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FromWikitravel
Earth:Asia:EastAsia:Mongolia
Mongolia(http://www.mongoliatourism.gov.mn)isa
landlockedcountrylocatedbetweenChinaandRussia.Itisa
vastemptinessthatlinkslandandsky,andisoneofthelastfew
placesontheplanetwherenomadiclifeisstillalivingtradition.
Mongoliamayhavevariousgeopolitical,culturaland
geographicalmeanings.MongoliaconsistsofhistoricOuter
Mongolia.TheprovinceofInnerMongoliaisgeographically
andpoliticallyseparateandlocatedinnorthernpartofChinayet
itsharescommonborderswithMongolia.

Location

Understand
Withonly1.7peopleperkm,Mongoliahasthelowest
populationdensityamongallindependentcountriesinthe
world,anditisthisvastandmajesticemptinessthatisthe
country'senduringappeal,bringingthetraveller,asitdoes,into
aclosecommunionwithnatureanditsnomadicinhabitants.

Flag

Mongoliaisentirelylandlocked,betweenChinaandRussia.
Forseveralletters,theISO9standardtransliterationofCyrillic
isnotwidelyusedandthereisnoconsensuseitherinMongolia
norinWikitravel.Specially,thesameCyrillicletter""is
transliterated"h"or"kh",theletter""istransliterated"","",
"o"or"u",butLatin"o"isalsothetransliterationoftheCyrillic
"",andLatin"u"isalsothetransliterationofCyrillic""and
""(thelattershouldbetransliterated""accordingtoISO9,
butthisisrarelydone).So,ifyoucan'tfindanameasyouwrote
it,tryotherspellings.Seealso:Mongolianphrasebook

Climate
Mongolia'snicknameisthe"LandofBlueSkies,"andwith
goodreason:therearesaidtobeabout250sunnydays
throughouteachyear,soyouwillneedgoodUVprotection.

QuickFacts
Capital
Government
Currency
Area

Population
Language
Religion

Ulaanbaatar
ParliamentaryDemocracy
Togrog/Tugrik(MNT)
total:1,565,000km
water:9,600km
land:1,555,400km
2,791,272(July2006est.)
KhalkhaMongol90%,
Turkic,Russian(1999)
TibetanBuddhist
(Vajrayana)97.5%,Muslim
(primarilyinthesouthwest),
Shamanism,andChristian
1.5%(2010)

Countrycode +976
InternetTLD .mn
TimeZone
UTC+7to+8

Duringwinter,protectyoureyes,andduringsummer,protect
yourskin.Theweatherisbitterlycoldduringthewinter,
droppingdownto40insomeparts.Withmanytypesof
terrainfromdeserttoverdantmountainstheweatherduringthesummervariesfromregiontoregion,but
isgenerallyhot.OutsideoftheGobidesert,thistimeofyearismarkedwithmanyrainsinsomeareas,and
itcanbecomequitecoolatnight.

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TheidealMongoliatravelseasonstartsinMayandhitsitshighestpeakinJuly,duringtheNaadam
holiday,andinAugustwhentheweatherismostfavourablefortravelling.Thisisthebesttimeifyoulike
thecultureandcanbearthecrowdsofothertourists.Itisnotagoodtimeifyouwanttogetawayfrom
yourbusylifestylebecauseyouwillexperiencetraffic,busyschedules,waitinginlines,etc.
Septemberisalsoaverygoodtimetovisit,andOctoberisnottoolatetotraveltoMongolia.Itisstill
warmduringthedaysbutabitchillyduringthenights.Intheautumn,Mongoliaisnotverycrowded,and
thisistimeforlatecomersandlastminute,unplannedtrips.Youwillgettosightsee,enjoytheculture,and
tastemare'smilk,abitterandatfirstsomewhatunpleasantdrink,throughoutthecountry.
Forvisitorsnotafraidofcoldorfermentedmare'smilk,travellingtoMongoliafromNovembertillthe
LunarNewYearisstillanoption.WintertourismisadevelopingareaoftheMongoliantourismindustry.
Themostrewardingexperiencewillbevisitingthenomads,asthisisthetimewhenyouwillexperience
theirculturefirsthandduring"TsagaanSar"orthetraditional(Lunar)NewYearcelebration.
Travellerswillhavetheopportunitytowatchlotsofculturalactivities:singing,dancing,wrestling,and
winterhorseracing.

History
HistoryofancientMongoliadatesbacktothirdcenturyBCwhentheXiongnucametopoweramong
manyothernomadictribes.
Duetoilliteracyandnomadiclifestyle,littlewasrecordedbyHunsofthemselves.Theyfirstappearin
recordedChinesehistoryas"Barbarians"againstwhomthewallswerebuilt.Thosewallslaterbecame
knownastheGreatWallofChina.
TherehavebeenseveralEmpiresinMongoliaaftertheHunNu.Forexample,theATuregEmpirearound
650AD,withitscapitalapproximately110kmnorthofHarHorin(Kharkhorum).Therewasalsothe
UighurEmpire,withitscapitalHarBulgas(KharBulgasorXarBulgas)nearHarHorin.TheKhitanswho
controlledNorthChinaaround1000ADastheLiaoDynastyhadanadministrativecenter(HarBukh)
120kmtothenortheast.TheGovernmentofTurkeyhasbeenpromotingsomeTurkishEmpiremonuments
andthereisamuseumfullofartifactsattheBilgeKhaansite.
ThestruggleformereexistenceandpoweroverothertribeskeptgoinguntilthetimeofGenghisKhan.
ChinggisKhan,asheisknowninMongolia,cametopowerandunitedthewarringtribesundertheGreat
MongolEmpirein1206.HewasproclaimedGenghisKhan(ChingisHaan),meaningrulerofallMongol
tribes.TheMongolianEmpirewasextendedallthewaytoeasternEuropeunderGenghisKhanandtoall
ofChinaandCentralAsia,amongotherpartsunderhissucessors(includinghisgrandsonKublaiKhan),
eventuallybecomingthelargestcontinuousempireinhistorywiththirtythreemillionsquarekilometers
(aboutthirteenmillionsquaremiles)ofextension.Afteryearsofhegemonyandexerciseofagreat
connectionbetweenEasternandWesterncivilizations,theempiresufferedacollapseandsplitedintofour
kingdoms(orKhanates)throughEurasia,eachofwhichlatelyachievednearlytotalindependence.The
easternmostofthesekingdomswascalledtheYuandinastyandincludedMongolnativelandandmanyof
China.AftertimesofdominanceoverChina,theMongolsweredrivenbacktothesteppesbytheChinese
MingDynastyunderEmperorHongwu.TheywerelaterconqueredbytheManchurianChineseEmperors
KangxiandQianlongoftheQingDynasty.
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AnindependentMongolnationwouldonlyemergeagainin1924butwasnotrecognisedbyChinauntil
1945,astheChinesewereforcedtograntindependencetoOuterMongoliabytheSovietUnion,in
exchangeforSovietassistanceinfightingtheJapaneseinvasion.Thus,thehistoricregionofMongoliawas
splitintotwo,withOuterMongoliabecomingtheindependentnationofMongolia,whileInnerMongolia
remainedaprovinceofChina.Sincethattime,MongoliahashadacloserelationshipwiththeSoviet
Union(andRussiaafterthebreakupoftheSovietUnion).Mongoliaevenreplaceditstraditionalscript
withthecyrillicalphabet.(Thetraditionalscript,however,continuestobeusedbyethnicMongolsin
China).AsInnerMongoliawasthemorepopulatedareabeforethepartition,tothisdaythenumberof
ethnicMongolslivinginChinaoutnumbersthepopulationofMongolia.
TheSecretHistoryoftheMongolsisoneofthegreatrecordingsofMongolianhistory.EveryMongolian
readsthebookinthemodernMongolianlanguage.ThisisoneofthetheoldestbooksintheMongolian
language.TherearevividsimilaritieswiththeBibleinliterarystyle,wordingandstorytelling.Itis
speculatedthattheauthorcouldhavebeenaChristianoratleastwasveryknowledgeableabouttheBible.
AccordingtoHughKemp,Qadag(pp8590,SteppebyStep)isthemostlikelycandidateforauthorshipof
SecretHistoryoftheMongols.HewritesaboutthehistoryofancientMongoliaandconnectsthemodern
realitywiththeancientworld.EventhoughthebookisaboutthehistoryofChristianityinMongolia,it
paintsaviewofancientMongoliafromtheheightof21stcentury.The"HistoryofMongolia"byB.
BaabarisagoodsourcefortheModernHistoryofMongolia.
OnthetrailofMarcoPolocoverssometravelthroughtheMongolEmpireinthetimeofGenghis'
grandson,KublaiKhan.

