Women-Only Hospitality Exchange in Mongolia

Mongolia, Solo travel

Ulaanbaatar is great. Use common sense at night and stay where there are people. Seoul Street has lots of nightlife and karaoke. Naraantuul, an open-air market, is the best place to shop, but be reasonable. I've never personally been robbed there, but I've heard stories, especially when it's crowded. It's best to keep money in a zipped pocket and hold your shopping in a shopping bag. If I know I'm going to buy something big, I take a backpack with me and wear it on the front. If you really want to experience Mongolia, you have to go to the countryside. Terelj is probably the most tourist-friendly, but I recommend Aglag Buteelin Hiid, a meditation center founded by a monk-artist. It's an easy day trip from the city and off the beaten path for non-Mongols (you'll definitely want a driver who also translates). A walk on the trail took us about an hour and a half, and the ride itself is beautiful. Expect a tough week. It takes me 2 full days of travel to get here from the States. If you can make it to the Gobi, go. It's a night train journey... there are certainly attractions closer to Ulaanbaatar that will fill a few days for you. The only thing I really dislike here is the air pollution in winter.