Safety in Mongolia: what overland travellers should know
Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 4 January 2026.
Safety
- Desert crossings — Crossing Mongolia's desert areas is especially risky in the winter months and at night: temperatures can drop suddenly to -40 or -45 °C and the icy wind is the biggest danger. Driving through them without the right equipment and precautions is strongly discouraged.
- Isolated regions — Caution is also advised in the country's isolated, thinly populated regions, where rescue can struggle to reach you in an emergency. Provincial-town hospitals are not equipped for the more complex surgery and doctors usually advise moving serious cases to the capital where that is possible.
- Earthquakes — Mongolia is seismically active, above all in the western regions, and the risk exists in the capital too. Small tremors have become more frequent in recent years.
- Summer flooding — In summer, above all around Ulaanbaatar, short but intense rain can cause flooding, particularly in areas near watercourses.
- Crime — Nothing particular is reported in the tourist areas outside the capital, and the nomadic herding population is very hospitable. Crime in Ulaanbaatar has been falling for years; petty crime, mostly pickpocketing of foreigners, happens in the city centre at crowded spots such as bus stops, pedestrian crossings and markets. Avoid getting drawn into arguments, especially with people who have been drinking.
Before you rely on this
This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 4 January 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Mongolia before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.
Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 4 January 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.