People
MongoliaismorethantwiceasbigasTexasandnearlythesamesizeasAlaska.Itsareais1.6millionkm
(603,000mi),fourtimesthesizeofJapanandalmostdoublethatofEasternEurope.
ThismakesMongoliathesixthlargestcountryinAsiaand19thintheworld,butthepopulationisonly
2,727,966(asof09November2009),whichmakesMongoliaoneoftheleastdenselypopulatedareasin
Asia.
Ifyouconsiderthat40%ofthepopulationlivesinthecapitalcityofUlanBatororUlaanbaatarthatleaves
lotsofroomforyoutotravelintheoutback.Ofcourse,Gobiisevenlessdenselypopulated.
Almostanother40%ofpopulationarescatteredalloverMongoliawiththeir56millionheadofsheep,
goats,cattle,horsesandcamels.Thereare21provinces,calledaimag.Eachaimaghasacentralcityor
townandabout1522subprovincescalledsoum,soyouwillknowwhichaimagandwhichsoumyouare
in.
70%ofMongoliaisundertheageof35andthegendersareprettywellbalanced.84%areKhalkha
Mongols,6%Kazakhsand10%othergroups.
ThemajorityoftheMongolianpopulation90%followamixtureofTibetanBuddhismandshamanism
whiletheremaining10%followadiverserangeofdifferentfaiths,mainlyIslamandChristianity.

Holidaysandfestivals
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Mongoliaishometothe"threemanlysports":wrestling,horseracing,
andarchery,andthesearethesamethreesportingeventsthattakeplace
everyyearattheNaadamfestival.
NaadamistheNationalHolidayofMongoliacelebratedon1113Jul.
DuringthesedaysallofMongoliawatchesorlistenstothewholeevent
whichtakesplaceinthecapitalcityofUlaanbaatarthroughMongolia's
NationalTelevisionandRadio.ManyothersmallerNaadamfestivalstake
placeindifferentaimags(provinces)aroundthecountrythroughoutthe
monthofJuly,anditisattheseNaadamfestivalsthatyouareabletoget
amuchcloserlookattheaction.

Naadamfestivalcelebrations.

ItisbelievedthatNaadamcelebrationsstartedwiththeriseoftheGreatMongolianEmpireasChinggis
(alsoknownasGenghis)Khan'sstrategytokeephiswarriorsstrictlyfit.Afterthefalloftheempire,the
contestswereheldduringreligiousfestivals,andsincethecommunistrevolutionitwascelebratedonits
anniversary.
Thelegendsaysthatinoldtimesawomandressedlikeamanwonawrestlingcompetitiononce.Thatis
whyopenchestandlongsleevewrestlingcostumes,called"zodog",aremeanttoshowthatevery
participantismale.Wrestlerswearshorttrunks,"shuudag",andMongolianboots,"gutal".Theyellow
stripesonthetailsofwrestlers'hatswillindicatethenumberoftimesthewrestlerbecameachampionin
Naadam.
OnlyNaadamgivesofficialtitlestothewrestlers.Mongolianwrestlingtournamentshave9or10rounds
dependingonthenumberof512or1024wrestlersregisteredforthecompetitionthatyear.Ifthewrestler
wins5rounds,hewillbeawardedthetitle"Nachin"(bird),6roundsHartsaga(hawk),7roundsZaan
(elephant),8roundsGaruda(Eagle),9roundsArslan(lion)and10Avarga(Titan).
In2006,Zaan(Elephant)Sumyabazarwon9roundsthatmadehimGarudabutthatyear1024wrestlers
had10roundswhichhewonall.ThisentitledhimtoAvarga.OrArslan(Lion)mustwin2inarowto
becomeAvarga(Titan).Thetitlesareforlife.IfAvarga(Titan)keepswinningatNaadammoreandmore
attributeswillbeaddedtohistitle.
TherearenoweightcategoriesinMongolianWrestlingtournamentsbutthereisatimelimitof30min,if
thewrestlerscannotoverthroweachother,refereesuselotsforbetterpositionwhichoftensettlesthe
match.Onewhofallsorhisbodytouchesthegroundlosesthematch.
MongolianWrestlingmatchesareattendedbysecondswhoseroleistoassisttheirwrestlersinallmatters
andtoencouragethemtowinbyspankingontheirbuttocks.Theyalsosingpraisesongsandtitlestothe
leadingwrestlersofbothwings,westandeast,after5and7rounds.Therefereesmonitortherulesbutthe
peopleandthefansarethefinaljudges.Theywillspeakandspreadthewordofmouthaboutwhoiswho
tillthenextyear.
TheGoldenEagleFestival(http://discoverbayanolgii.com/goldeneaglefestival/)inlgiionthe
firstweekendofOctoberisthelargestgatheringintheworldofeaglehunters.Theeventtypically
has60to70Kazakheaglehuntersdisplayingtheirskills.Theeventsincludehavingtheirgolden
eaglesflytothemoncommandandcatchingafoxfurbeingpulledbyahorsefromaperchona
nearbymountain.TheeventalsofeaturestraditionalKazakhgameslikeKokpar(tugofwarovera
goatcarcasswhileonhorseback),TiynTeru(atimedracetopickupacoinonthegroundwhileon
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horseback),andKyzKuar("girlchase,"isaracebetweenamanandwomanwherethewoman
whipsthemanwhilehetriestoholdon).ThefestivalalsohasatraditionalKazakhconcert,camel
race,anddisplaysofKazakhart.Asmallereaglefestivalisheldon22Sepinthenearbyvillageof
Sagsai.
NauryzFestivalalsoinlgiiisthetraditionalnewyearscelebrationofKazakhsheldon22March.
Thereisaparade,concert,andhorseracesduringtheseveraldaysofcelebrating.Thoughmostof
thecelebrationinvolvesvisitingfriendsandrelativestoeatNauryzKoje(soup)andboiledmutton
andhorsemeat.

Regions
Thecountrycanbecategorizedintofivedistinctregionsbasedoncultureandgeography.Theseregions
arefurtherdividedinto21provincesandonespecialmunicipality.
CentralMongolia
includesUlaanbaatarand
thepopulartourist
regionofArkhangai
EasternMongolia
Gobi
amostlydesertregionin
southernMongolia
NorthernMongolia
WesternMongolia
homeofLakeUvsNuur
andTavanBogd
Mountains

Cities

Mongoliaregions

UlaanbaatarthecapitalandstartingpointformosttravelinMongolia
ErdenetMongolia'ssecondlargestcityandhometooneoftheworld'sbiggestcopperminesanda
famouscarpetfactory
HovdhistoriccityatthecrossroadsoftraditionalMongolandKazakhculture
MrncapitalofHvsglprovince
lgiiKazakhcityinMongolia'sfarwesterncornerofBayanlgiiprovince
TsetserlegcapitalofArkhangaiprovince
KarakorumancientMongolcapitalestablishedbyGenghisKhan
UliastaicapitalofZavhanprovince
OndorkhaancapitalofKhentiiprovince
DalanzadgadcapitalofSouthGobiprovince

