sense of adventure, whether that's riding out with a Kazakh eagle hunter, camping under a sky full of stars in the Gobi Desert or kayaking the shores of Lake Khövsgöl. Families with younger children needn't miss out, though: a slower-paced itinerary, with shorter driving days, family-friendly camps offering space to play, gentle beginner horse rides and easy walks, lets everyone travel comfortably at their own speed, since a tailor-made holiday can be shaped around whatever pace suits your family best.
Family Friendly Regions and Experiences
Most family holidays begin close to Ulaanbaatar in Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, just an hour and a half from the capital, where children can ride ponies towards Turtle Rock, try their hand at archery, or cool off in Terelj Hotel's indoor pool before heading further into Mongolia. From there, Hustai National Park is an easy add-on, home to Mongolia's reintroduced wild Przewalski's horses and a near-guaranteed wildlife sighting that needs neither an early start nor a long wait. Many families find their favourite memories further south, in the Gobi Desert, camel trekking across the towering Khongoryn Els dunes, searching for dinosaur fossils at the Flaming Cliffs, and watching the stars emerge over camp with none of the light pollution that hides them back home. For those after a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, the Altai Mountains in Mongolia's far west deliver an encounter few destinations can match, riding out with a Kazakh eagle hunter and his golden eagle, though the longer journey to reach them tends to suit families with older children and a little more time to spare. Lake Khövsgöl, by contrast, offers a gentler pace for families who enjoy being by the water, with kayaking or canoeing across the lake, rides along its forested shoreline, and lazy afternoons at a lakeside camp far from Mongolia's more visited regions.
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Mongolia family holidays, trips and tours ideas
Our Mongolia specialist, Sophie, says:
"One of the reasons I love recommending Mongolia to families is that it strikes such a good balance between genuine adventure and real comfort. Parents often worry the distances will be too much for children, or that riding and camping out won't suit a family holiday, but with the right itinerary everything flows naturally. You'll spend the morning riding out with an eagle hunter or exploring a ger camp, enjoy lunch together in the open air, then finish the day relaxing at a comfortable lodge with plenty of space to play. It's particularly brilliant for families with older children and teenagers, who can really throw themselves into horse riding, camel trekking and eagle hunting, but it's equally rewarding for younger families when we slow the pace and build in plenty of time to explore. Mongolia is one of those rare destinations where every member of the family comes home with their own story to tell."
Mongolia Family Hotels
Mongolia Family Holiday FAQs
Planning a Mongolia family holiday? Our experts share advice on everything from what to pack, when to go, to tips for families, covering the questions we get asked the most.
Is Mongolia suitable for younger children?
Yes, with the right itinerary. We'd generally recommend building a younger family's trip around Ulaanbaatar, Gorkhi-Terelj National Park and Hustai National Park, all within a few hours of the capital, rather than the longer journeys further into the Gobi Desert or the Altai Mountains. Shorter driving days, family-friendly ger camps and gentle activities like pony riding and archery all work well for children under eight.
Is Mongolia good for teenagers?
Very much so. Teenagers tend to respond well to Mongolia's sense of genuine adventure: riding out with a Kazakh eagle hunter, camel trekking across the Gobi's dunes, sleeping in a ger under a sky full of stars, or riding for hours across open steppe with nobody else in sight. It's also a destination that feels like a real discovery, which tends to appeal to teenagers who feel they've already seen the more obvious places.
How much travelling is involved on a Mongolia family holiday?
More than in most family destinations, since Mongolia's regions are genuinely far apart. A private guide and driver do the travelling for you rather than the family self-driving, and we plan family itineraries around two, or at most three, regions, using internal flights to cut down long overland transfers where it makes sense, and always building in rest days rather than back-to-back travel days.
Is it safe to see eagles and other wildlife with children?
Yes. Every wildlife experience, from a golden eagle demonstration in the Altai Mountains to watching Przewalski's wild horses at Hustai National Park, is run by experienced local guides and handlers and paced appropriately for the ages of the children involved. Speak to our Asia team about which region and activities would suit your family best.
How expensive is Mongolia for families?
Mongolia isn't a budget destination. The distances involved mean private guiding, driving and internal flights are built into every itinerary, and the best ger camps and lodges are priced accordingly. It suits families who want a genuinely unique, well-organised trip rather than the cheapest way to see the country, and we'll always plan around the budget and travel dates that work for you.
Speak to a Mongolia expert today
and start planning your tailor-made holiday
Sophie
Mongolia Expert
Speak to a Canada honeymoon expert today
and start planning your tailor-made holiday
Sophie
Mongolia Expert
