Mongolia Airline
The Mongolian Airlines operates basic flights to or from Mongolia. It’s possible to fly by MIAT from Beijing, Moscow, Frankfurt, Berlin, Tokyo, Seoul, Milan and Huh Hot to Ulaanbaatar. For more information you can visit www.miat.com
Also you can catch a train from Beijing, Moscow, and Irkutsk to Ulaanbaatar. www.mtz.mn
Mode of transport
In Mongolia, the faithful mode of transportation will be vehicles. Especially the 4WD mini buses and jeeps are the most common and comfortable transports for your journey. The road condition in Mongolia is not so good. Travelers usually have to use natural ground roads in the countryside. However, you can fly by Miat’s domestic flights, or travel by train to some destinations. But we advice you to travel by vehicles, because you will be able to stop at some places, take photographs, have some relax, or enjoy the surrounding area.
Accommodation
In Ulaanbaatar there are various hotels, between 4* hotels all the way to simple accommodation facilities such as guesthouses.
Out of the city, you will find Ger Camps. Based on the traditional felt made tent used by the nomads, the ger camps offers services such as hot water showers, western style toilets, restaurant and gers for rooms.
Another option is camping.
Best time to travels
The travel season is from May to early October, though Ulaanbaatar can be visited any time of year if you can tolerate the cold. From mid-October to mid-May, sudden snowstorms and extreme cold can ground nights, block roads and cause the transport system to break down completely.
June and September are both very pleasant times to visit. Early July gives you the best weather for the northern part of the country. July and August are the rainiest months, which can make jeep travel on dirt roads difficult. July is also the time to see the Naadam Festival. Unfortunately, this is the peak tourist season, when Ulaanbaatar's inadequate accommodation and creaky transport is stretched to breaking point.
Mongolian “Ger”
The nomads have developed a circular felt covered dwelling - the ger (or yurt in Turkish language), adapted to the difficult conditions of their daily life (cold, wind, sun) and easy to be moved as can be raised and dismantled in 30 to 60 minutes. The gers have beautiful carved and decorated doors, and south oriented. When entering into a herder’s ger, airag and cheese are handed and blown snuff bottles are exchanged.
Electric current
The standard voltage in Mongolia is 220 volts\50 Hz, with plugs of two round pins, as in Southern Europe.
Currency
The Mongolian currency is the Tugrug, which is available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, & 10,000 Tugrug Notes. The exchange rate is constantly changing. The rate of January 2006 is US$1 = MNT1232. For an up-to-date exchange rate visit.
Foods
Despite what you might hear about food supplies in Mongolia, it's now very simple to have a balanced diet, even if you're a vegetarian. If you're intending to eat out in Ulaanbaatar, there are a large number of restaurants serving quality, Chinese, Indian, Korean, Japanese, Italian, English, American, French, Russian, Latin American and of course Mongolian cuisines.
There are also a lot of supermarkets and markets selling both Mongolian and imported goods from China, Russia, East Asia and Europe.
Communication
Mongolia's national code is '00976'. Making international telephone calls from Ulaanbaatar is relatively easy. Most hotels have International Direct Dial Facilities.
The area code for Ulaanbaatar : 11.
Mobile phones: there are two services (Mobicom and Skytel). All card phones provide instructions in English. International calling cards cost 3000-10000 Tugriks.
Internet facilities: Internet facilities
Getting around: Trolley buses and buses in the city center have a fee of MNT 300 payable on board. Taxis charge MNT 350 per km. This is a relatively safe way to travel. For travel furthers a field, buses and private cars depart when full from long-distance bus stands. The rail network is limited, but there are flights to 17 airports within the country.
Time Zones: Our country straddles the 6th, 7th and 8th world time zones (the western 5 aimags ate situated in the 6th, the central aimags in the 7th and the eastern 2 aimags in the 8th time zone)
Opening hours: Shops open 09:00 a.m.-08:00 p.m. Some shops open 24 hours.
Banks open 09:00a.m.-01:00 p.m. and 02:00 p.m.-04:30 p.m. Some banks open 24 hours.
Museums open 10:00 a.m. - 04:30 p.m. (winter), 10.00a.m.-20.00p.m. (summer)
Photography and video.