Otherdestinations
AltaiTavanBogdNationalParkhometothehighestmountainsandlargestglacierinMongolia,as
wellasKazakheaglehunters.
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UvsNuurLake,UvsprovinceThelargestlakeinMongoliaandaworldheritagesite.
TheRiverTuulNomad'sSacredValleyTheriverTuulisoneofthelongestriversofthecountry,
flowingfromtheKhentiiMountainRange.Thevalleyoftheriverhasbeencalledsacredfor
centuriesbythenomadsastheytrulyrespectthenatureespeciallytheriversandthesurfacewater.
[[[1](http://www.chinggisgercamp.com/)]]ChinggisTouristBaseCamplocatedontheeasternfringe
oftheGorkhi/TereljNationalParkandliesonthebankof"Tuul"river.
GunGaluutNatureReserveThemostsuitableecotourismdestinationinMongolia.
GorkhiTereljNationalParkAnationalpark70kmeastofUlaanbaatar
XarXorin(Kharkorum)TheCapitaloftheMongolianEmpireafterGhenggisKhan.
KhovsgolLakeAverylargealpinelake.
DarhadValleyHometotheReindeerpeople.
KhustainNuruuNationalParkKhustainNuruuorHustaiNationalparkishometotheTakhiwild
horses(alsoknownasPrzewalski'sHorse).Thesearetruewildhorseswhichhaveneverbeen
domesticated.
GobiGurvanSaikhanNationalPark.KhongorSanddunes,YolCanyon,BayanzagRedFlamming
Cliffs,KhermenTsav,...

Getin
Entryrequirements
Therearefourbordercrossingsopentoforeigners,threeontheRussianborderofwhichthemainoneis
Altanbulag,andonecalledZamynUudnearthesmalltownofErlianontheborderwithChina.
Foreignnationalsofthefollowingcountries/territoriescanenterMongoliavisafree:
Forupto90days:UnitedStates,Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan,GeorgiaandMacauSAR
Forupto30days:Canada,Cuba,Israel,Malaysia,Thailand,Laos,Turkey,Japan,RomaniaandRussia.
From25June2014to31December2015passportholdersof42countriesadditionalcountries(including
theUnitedKingdom,NorwayandBrazil)willbeabletoentervisafreeforupto30days.
Forupto21days:Philippines
Forupto14days:HongKongSAR,Singapore
Forotherforeignnationals,theprocessforobtainingathirtydayvisaortouristvisaisrelatively
painless,requiringavisaapplicationform,asmallfeeatyourlocalMongolianembassyandaninvitation
letterthatisarrangedthroughtourcompanies.Licensedtourcompaniescanissuethisinvitationletter
(http://www.selenatravel.com/22/mongolia_visa)foryou.However,thecitizensofIndonesia,Russia,
ChinaandTaiwanandsomeothercountriesneedstogetanofficialinvitationletterthatisissuedbythe
ConsularDepartmentoftheMinistryofForeignAffairsafterconfirmationbythetourcompanyorfirmor
individualwhoisinvitingyou.Longervisasareavailableitrequiresaninvitationletterfroma
Mongoliancompanyorindividual.
CitizensofcountrieswhereaMongolianEmbassyorHonoraryconsulateofMongoliadoesn'texist,can
applyforaMongolianvisaattheMongolianbordersChinggisKhaanAirport,ZamynUudand
Altanbulag.ItrequiresyourofficialpermissionletterthatisissuedbyImmigrationOfficeinUlaanbaatar
accordingtoyourinvitedpersonorentity'srequest,exactarrivaldateandtime,flightortrainnumber.
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Onceyougotthepermission,youhavetobringthecopyofpermission,passportsizedphotoandvisafee
ofc.US$105perapplicantandthenyoucangetthevisaattheairport.Formostcases,itiseasytoseeka
helpfromlicensedtravelcompanythatcangetpermissionforyoufromImmigrationOfficein
Ulaanbaatar.
Also,itispossibletoacquireanexpeditedvisainamatterofhoursattheMongolianconsulateinErlian,
thoughthereisasteep$50USfeeforthisservice.AsimilarserviceisavailableintheMongolian
consulateintheRussiancityofIrkutskandUlanUde.Indiannationalsarerequiredtoapplyforavisa,
althoughthevisafeeiswaived.
Youwon'tgetmorethan30daysonatouristvisa.InMongoliayoucanextendyourvisaforanother30
daysmaximum.
TheEmbassyofMongoliaintheUKwebsite(http://www.embassyofmongolia.co.uk/)isusefulfor
updates.
TheEmbassyofMongoliainChinawebsite(http://www.mongolembassychina.org/)allowsyoutoprint
offtheapplicationformyouwillneedifyouareapplyingforyourMongolianvisainChina,althoughthe
consulatedoeshavethemtoo.Ifyougoingtostaymorethan30daysyouhavetogetregisteredat
MongoliaImmigration.
AsofSeptember2013,theconsulateinIrkutskdoesnotrequireaninvitationletteranymoreandwillissue
evenoneyearmultipleentryvisaswithoutafuss.

Byplane
Thereareafewplaceswithflightsintothecapital,Ulaanbaatar.NationalaircarrierMIATMongolian
airlinesoperatesdailyflights(duringsomepeakseasontwiceaday)fromBeijingandSeoul,twicea
weekflightsfromHongKong,Berlin,MoscowandTokyo(duringsomepeakseasonfromNarita).
DuringpeaksummerseasonitincreasesflightfrequenciesandoperatesdirectflightsfromBerlin.There
arebranchofficesinBerlin,Moscow,HongKong,Seoul,TokyoandBeijing.NorthAmericanbranch
officeisinDenver,COandcanbereachedviaAirBridge(http://www.airbridgeusa.com)
TherearealmostdailyflightsfromSeoulonKoreanAiraswellasotherflightsthroughBeijing.Itisalso
possibletoflytoUlaanbaatarthroughTokyo'sNaritaAirport.TherearealsodirectflightsfromIstanbul
withTurkishAirlines.Don'tbuyanonrefundableorunchangeableticketifyouaregoingtoMongolia,
becauseflightsdon'talwaysactuallyhappen.YoucanalsoflyinfromBeijing,withMIATMongolian
airlines(http://www.miat.com)beingthecheapest,thenAirChinaafterthat.Youmayfindthecheapestair
tickettoMongoliafromtravelagents.
HunnuAir(http://www.hunnuair.com/en/timetable),aMongolianAirline,offersflightsfromHongKong,
Shanghai,BangkoktoUlaanbaatar.
Onceyouareinthecountryyoucanalsoflytoalltheprovincialcapitals.Planeflightsbetweenthe
capitalsmaybehardtofindthough.Butairtravelagents,guesthouses,andhotelscanhelpyoutoobtain
yourdomesticairticketinMongolia.
Asof24thSeptember2014MIAThasstartedcheap(relatively)flightsfromSingaporetoUlanBatortwice
aweek(WednesdaysandSaturday).
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Bytrain
TheTransMongolianLineofthelegendaryTransSiberianRailwaylinksMongolia'scapitalUlaanbaatar
withMoscowandVladivostok,RussiaandBeijing,China.

