Mongolia in Winters is Unlike Anything Else. These Films Will Prove Why.

Traversing freezing landscapes humbles you. There's no space for trivial worries when temperatures drop to -30 degrees Celsius. That may be why some travellers seek out these situations. Moreover, extreme conditions offer a rush, a thrill like no other.

But navigating cold temperatures like those in Mongolia is a different ball game. No central heating, no fancy infrastructure — just the bare essentials. It's back to basics, stripped down to the core.

Yet, amidst one of Mongolia's harshest winters in 2023-24, a bold band of adventurers embarked on an 11-day odyssey. “I think the cold, the extreme weather, and the uniqueness of the adventure… is what brought me here,” Ahmed, one of the travellers on our winter expedition, shares.

This 3-minute film captures their journey through the expansive, snow-laden desert. They navigate every twist and turn of the 2,600+ kilometre cold steppes Mongolia tour.

The quest for adventure, whether it's plunging into the depths with sharks, carving waves on jet skis, or freefalling from the sky, offers a profound sense of fulfilment and euphoria. At Nomadic Road, we chose to conquer Mongolia’s ruthless winter to evoke these emotions.

Snow and Sand, A Paradox

A recent photo from Hokkaido's beach, Japan, where snow, sand, and sea meet, has gone viral. It’s perhaps because the landscape challenges our perceptions of what's normal and what's not.

Similar sensations arise during Mongolia's harsh winter. The Gobi desert, unique among deserts, welcomes snowfall. Its massive dunes may become blanketed in ice, frost, and snow, painting a stunningly surreal picture.

On Nomadic Road's cold steppes expedition, what once seemed impossible becomes reality. It entails navigating many different terrains daily, a standard procedure. "The biggest challenge, aside from the ice, is just crossing from different terrains. We’re in the mud one hour, into the snow the next hour, then in the ice, and then back on the blacktop. It’s all constantly changing," says Phil, yet another traveller on our expedition.

The journey kicks off with simpler drives on tarmac roads and dirt trails. The idea is for you to foster a bond of trust with your 4x4 vehicle. After all, the days and terrains are about to get longer and harder. Besides, in harsh environments like Mongolia's, one must always anticipate mishaps and unexpected challenges.

On day five of our expedition, for instance, things got complicated. The central route demanded navigating mountain passes and snow-covered dirt roads, extending the journey to over 14 hours each way. Nonetheless, we persevered, a testament to our unwavering resolve.

The payoff was worth every challenge. Khuvsgul Lake's icy surface was like stepping into another world. Driving across, the tyres broke through the ice with a crisp sound, a feeling unmatched. Similarly, the journey to Ulgii offers stark contrasts. Frozen salt lakes border vast deserts, while rivers meander nearby. 

To prioritise comfort alone while travelling, is to miss out on otherworldly experiences like these. Those who have witnessed such wonders would call it a tragedy.

Lessons from the Mongols: On Adaptation and Resilience

When you travel, you get to peek into diverse ways of living across the world. For many travellers, this is the best part about leaving home. 

As you journey across the globe, you'll discover communities where daily commutes occur solely by waterways. You'll encounter tribes that communicate through whistles, and nations that prioritise "Gross National Happiness" over Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In Mongolia, nomadic cultures endure to this day; dwelling in gers, hunting with eagles and donning traditional deels. Adaptability defines their way of life. When winter arrives, these nomads relocate to sheltered areas, packing their yurts for the journey. Prior to winter's onset, herders meticulously choose animals for slaughter, often opting for older or weaker ones. They use almost every organ of the slaughtered animals, exemplifying lessons in sustainability.

Mongolia, often hailed as the land of the horse, features prominently in the film. While you may only learn to drive a car at 18, Mongolian children start riding horses as young as three years old. In fact, Mongols have a large vocabulary of horse-related terms and believe that one rides to heaven on a horse.

Travel exposes the shifting values of objects across different cultures. Besides, such experiences are transformative, revealing that life in seemingly "beautiful" locales is multifaceted. It's perilous, arduous, and fraught with danger. 

Yet, wherever there is any form of habitation, unique ways of life flourish. Experiencing this firsthand is nothing short of a privilege.

If You Know What Remoteness Looks Like, Well, Think Again.

The film starts with this line, and it's perfectly fitting.

In Mongolia, the population density is just 6 people per square mile. To give some context, in America, that number jumps to 96 people per square mile. And even then, America isn't considered densely populated.

Given Mongolia's geography, this disparity makes perfect sense. Asia's largest desert dominates much of the southern part of the country. Vast steppes, mountains, and grasslands stretch across the rest. Even a summer visit places you in remote areas where life is sparse for miles. Now, imagine the isolation during freezing winters.

Overlanding in remote lands like these offers a unique thrill. It's like having your own vehicle in a vast, open playground — total freedom encapsulated. In the Mongolian countryside, signages and city lights are nonexistent. Instead, you're greeted by endless, untouched landscapes, drawing you closer to the raw beauty of the Earth and all its wonders. For 11 days, it's as if you're living in a different realm, with your own small tribe and limited resources.

Travellers on our 2024 Winter Mongolia expedition endured one of the country’s harshest winters in history. Undoubtedly, their determination, as well as the collective nature of the group, played a crucial role. That said, their journeys weren’t without obstacles, self-doubt, and mishaps. Take a glimpse into what these daring souls had to say about their experience.