Be Prepared

Packing Lists & Preparation

Detailed gear recommendations for each type of expedition. We provide cold-weather equipment on winter trips.

These items are essential for all Mongolia expeditions regardless of season or destination.

Documents & Money

  • ☐ Passport (valid 6+ months beyond travel dates)
  • ☐ Mongolia visa (if required — see visa section)
  • ☐ Travel insurance documents (printed copy)
  • ☐ Vaccination certificate (if applicable)
  • ☐ Credit cards (Visa/Mastercard work in UB)
  • ☐ US dollars cash ($300-500 for tips, souvenirs)
  • ☐ Copies of all documents (digital and paper)
  • ☐ Emergency contact list

Clothing Basics

  • ☐ Layering base layers (merino wool recommended)
  • ☐ Mid-layer fleece or down jacket
  • ☐ Waterproof/windproof outer shell
  • ☐ Hiking pants (convertible useful)
  • ☐ Casual clothes for Ulaanbaatar
  • ☐ Comfortable walking shoes
  • ☐ Hiking boots (broken in!)
  • ☐ Sandals/camp shoes
  • ☐ Sun hat with brim
  • ☐ Warm hat/beanie
  • ☐ Gloves (liner + warmer pair)
  • ☐ Buff/neck gaiter
  • ☐ Sunglasses (UV protection essential)

Toiletries & Health

  • ☐ Prescription medications (full supply + extra)
  • ☐ Basic first aid kit
  • ☐ Sunscreen SPF 50+
  • ☐ Lip balm with SPF
  • ☐ Insect repellent (DEET for taiga)
  • ☐ Hand sanitizer
  • ☐ Wet wipes (showers are rare in field)
  • ☐ Toilet paper (small pack)
  • ☐ Motion sickness medication
  • ☐ Rehydration salts
  • ☐ Blister kit
  • ☐ Personal hygiene items

Electronics

  • ☐ Camera and lenses
  • ☐ Binoculars (8x42 or 10x42)
  • ☐ Phone + charger
  • ☐ Power bank (high capacity)
  • ☐ Headlamp + extra batteries
  • ☐ Universal power adapter (Type C/E/F)
  • ☐ Memory cards
  • ☐ E-reader or book

Field Essentials

  • ☐ Daypack (25-35L)
  • ☐ Water bottle (1L+ capacity)
  • ☐ Stuff sacks/dry bags
  • ☐ Notebook and pen
  • ☐ Ziplock bags (various sizes)
  • ☐ Small flashlight
  • ☐ Earplugs (ger camps can be noisy)
  • ☐ Sleep mask
  • ☐ Snacks from home

Optional but Useful

  • ☐ Trekking poles
  • ☐ Gaiters
  • ☐ Sit pad/cushion
  • ☐ Thermos for hot drinks
  • ☐ Playing cards/games
  • ☐ Small gifts for families (photos, candy)
  • ☐ Field guides (birds, mammals)
  • ☐ Journal

Snow Leopard Expedition (December–February): Temperatures can drop to -30°C (-22°F). We provide expedition-grade down jackets, insulated boots, and sleeping bags — but you need quality base and mid layers.

Provided by Conservation Mongolia

  • ✓ Expedition down parka (-40°C rated)
  • ✓ Insulated expedition boots
  • ✓ Expedition sleeping bag (-30°C)
  • ✓ Sleeping pad
  • ✓ Expedition mittens
  • ✓ Balaclava
  • ✓ Hand/toe warmers

Essential — You Bring

  • ☐ Merino base layers (2-3 sets, top + bottom)
  • ☐ Heavyweight fleece or down mid-layer
  • ☐ Down pants or insulated trousers
  • ☐ Wool hiking socks (4-5 pairs)
  • ☐ Liner socks
  • ☐ Liner gloves (for camera operation)
  • ☐ Warm hat that covers ears
  • ☐ Neck gaiter/balaclava (backup)
  • ☐ Glacier glasses (Category 4)
  • ☐ Ski goggles (for blowing snow)

Cold Weather Tips

  • Layer system is critical — you'll adjust constantly
  • Cotton kills — avoid all cotton items
  • Keep batteries inside jacket (cold drains them)
  • Bring camera rain cover (for condensation when entering warm spaces)
  • Moisturizer/lip balm essential (air is extremely dry)
  • Altitude: Base camp is ~2,500m; be aware of symptoms

Gobi Expeditions (Gobi Bear, Wild Camel, Saiga): Extreme temperature swings — hot days (30°C+), cold nights (can drop below freezing even in summer). Dust is pervasive. Sun protection critical.

