Winter Strips Mongolia Bare—What’s Left Is Something Unforgettable

Nomadic Road’s Mongolia Winter Expedition – Cold Steppes is the coldest in our lineup. Last year, the country’s winter was brutal—one of the harshest on record, pushing an already extreme journey to its limits. Whiteouts that erased the horizon, last-minute route changes, and a cold so fierce it settled deep in your bones.

This year? Still unforgiving, but in a way that felt almost welcome. ​​What truly defined the experience, though, was the group—strangers at first, from across the world: Americans, Italians, Lebanese, French, Singaporeans, and Indians. By the end of Day 1, it felt less like an expedition and more like a reunion.

In this photo essay, journey with us through the pinnacles of our expedition—the roads we took, the surprises travellers didn’t see coming, the feasts we indulged in, and the wild encounters that reminded us just how special winter travel in Mongolia is. 

Driving Mongolia

On this Mongolia winter expedition, we drove across every terrain imaginable—tarmac, dirt roads, snow-covered stretches, frozen rivers, sand dunes, and Mongolia’s largest freshwater lake, completely frozen over.

The route was designed for those who love overlanding and those getting a taste of it for the first time. No two days felt the same.

On Day 1 itself, we threw in an unexpected challenge—a dune drive. Some got stuck, and most tackled the terrain with a mix of excitement and nerves. It gave everyone a real taste of what the Mongolia winter tour would bring. 

One of the biggest highlights was crossing the frozen Khuvsgul Lake to reach a hot spring that never freezes, even in the dead of winter. As we drove onto the ice, the sheer scale of the lake hit everyone. But with that came the reality of driving on it—massive cracks formed beneath us as we moved, forcing us to navigate carefully. 

Some sections were planned purely for the love of driving, not just to get from point A to B. Open dirt roads let overlanders pick up speed, while winding tracks tested skill and control. These detours were both thrilling and visually rewarding, leading us through frozen rivers, dense forests, and striking red mountain cliffs.

Wild Encounters on Mongolia’s Cold Steppes

In the dead of a Mongolian winter, wildlife is scarce, but the few animals that roam these lands feel almost otherworldly. More than just surviving here, they are deeply tied to the lives of the nomads who call this place home.

Our first encounter was on Day 1 in Hustai Nuruu National Park, where we spotted takhis—the world’s only true wild horses.

But the most poignant moment came later during the expedition. En route, we encountered a horse that had slipped and become trapped in the snow. Pregnant, it struggled to stand back up. We held our breath, unsure of what to do. Next thing we know, a nomad stepped in and grabbed its tail. In one swift motion, the horse was up again, galloping away.

Immediately, the rest of the herd rushed toward it, surrounding it in a way that felt almost human—nudging, circling, as if making sure it was okay.

Later, in Ulgii, we met the eagle hunters. The wind was brutal, biting through every layer of clothing, but the hunters stood tall, their golden eagles perched on their arms, unbothered.

Some of us braved the cold, climbing onto horseback to hold the eagles ourselves, feeling their weight, the sheer power in their talons. Others huddled inside the kitchen tent, watching from a distance.

Expected, Unexpected, and Everything in Between

On the second day, a car broke down in the middle of nowhere, in subzero temperatures. It’s not unusual on expeditions like these. Consequently, our mechanics stayed back—alone—to fix it.

Clients were stunned by their fortitude. What if something went wrong? It took them by great surprise.

For the gearheads, a 6x6 Russian truck sat outside one of our stays—too tempting to ignore. Travellers spent some time bulldozing through deep snow and frozen rivers in that beast.

Then there were the surprises we did plan. A late-night astrophotography session on a frozen lake, where the sky was so clear it felt within reach.

Photo credit: Raj from Seoul, South Korea

With temperatures well below freezing, travellers braved the night to capture the stars, some for the very first time. Guided by our expedition filmmaker, they learned the art of astrophotography and picked up new techniques along the way.

One evening, a shaman arrived at sunset. A fire burned by the lake as he spoke of pasts, futures, and family. Some laughed, some teared up—nobody expected to be this moved.

Another night, local kids turned a barebones yurt into a stage for an incredible cultural performance. Throat singing, dance, and traditional music filled the space. By the next night, folk music blended with rock, and soon, people were on tables, dancing.

Feasts in the Wild

On many days, meals were straightforward, exactly what you’d expect in a land this unforgiving. But every so often, we pulled off something unexpected.

A seemingly modest log cabin that, upon arrival, revealed a fine-dining-style dinner no one saw coming.

A private picnic in the middle of the dunes, where meat was barbecued on the spot.

A meal inside a nomadic family’s ger, where fresh dumplings were made by hand. As we ate, herds of horses and sheep moved across the snow outside.

In a journey where everything is extreme—the landscapes, the cold, the driving—good food has a way of resetting you. It also slows time, brings people together, and turns the middle of nowhere into the only place you’d want to be. We recognise this, and our team does its best with minimal resources but heaps of experience and skill.

The Unlikely Comfort of Isolation

Nomadic Road’s Mongolia winter tour strips everything down to the essentials—harsh landscapes, unpredictable moments, and the kind of camaraderie that only comes from facing the unknown together.

In one of the most remote places on Earth, solitude feels less lonely than in many of the world's biggest cities. The further you go from the familiar, the closer you get to something real.