Film & Equipment. Mongolia is a very photogenic country. Major brands of print and even Polaroid film are available in shops in Ulaanbaatar (but nowhere in the countryside), Technical Tips. If you do a jeep trip on an subsurface road, you can expect plenty of dust, so keep the camera well sealed in a plastic bag. Keep your film out of the Gobi's summer sun and Mongolia's winter freeze, when your automatic cameras and batteries may not work properly. Bring a spare camera battery, as these can stop working because of the cold, even in summer.
Restrictions. Photography is prohibited inside monasteries and temples, although you may photograph the exterior building and the monastery grounds. Also you can sometimes obtain special permission to take photographs in exchange for an extra fee. In most museums it is the best to have a look first before you decide whether to fork out the extra tugrik for photographs. Remember that monks and nomads are not photographic models, so if they do not want to be photographed, their wishes should be respected. Always ask before taking a photograph.
Be careful about photographing potentially sensitive areas, especially border crossings and military establishments.
Photographing People. Mongolians are not especially enthusiastic about having their photos taken. The days of state surveillance are a recent memory, and some Mongolians are ashamed of the shabbiness they and the whole country have been reduced to.
On the other hand, people in the country-side are often happy to pose for photographs if you ask first. If you have promised to send them a copy, please do it, but explain that it may take several months to reach them - some nomads believe that all cameras are (instant) Polaroids. If you promise to send them pictures please fulfill this promise and don't disillusion the nomads.
Ask them to write their address in Mongolian on a piece of paper. You can then glue the address on an envelope, and add the word 'Mongolia' in the roman alphabet to ensure that it gets to the right place.
Getting more info about Mongolia
“Mongolei” guide by Barbara Stelling in German, “MONGOLIE” guide by Olizane (in French), and the Lonely Planet’s”MONGOLIA” guide (in English).
If you wish to know more about the history of Mongolia, the “Secret history of the Mongols” is the best reference about the legendary history of Genghis khan.
Health
Vaccinations against yellow fever (Hepatitis), polio, cholera, typhoid fever are advised. Travelers should bring their own medical supplies for any personal needs and a basic medical kit. You should think that there is no perfect medical care in the countryside.
Weights and Measures: Metric System
Security
The Mongolian Airlines operates basic flights to or from Mongolia. It’s possible to fly by MIAT from Beijing, Moscow, Frankfurt, Berlin, Tokyo, Seoul, Milan and Huh Hot to Ulaanbaatar. For more information you can visit www.miat.com
Also you can catch a train from Beijing, Moscow, and Irkutsk to Ulaanbaatar. www.mtz.mn
Mode of transport
In Mongolia, the faithful mode of transportation will be vehicles. Especially the 4WD mini buses and jeeps are the most common and comfortable transports for your journey. The road condition in Mongolia is not so good. Travelers usually have to use natural ground roads in the countryside. However, you can fly by Miat’s domestic flights, or travel by train to some destinations. But we advice you to travel by vehicles, because you will be able to stop at some places, take photographs, have some relax, or enjoy the surrounding area.
Accommodation
In Ulaanbaatar there are various hotels, between 4* hotels all the way to simple accommodation facilities such as guesthouses.
Out of the city, you will find Ger Camps. Based on the traditional felt made tent used by the nomads, the ger camps offers services such as hot water showers, western style toilets, restaurant and gers for rooms.
Another option is camping.
Best time to travels
The travel season is from May to early October, though Ulaanbaatar can be visited any time of year if you can tolerate the cold. From mid-October to mid-May, sudden snowstorms and extreme cold can ground nights, block roads and cause the transport system to break down completely.
June and September are both very pleasant times to visit. Early July gives you the best weather for the northern part of the country. July and August are the rainiest months, which can make jeep travel on dirt roads difficult. July is also the time to see the Naadam Festival. Unfortunately, this is the peak tourist season, when Ulaanbaatar's inadequate accommodation and creaky transport is stretched to breaking point.
Mongolian “Ger”
The nomads have developed a circular felt covered dwelling - the ger (or yurt in Turkish language), adapted to the difficult conditions of their daily life (cold, wind, sun) and easy to be moved as can be raised and dismantled in 30 to 60 minutes. The gers have beautiful carved and decorated doors, and south oriented. When entering into a herder’s ger, airag and cheese are handed and blown snuff bottles are exchanged.
Electric current
The standard voltage in Mongolia is 220 volts\50 Hz, with plugs of two round pins, as in Southern Europe.