FromRussia
TheTransMongoliantraincrossestheRussia/MongoliaborderatthetownofNaushki,Russia.
Thoseinterestedinsavingmoneycanbookonewayelektrichka(regionaltrain)ticketsfromIrkutsk
orUlanUdetoNaushki.InNaushki,onecanspendthenightintherecently(June2009)renovated
trainrestingrooms(komnatiotdiha)forUS$.50perhour.Fromthere,itispossibletotakea
marshrutkatothelandbordercrossingtownofKyakhta,Russia.Walkingacrosstheborderis
prohibited,buttravelershavenoproblemsarrangingforMongoliaboundcarstotakethemacross
theborder,eitherforasmallfeeorforfree.UponcrossingintoMongoliaitisrelativelyeasyto
hitchhike,taxi,orbustoSukhbaatororUB,asallsouthboundtrafficisheadedtowardsthosecities.
FromtheWest,fromRussia,itispossibletocrossatthelandborderinTsagaannuur.Therearedaily
petrolandwheatcarryingRussianKamaztrucksheadedtoOlgiianditispossibletohitchhiketo
TsagaannuurorevenOlgii.Regularbusesandmarshrutkasalsooperatefromtheborder,though
serviceisunpredictableduetothelackofaschedule.
FromChina
TransMongolianRailway

2ndclass(hardsleeper)costsaboutUS$200(Mar2011)fromBeijingtoUlaanbaatar.Theridetakes
almost30hours,butyouaregivenaberthinasleepercar.ThetrainleavestwiceperweekfromBeijing.
Currently,asofMar2011,ticketscannotbepurchasedfromtheBeijingstation.Insteadyouwillbe
directedtotheChinaInternationalTourService(CITS)officeat2ndflooroftheBeijingInternational
Hotel(10min.walknorthofthestation,large,whitebuilding).
LocalTrains

Beijingtotheborder:IftheBeijingUlaanbaatartrainissoldout,asseemstobecommon,oryouneeda
morefrequentoption,youcanmakeyourwayfromBeijingtotheborderatErlianbylocaltrainas
describedbelow,andthenontoUlaanbaatarbybusandtrain.YoumayalsotrylookingoneLong.comfor
flightsfromBeijingtoErlian(ElianhaoteoneLong).AsofMarch2011,therearemorningflightsfrom
BeijingtoErlianoutofCapitalAirportTerminal1thatonlycost160Y,whichischeaperthanthebus.
TrainsrundailyfromBeijingtoJining(InnerMongolia)orHohhot.Youcanchangethereforatraintothe
bordertownofErlianneartheMongolianChineseborder.TheK89leavesBeijinginthemorningand
arrivesatJiningintheevening.Jininghasmanyhotelsnearthetrainstationandhaskaraokebarstokeep
youentertainedwhileyouwait.FromJiningtoErlianthereisaslowtrainthatleavesinthemorning,

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passesthegreatwallmultipletimes,andarrivesintheearlyevening.Foruptodatetraintimesandcosts
seeChinaGuide(http://www.travelchinaguide.com/chinatrains/%7CTravel).Notethatthiswilltakea
nightlongerthangettingthesleeperbusasdescribedin"ByBus".
Crossingtheborder
Bewaryofscamsattheborderwherepeopleinuniformwillattempttosellyou"requiredtravel
insurance."Thereisnosuchthingandyoucansafelyignorethem.
YoushouldthencrosstheborderfromErlianinChinatoZamiinUudinMongoliaasdescribedinErlian
toandfromMongolia.
InErlianyoucancrosstheborderinaJeeporbyBus.Thebusgoeseveryday.Inthebusstationlookfor
theinternationalticketwindow.
OnceinZaminUud,theonlyoptionisthetrain.
FromthebordertoUlaanbaatar
Onceyouhavecrossedtheborder,youwillneedtogetfromZamiinUudtoUlaanbaatarasdescribedin
ZamiinUudgetin.
ToChina
FromUlaanbaatarthereareseveraloptions.
Firstly,theInternationaltrain.TicketsattheInternationalticketofficelocatedacrossthestreetfromthe
trainstation.TheticketofficeisonthesecondfloorintheVIPlounge.
ThesecondoptionistogetontheHohhotinternationaltrainandtransferatErlianorJining(Inner
Mongolia).
ThethirdoptionistotakethedailytraintoZamiinUud,Mongoliaattheborderandtakeabusorjeepto
China.YoucanthengotothebusortrainstationinErlian,China.

Bybus
FromBeijingtoErlianbybuscosts180RMBandtakes12hrs.Severalbusesleavedifferentbusstationsin
BeijingboundforErlian:
Liuliqiaolongdistancebusstation(orlulqiokynzhshnu,phone
01083831716,address:A1,LiuliqiaoNanLi,FengtaiDistrict.Departureat16:30.Theseare
supposedtoruneveryday,butmaynot.Youcanphoneat10:00onthemorningofdeparturetosee
ifthebusisrunningandtoreserveaplace.
Muxiyuanlongdistancebusstation(),phone01067267149,location:go
toLiujiayaoMetroStationandgetacab.Departs17:00.
Lizeqiaolongdistancebusstation(),phone()Address
,01063403408,address,
.Locationisdifficulttogetto.Departs17:00.
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FromHohhotbybuscost88RMBandtakes67hrs.Thereareseveralbuseseachday.
Onceyou'vegottoErlianyoushouldthenfollowtheCrossingtheborderandFromtheborderto
Ulaanbaatarstepsabove.
Shouldyoubetravellingatabusytime(i.e.aroundNaadamonthe11th/12thJuly)andwanttobesureof
gettingticketsforthelastlegofthetripinMongolia,youcouldtakeoneofthepackagesfromthe
guesthousesinBeijing.Thesecostaround570RMB(July2009).Theyincludewillincludeataxitothe
coachstationinBeijing,BeijingtoErlianbysleepercoach,abedinthehotelinthebusstationforafew
hours,abusfromErliantoZamynUudacrosstheborder,thensoftsleeperovernightfromZamynUudto
Ulaanbaatar.Purchasedseparatelytheticketscostabout360RMB.TheSagaguesthouseinBeijingsells
these,andalthoughtheyinsisttilthey'reblueinthefacethetrainishardsleeperit'sactuallysoftsleeper!
FromRussia
AdailybusgoesfromUlanUdetoUlanbaatar.Theticketispricedat1500Roubles(AsonJuly,2015)but
itisbettertotakehelpofvarioustourcompanieswhichcanbuytheticketsforyou.Theticketsbearyour
nameandPassportnumbersomaybeusedforvisapurposeaswell.Thecompaniesmaychargeanywhere
between1700Roublesto1900Roublesforeachticket.
Thebusleavesat7:30AMfromSouthBusStationinUlanUdeandreachesUlanbaataratabout10:00
PM,dependingonthetimetakenatborder.ItdropspassengersatDragonBusStation.Trygettingwindow
seatforenjoyingbeautifulsceneryonyourway.

Bythumb
TheroadstopsatthebordertownofZamynUudandgiveswaytoanopendesert,withtracksgoingin
variousdirectionsbutgenerallyheadingnorthtowardthecapitalcity.HitchhikinginMongoliaisnoteasy
andalittlebitofmoneycanbeexpected.Thereisanaverageofonecareveryhourheadingintothedesert.
ExpectabumpyroadwithnotmuchtoseebutthisistherealMongoliansteppe.

Getaround
Ifyouplantotravelaroundthecountrysidewithoutaguide,takeaGPSandgetsomemaps.The
"MongoliaRoadAtlas"isavailableinmanybookstores,itisover60pagesandcoversthewholecountry:
notethereisalatincharacterversionandcyrilliccharacterversion,inthecountrysidemostpeoplewon't
understandthelatinversion.MoredetailedmapsareavailableattheMongolianGovernmentMapStore.
Thesemapsare1:500,000.Alsosomeotherspecialpurposemapsandaverygoodmapofdowntown
Ulaanbaatar.ThemapstoreisonIhToiruuSt.GowestfromtheStateDepartmentstoreonthemainstreet,
calledPeace,PeaceandFriendship,orEkhtavanAve,twoblockstothelargeintersectionwithtraffic
lights,Turnright(North)andthemapstoreisabouthalfwayalongtheblock.ThereisanElbaelectronic
appliancestoresetbackfromthestreet,ayellowandbluebuilding,thenextbuildingisalargeRussian
styleofficebuilding4floorsinheight,themapstoreentranceisonthewestside,towardthesouthendof
thebuilding,itlinesupwiththeNorthwalloftheElbabuilding.
Whichevermethodoflongdistancetravelischosen,keepinmindthateverythinginMongoliahasa
tendencytobreakdown.Don'tbeshockedifpartofthesuspensionbreaksandthedriverjimmyrigsa
carvedwoodenblockintheplaceofamount.Formoreseriousbreakdowns,itcaneasilytakeanentire
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dayorlongerforsomebodytocomealongandhelp,soleaveplentyofslackinitineraries.Finally,
Mongoliansarerathernotoriousforbeinglate.Abusthatisscheduledtoleaveat08:00willprobablynot
beoutofthecitytillalmost11:00.

