Mongolia Travel Guide - Wikitravel

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5/13/2016 Mongolia travel guide - Wikitravel

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Location

Flag

Quick Facts

Capital Ulaanbaatar

Government Parliamentary Democracy

Currency Togrog/Tugrik (MNT)

Area total: 1,565,000km²water: 9,600km²land: 1,555,400km²

Population 2,791,272 (July 2006 est.)

Language Khalkha Mongol 90%,Turkic, R ussian (1999)

Religion Tibetan Buddhist(Vajrayana) 97.5%, Muslim(primarily in the southwest)Shamanism, and Christian1.5% (2010)

Country code +976Internet TLD .mn

Time Zone UTC +7 to +8

From WikitravelEarth : Asia : East Asia : Mongolia

Mongolia (http://www.mongoliatourism.gov.mn) is alandlocked country located between China and Russia. It is avast emptiness that links land and sky, and is one of the last few

places on the planet where nomadic life is still a living tradition.Mongolia may have various geopolitical, cultural and

geographical meanings. Mongolia consists of historic OuterMongolia. The province of Inner Mongolia is geographicallyand politically separate and located in northern part of China yetit shares common borders with Mongolia.

Understand

With only 1.7 people per km², Mongolia has the lowest population density among all independent countries in the

world, and it is this vast and majestic emptiness that is thecountry's enduring appeal, bringing the traveller, as it does, intoa close communion with nature and its nomadic inhabitants.

Mongolia is entirely landlocked, between China and Russia.

For several letters, the ISO 9 standard transliteration of Cyrillicis not widely used and there is no consensus either in Mongolianor in Wikitravel. Specially, the same Cyrillic letter "х" istransliterated "h" or "kh", the letter "ө" is transliterated "ô", "ö","o" or "u", but Latin "o" is also the transliteration of the Cyrillic"о", and Latin "u" is also the transliteration of Cyrillic "у" and"ү" (the latter should be transliterated "ù" according to ISO 9,

but this is rarely done). So, if you can't find a name as you wroteit, try other spellings. See also: Mongolian phrasebook

Climate

Mongolia's nickname is the "Land of Blue Skies," and withgood reason: there are said to be a bout 250 sunny daysthroughout each year, so you will need good UV protection.

During winter, protect your eyes, and during summer, protectyour skin. The weather is bitterly cold during the winter,dropping down to -40º in some parts. With many types of terrain--from desert to verdant mountains--the weather during the summer varies from region to region, buis generally hot. Outside of the Gobi desert, this time of year is marked with many rains in some areas, andit can become quite cool at night.

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The ideal Mongolia travel season starts in May and hits its highest peak in July, during the Naadamholiday, and in August when the weather is most favourable for travelling. This is the best time if you likethe culture and can bear the crowds of other tourists. It is not a good time if you want to get away fromyour busy lifestyle because you will experience traffic, busy schedules, waiting in lines, etc.

September is also a very good time to visit, and October is not too late to travel to Mongolia. It is stillwarm during the days but a bit chilly during the nights. In the autumn, Mongolia is not very crowded, andthis is time for late-comers and last-minute, unplanned trips. You will get to sightsee, enjoy the culture, an

taste mare's milk, a bitter and at first somewhat unpleasant drink, throughout the country.

For visitors not afraid of cold or fermented mare's milk, travelling to Mongolia from November till theLunar New Year is still an option. Winter tourism is a developing area of the Mongolian tourism industry.

The most rewarding experience will be visiting the nomads, as this is the time when you will experiencetheir culture first-hand during "Tsagaan Sar" or the traditional (Lunar) New Year celebration.

Travellers will have the opportunity to watch lots of cultural activities: singing, dancing, wrestling, andwinter horse racing.

History

History of ancient Mongolia dates back to third century BC when the Xiongnu came to power amongmany other nomadic tribes.

Due to illiteracy and nomadic lifestyle, little was recorded by Huns of themselves. They first appear inrecorded Chinese history as "Barbarians" against whom the walls were built. Those walls later becameknown as the Great Wall of China.

There have been several Empires in Mongolia after the Hun Nu. For example, the A Tureg Empire around650AD, with its capital approximately 110km north of Har Horin (Kharkhorum). There was also theUighur Empire, with its capital Har Bulgas (Khar Bulgas or Xar Bulgas) near Har Horin. The Khitans whocontrolled North China around 1000AD as the Liao Dynasty had an administrative center (Har Bukh)120km to the northeast. The Government of Turkey has been promoting some Turkish Empire monumentsand there is a museum full of artifacts at the Bilge Khaan site.

