Mongolia in brief
Geography: Mongolia is a landlocked country in Central Asia, strategically located between China and Russia. The landscape includes one of Asia's largest freshwater lake Khuvsgul, many salt lakes, marshes, sand dunes, rolling grasslands, alpine forests, and permanent mountain glaciers.
Time zone: GMT + 8
Altitude: Khuitenii Orgil in extreme western Mongolia is the highest point (4,374 meters). The lowest is 560 meters, an otherwise undistinguished spot in the eastern Mongolian plain. The country has an average elevation of 1,580 meters
Natural resources: petroleum, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, flourspar and gold.
Total land: 1.565 million km²
Land boundaries: With China 4,677 km and with Russia 3,543 km .
Climate: Mongolia is a remarkably sunny country that enjoys in average 280 sunny days in year. While the country re-known for its cold winter (it can be as cold as -30"C), Mongolian summer is very warm with an average temperature +20"C. Because of its continental location and high altitude, temperatures can vary, especially in the Gobi desert and mountains. It is advised that you bring a warm sweater and a raincoat along with a sun glasses and hat.
Population: The population of Mongolia is at present 2.7 mil. people.
Language: Mongolian and Kazakh. English is widely spoken in Ulaanbaatar.
Religion: Tibetan Buddhism, Shamanism, Christian and Muslim.
Nature: Overall, the nature and environment of Mongolia are still in a good state of preservation; primarily due to late urbanization, nomadic lifestyle traditionally sparing its resources to survive, and very respectful spirituality and harmony with the forces of Nature.
Culture: Mongolian Culture has been heavily influenced by the Mongol nomadic way of life. Other important influences are from Tibet and Tibetan Buddism, and from China. In the 20th century, Russian and, via Russia, European culture have had a strong effect on Mongolia.
Mongolian National Currency: Tugrug There is no limit on foreign currency, traveler's checks, etc. brought to Mongolia. Foreign currency must be registered at Mongolian customs. The Banks have a network of branch and exchanging bureau at most hotels.
Electric current: The standard voltage in Mongolia is 220 volts/50 Hz. Sockets require a European two-pin type plug or adaptor.
Capital: Ulaanbaatar city with population of 1000000.
Government is lead by Prime Minister and it consists of 11 Ministries.
Parliament: 76 speakers are elected once in 4 years by public election. (Go to top)
Getting there
The visitors arrive to Mongolia by air, by train and land crossing by local minibus.
BY AIR
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From/to Ulaanbaatar |
Airlines |
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| Country |
City |
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1 |
Russia |
Moscow |
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Ulan-Ude |
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Irkutsk |
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2 |
China |
Beijing |
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| Hong Kong |
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| Hailar |
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| Huh Hot |
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3 |
Germany |
Berlin |
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| 4 | Korea | Seoul |
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5 |
Japan |
Osaka Tokyo |
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BY TRAIN
All freight and passenger trains from Russia and China arrive in Mongolia. Trans Mongolian Railway operates 1,110 kilometers of "Trans-Mongolian Main Line" (inside Mongolia ). Total distance by rail from Beijing to St Petersburg is 7,925 km. The journey from Ulaanbaatar to Moscow by train takes about 5 days and from Ulaanbaatar to Beijing takes about 32hours. Each train has choice between 1st class (2 berth compartment) and second class (4 berth compartments).
| Railway |
Start/End destination |
Departure day |
|
|
MNG Mongolian railway |
Moscow to Beijing | Monday | |
| Ulaanbaatar to Moscow |
Friday |
||
| Moscow to Ulaanbaatar |
Monday | ||
| Erliane to Ulaanbaatar |
Monday, Friday |
||
| Ulaanbaatar to Erliane |
Thursday, Sunday | ||
| Ulaanbaatar to Erliane | Thursday, Sunday | ||
| Beijing to Ulaanbaatar |
Sunday | ||
| Ulaanbaatar to Beijing |
Saturday |
||
| Huh Hot to Ulaanbaatar |
Tuesday | ||
| Ulaanbaatar to Huh Hot |
Saturday | ||
| Ulaanbaatar to Irkutsk |
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday | ||
| Irkutsk to Ulaanbaatar |
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday | ||
|
CHN China railway |
Beijing to Moscow |
Friday | |
| Moscow to Beijing |
Monday | ||
| Beijing to Ulaanbaatar |
Tuesday | ||
| Ulaanbaatar to Beijing |
Thursday | ||
| Ulaanbaatar to Huh Hot | Tuesday | ||
|
RUS Russian railways |
Ulaanbaatar to Moscow | Tuesday |
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| Moscow to Ulaanbaatar | Sunday |
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| Ulaanbaatar to Irkutsk | 3 days of the week |
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| Irkutsk to Ulaanbaatar | 3 days of the week |
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Entry requirements:
Passports and Visas are required by all. No vaccination certificates are required.
