What3Words | Navigating with the Nomads

What3words?  I hear you ask; and if I don’t, I’ve just informed you about the perfect phone app for travel!

We at Absolute Nomads don’t usually do product reviews, but after living in Mongolia, we’ve discovered a great app, not only for travel in this remote and rugged country but also for further adventures. 

If you’ve ever been on tour and your tour leader informs you to meet at a specific gate, metro exit, telegraph post, pond or other obscure landmark and you get a little confused, then the app What3Words could be for you.

What3Words History

This What3words app is the brainchild of Chris Sheldrick, Jack Waley-Cohen, Mohan Ganesalingam, and Michael Dent. It first launched in July 2013.

Sheldrick and Ganesalingam initially conceived the idea of the app after Sheldrick struggled to get equipment and bands to musical events due to poor directions and incomplete addresses. 

After a series of attempts at promoting the app, the What3Words app eventually broke through to the mainstream. 

It’s since been added to Satnav systems in Mercedes-Benz, Ford, and other vehicles. It’s also been incorporated in other mapping apps and used to help other businesses.

How Does What3Words Work?

So basically, the What3Words app has divided the whole world into 57 trillion 3x3m squares. 

More than that, each one of these squares has been allocated its own unique three words. So you can use the app to pinpoint your location and the three-by-three metre patch of ground where you are standing will have its own unique three-word address. 

The words used are not replicated and even checked to make sure that no offensive language is used. The app is available in 47 other languages. 

If we used the words ///entry.existence.almost this not only takes you to the heart of Ulaanbaatar but also to the entrance of a tremendous independent coffee shop (Millies Espresso) perfect for meeting up with the tour and grabbing a perfect cappuccino. (Download the app and try it out!)

Why is What3Words Relevant?

For tourism or those travelling, it’s an excellent tool as tour leaders and guides can quickly give a three-word location without much confusion. Whereas other apps may use a pin system or grid reference, What3Words certainly seems more user-friendly. 

What3Words is excellent for Mongolia and was even adopted by the postal service way back in 2016; the reason for this is two-fold:

Out in the countryside, many people live in Gers/Tents with no address, and they can regularly up and move to a new location. There are no streets or numbered dwellings, and out on the steppe, there can be a severe lack of landmarks. What3Words can very quickly pinpoint a location. 

Secondly, even in Mongolia’s capital Ulaanbaatar, many streets still do not have names and do not always have house numbers that run in order; furthermore, most locals won’t even know many street names tend to use landmarks to direct people. 

Great for meeting people but not so great if you’re a tourist trying to locate a recommended restaurant or a small souvenir shop!