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If you plan to hitch in '''In Mongolia''', it is half of the population lives in Ulaanbataar and the other half has a very good reason to know that most drivers expect go to be paid, though you can still hitch for freeUlaanbataar. It just takes more patienceTherefore, and effort, but it is common to find direct rides to Ulaanbataar from all parts of the rides come relatively quickly, nonethelesscountry. From Ulaanbataar to elsewhere however you will have to put up with village to village hitchhing.
Before entering the car make it clear that you have no money, unless you don't mind shelling out a few bucks for every ride. Many will just turn forward and continue driving, leaving you in the dust, but many will say not to worry about it, and motion for you to get in anyway. Also expect a jam-packed car, packed with amazingly friendly people!
There are just a couple hundred km of paved road from == Cities ==* [[Ulan Bator|Ulaanbaatar]] in every geographical directions (exactly one per directioncapital) * [[Erdenet]]* [[Darkhan]]* [[Mörön]]* [[Khovd]]* [[Choibalsan]] == Climate ==Due to the extreme weather differences between summer and that's winter, hitchhiking in Mongolia seems to be a completely different experience depending on the season. Instead of talking about hitchhiking in Mongolia, it would make more sense to talk about hitchhiking in Mongolia in the summer or in winter as if itwere two different countries. No roads, no signs=== Summer ====== Winter ===Expect also flat tires and very occasional overheating. The trunk roads out of Ulaanbaatar distances covered are paved and reasonably trafficked. Be careful if you walk out of the cities, along the ''roads'' so you considerably higher since vehicles don't get loststuck in mud, and take water with youthe frozen ground provides a good riding platform. ConfusinglyIt is common to hitch 1000 kilometer rides, names of cities equal names of states, so make sure city and state matchespecially if you are going to the capital.
Due to the extreme weather differences between summer and winter, hitchhiking in mongolia seems to be a completly different experience depending on the season. Instead of talking about hitchhiking in mongolia, it would make more sense to talk about hitchhiking in mongolia in the summer or in winter as if it were two different countries.
=== General experience ===Expect flat tires, overheating jeeps and not much more than 100km a day, due Due to the lack of traffic, and extremely poor condition of the roads. The easiest place to find rides in small towns is economic situation in the local marketscountry, where locals look for shared rides and trucks are picking up and delivering supplies, though there, you will probably have to pay. Otherwise just stand by the road anywhere (even everyone with a car in the middle of absolute desolation) and stick out your thumb when Mongolia is a vehicle comes bytaxi driver. The classical hitchhiking method works just fine, though they don't always know that you mean you want a free ride, so they will usually ''Always ask you up front for money, by rubbing their fingers and thumb together and saying "money, money" or "dengi, dengi" (Russian for money), but you should still make sure, before you get in if the car, by saying "nye dengi" ("no money" in Russian). However, if you get too bored, or worried that you might not get a ride is free before dark, you can always just madly wave down whoever is passing. They will stop (no need for a [[signs|sign]]), though they will probably expect money when you do it like that. Asking the locals is also a good way to get information on getting in!''' I assumed one of my rides was free and routes, if you can find had a local that speaks English. Be warned you probably won't be able rather large Mongolian woman tugging on my left arm refusing to leave before endless cups of tea and milk cookieslet me go at a toll booth when I got out.
Hitchhiking in the far west: [[Bayan-Ölgii]], is very hard to hitch. It took [[User:Worldhitch|Worldhitch]] 2 weeks from the Russian border in [[Bayan-Ölgii]] to Ulaanbaatar. Getting a Chinese visa is easy in Ulaanbaatar, Russian is not so easy – like in any other place.
