Mongolia is the world’s second-largest landlocked country, with variety of terrains so incredibly vast you’d think you were crossing borders!

The countries of Central Asia are truly some of the most underrated places on Earth, and Mongolia is a perfect example! Prior to landing at Chingis Khan Airport just outside the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, the view from the plane’s window revealed a surreal, almost eerie landscape of endless grassy plains with not a single tree in sight! At that moment, I knew the terrains of Mongolia were going to be unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.

Rocky Plains

Indeed, as one of the largest landlocked countries in the world, second only to Kazakhstan, Mongolia’s landscapes are incredibly vast. When driving on the open roads, you will see endless fields of grass with occasional rocky terrains that lead into the surrounding mountains. As such, what you end up seeing is a lot of sights that resemble Stonehenge, that is, large rocks piled up in the middle of nowhere!

Vast Green Hilltops

Incredibly, Mongolia’s terrains are not limited to treeless grass plains and random occurrences of rocks. In fact, some areas are so abundant in trees and thick green hilltops that the entire vibe suddenly feels like something out of Europe, such as Switzerland or Austria. In particular, Mongolia has many native pine trees that can often be seen in its northern regions, offering a totally new look that has you questioning whether you’ve left the country!

Shrubs & Cacti

If the vast green hilltops make you feel like you’re in Europe, then these shrub and cactus terrains will have you feel like you’ve entered Texas! This is the point where Mongolia’s green landscapes slowly transition to desert terrain, from the sandy-colored rocks to the thick shrubs, the visuals drastically change once again. It’s quite captivating to see the patterned rock formations and the beautiful interplay between the hard beige rocks and the soft green bushes.

Deserts & Sand Dunes

As you continue to head south of Mongolia, the green fields start to make way for the enchanting sand dunes of the desert terrains to take over. Located near the border of southern Mongolia and northern China is the famous Gobi Desert, a massive region stretching over 1.3 million square kilometers across these two countries. It truly is one of the natural wonders of Central Asia, featuring breathtaking combinations of sand dunes, grassy plains, and snowy mountain backdrops.

Endless Exploration!

If there’s any takeaway to be gained from this article, it’s that Mongolia’s incredibly vast spectrum of terrains and natural landscapes is reason enough to visit! I haven’t even touched on how amazing the food, people, and architecture are, because it’s impossible to cover all that this country has to offer in a single article. Mongolia is a land that deserves dedicated exploration and appreciation for its natural beauty, and I would strongly recommend visiting for anyone with an adventurous spirit and a love for nature!