Byplane
Domesticflighttothepopularcapitalcityintheprovinceisavailable.Thereare3domesticairline
companiesincludingAeroMongolia(http://www.aeromongolia.mn/home),EznisAirways
(http://www.eznisairways.com/),andHunnuAir(http://www.hunnuair.com/).Allwebsiteshaveonline
bookingsystembutAeroMongoliadoesnotacceptlastnamelessthan3letters.HunnuAir'sonline
bookingsystemcanprocessforsure.Contactingtravelagentsforbookingflightticketsisanotherwayto
getthedomesticflightticketinadvance.

Bycar
Roadaccidentsarefrequent.Thebiggerthevehicleis,thesaferitis.Outsideofthecapital,therearefew
pavedroads.TheeasiestwaytotravellongdistanceisusingAeroMongolia.AeroMongoliausesFokker
50turboprops.AirtravelinMongoliainvolvesatwotierpricestructure,withthecostsforforeigners
beingsignificantlyhigherthanforlocals.
Forthebudgetconscious,RussianJeepsand4WDMinibusesactasapublictransportsystem.About
85,000tugrikpaysforthealldaytripfromUBtoTsetserleg(theregionalcapitalofArkhangai).Notethat
thisinvolvesbeingcrammedintoaJeepwithaboutninelocals(someofwhommaybedrunk)and
spendingtheentiredayracingoververybumpydirttrails.Busisabetteroption.

Bymotorbike
HavingreadtheabovestatementaboutroadsafetyinMongoliayoumightbeputoffbytouringthe
countrybymotorcyclebutyouwouldbemissingoutonsomeofthebestmotorbiketouringintheworld:
opensteppes,freedomandacultureofhospitalitymakeMongoliaoneofthebestmotorcycletouring
destinationsperiod.
Ifyouhaven'tbroughtyourownyoucanrentthemforaslittleas13EuroperdayinUB.Alternatively,
youcanarrangebuysellbackagreementswithmotorbikesellersofChinesemotorbikesatmotorbike
marketsliketheBlackMarketthatwilloftenendupbeingcheaperthanrentingifyouplanonbikingfor
twoweeksormore.Plus,youwillrideabrandnewbikeasopposedtotheoftenquiterundownrental
bikes.NewChineseMustangbikessellfor725USDandcanbesoldbackforabout2/3theoriginalprice,
dependingonyournegotiatingskills.Registrationofthemotorbikeisamustandmustbedonebya
Mongolianorapersonholdingavisaof90daysorlonger.

Bybus
Travellingbylocalbusisalsoanoption,thoughthesebusestendonlytoconnecttheprovincialcapital
withUB,anditisquitedifficulttofindanypublictransportationlinkingoneprovincialcapitalwith
another.LatelytheBussituationismuchbetter.Mostcitiesandtownsarereferedtointwoways,their
nameorthenameoftheAimag(province)orSum(county).e.g.DornodorDornodAimagorChoybalsan

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(theactualcityname).Mostbuseshavetheirdestinationonacardinthefrontwindow.Ifyouhaveeither
namewrittendowninMongolianCyrillic,youcanjustshowtothedriversorhelpersandtheywillgetyou
ontherightbus.
Therearetwotypesofbuses,microvansandlargebuses(somelargebusesareoldRussiantypesand
somearemodernwesterntype),dependingontheroad.Thelargebusesrunonschedule,butthemicro
busesaremuchmorelax.InUlaanbaatar,therearetwobusstations,oneonthewestneartheDragon
ShoppingCenterandoneontheEastneartheBotanicalGardens.Getlocaltowritedirections.Forthe
largebusesbuyyourticketsthedaybefore.
IntheAimagcentres,therewillbeservicetoUlaanbaatarandtolocalsuems(smallcountyseats)and
usuallythenextAimagCenter.However,alllocationsmaynotbeavailableatonelocation.Askforhelp
fromthelocals.Forexample,InOndorkhaan,thecapitalofKhentiiProvince,thereisbusservicebetween
OndorkhaanandUBfromacentralbusstation,howeverthethroughbusesgoingto/fromUBtoDornad
andSukhbaatarAimags(ChoybalsanandBaruunUrt)willstopatagasstationontheNorthsideofthe
city.
Bustickets
Youpurchaseyourticketatthestation,notinthecoach.Don'texpectanycashier,driverorconductorto
speakanythingbutMongolianand,possibly,Russian.It'snotpossibletopaybycreditcard.Yourpassport
isrequiredtobuyaticket.Ifyouhavealuggageexceedingthestandard(writteninyourticket)inweight
orsize,you'llbeaskedforanextrafeebytheconductor.Youcannegotiatethisone.
Insideabus
Onsomedestinations,thedriverandtheconductorillegallyaddextrapassengersandgetthemoneyfor
themselves.Theymighteventrytomake3peoplesiton2seats,forinstance:youcanprotestinsucha
case.Yourticketgivesyoutherighttoafullseatandthisiswhatyougetinmostcoaches.Thecoachesfor
differentdestinationshavenormally2040passengerseats.
Thecoachwillusuallystopforaratherquicklunchordinneratalocalsnackorcanteen.

Bytrain
ThereisonlyonerailwaycompanyinMongolia,ownedbytheRussianandMongolianStates.Itis
probablythebestwaytoexperiencesomethingofthecommunisttime,evenifithasevolvedabitsince
then.Therailwaynetworkispoor,consistingmainlyintheIrkutskBeijingtransmongolianwaywitha
fewextensions.Therollingstockconsistof3040yearsoldSovietcars.Trainsareextremelyslow.They
usuallyleaveontime,andarriveontimeorlessthan20minlate.
Don'texpecttoencounteranyEnglishspeakingstaff.ConductorsandcashiersspeakonlyMongolian,and
ifyou'relucky,alsoalittlebitRussian.
Thelocaltrainsstopatmanysmallstationsinthecountryside.Forexample,thereisthesmalltownof
Batsumber,locatedabout34kmnorthofUlaanbaatar(asthecrowflies)longeronthetrain.Takeyour
campinggearandhiketothemountainsabout10kmeastofthetown.Therearetwostreamsflowingwest
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outofthemountains,hikeandcampalongthestreams.Thereisasmallrestaurant,andfoodshopsinthe
town.
Seetraintimetableandticketpricesonthecompanywebsite[2](http://www.ubtz.mn/page?id=41)(onlyin
Mongolian).
Traintickets
Mongoliantrainsarecheap,evenincomparisonwithRussianandChinesetrains.Youpayanextrafeeif
youbookinadvance,andalsoanextrafeeifyoubuyitinthetrain,whichistheonlypossibilityleftif
therearelessthan10minleftbeforethetraindeparture.Yourpassportisrequiredtobuyaticket.
Thereare3classes:tasalgaat,untlagyn,andniytiyn,theydirectlycorrespondtotheRussiantrainclasses
kupeyniy,platskartniyandobshchiy.
Tasalgaatclassistheonlyonewithclosedcompartments,with4berthsforeach.You'llbechargedfor
MNT200oforcompulsorybedsheetsinsidethetrain(Aug2013).
Untlagyncarshaveopencompartmentswith6berths.
Niytiynclassisthecheapest,butdefinitelynotrecommended.Youhavetospendyournightsittingand
evenwithlittlespaceoncrowdeddays.Theticketsarenumbered,but,whentheseatsareexhausted,the
companyoverbookspublicseatswithticketsnumbered"0",atthesameprice.
Insideanationaltrain
Thereisasmallwaterboilerattheendofeachtraincarwhichdispensesfreehotwater,soit'sagoodidea
tostockuponinstantnoodlesandteaforthetrip.YouwillbeoffereddrinksandMongolianfoodinside
thetrain,bothbyofficialsellersofthecompanyand,atthebigstationswithlongstops,fromprivate
peoplegettinginthetrainforthatpurpose.
Becarefulofyourbelongings:theftsarenotrare.Buttherearepolicemenineachtrain.
Onalongtrip,yourticketwillbecheckedagainandagain,andyou'llbewokenupinthemiddleofthe
nightforthat.Nobodywillwakeyouifyouhavetogetoffduringthetrip,butifyougetoffatthe
terminus,you'llbewokenup,evenmorethanonehourbeforearrival,dependingontheagent.Thetrain
toiletsofficiallyclose30minbeforetheterminus,sometimesevenbeforethat.

