Mongolia Health and Safety

Mongolia is a reasonably safe country in which to travel, but given the infrastructure of the country, state of the economy and other development problems, you are bound to run into hiccups along the way. With a bit of patience and planning, you should be able to handle just about anything.

Alcoholism is a real problem but is far worse in the cities than in the countryside. Drunks are more annoying than dangerous, except when they are driving your vehicle. Drivers who work for tour companies have been disciplined to hold their alcohol on trips, but hitchhikers may encounter drunk drivers.

Petty theft is a fact of life in Ulaanbaatar and you need to stay vigilant of bag slashers and pick pockets, especially around Naadam time when muggers do brisk trade on all the starry-eyed tourists wandering about. In the countryside, keep an eye on your gear and don't leave valuables lying around your camp site if you wander off. Lock your kit inside your jeep or hotel whenever possible (drivers do a good job of watching your stuff). When horse trekking, be wary of Mongolians who seem to be following you; they may be after your valuables or even your horses, which are easily stolen while you sleep.

Heating and hot-water shortages and electricity blackouts are common in aimag capitals. Some villages go for months without any utility services at all. Although official policies have relaxed considerably since the arrival of democracy, some of the old KGB-inspired thinking still occurs among the police, especially in rural backwaters and border areas.