The struggle for mere existence and power over other tribes kept going until the time of Genghis Khan.Chinggis Khan, as he is known in Mongolia, came to power and united the warring tribes under the GreatMongol Empire in 1206. He was proclaimed Genghis Khan (Chingis Haan), meaning ruler of all Mongoltribes. The Mongolian Empire was extended all the way to eastern Europe under Genghis Khan and to all

of China and Central Asia, among other parts under his sucessors (including his grandson Kublai Khan),eventually becoming the largest continuous empire in history with thirty-three million square kilometers(about thirteen million square miles) of extension. After years of hegemony and exercise of a greatconnection between Eastern and Western civilizations, the empire suffered a collapse and splited into four kingdoms (or Khanates) through Eurasia, each of which lately achieved nearly total independence. Theeasternmost of these kingdoms was called the Yuan dinasty and included Mongol native land and many ofChina. After times of dominance over China, the Mongols were driven back to the steppes by the ChineseMing Dynasty under Emperor Hongwu. They were later conquered by the Manchurian-Chinese EmperorsKangxi and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty.

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An independent Mongol nation would only emerge again in 1924 but was not recognised by China until1945, as the Chinese were forced to grant independence to Outer Mongolia by the Soviet Union, inexchange for Soviet assistance in fighting the Japanese invasion. Thus, the historic region of Mongolia wasplit into two, with Outer Mongolia becoming the independent nation of Mongolia, while Inner Mongoliaremained a province of China. Since that time, Mongolia has had a close relationship with the SovietUnion (and Russia after the breakup of the Soviet Union). Mongolia even replaced its traditional scriptwith the cyrillic alphabet. (The traditional script, however, continues to be used by ethnic Mongols inChina). As Inner Mongolia was the more populated area before the partition, to this day the number of ethnic Mongols living in China outnumbers the population of Mongolia.

The Secret History of the Mongols is one of the great recordings of Mongolian history. Every Mongolianreads the book in the modern Mongolian language. This is one of the the oldest books in the Mongolianlanguage. There are vivid similarities with the Bible in literary style, wording and story telling. It isspeculated that the author could have been a Christian or at least was very knowledgeable about the BibleAccording to Hugh Kemp, Qadag (pp 85-90, Steppe by Step) is the most likely candidate for authorship oSecret History of the Mongols. He writes about the history of ancient Mongolia and connects the modernreality with the ancient world. Even though the book is about the history of Christianity in Mongolia, it

paints a view of ancient Mongolia from the height of 21st century. The "History of Mongolia" by B.

Baabar is a good source for the Modern History of Mongolia.

On the trail of Marco Polo covers some travel through the Mongol Empire in the time of Genghis'grandson, Kublai Khan.

People

Mongolia is more than twice as big as Texas and nearly the same size as Alaska. Its area is 1.6 million km(603,000 mi²), four times the size of Japan and almost double that of Eastern Europe.

This makes Mongolia the sixth-largest country in Asia and 19th in the world, but the population is only2,727,966 (as of 09 November 2009), which makes Mongolia one of the least densely populated areas inAsia.

If you consider that 40% of the population lives in the capital city of Ulan Bator or Ulaanbaatar that leavelots of room for you to travel in the outback. Of course, Gobi is even less densely populated.

Almost another 40% of population are scattered all over Mongolia with their 56 million head of sheep,goats, cattle, horses and camels. There are 21 provinces, called aimag . Each aimag has a central city or town and about 15-22 sub-provinces called soum, so you will know which aimag and which soum you are

in.70% of Mongolia is under the age of 35 and the genders are pretty well balanced. 84% are KhalkhaMongols, 6% Kazakhs and 10% other groups.

The majority of the Mongolian population; 90% follow a mixture of Tibetan Buddhism and shamanismwhile the remaining 10% follow a diverse range of different faiths, mainly Islam and Christianity.

Holidays and festivals

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Naadam festival celebrations.

Mongolia is home to the "three manly sports": wrestling, horse racing,and archery, and these are the same three sporting events that take placeevery year at the Naadam festival.

Naadam is the National Holiday of Mongolia celebrated on 11-13 Jul.During these days all of Mongolia watches or listens to the whole eventwhich takes place in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar through Mongolia's

National Television and Radio. Many other smaller Naadam festivals take

place in different aimags (provinces) around the country throughout themonth of July, and it is at these Naadam festivals that you are able to geta much closer look at the action.

It is believed that Naadam celebrations started with the rise of the Great Mongolian Empire as Chinggis(also known as Genghis) Khan's strategy to keep his warriors strictly fit. After the fall of the empire, thecontests were held during religious festivals, and since the communist revolution it was celebrated on itsanniversary.

The legend says that in old times a woman dressed like a man won a wrestling competition once. That is

why open chest and long sleeve wrestling costumes, called "zodog", are meant to show that every participant is male. Wrestlers wear short trunks, "shuudag", and Mongolian boots, "gutal". The yellowstripes on the tails of wrestlers' hats will indicate the number of times the wrestler became a champion in

Naadam.

Only Naadam gives official titles to the wrestlers. Mongolian wrestling tournaments have 9 or 10 roundsdepending on the number of 512 or 1024 wrestlers registered for the competition that year. If the wrestler wins 5 rounds, he will be awarded the title "Nachin" (bird), 6 rounds - Hartsaga (hawk), 7 rounds - Zaan(elephant), 8 rounds - Garuda (Eagle), 9 rounds - Arslan (lion) and 10 - Avarga (Titan).