Byminivan
Publiccountrysidetaxisandminivansoffermoredestinationsthancoachesandmanymorethantrain,
especiallybetweenprovinces.Theyaremoredangerousthancoachesandtrains.Mostdriversdon'trespect
thetrafficrules.Countrysidetaxisandminivansleavewhenfull.Theyalwayssaytheywillgo"now"
("odo")butit'srarelytrueandyoucanwaithoursbeforetheyreallygo.Seehowmanypeoplearealready
sittinginsidethevehicletohaveanideaofhowlongyou'llwait.

Bycharteredjeep
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ItisalsopossibletocharteraJeepanddriverforprivateuse.Pricesaretypicallynegotiatedbythe
kilometre.Whilefarmoreexpensivethansharingaridewiththelocals,thismeansoftransportis
considerablymoreconvenientandallowsyoutovisitmoreremotesites.Itcanalsobequiteconvenientto
hireaguidetouseduringthelengthofyourstay.Doingsocanallowyoutotravelwithoutworryingabout
taxidriverswantingtooverchargeupto10Xjustforbeingaforeigner.

Bytaxi
Inthecities,taxisshouldchargeaboutMNT800/km.Thedriverswillsettheirtripmeterandcharge
accordingly.

Byhorse
Forlocaltravel,horsebackisagoodoption.Note,however,thatMongoliansrideonwoodensaddles,so
ifyouvalueyourbuttocksit'sprobablyagoodideatopickupaleather,RussiansaddleinUB.

Byfoot
Anothergreatalternativeistosimplywalk.Sincecampingispossibleanywhere,restingisnevera
problem.Whereverthereiswatertherearenomads,andifyousticktothemajordirtroadsyouwill
encounterplentyofguanz,whocanprovidehugecheapmealstokeepyougoing.AdoptingtheMongolian
styleofsleepingoutdoorsisalsoanoptionwrapyourselfinwoolblanketsandthencoveryourselfwitha
Russianraincoat(essentiallyatarpintheformofatrenchcoat),andsimplyplopyourselfdownonthe
ground.Onenightsleepingthiswaygivesawholenewappreciationforthewondersofsleepingbagsand
bivvysacks/tents.

Talk
Seealso:Mongolianphrasebook
WiththeexceptionofthewesternmostprovincewhereKazakhisspoken,everybodyinthecountryspeaks
Mongolian.ThelanguageisextremelydifficultforWesternerstolearnandspeak,evenaftermultiple
monthsofbeingimmersedintheculture.Westernerstypicallytakeaminimumof918monthsoffulltime
Mongolianlanguagestudytobeconversant.Mostlocalswillappreciateattemptstospeakphrasesin
Mongolian,althoughthetravellerwillinevitablypronouncethemwrong(becarefulwhenorderingwater
inarestaurantthewordforwater[pronounced"oos"]isindistinguishableforthatof"hair"totheEnglish
ear!Makesforagoodlaughoverandover...).Pickingupaphrasebookandpractisingafewphraseswill
help.Thenumberingsystemisregular,andfairlyeasytolearn.Despitethegovernment'seffortsto
promotetheMongolianwritingsystem,theCyrillicsystemisstillthestandardandbeingabletoreadit
mighthelpyou.
IfyoucanspeakRussianyoushouldnothaveanymajorproblemscommunicating.Mongoliahashada
longhistoryofalliancewiththeSovietUnion,andRussiaafterthebreakupoftheSovietUnion,so
RussianiscompulsoryinallMongolianschoolsandwidelyspokeninurbanareas.Englishisnotwidely
spoken,althoughit'sbeengettingmorepopularlately.

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ForeignersabletospeakGermanshouldgiveitatry,asespeciallyintheoldergenerationstherearefolks
thatdospeakitduetoMongolia'stiestotheG.D.R.thatcausedmanyMongolianstoworkandstudyin
EastBerlin.

See
Mongoliaisabigcountrywithbadtransportationmeans,sotryingtoseetoomanyprovincesyouwould
spendyourholidaysinsidevehicles.Hvsgl(or"Hvsgl")lake,inHvsglprovince,isverybeautiful.
ThereisnotmucharchitectureinMongolia,butAmarbaysgalantmonastery,Selengeprovince,inthe
middleofnowhere,isworthseeing.Interestedbytheeconomicalaspect?SeeErdenet'sopencoppermine,
thebiggestcoppermineinAsia,inOrhonprovince.

Do
TheTransMongolianRailwaypassesthroughthecountry.
MongoliaCanoeing,97699826883,[3](http://www.mongoliacanoeing.com/).RiverTours,
CanoedownsomeofMongolia'smajorriversedit
visitReindeerHerders(TsaatanCommunity),Tsagaannuur,Khovsgol(WestofKhovsgollake,
FromMorondriveWNW,PasttheAirport,GotoUlaanUulandcontinuenorth.Highwatercan
maketheroadsdifficult.),[4](http://itgel.org/).ReindeerherderslivinginHighAlpinemountains.
MustridehorsesorreindeerfromTsagaannuur.Itcanbealonghardride.edit
LocalBondaLakeCampinKhatgalvillagenearLakeKhovsgoloffersvariousnatureandcultural
featuring:fishing,hiking,wintertours,nomadvisits,horsebackriding,visitingreindeerherdersand
Darhadvalley.Horseriding,youhavechancediscoverLakeKhovsgolanditsbeautifulwaters,meet
Tsataan(nomadicreindeerherders)livinginyurtsinthenorthofKhovsgolarea.Thisregionis
incrediblyscenic,perchedat1645maltitudeingreenmountains,coveredwiththickpineforestsand
lushmeadowswithgrazingyaksandhorses,andrichwithwildlife:thelakehas9speciesoffishand
itssurroundingsarefullofsheep,goats,elkandmorethan430speciesofbirds.Thereare5different
Mongoliantribesnearby:Khalh,Darhad,Buriad,Hotgoid,&Urianhai.TheCamphasahotshower,
sauna,internetandarestaurantwithMongolianandEuropeanmeals.

Buy
TheMongoliancurrencyisthetgrg(),alsospelledtugrik,tugrugortogrog,Unicodeandlocal
symbol:"",ISOsymbol:MNT.Therewere2,010tugrikforUSD1orMNT2,939=GBP1asof28April
2016.

Shopping
Mongoliancashmereisknownasthebestintheworld.Garmentsandblanketsmadeofcashmere.
Youcanfindlotsofstoresthatsellscashmereproducts.
MongoliaisfamousforitscopperminesErdenetandOyuTolgoi.Copperbookmarkisoneofthe
idealsouvenirsandyoucaneasilyfindthisUSD1metalsouvenirinUlaanbaatarsouvenirshops.
PaintingsbylocalartistsareexcellentbuysinMongolia(localpaintingcentergpscoordinate:
47.928958,106.928024,"N+10655'40.9"E/@47.9289438,106.9280278,15
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(https://www.google.mn/maps/place/4755'44.2)).
YoucanfindfeltpokerworkinErdenet.
Notethatitisillegaltotakeantiquesoutofthecountrywithoutaspecialpermit.
Thehugeopenairmarket,Narantuul("TheBlackMarket")inUlaanbaataroffersthelowestprices
onjustaboutanythingyoucouldwant.Beverycarefulofthemanypickpocketsandevenattackers
there.Thiscanbeagreatplacetogetagoodpairofridingboots.Youcanoptforavarietyof
Mongolianstyles,fromfancytothemorepractical,orevengetagoodsetofRussianstyleboots.
InErdenetisaISO9001certifiedcarpetfactory,makingandsellingalsoslippersmadeincarpet.