=== Roads ===Mongolia... Expect flat tires, overheating cars not much more than a couple of hundred kilometres per day, due to the land lack of dustytraffic, unpavedand extremely poor condition of the roads. The easiest place to find rides in small towns is in the local markets, unmaintainedwhere locals look for shared rides and trucks are picking up and delivering supplies, "roads"though there, you will probably have to pay. Otherwise just stand by the road anywhere (even in absolutely the worst shapemiddle of absolute desolation) and stick out your thumb when a vehicle comes by. The classical hitchhiking method works just fine, that this hitchhiker has ever seen (though Ithey don've only been to North Americat always know that you mean you want a free ride, Europeso before you get in the car you should make it clear that you are looking for a free ride by saying "monk bahgui" (sounds like "munk bachko, Russia"ch" is very sharp, and Northern Asia"no money" in Mongolian). AlsoHowever, if you get too bored, or maybe because of worried thatyou might not get a ride before dark, there you can always just madly wave down whoever is passing. They will stop (no need for a [[signs|sign]]), though they will probably expect money when you do it like that. Asking the locals is next also a good way to no traffic get information on the major thoroughfare across the southern part of the countryrides and routes, if you can find a local that speaks English. People are mostly, quite willing to pick Be warned you up, but there just arenprobably won't that many people. Walking sometimes staves off the boredom be able to leave before endless cups of just sitting tea and waitingmilk cookies.
=== Sleeping ===
== Mongolia In september 2019 [[User:Worldhitchhiker|Worldhitchhiker]] hitchhiked from the border in winter ==Expect also flat tires the West (near Ölgii) to Ulaanbaatar. But with a big detour to the Gobi desert. It took me 9 days (2400km). My experience: basically I took this route: over the main road from Russia > Ölgii > Bayankhongor > leaving the main road southwards to Sevrei (you can hike up the Gobi desert sand dunes around here) and very occasional overheatingfrom Dalanzadgad via a main road northwards to Ulaanbataar. The distances covered My experience: if you stay on the main roads it's pretty doable (I did 1000km in 2 days). Main roads are often unpaved, but there is some traffic, not much. People are considerably higher since vehicles donfriendly and interested, they often didn't get stuck in mudunderstand me and/or the idea of hitchhiking, but eventually they were often happy to take me (for a short ride). Once you leave the main road it gets super quiet. After the frozen ground provides first car that brought me to a good riding platformsmall village, I waited for 9 hours divided over two days, to get a car. It is common I had to pay a bit to hitch 1000 kilometer rides, especially if you are going bring me to the capitalnext small village instead of the middle of nowhere (230km in 2 days). There I waited 7 hours again. Then I got lucky because two tourists took me in their rented car for a few days. The best impression from this trip you might get from my [https://youtu.be/dV8AXWylmHs Mongolia hitchhike video].
=== To where to hitch ===
In mongolia, half of the population lives in Ulaanbataar and the other half has a very good reason to go to Ulaanbataar. Therefore, it is common to find direct rides to Uaanbataar from all parts of the country. From Ulaanbataar to elswhere however you will have to put up with village to village hitchhing.
=== Transport ===Jeeps '''Hitchhiking in the east:''' Similarly, the further you are from the prefererredcapital, confortable and only transport means that the harder things get. It is adapted very very difficult to hitch after Khentii, where the Mongolian terrain. However the mongolian drivers are skilled paved road ends and can drive pretty much anything through pretty much any terrainrandom parallel dirt roads begin. Do not ignore that small car that wouldn't dare It took a few days for [[User:Canaydemir]] to take a dirt road, would reach Choibalsan and it have been in europe. The mongolian will successfully take it through was impossible to go to the worst Russian border at Erentsav by means of mountain passes.The speed you can expect is 60 km/h, this is a good average. Jeeps should be able to hold that average but also some classic carshitchhiking.
=== How to hitch ===
Talking to people trying to fill up their cars works but Mongolians will have trouble understanding that you want to go for free. Your success might depend on wheather somebody is willing to pay for your ride. This is likely to succeed in villages for short distances (<200 km). The price for that sort of ride can be 10,000 or 20,000 MNT (Jan 2014).
In '''Hitching up north to the Russian border:''' A great place to hitch from UB was the countryside, money is very strongly expected whereas in more "densely" populated areas it is notDragon Center bus station. It took me a while but eventually I got a ride with on a bus to Darkhan. When I also tried hitching in on the countryside, you should prepare yourself street for a discussion and a series of explanations nearly two hours before that you really donbut didn't have money, no tugriks, no dollarsfind anyone who was going that far north, no whatever. They might ask you an insane amount most of times. It can get tiring but even though some people will look like they will only take you for money, do not give up until they actually ride away. Mongolians are kind and helpful people, if you do not have money, they will take you for freethe street traffic is still local.
