Travelling to Mongolia with children is more straightforward than most parents expect—provided the itinerary is built around shorter drives, flexible mealtimes, and activities that let kids engage rather than just observe. Our Family Collection was created specifically for this purpose. Below is what we have learned from more than ten years of designing family journeys across the Gobi, the steppe, and the northern lakes.
Which Collection and Pacing Work Best for Families?
The Family Collection exists because adult-focused itineraries simply move too fast for most children. In our standard collections, a day might include five or six hours of driving between ger camps, with activities layered on arrival. For families, we restructure the same regions so that driving rarely exceeds three to four hours in a single stretch, and we alternate active days with lighter ones.
- Shorter daily distances — Routes are broken into segments that match a child's tolerance for time in a vehicle. We favour two-night stays at key camps rather than one-night hops.
- Flexible departure times — Mornings can shift later if children need rest, and picnic lunches replace rigid restaurant schedules.
- Activity buffers — We build in rest afternoons at camp so children can explore the immediate surroundings, play with camp dogs, or simply unwind in the ger before dinner.
If your group includes both young children and grandparents, the Family Collection also works well as a multi-generational template. The pace is slow enough for older travellers to enjoy the scenery without fatigue, while the activities still hold interest for school-age children. For a full overview of how this collection compares to our adult-focused routes, see our guide to choosing the right Mongolia tour collection.
Quick reference: Family pacing vs standard pacing
| Element | Family Collection | Standard/Explorer Collections |
|---|---|---|
| Typical daily drive | 2–4 hours with breaks | 4–6 hours |
| Nights per camp | Often 2 nights | Usually 1 night |
| Activity intensity | Moderate, optional opt-outs | Higher, full participation |
| Meal flexibility | High—early dinners, familiar options | Set camp schedule |
Are Ger Camps Suitable for Children?
Yes—provided expectations are set correctly. Ger camps are not hotels, but the better-run camps we work with are clean, warm, and genuinely welcoming to families. Here is what parents should know.
Sleeping arrangements
Most family-sized gers sleep four to five people on low cots or floor mattresses arranged around the central stove. The stove keeps the ger warm at night even when temperatures drop outside, and the enclosed circular space gives children a sense of security. We request gers with solid floors and proper bedding for families with younger children, and we avoid camps where gers are spaced too far apart from the main dining area.
Meals and dietary flexibility
Camp kitchens cook simple, hearty food: soups, stews, rice, noodles, and bread. For children who are cautious eaters, we notify camps in advance so they can prepare milder versions of dishes or provide familiar staples such as plain rice, eggs, or pasta. If your child has specific dietary needs, tell us during the inquiry stage and we will confirm which camps along your route can accommodate them.
Hygiene and facilities
The camps we select for family routes have flush or compost toilets and basic shower facilities. Hot water is usually available in the morning and evening, though pressure can vary. We advise parents to bring hand sanitiser and familiar toiletries for children who may be uncomfortable with camp soap. The open steppe itself is clean and dry, which helps reduce the kinds of insects or humidity that bother children in other climates.
What ages cope well?
In our experience, children from about five years old upwards adapt quickly to ger camp life. They treat the ger as a large tent, enjoy the novelty of the stove, and usually sleep well after active days. Toddlers can manage with extra preparation—bring a familiar blanket, request a ger close to the dining area, and plan for earlier bedtimes. Babies are welcome, but parents should be comfortable with the reality that remote camps do not have medical facilities nearby.
Which Activities Work Across Age Groups?
Mongolia offers hands-on experiences that children remember long after the trip ends. The key is matching the activity to the child's confidence level, not just their age.
Short camel treks
Camel rides at the Khongor dunes or Bayanzag are typically 15–30 minutes—long enough to feel adventurous, short enough to avoid saddle soreness. Children sit in front of an adult or with a handler leading the camel. The slow, rolling gait is gentler than horseback riding for nervous first-timers.
Easy horse leads
Mongolian horses are small and calm. For children who want to try riding, we arrange guided leads on flat ground near the camp, with a handler walking alongside. There is no pressure to canter or ride independently. Older children with some experience can progress to short trail rides at a walk.
Fossil hunting at Bayanzag
The Flaming Cliffs are famous for dinosaur discoveries, but children do not need to be palaeontology fans to enjoy scrambling over red sandstone ridges and searching for fragments of fossilised bone or eggshell. It feels like a treasure hunt, and the landscape itself—burnished orange against deep blue sky—is dramatic enough to hold attention.
Nomadic family visits
Visiting a herding family is often the highlight for children. They can watch goats being milked, help churn airag, or simply sit with the family's own children and share a game despite the language barrier. These visits are unstructured and low-pressure—children engage for as long as they are comfortable, then return to the vehicle.
We do not promise specific wildlife sightings on family trips. Mongolia's wild horses, gazelles, and birds of prey are present in many regions, but they appear on their own schedule. What we can guarantee is that children will see animals—horses, sheep, cattle, camels—every single day, often up close.
What Safety and Support Systems Are in Place?
Parents booking a private tour with us are not left to manage uncertainty alone. Our support structure is designed for remote travel with dependants.
- Vehicle standards — Family routes use well-maintained 4x4 vehicles with experienced drivers who know how to read steppe tracks and river crossings. We carry spare tyres, recovery equipment, and extra drinking water on every vehicle.
- 24-hour trip assistance — Our operations team is contactable around the clock. If a child feels unwell, the weather shifts suddenly, or a family simply wants to adjust the next day's plan, we can reroute or arrange support from the nearest town.
- Dietary request handling — Allergies, vegetarian preferences, and religious dietary requirements are flagged before departure and communicated to each camp on the route. For severe allergies, we discuss contingency plans during the inquiry phase.
- Weather preparation — Mongolia's weather can change within hours, especially in spring and autumn. We monitor forecasts daily and adjust clothing advice, activity timing, and route choices accordingly. Families are briefed on layering before departure.
We are a licensed, registered inbound tour company and a member of the Mongolia Tourism Association. Our partnerships with established ger camps and local suppliers mean that if an issue arises, we have relationships in place to resolve it quickly.
What Should Parents Realistically Expect?
Even with shortened drives, Mongolia is a vast country and children will spend time in vehicles. Here is how we manage that reality.
Long driving days
Children typically respond better than parents fear. The landscape itself is entertainment—herds of horses, distant gers, sudden eagle sightings. We schedule frequent stops for toilet breaks, leg-stretching, and photos. Snacks and drinking water are always available in the vehicle. That said, we do not schedule back-to-back long-drive days in family itineraries. A heavy driving day is always followed by a lighter one.
Buffer days and rest afternoons
Our Design Team builds buffer time into every family route. This might mean a free afternoon at a lakeside camp where children can skip stones and explore the shore, or a morning off in Ulaanbaatar before a domestic flight. These pauses are not empty time—they are essential for children to process the experience and recharge before the next activity.
"The best family trips we have designed are the ones where parents stop worrying about the schedule and let the landscape set the pace. Children adapt fast when they sense that the day is flexible."
— Mongolianstar Adventures Travel Design Team
Ready to Plan Your Family Journey?
The Family Collection is the curated starting point, but every family is different. If your children have specific interests—horses, dinosaurs, wide-open space—or if you are travelling with a mix of ages, we can tailor the route, the pacing, and the activities to match.
Start a conversation with our team and we will walk you through the options, answer your questions about camp facilities and driving times, and design an itinerary that works for every generation in your group.