Mongolia offers fantastic cycling opportunities especially for those who like rough tracks through remote areas mixed with plenty of adventure.
Good roads only exist around Ulaan Baatar. Very soon they become bumpy sandy tracks.
I was very impressed with the diversity Mongolia has to offer. Not only are there sandy derserts and grasland but lots of lakes, wide forest and marsh land can be found too.
Overview
Accommodation
In towns there is always at least one hotel. In UB there are guesthouses. In regions with tourists you can find Ger camps where you can sleep in a Ger. But of course Mongolia is the land of the nomads, so camp wherever you like.
Supplies
In towns there are good stores. Fruits and vegetable can be very hard to get in the countryside. Even little places have a very basic shop where you can get the most basic stuff.
Water
In the southern part it is often very dry and places with water are a long way apart: plan well! In the center and north there are a lot of rivers and lakes (some are salt lakes though).
In the south every place has a well of some sort. Often located a bit outside in a little house. Here you can get good, fresh ground water.
Navigation
Even the main routes are often rough track as soon as you get a bit away from UB. Often trails lead to every direction. A GPS is a good thing to have in Mongolia. If you want to leave the main routes, it is a must.
Maps
At first I cycled with the map from 'Reise Know How'. For the main routes it is ok, although some routes are not quite correct. There is an map of equal quality by Gizi map. In UB you can buy a very good road atlas (see picture). It is by far the most up to date and accurate map I have seen. You can buy it at the main post office in UB.
The russian topographical maps are also quite detailed but way outdated.
Vsa
A 30 day visa can be extended in UB for another 30 days. You can do this at the very beginning already, they simply get added to your existing visa. An extension can only be done once. BUT at the same time you can apply for a so called Exit Visa which gives you another 10 days. That way you can get up to 70 days before you leave UB.
