Why most travelers overpay—and the booking tricks that cut your costs in half

Traveling to Mongolia is one of the most transformative journeys you can take—vast steppe, endless sky, nomadic hospitality, and landscapes that look untouched for centuries. But there’s one thing that shocks most travelers long before they arrive in Ulaanbaatar:

The flights are expensive.

Like, really expensive.

A typical round trip from the U.S. to Ulaanbaatar (ULN) often sits between $1,600–$2,300. Even during sales, prices rarely look “cheap.” That’s because Mongolia is served by just a handful of carriers and very few direct international routes. So U.S. travelers usually funnel through a major Asian or Eurasian hub—and that’s where the real opportunity lies.

If you stop thinking in terms of “U.S. → Mongolia round trip” and instead start piecing together flights the way airlines actually price them, you unlock dramatically cheaper itineraries without sacrificing comfort. The two strategies that consistently deliver the biggest savings are:

1) Nested round trips through natural connection hubs

2) Combining one-way tickets with award (points) flights.

Below is a simple, user-friendly breakdown of how each trick works—and how travelers regularly save $400–$900 using them.

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Hack #1: Nested Round Trips

via Seoul

Why it works:

Seoul → Ulaanbaatar is one of the busiest international routes to Mongolia. Because the Seoul–ULN segment is short-haul, it’s often much cheaper to book it separately.

How to do it:

Book Round Trip A.

U.S. → Seoul → U.S.

Then book Round Trip B.

Seoul → Ulaanbaatar → Seoul

You can even line up the dates and spend a few days enjoying Seoul’s food, cafes, and street markets.

Typical pricing:

U.S. → Seoul round trip: $650–$900 during deals Seoul → Ulaanbaatar round trip: $180–$350 on MIAT or Korean Air

Total: As low as $830–$1,250 vs. $1,800+ on a standard U.S. → ULN round trip.

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via Beijing

Why it works:

Beijing → Ulaanbaatar is a short hop with multiple daily flights.

How to do it:

Book Round Trip A:

U.S. → Beijing → U.S.

Book Round Trip B:

Beijing → Ulaanbaatar → Beijing

Align the dates to enjoy a layover or a multi-day stop to explore Beijing, the Great Wall, or hutong neighborhoods.

Typical pricing:

U.S. → Beijing round trip: $600–$950 during sales Beijing → Ulaanbaatar round trip: $180–$280

Total: Often $780–$1,200.

Bonus: Beijing has some of the best business-class sales in Asia—nested business-class trips can be surprisingly affordable.

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via Istanbul

Why it works:

Turkish Airlines offers aggressive pricing to Istanbul from many U.S. cities—and consistently low fares from Istanbul to Central and East Asia. Istanbul → Ulaanbaatar is a longer route, but will often run discounted fares. I once got a one way ticket through Turkish Airlines for 500 USD from DC to Ulaanbataar.

How to do it:

Book Round Trip A:

U.S. → Istanbul → U.S.

Then book Round Trip B:

Istanbul → Ulaanbaatar → Istanbul

Enjoy 1–4 days exploring historic Istanbul.

Alternatively, search for a one way fare through Istanbul and possibly combine with a one way fare using another one of the combinations above.

Typical pricing:

U.S. → Istanbul round trip: $550–$900 on sale Istanbul → Ulaanbaatar: $350–$500

Total: Around $900–$1,400.

This route often includes the best food and the nicest airport lounges of any Mongolia-bound itinerary.

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Hack #2: Combine One-Ways + Points for Huge Savings

Why it works:

U.S. → Asia long-hauls are some of the best value redemptions in the points world. Many times, you can get your long-haul flight to Asia on points and then buy a cheap cash ticket for the final hop to Mongolia.

How to do it:

Book One-Way on Points:

U.S. → Seoul, Tokyo, or Beijing

Then book a cheap one-way cash ticket: that hub → Ulaanbaatar

Repeat in reverse, or use points again for the return.

If you don’t have a travel reward point credit card, get one today! We use Capitol One Venture X.

Cash add-on:

Seoul → Ulaanbaatar: from $90–$190 one-way with MIAT or Asiana

Beijing → Ulaanbaatar: $80–$150 one-way

Total savings: Often $300–$700, especially during peak season.

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Travel to Mongolia doesn’t have to break the bank!

The key is to stop searching round-trip flights from the U.S. directly into Ulaanbaatar. Aim for a major Asian/Eurasian hub first, then tack on Mongolia in a second booking. With a little flexibility, you’ll reliably find a total fare between $750 and $1,300—far lower than the sticker shock most travelers assume is unavoidable.

Expedition Ahimsa is here to help you find your best deals to Mongolia!