Visas may be obtained at the following Embassies and Consulates: Beijing,Hong Kong, Bangkok, London, Washington, Moscow, Bonn, Berlin, Paris, Brussels,Tokyo, Delhi, Seoul, Hanoi. An invitation must be issued by a travel agent, company or a Mongolian citizen via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ulaanbaatar.
Customs Imports:
Tobacco: 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 250 grams of tobacco
Alcohol: 1 litre vodka, 2 litres of wine, and 3 litres of beer
Goods: Valued USD 1000
Exports: Prohibited items: Guns, weapons and ammunition without special permission; explosive items; radioactive substances; narcotics; pornographic publications; any publications, records, films and drawings critical of Mongolia; palaeontological and archaeological findings without special permission; collections of various plants and their seeds; birds and wild or domestic animals; wool, raw skins, hides and furs without permission from the appropriate authorities.
Note: Every tourist must fill in a customs declaration, which should be retained until departure. This allows for the free import and re-export of articles intended for personal use for the duration of stay. Visitors intending to export antiques and fossils must have official permission. Some shops will supply the necessary documents upon purchase; otherwise, permission should be obtained from the Ministry of Enlightenment. Goods to the value of $20,000 are allowed to be exported from Mongolia. (Go to top)
Tips
When to go?
Mongolia has an extreme continental climate. Tourism season is from May to October. Visiting out of season is not a problem but should be considered with regard to extreme temperatures.
It is said that Mongolia can experience four seasons in a single day. This seems especially true in spring. One minute you’re walking around in a T-shirt, the next you need an overcoat and boots, then it’s back to T-shirts.
The four seasons are very distinct – winter lasts from November to February, spring from March to mid-May, summer from mid-May until late August, and autumn is during September and October.
June weather is fine and generally dry throughout the central and southern regions.
July is the time to see the Naadam Festival.
August can see more rain in the northern and central areas.
September is another fine month.
October is cool and sees the occasional snow flurry up north but is still fine for travel, especially in the Gobi.
What to take?
We suggest that you pack as lightly as possible as you are expected to carry your own luggage. Suitcases are not recommended for adventure trips! You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water, cameras and other electronics like ipods and mobile phones. (Go to top)
Check your items
We advise our travelers to bring the following items:
Passport (with photocopies)
Travel insurance (with photocopies)
Airline tickets (with photocopies)
USD cash and travellers cheques
Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)
Day pack for daily personal items
Wet wipes / Moist towelettes
Hand sanitizing lotion
Alarm clock
Flashlight
Sun hat, Sun block, Sunglasses
Moisturizer, Lip balm
Insect Repellent
Water bottle, Plastic mug, Cutlery
Tampons - hard to get in rural areas
Sleep sheet
Ear plugs for light sleepers
Small towel and swim wear
Toiletries (biodegradable)
Sturdy walking shoes/Sport sandals
Neck pillow for long hours driving in the steppe
Money belt
Shorts for summer months (June – September)
Long trousers
Hiking pants/track pants
Shirts/T-shirts
Umbrella or waterproof jacket.
Camera and film
Reading/writing material, cassettes or other entertainment for long travel days.
Binoculars
Pocketknife
First-aid kit
Small gifts
It is important to have gifts on hand for the people. As a visitor, you will feel a great hospitality of the people. It is the traditional way to thank nomads by offering small gifts like toothbrushes, stickers, postcards, children’s books, souvenir pins. Protein bars, chocolate, dried fruits, candies and snack foods. (Go to top)
Health
You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. Please be aware that sometimes we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. When selecting your trip please carefully read the itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel.
Ulaanbaatar, the capital, has the majority of medical facilities inside the country; outside of Ulaanbaatar, medical facilities and treatment are extremely limited or non-existent.
Mongolian food is healthy and clean. Mongolia may be one of very few places on earth where you can confidently drink water from rivers and lakes without particular precautions. (Go to top)
Safety and Security
We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. When travelling on a group trip, please note that your group leader or your guide has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your guide will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your guide will assist you with options available in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them.
Swimming, including snorkeling, is always at your own risk.
We take all prudent measures in relation to your safety. For ways to further enhance your personal safety while traveling.
