Straight answers to the questions travellers actually worry about.
Ger camps usually provide shared toilet and shower blocks with hot water at set hours. Between camps, expect pit toilets or nothing at all — carry tissue, hand sanitiser and a small trowel, and keep waste at least 50m from water sources.
Mobile coverage follows the main roads and settlements; the open steppe and much of the Gobi have none. Download offline maps and your emergency contacts before leaving Ulaanbaatar, tell someone your route, and treat your driver as your primary safety system.
Daily swings of 20–30°C are normal, and the Gobi can move 85°C between seasons. Dress in layers you can add and shed through the day, and always pack a warm layer for the night — even in July.
Accept offered food or drink with your right hand, step over the threshold rather than on it, and avoid pointing your feet at the hearth. Ask before photographing people or animals — hospitality is genuine, and courtesy is repaid in kind.