There is an effective way how to get rides in Mongolia. However it is not a way anyone should recomment. In Mongolia, it is very easy to put yourself into danger. If you really want a ride, especially a free long one, walk to the middle of nowhere and wait for someone to drive by. It is very easy to stage your suicide in Mongolia, be careful to make it make-believe only. There are thousands of Yurts spread accross the countryside, especially by the main roads. Position yourself somewhere a few kilometers from such yurt and wait. If someone drives by, you will appear as an irresponsible stupid tourist who will die if not save. And the mongolian people will save you. Be careful with this tactic, you should always consider the risks when you play with your life. Unexpected weather conditions may occur, temperature can drop very fast, what you thought to be make-believe may become reality very fast.
So be very careful!
Source and detailed information for this section: [http://takemeeast.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-failed-ride.html here]
Be even more careful if you try these stunts when approaching '''Hitching trains:''' I was able to hitch a train from Darkhan to Sukhbaatar (about 20km from the chinese Russian border. While you can almost be sure that mongolians will help you, the chinese will not. The same stunt performed in a chinese-influanced region may just leave you to freeze ) in the desert with nobody caring. Also, do not mistake inner-mongolia inhabitants for mongolians, they are not! Inner mongolia is more china than mongolia and such a mistake would be a fatal oneNovember 2015.
Source and detailed information '''Ask people'''Talking to people trying to fill up their cars works but Mongolians will have trouble understanding that you want to go for this paragraph: [http://takemeeastfree.blogspotHowever, they usually accept you in the end.com/2013/12/Not as common as in Iran but even the-way-taxis may take you without charging. In some cases though, your success might depend on whether somebody is willing to-mongoliapay for your ride. This is likely to succeed in villages for short distances (<200 km).html here]
=== Roads ==='''Money'''In the countryside, money is very strongly expected whereas in more "densely" populated areas it is not. When hitching in the countryside, you should prepare yourself for a discussion and a series of explanations that you really don't have money, no tugriks, no dollars, no whatever. They might ask you an insane amount of times. It can get tiring but even though some people will look like they will only take you for money, do not give up until they actually ride away. Mongolians are kind and helpful people, if you do not have money, they will take you for free.
Source and detailed information for this section: [http://takemeeast.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-failed-ride.html here] and [http://takemeeast.blogspot.com/2013/12/mongolian-countryside.html here]
=== Sleeping ===Be even more careful if you try these stunts when approaching the Chinese border. While you can almost be sure that Mongolians will help you, the Chinese will not. The same stunt performed in a Chinese-influenced region may just leave you to freeze in the desert with nobody caring. Also, do not mistake Inner-Mongolia inhabitants for Mongolians, they are not! Inner Mongolia is more China than Mongolia and such a mistake would be a fatal one.
Do not worry about sleeping in mongolia in winter. Just knock on the door of any yurt, you will be invited in, it is automatic. Nobody will think about asking you for money. Everybody understands that it is just too cold to sleep outside. Usually they will also introduce to their friends who will also invite you, you will quickly have a network of aquaintances and sleeping places so big that all your stay in mongolia will be covered for free [http://takemeeast.blogspot.com/2013/12/degrees-of-separation.html source]. You can go to a hostel sometime if you need some privacy.
Source and detailed information for this paragraph: An aimless hitchhiker wrote about her experiences of hitching in Mongolia [httphttps://takemeeast.blogspotanaimlesshitchhiker.com/2014/0109/mongoli.html 16/brighton-to-beijing-overland-part-4-the-green-grass-of-smiley-mongolia/#more-1593 here] . Worldhitchhiker wrote tips and his hitchhiking experience in Mongolia [httphttps://takemeeast.blogspotworldhitchhiker.com/2014/01/thehitchhiking-failedin-ride.html mongolia/ here]
Nothing Jeeps are the preferred, comfortable and only transport means that is adapted to be alarmed from this sidethe Mongolian terrain. Mongolians drink occasionaly; however they However the Mongolian drivers are peaceful drinkers at least compared skilled and can drive pretty much anything through pretty much any terrain. Do not ignore that small car that wouldn't dare to their neighbours and take a dirt road, would it have been in Europe. The Mongolian will successfully take it through the worst of mountain passes.The speed you are usually given can expect is 60 km/h, this is a choice wheather or not to drinkgood average. Your choice Jeeps should be respectedable to hold that average but also some classic cars.
