Mongolian Road Trip

Mongolia is one of those countries where, you generally need a guide. Perhaps if you can speak Russian, you can get away without one, but unless you're miraculously conversant in Mongolian, the trip is going to be way more pleasant with a local guide.

Roughly 175 miles west of Ulaan Baatar, this is one of the few paved roads outside the capital. If linguistic navigation is one challenge, actual road navigation is a whole different story. I never managed to spot an actual sign listing the speed limit, and this is actually one of the only road signs I probably ever saw on the whole trip. If a confluence of multiple parallel and crisscrossing mud and dirt roads sounds like something that's right up your ally, you'll do fine with a GPS and your Russian linguistic skills. Otherwise, make that driver and guide which you'll be needing for your journey.

Don't let this discourage you, for the country is absolutely beautiful. Many pristine and unspoilt natural lands, which may actually seem a bit spoiled due to the ridiculous number of heads of cattle that graze and roam the lands. Still, when beauty, nature and adventure combine, you're in for a travel treat!

The road filled with unforgettable memories lies ahead.