Desert Essentials

  • ☐ Lightweight, breathable long-sleeve shirts
  • ☐ Lightweight pants (zip-off useful)
  • ☐ Warm jacket for evenings
  • ☐ Wide-brimmed sun hat
  • ☐ Buff/bandana (for dust)
  • ☐ Quality sunglasses with side shields
  • ☐ Sturdy closed-toe shoes (not sandals)
  • ☐ Gaiters (for sand)

Sun & Dust Protection

  • ☐ SPF 50+ sunscreen (bring plenty)
  • ☐ Lip balm with SPF
  • ☐ Moisturizer (air is very dry)
  • ☐ Eye drops
  • ☐ Camera dust covers/rain sleeves
  • ☐ Lens cleaning kit
  • ☐ Ziplock bags for electronics

Desert Tips

  • Colors: Khaki, olive, brown blend into landscape
  • Stay hydrated — drink before you feel thirsty
  • Spring expeditions can have surprise snowstorms
  • Autumn (Sept-Oct) has best conditions
  • Shake out boots before putting on (scorpions)
  • Dust will get everywhere — accept it

Tsaatan/Reindeer Expedition: Involves horseback travel through forests and river crossings. Bug season (June-August) can be intense. Waterproof layers essential.

Horseback Essentials

  • ☐ Riding boots or sturdy hiking boots with heel
  • ☐ Comfortable pants for riding (no inner seams)
  • ☐ Rain pants (waterproof)
  • ☐ Rain jacket with hood
  • ☐ Gloves for reins
  • ☐ Small daypack (rides on horse with you)

Bug Protection (Summer)

  • ☐ DEET-based repellent (30%+)
  • ☐ Permethrin spray for clothing
  • ☐ Head net
  • ☐ Long sleeves and pants
  • ☐ Light gloves
  • ☐ Antihistamines (for bites)
  • ☐ Hydrocortisone cream

Taiga Tips

  • Tick checks daily (TBE vaccine recommended)
  • River crossings — waterproof everything important
  • 4-6 hours on horseback daily — prepare your body
  • Lightweight packable items preferred (horse weight limits)
  • Bring small gifts for Tsaatan families
  • Respect shamanic traditions — ask before photographing

Photography-Focused Expeditions: Detailed gear recommendations for capturing Mongolia's wildlife. The Pallas's Cat expedition includes a professional photography mentor.

Camera Bodies

  • ☐ Primary body with good high-ISO performance
  • ☐ Backup body (highly recommended)
  • ☐ Extra batteries (6-10 for winter)
  • ☐ Battery charger + international adapter
  • ☐ Camera manual

Lenses

  • ☐ Super-telephoto: 500mm+ (essential for snow leopard, Pallas's cat)
  • ☐ Telephoto zoom: 100-400mm or 200-600mm
  • ☐ Standard zoom: 24-70mm or 24-105mm
  • ☐ Wide angle: 16-35mm (landscapes, gers, night sky)
  • ☐ Teleconverters (1.4x, 2x) — optional

Support & Accessories

  • ☐ Sturdy tripod (carbon fiber for weight/cold)
  • ☐ Gimbal or ball head
  • ☐ Bean bag (provided on some trips)
  • ☐ Remote shutter release
  • ☐ Memory cards (calculate 50-100GB/day for serious shooting)
  • ☐ Card reader
  • ☐ Laptop or portable drive for backup

Protection & Maintenance

  • ☐ Rain covers for camera/lens
  • ☐ Dust blower
  • ☐ Lens cleaning kit
  • ☐ Microfiber cloths (several)
  • ☐ Ziplock bags (humidity control)
  • ☐ Silica gel packets
  • ☐ Lens/body caps
  • ☐ Padded camera bag/insert

Cold Weather Photography

  • Keep batteries inside jacket until needed
  • Let camera acclimate when entering warm spaces (condensation)
  • Fingerless gloves or thin liners for controls
  • LCD screens can lag in extreme cold
  • Metal tripod legs need foam grips in winter
  • Bring camera rain cover for condensation protection

Rental Options

  • We can arrange lens rentals in Ulaanbaatar (limited selection)
  • Better to rent before travel from home country
  • Ensure rental insurance covers Mongolia
  • Test rental gear before departure