Eat
ThemaindietinruralMongoliaismuttonorsheep.Beefmightalsohitthemenuoccasionally.Here,about
MNT8,00010,000willbuyyoualargeplatterheapedwithfriednoodlesandsliversofmutton.Onthe
sidewillbealargebottleofketchup.Atastyandgreasydishservediskhuushuur(huushoor),whichisa
friedpancakestuffedwithbitsofmuttonandonion.Threetofourmakeatypicalmeal.Also,the
ubiquitousbuuz(booz)canbehadatanycanteenintownorthecountryside.Buuzaresimilarto
khuushuurinthattheyarebigdumplingsstuffedwithmuttonandonion,howevertheyaresteamedrather
thanfried.About6buuzcostMNT3,0004,000(USD2.152.87)andservesone.
Theboodogorgoat/marmotbarbecue,isparticularlyworthexperiencing.ForaboutMNT30,00040,000,a
nomadwillheadoutwithhisgun,shootamarmot,andthencookitforyouusinghotstonesinitsskin
withoutapot.Alongthesamelinesasboodogiskhorkhog(madeofmutton),whichispreparedlikeso:
buildafiretossstonesintofireuntilredhotplacewater,hotstones,onions,potatoes,carrots,and,finally,
muttonchops,intoalargevacuumsealedkettleletthekettlesimmeroverafirefor3060minutesopen
kettlecarefully,asthetopwillinevitablyexplode,sendinghotjuicesflyingeverywhereoncethekettleis
opened,andallinjurieshavebeentendedto,eatcontentsofkettle,includingthesaltybroth.Thiscooking
methodmakesmuttontastetenderandjuicy,likeslowroastedturkey.Askyourguideifheorshecan
arrangeone(butonlyduringsummer).
Theboodogisalsomadeofothermeat,usuallygoat,andissimilartothekhorhogwithonemajor
difference:themeat,vegetables,waterandstonesarecookedinsidetheskinoftheanimal.Theyskinit
verycarefully,andthentieofftheholesatthelegsandbackside,putthefoodandhotstonesinside,tieoff
thethroat,andletitcookforabout30minutes.

Drink
Thelegaldrinking/purchasingageofalcoholicbeveragesis18.
ThenationaldrinkiscalledAirag.(Itisavailableinforexampleintraditionalmongolian"ger"tentsin
UlanBatoratthemainentranceofGandantegchinlenMonastery,GPSdecimalcoordinatesN47.92069
E106.89467for1500TandatheWestMarketN47.91118E106.83569forMNT1000perbowlasof
September2010)Thisisasummerseasonaldrinkmadefromfermentedmare'smilk,andiscertainlyan
acquiredtaste.Thealcoholcontentislessthanthatofbeer,butcanhavenoticeableeffects.Becareful,if
youaren'taccustomedtodrinkingsourmilkproductsthefirsttimemightgiveyoudiarrheaasyour
stomachgetsaccustomedtoit.Thisshouldonlyhappenthefirsttimethough.Onceyou'vecompletedthe
ritual,yourdigestivesystemshouldn'tcomplainagain.Therearenumerouswaystodescribethetaste,

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frombileliketoamixtureoflemonadeandsourcream.Thetexturecanalsobeoffputtingtosomepeople
sinceitcanbeslightlygritty.ItisworthkeepinginmindthatAiragismilkandasourceofnutrients.After
adayofridingitcanactuallybequiterefreshing,onceacquiringatasteforit.
Thefirstthingyouwillbeservedeverytimeyouvisitagerwillbemilktea,whichisessentiallyacupof
boiledmilkandwater,sometimeswithacouplepiecesoftealeafthrowninforgoodmeasure.Youmight
wanttobuildupyourtolerancebydrinkinglotsofmilkinpreparationforyourstaybecausetheydon't
drinkmuchelse,exceptperhapsboiledwaterifyouspeciallyrequestitduringalongerstay.Also,most
traditionalnomadicfoodssuchasdriedyogurtandthelikerequireacclimatizationtomilkaswell.Cold
drinksdon'tactuallyexistinthecountryside(unlessyouintendtodrinkstraightoutofariver,generally
notrecommended).
IfyouareinMongoliaespeciallyinthecountrysidetrytheirNationalHomeMadeVodka.It'susually
madefromdistilledyogurtormilk.Itdoesn'thaveanyweirdtaste.Afteryouhaveyourfirstshotofthe
vodkayouwon'tfeelanything,butfewminuteslateritwillgettoyourhead.MostpeopleinMongolia
usuallydrinkthisformedicalreasons.Firstyouheatupthevodkathenputinalittlebitofspecialoil
whichisalsomadefrommilk.Carefuldon'toverheatit,youmightgetblind.Mongolianscalltheir
nationalvodkanermelareehk("distilledvodka")orchangayum("tightstuff").TherearelotsofRussian
typeVodkassoldalloverthecountry.ThebestonesareChinggisKhaanvodka,SoyomboandGolden
Chinggis.
InUlaanbaataaryoucanfindmostofWesternbeers,fromMillertoHeineken.TheysellBudweisernot
AmericanBudbuttheCzechBudweiser.Localbeer,suchasChingiss,GemGrand,BorgioorSenguris
fine.

Sleep
SomewesternstyleaccommodationsareavailableinUlaanbaatar,buttheygoforwesternprices.There
areafewniceguesthousesinUBforlessthanUS$10pernight(evenascheapas3,000tugrikifyou're
willingtosharearoom),buttheyarecrowdedduringthetouristseasonandhardtogetinto.
Outinthecountryside,mostofthehotelsarerundownleftoversfromtheSovietera.Abetteroptionis
touristger,setupbyvariousentrepreneuriallocals.StayingatoneofthesecostsaboutMNT5,000per
personpernight.Theyoftenincludebreakfastanddinneraswell.Whenstayinginoneoftheseguestger,
theusualgiftgivingcustomscanbeskipped.
Finally,therearealsogercamps.Setupbytourcompanies,theydooccasionalrentoutspaceto
independenttravellers.Unfortunately,theytendtobebothexpensive(35US$perpersonpernightwith3
meals)andoutoftheway.
Exceptforthecitiesandlargertowns,allofthelandispubliclyowned.Thismeansyoucanpitchatent
prettymuchanywhere.Courtesydictatesthatyoukeepyourdistancefromexistingnomadencampments.
Commonsensedictatesthatyoudon'tpitchatentinthemiddleofortooclosetoaroad.
InMongolia,nowadaystherearemore300hotelsandthesearegradedbetween1to5starsinthe
internationalstandardsHotelsholding3starsormorearefortouristservice.35starholdersmustobtain
specialpermissioninordertooperate.AccommodationgradingcommitteeconsistingoftheMinistry,

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travelindustryassociationsandtourismresearcherscategorizeanaccommodationaccordingtoMongolian
standards.
Currently,4fivestarhotels:ShangriLaHotel,BestWesternPremierTuushinHotel(oneoftheBest
Westerninternationalchainhotels,locatednexttotheMongolianparliamentbuilding),TereljHotel(setin
thenaturalenvironmentofthepopularTereljNationalPark,around70kmfromUlaanbaatar.)and
UlaanbaatarHotel,three4starhotels:Chinggis,KempinskihotelKhanPalace(GermanbasedKempinski
HotelstookoverthemanagementofKhanPalace,renamingitKempinskiHotelKhanPalace.)Ramada
HotelandBayangolhotel.
Threestars30hotelsandotherhotelshaveoneortwostarshotelsareoperating.Mosthotelsofferedona
bedandbreakfastbasisandhotelshavethreetypesofrooms:adeluxe,asemiluxe,andastandard.

