I’ve seen a night sky so clear that I didn’t think you could ever see so many stars, a land so serene in isolation and a culture so welcoming that I hope it never, ever becomes ruined by tourist traps or the greedy grips of mass capitalism (currently contained to Ulaanbaatar).

One of the most interesting parts about traveling Mongolia is the fact that the people living there are nomadic and the land is all Crown owned! Locals (and travellers) can spend the night, or live, wherever they want, for free. The country of Mongolia is basically one big campground.

Heck, since I’m sharing, here is what my hotel room looked like. I was hosted by the J Hotel, a very clean, new-ish hotel found a short cab ride away from Ulaanbaatar’s sites.

Mongolia is an incredibly beautiful country; it’s no wonder it’s on many people’s bucket list of travel destinations. And now that you’re making plans to travel there, you’re probably wondering if it’s better to self-organize or go with a tour company.