Looking for some sound advice. We are interested in travelling to Mongolia next summer. We'd be travelling with 4 children 3-13yrs and 1 nanny. We are wanting to know how safe it is? Incident of robbery/kidnapping / personal safety, road safety etc. Perhaps during the annual summer festival(horserace/wrestling etc). I know the facilities would be limited, however, what could we fit in, if we were in the Ulaanbaatar area only? Are there overnight stays in Yurts with a 'local' nomadic family, perhaps horseback riding for the eldest who is an ok rider, etc. Thankyou for your help.

Mongolia is totally safe, but as a destination for a family with four small kids and a nanny, I would NOT recommend it. Outside UB, the service levels and facilities are so limited as to be essentially nonexistent. For example, on my three-week road trip there a few years ago, we did not see a shower for our first five days on the road, and we did not see toilets or even outhouses for most of the trip. We brought all of our food and water with us and cooked it ourselves, because there are really no restaurants at all in the countryside. Outside the immediate area of UB and the other towns, there are no roads, and driving is often unbearably slow and bumpy.

Of course, it depends on how your children have been brought up and what they (and you) are prepared to deal with. But you should think very hard and be honest with yourself as far as what the family will enjoy, and what could end up being an extremely unpleasant vacation.

Mongolia is a very safe country.
If you just plan to travel around UB there will be no problem in finding accommodation and all the facilities.
For example you can stay in UB during Nadam Festival (July 11- July 13) and after this you can just go to Terelj is only 70 Km far from UB and you have all the facilities there, you can ride horses, hike around, sleep in Yurt…..

I just returned this week from Mongolia and it was a fabulous, once-in-a lifetime trip but I would NOT advise taking children under any circumstances. Facilities are primitive and difficult for children unless they are proficient using boards over a trench. Cleanliness is difficult to maintain. Vehicle traffic is extremely dangerous - there are no pedestrian protections crossing streets and accidents are frequent. Getting anywhere requires long tedious and uncomfortable car trips. Medical treatment (serious injuries, appendicitis, gastric problems, etc.) should be undertaken in Russia or China - not in Mongolia - & emergency access is difficult and costly. Mongolians are hospitable, warm and loving people, and they treat their children well, but this is not a trip that young children would enjoy. Nadaam (the festival) in UB is in a large stadium - too remote - it is much better to participate in small towns but that requires in-country airplane trips &/or interminable road trips over bone-wrenching, non-existent roads. By all means go to Mongolia - you'll be glad you went while it is so raw and wonderful, but don't take your children. Give them a cultural experience with more for them to experience geared to their own interest levels.