== Cities ==* [[Ulan Bator|Ulaanbaatar]] There are many paved roads in Mongolia. When there are no paved roads, there are also very good dirt roads. You should not be worried about road quality if you are going from UB to Teserleg (capitalNorth-West)* [[Erdenet]]* [[Bayan, Bayankhongor (South-West) and Zamiin-Uud (South). Further west, the quality of road varies from "OK" to "just disastrous or inexistant". Sometimes you just drive through snow tracks. However vehicles do not get stuck in snow that often. Expect a flat tire every 400 kilometers, even on paved roads. From Ölgii]](in the West) to the direction South-East there was a pretty new paved road in 2019 for the first bit.
== Border Crossing ==There are just a couple hundred km of paved road from [[Ulan Bator|Ulaanbaatar]] in every geographical directions (exactly one per direction) and that's it. No roads, no signs. The trunk roads out of Ulaanbaatar are paved and reasonably trafficked. Be careful if you walk out of the cities, along the ''roads'' so you don't get lost, and take water with you. Confusingly, names of cities equal names of states, so make sure city and state match.
=== From Ulaanbataar There is next to [[China]] ===The main border crossing with China is in no traffic on the major thoroughfare across the South-East at Zamyn Uud. Hitchhiking there from Ulaan Baatar is not difficult, as southern part of 2013 the paved road is basically completedcountry. HoweverPeople are mostly, do not expect a direct ride from UB quite willing to the borderpick you up, you will probably stop at every major city. Expect 2 days to get to your destinationbut there just aren't that many people. It follows Walking sometimes staves off the Transmongolian Railway boredom of just sitting and gives you the security not to die of thirst. [[User:Worldhitch|Worldhitch]] also got a lift by the great Defektoskop trainwaiting.
=== From The road to Ulaanbaatar after the Chinese border is to the capital ===Hitching from Zamyn Uud to Ulaanbaatar is very easyleft of the first fork in the road. The capital is always easier to hitchhike than any other city and GPS apps like MapsMe get this section is completly paved and has a lot of traffic in all times of year; mongolians love wrong, you should not be going through Zamiid-Uud to do their shopping in china. Expect a one day rideget there.
A good place to hitch a ride is to talk to Source and detailed information for this section: [http://takemeeast.blogspot.com/2014/01/the people during passport checks in the no-man's landfailed-ride. Many will speak either english or russian html here] and can take you with them probably all the way to the capital[http://takemeeast.blogspot.com/2013/12/mongolian-countryside.html here]
=== Crossing the border ==='''Crossing The main highway from the Chinese border''' itself can be quite tricky as you need to have transportation to cross three separate checkpointsUlaanbaatar is a rather modern, two lane road. Usually the soldiers will help you to find Driving with a ride if you first just try to walk -- but that won't be guy in a guarantee that the ride will be for free. Keep trying until you get Toyota Prius we completed it in around 7 hours during a ride (or too frustrated, with the Chinese border terminal looming in the distance, guards not allowing you to simply cover the 500 meters by foot)snow storm.
Keep your morals up and === Alcohol ===Nothing to be very persistantalarmed from this side. Explain that your visa will expire if Mongolians drink occasionally; however they don't take youare peaceful drinkers at least compared to their neighbors. They It is difficult to refuse a drink though as most Mongolians will insist that it's impossible, they will try to get your money by every means but keep your head up until they realize that the energy put into convincing and think you to pay is greater than the energy they would put into convincing the taxis to take are being rude or wussy if you for freedon't accept.