(Go to top)
Money exchange
The Mongolian unit of currency is the t?gr?g (T), which comes in notes of T5, T10, T20, T50, T100, T500, T1000, T5000, T10, 000 and T20, 000. When paying out large sums of money (to hotels, tour operators and sometimes airlines) its fine to use either US dollars or t?gr?gs. Other forms of currency aren’t usually accepted, although the euro is probably second best. Cash offers the best exchange rates and you won’t be paying any commission charge, but for security purposes you can also use debit cards (travellers cheques are going the way of the dinosaur). ATMs accept Visa and MasterCard and work most of the time, allowing you to withdraw up to T400, 000 per day. (Go to top)
Communication
Generally internet is available at all hotels in Ulaanbaatar so that you can send e-mails and faxes to all destinations of the world. You can take your mobile with GSM system to Mongolia to send sms to home to Europia, Asia and America.
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Travel conditions
Transportation: Types of vehicles we employ on trips outside of Ulaanbaatar include Toyota Land Cruiser 80, Mitsubishi Delica and Russian military 4x4 van.
Road: Mongolia is underdeveloped in terms of infrastructure and roads outside Ulaanbaatar are unpaved and often bumpy and dusty. For your own enjoyment, we recommend that you make a special effort to be in good physical condition.
Accommodation: We use a variety of accommodation including hotels, tourist camps, tented camping and guest ger.
Ger camp
Ger camps are the simple two-person yurt style accommodations, equipped with beds, sheets and blankets, and small stoves for heat.
Flush toilet and shower facilities are separate from the gers and shared by all participants.
Meals will be served in central dining areas, and bottled water will be provided in the gers.
Low impact guest ger
In some tour, we have established sustainable, nomad-run guest ger accommodations on the Mongolian grasslands next to the nomadic family that target the glorious silence and an ideal way to explore nomadic lifestyle.
Camping
On outdoor activities we provide spacious two-person tents, sleeping pads, blankets to ensure your evenings are comfortable and restful and there is a shared shower tent at camp. Sturdy camp chairs are often available for those fireside chats and our staffs prepare delicious meals in our portable kitchens using the camping stoves and gas lanterns. All you need to bring is a warm sleeping bag.
- Tents
- Camping shower
- Table and chairs
- Kitchen tent
Meal
During your stay in Mongolia, you are served with Western style cooking with some samples of Mongolian and bottled 1.5l water will be provided for each day, though lunch can be packed up if you’re planning an excursion. Breakfasts are also pretty Western: bread, cookies, flakes, muesli, sausages, jams and spreads etc.
PLEASE NOTE: Please advise us of any food allergies or special dietary needs you may have while booking the tour. All of the food shopping is done prior to the tour departure.
For horseback riding trip
Saddle and saddle bags along with other necessary equipments are provided for the equestarian track. For the rider's own enjoyment and convenience we choose Russian style saddles rather than Mongolian traditional ones.
- Saddle
- Saddle bags
- Packing bags
- Pack horses (Go to top)
Visa Requirement:
Mongolian visas are issued by Mongolian Diplomatic Missions abroad or upon arrival at a special request. The following materials are required to obtain (Go to top)
Mongolian Visa:
1. Passport with a validity date at least six months beyond the end of the applicants intended period of stay in Mongolia
2. One passport sized photo
3. Application form
4. Sponsor Letter from confident authority, unless otherwise stipulated in bilateral agreements, as follows:
• For official delegation - Either an invitation of the receiving body (state, government, non-governmental organization, business entity) or an official request in written by the sending government or local authorities
• For tourists those staying over 30 days up to 90 days, visa clearance from the Aliens and Naturalization Office of Mongolia
• For private guest - a personal invitation of a Mongolian national, attested by the Aliens and Naturalization Office of Mongolia, and visa applicant's written statement concerning his/her financial credibility to cover his/her stay in Mongolia.
• For transit passengers - onward ticket and visa for next destination country.
• For transit passengers - onward ticket and visa for next destination country.
• For business delegation – invitation letter of Mongolian business entities or letter of request of sending legal entity (this point is not applicable for those states’ national with whom has bilateral visa agreements)
List of countries and regions with non-visa regime for all types of passport holders
• Hong Kong - 14 days for all type of passports. There is no visa fee for diplomatic and official passports. Ordinary passport holders pay visa fee if they travel for more than 14 days.
• Israel - 30 days for all type of passports
• Kazakhstan - 90 days for all type of passports
• Malaysia - 1 month for all type of passports
• Philippines - 21 days for all type of passports
• Singapore - 14 days for all type of passports
List of countries without visa fee
• India - All type of passports need a visa, no visa applications, photos and fees required
• USA - no visa for all type of passport holders, including A, H, J visas within 90 days. Visit more than 90 days need visa, service charge - $45, no visa fee required (Go to top)