Learn
Therearesomelanguageschoolsinthecapital.ThetwobestknownonestoforeignersareBridgeSchool
andFriendsSchool.Bothschoolsoffergroupstudyclassesorindividualtutors.AlsotheNational
UniversityofMongolia(http://www.num.edu.mn/Default.aspx?alias=www.num.edu.mn/eng)offers
courses.
ItusuallytakesWesternersabout9to18monthsbeforetheyacquiregoodconversationalabilitiesin
Mongolian.SpeakersofTurkiclanguages,suchasTurksorKazakhs,tendtopickitupquickerduetothe
similaritiesingrammaticalstructure.

Work
Thereisahugedemandfor"Native"EnglishspeakersasEnglishteachers.Anyonewhoisinterestedin
teachingEnglishwillhavenotroublegettingemploymentandaworkvisathroughaschoolor
organization.However,thepayisgenerallylowcomparedtoothercountries.Thoughit'llusuallybejust
enoughforroomandboardplusalittleextra.
LocalEnglishlanguagemediaareanothersourceofemploymentfornativeEnglishspeakers,offering
workaseditors,proofreadersorphotojournalists.
VolunteerworkisavailableteachingEnglish,assistingwithcharityworkandjoiningarchaeologicaldigs.
Thesejobsareeasytofindandareveryrewarding.

Staysafe
ApartfromUlaanbaatar,Mongoliaisgenerallyasafeplacetotravel.However,incidencesofpick
pocketingandbagslashinghavebeenontheriseinrecentyears,soalwayskeepyourpersonalbelongings
inasafeplace(moneybeltsarehighlyrecommended),especiallyincrowdedareasorinplaceswhereyour
attentionisdiverted,suchasinternetcafes.NotoriousplacesfortheftaretheBlackMarket(bazaar),the
railwaystationandcrowdedbusstops.
Violentcrimeisuncommonoutsidethecapitalcity,butstillcautionisrequiredatnight,anddarkor
desertedalleysandstreets,inparticular,shouldbeavoided.
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Unfortunately,Xenophobiaisrampant,andviolencetowardsforeignersisnotuncommon.Thisproblem
usuallyaffectsmales.Mongolianmenwillgenerallypickoutthelargestforeignmenandattackthem,
mostlywiththeirfists.Thisisknowntohappenatallhoursofthedayandinanypartofthecity.Of
course,atnighttheproblembecomesmuchworse.Bevery,verywaryofclubsthathaveamajorityof
Mongolians.DonotunderanycircumstancesfightbackifaMongolianmanassaultsyou.Manyforeigners
havebeenhospitalizedanditwillneverbeafairfight.IgnorecompletelyanydrunkMongolianmanNO
EXCEPTIONS.Ifyouareonthestreetkeepwalking.IfyouareinaclubandMongolianmenbecome
aggressive,leaveimmediately.Alsobeawarethatifyouareamale,inagroupwithAsianwomen
(Mongolianornot),thisisperceivedincrediblynegativelybyMongolianmen,anditisverylikelythat
youwillgetassaulted.
AdditionallythereareultranationalistNeoNazisoperatingfreelyinUlaanbaatar,andtheyhavemultiple
timesshownupatclubsandassaultedforeigners.Someoftheseassaultsendupwithhospitalizations.In
oneparticularinstancetheseNeoNazisshowedupataround2AMatthegayclub(Hanzoor'H')and
threatenedto'killallgaypeople'.
MostforeignersvisitUlaanbaatarwithoutincident,butremembertobeextremelycautious.
CorruptionisahugeprobleminMongolia,andlocalsareconvincedthatthepolicearenottobetrusted.
TherearesmallbandsofMongolianultranationaliststhatstylethemselvesasneoNaziswhoassault
foreignersincludingwhite,blackandparticularlyChinese.Theyareespeciallyprovokedbyforeigner
interactionwithMongolianwomen.
Loneorfemaletravellers,especiallyblondes,obviouslyneedtoexerciseahigherdegreeofawarenessof
theirsurroundingsasgettinggropedinthechestorbuttocksisnotuncommon.
Becarefulwhentravellingbyhorseasitisnotunknownforgroupstofollowtouristsandthenstealtheir
goods,includingthehorses,whiletheysleepatnight.
Manytouristsareinjuredfromfallingoffofhorses.Mongolianherdersareexpertriders,thustheirideaof
ahorsesuitableforridingisquitedifferentfrommostcasualriders.Also,thehorsesaretraineddifferently
thaninthewest.IfyouareinjuredinMongolia,youmaybehundredsofkilometresfrommedicalaidand
ambulanceservicemaybehardtoobtainandconsistofaRussianminivan.Medicalevacuationinsurance
isadvisable.
DogsinMongoliacanbeaggressiveandmayruninpacks.Itisagoodideatobewaryofthemsincethey
arenotlikelytobeastameasdomesticdogselsewhere.

Stayhealthy
Nomads'dogsmayhaverabies.Asaprecaution,considerhavingarabiesshotsbeforecoming.
Marmotsshouldnotbeeatenatcertaintimesoftheyearbecausetheycancarrypnemonia.Thatsaid,the
diseaseiscarriedbythemarmot'sfleassotheafflictedtendtobefurtraders,andmarmotisnota
mainstreamdisheveninMongolia.
HepatitisandtuberculosisarecommonthroughoutMongolia.
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TheUSACenterforDiseaseControl,[5](http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationMongolia.aspx).
Countrybycountrywarningsandadviceedit

Respect
Mongolstraditionallyliveonthesteppes,breedinghorses,justliketheirancestorGenghisKhan.Not
surprisingly,followingWesternpleasantrieswillnothavetheintendedeffectinMongolia.Thatbeingsaid,
therearestillafewrulestofollow.Alwaysreceiveitemswiththerighthand,palmfacingup.Drinkfrom
therighthandwiththepalmupaswell.Itisveryrudetorefuseagift.Ifofferedaplateofhospitality
munchies,takeatleastasmallnibblefromsomething.Youshouldneverpointanyonewithyourindex
fingersinceitimpliesdisrespect.
Wheneveryouapproachanomadicfamily,orenterager,youwill,withoutknowing,breakoneorseveral
ofthemanytraditional,religiousandsuperstitiouscustoms.Ifyoudobecomeconfused,don'tpanic,minor
indiscretionswillbetoleratedandforgiven.Thefollowingdo'sanddon'tswillhelpminimizecultural
differences.

Do
Sayhello(sainbainuu)whenyouarrive(butrepeatingitagainwhenyouseethesamepersonis
consideredstrangetoMongolians)
Takeatleastasip,oranibble,ofthedelicaciesoffered
Pickupeverythingwithanopenhand,withyourpalmfacingupwards
Holdacupbythebottom,andnotbythetoprim
Ifbyaccidentyoutapsomeonesfootwithyours,immediatelyshakehandswiththem(failingtodo
sowillbeseenasaninsult).

Don't
Leanagainstasupportcolumn
Whistleinsideager
Standon,orleanover,thethreshold
Stampoutafire,orputwateroranyrubbishonit(fireissacredtoMongolians)
Walkinfrontofanolderpersonorturnyourbacktothealtar,orreligiousobjects(exceptwhen
leaving)
Takefoodfromacommunalplatewithyourlefthand
Touchotherpeople'shats
Havealongconversationinyourownlanguageinfrontofyourhosts

Contact
ThereareplentyofInternetcafsinthecapital.ThepostalserviceisslowandmostpeoplehaveaPO
Boxiftheywanttogetanything.Itispossibletobuyphonecardsthatcanbeusedtocallabroadvery
cheaplyfromdomesticphones,butnotallphonescandothis.(YoucanaskforMiComorMobiCom
cards).Inthecountryside,don'texpecttobestayingincontactwithanyone.MostAimagCenters
(ProvinceCapitals)haveanInternetCafinthepostoffice.

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TomakelocalcallsinUlaanbaataruseaphoneofoneofthemanyentrepreneurswithcellulartelephones
onthestreetcorners.ExpecttopayMNT8001000/h(June2009prices).

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