Currency
The Mongolian currency is the Tugrug, which is available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, & 10,000 Tugrug Notes. The exchange rate is constantly changing. The rate of January 2006 is US$1 = MNT1232. For an up-to-date exchange rate visit.
Foods
Despite what you might hear about food supplies in Mongolia, it's now very simple to have a balanced diet, even if you're a vegetarian. If you're intending to eat out in Ulaanbaatar, there are a large number of restaurants serving quality, Chinese, Indian, Korean, Japanese, Italian, English, American, French, Russian, Latin American and of course Mongolian cuisines.
There are also a lot of supermarkets and markets selling both Mongolian and imported goods from China, Russia, East Asia and Europe.
Communication
Mongolia's national code is '00976'. Making international telephone calls from Ulaanbaatar is relatively easy. Most hotels have International Direct Dial Facilities.
The area code for Ulaanbaatar : 11.
Mobile phones: there are two services (Mobicom and Skytel). All card phones provide instructions in English. International calling cards cost 3000-10000 Tugriks.
Internet facilities: Internet facilities
Getting around: Trolley buses and buses in the city center have a fee of MNT 300 payable on board. Taxis charge MNT 350 per km. This is a relatively safe way to travel. For travel furthers a field, buses and private cars depart when full from long-distance bus stands. The rail network is limited, but there are flights to 17 airports within the country.
Time Zones: Our country straddles the 6th, 7th and 8th world time zones (the western 5 aimags ate situated in the 6th, the central aimags in the 7th and the eastern 2 aimags in the 8th time zone)
Opening hours: Shops open 09:00 a.m.-08:00 p.m. Some shops open 24 hours.
Banks open 09:00a.m.-01:00 p.m. and 02:00 p.m.-04:30 p.m. Some banks open 24 hours.
Museums open 10:00 a.m. - 04:30 p.m. (winter), 10.00a.m.-20.00p.m. (summer)
Photography and video.
Film & Equipment. Mongolia is a very photogenic country. Major brands of print and even Polaroid film are available in shops in Ulaanbaatar (but nowhere in the countryside), Technical Tips. If you do a jeep trip on an subsurface road, you can expect plenty of dust, so keep the camera well sealed in a plastic bag. Keep your film out of the Gobi's summer sun and Mongolia's winter freeze, when your automatic cameras and batteries may not work properly. Bring a spare camera battery, as these can stop working because of the cold, even in summer.
Restrictions. Photography is prohibited inside monasteries and temples, although you may photograph the exterior building and the monastery grounds. Also you can sometimes obtain special permission to take photographs in exchange for an extra fee. In most museums it is the best to have a look first before you decide whether to fork out the extra tugrik for photographs. Remember that monks and nomads are not photographic models, so if they do not want to be photographed, their wishes should be respected. Always ask before taking a photograph.
Be careful about photographing potentially sensitive areas, especially border crossings and military establishments.
Photographing People. Mongolians are not especially enthusiastic about having their photos taken. The days of state surveillance are a recent memory, and some Mongolians are ashamed of the shabbiness they and the whole country have been reduced to.
On the other hand, people in the country-side are often happy to pose for photographs if you ask first. If you have promised to send them a copy, please do it, but explain that it may take several months to reach them - some nomads believe that all cameras are (instant) Polaroids. If you promise to send them pictures please fulfill this promise and don't disillusion the nomads.
Ask them to write their address in Mongolian on a piece of paper. You can then glue the address on an envelope, and add the word 'Mongolia' in the roman alphabet to ensure that it gets to the right place.
Getting more info about Mongolia
“Mongolei” guide by Barbara Stelling in German, “MONGOLIE” guide by Olizane (in French), and the Lonely Planet’s”MONGOLIA” guide (in English).
If you wish to know more about the history of Mongolia, the “Secret history of the Mongols” is the best reference about the legendary history of Genghis khan.
Health
Vaccinations against yellow fever (Hepatitis), polio, cholera, typhoid fever are advised. Travelers should bring their own medical supplies for any personal needs and a basic medical kit. You should think that there is no perfect medical care in the countryside.
Weights and Measures: Metric System
Security
Mongolia is probably one of the safest places on earth. Even during the collapse of the communist regime, the Mongolian's were one of the only countries that haven't gone through any kind of revolution. While in the city, it is recommended that while going out in the evenings, you will use a taxi rather then walking in the streets, due to the amount of drunken people. While visiting the markets, you better not carry any unnecessary items, there is a lot of pick pocketing there.
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