Trans-Mongolian Steppe Route — Ulaanbaatar to Khövsgöl Lake via Tariat and the Orkhon Valley
No roads. No signs. Just 1,000 km of steppe.
There are no roads in the conventional sense for most of this route — just GPS tracks, faded tyre marks in the grass, and the occasional ger camp to confirm you’re heading in roughly the right direction. The route west from Ulaanbaatar crosses the Khangai Mountains via Tariat, a small sum centre near the Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park where a dormant volcano sits beside a freshwater lake fed by ancient lava fields. From there, a detour south into the Orkhon Valley — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — passes the ruins of Kharkhorin (Karakorum), the 13th-century capital of the Mongol Empire. River crossings are frequent and depth-unpredictable; the Orkhon River alone can run knee-deep in June and chest-deep after summer rains.
Mongolia requires no overlanding permits, but vehicle import paperwork must be current and border crossings via China or Russia require specific transit permits well in advance. This route is best attempted in an experienced crew of at least two vehicles — recovery without another rig in the steppe backcountry is a long, lonely process. A long-wheelbase 4×4 with a rooftop tent, dual spares, a full tool kit, and 15+ litres of extra fuel per vehicle is the working minimum. July and August offer the best weather but the most traffic at tourist sites; June and September give quieter conditions with more mud risk. Diesel is available in most sum centres but quality varies.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 621 mi / 1000 km |
| Duration | 7-12 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 8660 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Long-wheelbase 4x4 with dual spares, long-range fuel, and full recovery kit |
| Nearest town | Mörön (Murun), Khövsgöl Province, Mongolia |
| Land manager | Mongolia Ministry of Environment and Tourism — Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park / Khövsgöl National Park |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Mongolia Tourism official site |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a short-wheelbase Jimny or Defender 90 handle this route, or do I need a long-wheelbase rig?
A short-wheelbase 4x4 can physically manage the terrain, but you'll suffer on fuel range — there are no guarantees of fuel between Tariat and Mörön, stretches that can exceed 300 km of nothing. A long-wheelbase platform with a 100+ liter fuel capacity and dual spares is the practical minimum; a rooftop tent and onboard water storage aren't optional at this scale.
Is the route passable in May or October, or is June–September a hard cutoff?
May and October are genuinely risky — river crossings like the Orkhon and Chuluut run high with snowmelt in May, and early October snowfall at 2,600+ meters can strand you on the volcanic plateau near Khorgo for days. Mongolian weather moves fast and the nearest help is far; June through early September is the real window.
Do I need permits to drive through Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur or Khövsgöl National Park?
Yes — both parks charge entry fees collected at ranger posts; Khövsgöl National Park fees are roughly 3,000–5,000 MNT per person as of recent seasons, with a separate vehicle fee. Carry cash in Mongolian tögrög, as no card readers exist in the field, and rangers do patrol the main entry corridors.
What's the hardest section of this route and what makes it so committing?
The Orkhon River gorge crossings and the climb onto the volcanic plateau near Khorgo are where rigs get hurt — the Orkhon fords have no defined line, depth changes seasonally, and the rocky basalt fields above Tariat will destroy sidewalls on anything less than a reinforced all-terrain tire. If you lose a vehicle there, self-recovery or waiting for another overlander passing through is your only real option.
Is there any reliable fuel or resupply between Ulaanbaatar and Mörön, or do I need to carry everything?
Tariat has a small fuel point that is often out of stock or closed — treat it as a bonus, not a plan. Carry enough fuel to cover at least 600 km from your last confirmed fill in Ulaanbaatar or Kharkhorin, and top off aggressively in every town regardless of your current level. Mörön has reliable fuel and a real market; it's the first genuine resupply point on the northern end of the route.
Trail track
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