[
General Information ] [ Culture
] [ Geography ] [ Currency
] [ Climate ] [ Events and Activities
] [ Getting There & Getting Around ]
Government: Parliamentary democracy
Languages: Mongolian, the official language, is a member of the Ural-Altaic family of languages, which includes Finnish, Turkish, Kazak, Uzbek and Korean. Turkic, Russian and Chinese are spoken as well.
Money & Costs: An organized tour will probably cost about US$ 75-195 a day. You can see the same sights and stay in the same places for a lot less if you share the cost of a private jeep and camp rather than stay in the more expensive gers (tents). Food and accommodation will cost about US$ 25-45 a day in Ulaanbaatar, but out in rural areas, allow about US$ 25 per day if you're using public transport and staying in hotels; if you take a tent and camp, you'll spend closer to US$ 15 per day. Take US dollar travelers' cheques and have some US$ in cash. Credit cards are handy at some hotels as well as airline offices in Ulaanbaatar, but you won't be able to buy anything on credit outside the capital. For some unknown reason, US dollars dated before 1996 are not accepted. There is a mandatory 15% VAT (Value Added Tax) levied in the more expensive restaurants and hotels in Ulaanbaatar. Tipping is appreciated in the best restaurants. Bargaining is developing in public markets. Visitors must be prepared to pay more than Mongolians.
PS: All these costs might be less when you come.
Population: 2.5 million
People: Khalkh Mongols (86%), Kazaks (6%), Chinese (2%), Russian (2%), plus about a dozen other ethnic groups
Religions: Tibetan Buddhism, Muslim, Shamanism
Time:
GMT + 8 hours;
GMT + 7 hours in western provinces.
Visas: Entry and exit visas are required of all nationalities. To get a visa, visitors must be invited or sponsored by a Mongolian, a Mongolian company or a resident foreigner, or be part of an organized tour. Some consulates and embassies interpret the regulations more liberally than others. A visa costs about US$25-55.(March 2005)
Weights & measures: Metric
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz
Geography
Mongolia is a landlocked country about 3 times the size of France, sitting
between China and Russia. As one of the highest countries in the world,
with an average elevation of 1580m it's highest mountains are permanently
snowcapped. Mongolia has numerous saltwater and freshwater lakes, the
largest of which is the Khovsgol Nuur, which contains 2% of the world's
fresh water. The southern 33% of the country is dominated by the Gobi
Desert and although barren looking, it has enough grass to support scattered
herds of sheep, goats and camels. The other 66% is grassland, from where
Genghis Khan's famed takhi horses came.
Climate
The climate is extreme with long sub arctic winters and snow in the Gobi
Desert into April, while some lakes remain frozen until June. A short
rainy season from mid-July to September with brief, gentle showers being
normal. Summer evenings are cool. In Ulaanbaatar, the winter (October
to April) is cold and seven months long, with temperatures down to -30oC
in January, February. Then horrific dust storms kick up during the short
spring of May to June.
Culture
Despite urbanisation, the nomadic traditions of the steppes live on so
that even in the cities, most continue to live in the 'ger', a large,
white felt tent that can be easily moved, and has a universal layout.
The doorway always faces south. Towards the back, and a little to the
west (right) is the place of honor kept for their guests. The back of
the ger, or the 'khoimor', is the place for elders and most treasured
possessions. On the back wall is the family altar, with Buddhist images,
family photos and suitcases. It is most interesting to get a local to
explain the many traditional, religious and superstitious rules and customs
associated with gers. Mongolians have always been followers of Tibetan
Buddhism. The links between Mongolia and Tibet are old and deep. Once
in a lifetime, every devout Buddhist Mongolian tries to reach the holy
city of Lhasa.
Mongolia's paintings, music and literature are dominated by Tibetan Buddhism
and nomadism. Tsam dances are performed to exorcise evil spirits and are
influenced by nomadism and Shamanism. Outlawed during communism, they're
beginning to be performed again. Traditional music involves a wide range
of instruments and singing styles. The country has produced a huge literature
but almost none of which is known to speakers of European languages. There
is an old Mongolian saying which goes something like: 'Breakfast, keep
for yourself; lunch, share with your friends; dinner, give to your enemies'.
The biggest and most important meals for Mongolians are breakfast and
lunch, which will usually consist of boiled mutton with lots of fat and
flour and maybe some dairy products or rice. The Mongolians are big tea
drinkers and the classic drink is suutei tsai (salty tea). Men who refuse
to drink arkhi (vodka) are considered wimps.
Currency
Tugrug (T or MNT) Bring US dollar traveler's cheques and have some US$
in cash. Credit cards are handy at some hotels and at airline offices
in Ulaanbaatar, but you won't be able to buy anything on credit outside
the capital. For some unknown reason, US dollars dated before 1996 are
unacceptable. Tipping is appreciated in up market restaurants. Bargaining
is catching on in the public markets, but be prepared to pay more than
Mongolians.
Events and Activities
The biggest event of the year is the Naadam Festival, is known as the
'Eriyn gurvan naadam' after the many sports of wrestling, archery and
horse racing. The festival is held all over the country, normally between
11th and 13th July, the anniversary of the 1921 Mongolian Revolution,
with major events taking place during the first two days. Hiking is the
'thing'. The four holy peaks surrounding Ulaanbaatar offer challenging
hiking and breathtaking views. There's hiking in the Gurvansaikhan National
Park, or the Gobi Desert. Fishing and kayaking in the huge Khovsgol Nuur
lake. Caving in lake shores caves or riding a horse, camel or yak in and
around Ulaanbaatar. Interesting history everywhere.
Getting
There & Getting Around
Most people fly into Ulaanbaatar from Beijing, Berlin or Moscow. Delayed
and cancelled flights are common partly due to frequent poor weather conditions.
The only other way foreigners can enter and leave Mongolia is on the Trans-Mongolian
Railway linking Beijing and Moscow. Ticket prices for the Beijing-Ulaanbaatar
rail journey can vary but $95 is basically the price for a one-way ticket.
The train goes twice a week on Tuesday and Saturday from Beijing and twice
a week from Ulaanbaatar - Sundays and Thursdays. It is a two-day and one
night journey that is thoroughly recommended.
To get round there are over 80 airports so that the major internal airline
MIAT, has flights to most, but not all, major cities and tourist destinations.
Buses are becoming an increasingly popular way of traveling around the
country, but services are still limited, the buses old and the journeys
uncomfortable and slow. Drivers are occasionally drunk and breakdowns
can be expected. Bus routes start and end in Ulaanbaatar and no buses
travel around western Mongolia. Slightly more expensive minibuses that
travel between popular spots are quicker and more comfortable.