Source Hitchhikernick - Hitched around Mongolia in January 2017 for 2 weeks. Visited Gobi desert (Yolyn Am), UlaanBataar, kharkhorin, Chinngis Khan silver statue and Terelj national park. Entered from China and exited via Russia. Easiest place ever to get a ride in UlaanBataar, however many wanted money, but just said i didn't have any and it worked without any problems. Managed to stay in yurts by knocking on door and detailed information showing I was cold (literally gets below -20 in many parts of Mongolia in Jan at night). Had a drinking session in a yurt in Terelj NP (airag and dumplings), very nice especially in the winter. I was approached many times for this paragraph: [http://takemeeastmoney when in UlaanBataar, probably because of my European appearance.blogspotaverage waiting time around 2hrs as more desolate outside of UlaanBataarm.com/2013/12/On the way back from Gobi a minivan wanted to take me to the capital but after a while waiting for the van to fill, I realised they wanted money so went to road and within an hour got a ride all the-way-for free. I had no problems getting from China to the capital and then onwards to Russia 2 weeks later, even managed to cross borders with no problem, though you must be in a car to-mongoliacross borders, or so the kind drivers informed me. On most occasions outside of UlaanBataar I wasn't asked for money.html here]
This border is very strange. Only some special type of cars are allowed to cross. Only chinese cars and old soviet jeeps. That is why mongolian people usually leave their car on one side of == Language ==Most Mongolians, in the border south, don't speak English, and take a taxi even if they only have their own vehicle (!).The border processing is also somewhat complicated. Here is the detailed description from Mongolia to China:1) You take a taxi from before the border to the mongolian checkpoint. The price is about 10 yuan slightest understanding of Russian, but you can avoid it (described above)2) You buy some kind get along with hand gestures and correct pronunciation of the name of border pass for 1000 MNT which allows the place you are trying to get to the mongolian passport check3) You get a stamp, (if you take the jeep again, you show your stamp know how to the guards you pass by (they don't stop the car, they check your stamp while driving in order to not lose timepronounce it correctly).4) You arrive at the chinese checkpointHowever not so few Mongolians speak either English, German or Russian so if you buy another border pass for 5 yuan5) You drive from the checkpoint to Erlian, know those languages you show your stamp to the guards you pass byshould find common speakers quite often.6) That's it, you are in China
The other way (Mongolia -> China) is similar==Resources=={{nomadwiki}}
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'''Mongolia''' in [[Asia]] is good for hitchhiking in terms of the rate of people stopping for you; it is bad in terms of the actual number of drivers (some roads are very isolated) and road conditions. Like in Iran, there is a culture of using private cars like taxis (especially in the capital, Ulaanbaatar), so most drivers will expect to be paid at first. Before entering the car make it clear that you have no money, unless you don't mind shelling out a few bucks for every ride. Some will just turn forward and continue driving, leaving you in the dust, but most will say or gesture not to worry about it and tell you to get in anyway. Also expect a jam-packed car, packed with amazingly friendly people, food and house invitations!
== Mongolia in summer Hitchability ==
'''Hitchhiking in the far west:''' [[CampingBayan-Ölgii]] , is great in Mongoliavery hard to hitch. It's legal to camp anywhere. You can filter water took [[User:Worldhitch|Worldhitch]] 2 weeks from springs and lakes, or ask any of the locals for some of their boiled waterRussian border in [[Bayan-Ölgii]] to Ulaanbaatar. It's Getting a good idea to stock up on fruitChinese visa is easy in Ulaanbaatar, vegetables and Russian is not so easy – like in any essentials in Ulaanbaatarother place.
There are many paved roads is an effective way how to get rides in mongoliaMongolia. However it is not a way anyone should recommend. When there are no paved roadsIn Mongolia, there are also it is very good dirt roadseasy to put yourself into danger. You should not be worried about road quality if If you are going from UB really want a ride, especially a free long one, walk to the middle of nowhere and wait for someone to drive by. It is very easy to Teserleg (North-West)stage your suicide in Mongolia, Bayankhongor (South-West) and Zamiinbe careful to make it make-Uud (South)believe only. Further westThere are thousands of Yurts spread across the countryside, especially by the quality of road varies main roads. Position yourself somewhere a few kilometers from "OK" to "just disastrous or inexistant"such yurt and wait. If someone drives by, you will appear as an irresponsible stupid tourist who will die if not save. Sometimes And the Mongolian people will save you just drive through snow tracks. However vehicles do not get stuck in snow that oftenBe careful with this tactic, you should always consider the risks when you play with your life. Expect a flat tire every 400 kilometersUnexpected weather conditions may occur, temperature can drop very fast, even on paved roadswhat you thought to be make-believe may become reality very fast.So be very careful!
=== Alcohol Transport ===
== Language = Roads ===Most Mongolians, in the south, don't speak English, and only have the slightest understanding of Russian, but you can get along with hand gestures and correct pronunciation of the name of the place you are trying to get to (if you know how to pronounce it correctly).However not so few mongolians speak either English, German or Russian so if you know those languages you should find common speakers quite often.
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