>>1043395Went riding across the country without a guide, albeit with people who knew how to properly take care of horses. If that's your thing, buy a saddle before you depart (Mongolian saddles are made out of wood, rest is Chinese garbage), go to Mongolia, buy 1.5 horses per person, which you'll swap regularily between riding and supplies, and ride into the wilderness.
Be careful about horse thieves near Ulanbataar, they're not violent or anything, but they'll get them while you sleep and you won't hear anything. Have everyone with you cycle to stand guard at night until you're some 100km away. Guides can steal your horses too.
Mongolians are in general very welcoming people, it's part of their traditions. They know how rough life can be, they know if you're without a horse you're as good as dead, which is also why no one will steal your horses further than 2 days walk from the capital because they're actually not that bad and somehow care about you. They'll help you as much as you can, but try not to be too much of a burden either. Learn about their traditions too, otherwise you'll very likely fuck up, like throwing something other than wood in the fire.
Plenty companies have established gold mining operations, and areas are often restricted. They shoot first and ask questions later, so on't get anywhere close to anything industrial. Nearby streams may be polluted too, no filtering nor pills will remove chemicals from it, so don't bother.
Most of it is entirely empty obviously. In case of a problem, don't count on any help aside from locals, because authorities rarely bother driving for a week and back. Meaning, most of the country is lawless. But then, country is very calm in general, not much problems in it, at least none that concern you.
I hope you really like the wilderness and beautiful but empty vistas. It's very relaxing, but sometimes, it can become oppressive, lonely and even dreadful.