In 2006, Zaan (Elephant) Sumyabazar won 9 rounds that made him Garuda but that year 1024 wrestlershad 10 rounds which he won all. This entitled him to Avarga. Or Arslan (Lion) must win 2 in a row to

become Avarga (Titan). The titles are for life. If Avarga (Titan) keeps winning at Naadam more and moreattributes will be added to his title.

There are no weight categories in Mongolian Wrestling tournaments but there is a time limit of 30 min, if the wrestlers can not overthrow each other, referees use lots for better position which often settles thematch. One who falls or his body touches the ground loses the match.

Mongolian Wrestling matches are attended by seconds whose role is to assist their wrestlers in all mattersand to encourage them to win by spanking on their buttocks. They also sing praise songs and titles to the

leading wrestlers of both wings, west and east, after 5 and 7 rounds. The referees monitor the rules but the people and the fans are the final judges. They will speak and spread the word of mouth about who is whotill the next year.

The Golden Eagle Festival (http://discover-bayanolgii.com/golden-eagle-festival/) in Ölgii on thefirst weekend of October is the largest gathering in the world of eagle hunters. The event typicallyhas 60 to 70 Kazakh eagle hunters displaying their skills. The events include having their goldeneagles fly to them on command and catching a fox fur being pulled by a horse from a perch on anearby mountain. The event also features traditional Kazakh games like Kokpar (tug-of-war over agoat carcass while on horseback), Tiyn Teru (a timed race to pick up a coin on the ground while on

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Mongolia regions

horseback), and Kyz Kuar ("girl chase," is a race between a man and woman where the womanwhips the man while he tries to hold on). The festival also has a traditional Kazakh concert, camelrace, and displays of Kazakh art. A smaller eagle festival is held on 22 Sep in the nearby village of Sagsai.

Nauryz Festival also in Ölgii is the traditional new years celebration of Kazakhs held on 22 MarchThere is a parade, concert, and horse races during the several days of celebrating. Though most of the celebration involves visiting friends and relatives to eat Nauryz Koje (soup) and boiled mutton

and horse meat.

Regions

The country can be categorized into five distinct regions based on culture and geography. These regionsare further divided into 21 provinces and one special municipality.

Central Mongolia includes Ulaanbaatar andthe popular tourist

region of ArkhangaiEastern Mongolia

Gobi a mostly desert region insouthern Mongolia

Northern Mongolia

Western Mongolia home of Lake Uvs Nuur and Tavan Bogd

Mountains

Cities

Ulaanbaatar - the capital and starting point for most travel in MongoliaErdenet - Mongolia's second largest city and home to one of the world's biggest copper mines and afamous carpet factoryHovd - historic city at the crossroads of traditional Mongol and Kazakh cultureMörön - capital of Hövsgöl provinceÖlgii - Kazakh city in Mongolia's far western corner of Bayan-Ölgii province

Tsetserleg - capital of Arkhangai provinceKarakorum - ancient Mongol capital established by Genghis KhanUliastai- capital of Zavhan provinceOndorkhaan- capital of Khentii provinceDalanzadgad- capital of South Gobi province

Other destinations

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park home to the highest mountains and largest glacier in Mongolia, aswell as Kazakh eagle hunters.

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Uvs Nuur Lake, Uvs province The largest lake in Mongolia and a world heritage site.The River Tuul Nomad's Sacred Valley-The river Tuul is one of the longest rivers of the country,flowing from the Khentii Mountain Range. The valley of the river has been called sacred for centuries by the nomads as they truly respect the nature especially the rivers and the surface water.[[[1] (http://www.chinggisgercamp.com/)]]Chinggis Tourist Base Camp-located on the eastern fringof the Gorkhi/Terelj National Park and lies on the bank of "Tuul" river.Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve - The most suitable ecotourism destination in Mongolia.Gorkhi-Terelj National Park - A national park 70 km east of Ulaanbaatar

Xar Xorin (Kharkorum) The Capital of the Mongolian Empire after Ghenggis Khan.Khovsgol Lake - A very large alpine lake.Darhad Valley - Home to the Reindeer people.Khustain Nuruu National Park - Khustain Nuruu or Hustai National park is home to the Takhi wildhorses (also known as Przewalski's Horse). These are true wild horses which have never beendomesticated.Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park. Khongor Sand dunes, Yol Canyon, Bayanzag-Red FlammingCliffs, Khermen Tsav,...

Get in

Entry requirements

There are four border crossings open to foreigners, three on the Russian border of which the main one isAltanbulag, and one called Zamyn - Uud near the small town of Erlian on the border with China.

Foreign nationals of the following countries/territories can enter Mongolia visa-free:

For up to 90 days: United States, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Macau SAR

For up to 30 days: Canada, Cuba, Israel, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Turkey, Japan, Romania and Russia.From 25 June 2014 to 31 December 2015 passport holders of 42 countries additional countries (includingthe United Kingdom, Norway and Brazil) will be able to enter visa-free for up to 30 days.

For up to 21 days: Philippines

For up to 14 days: Hong Kong SAR, Singapore

For other foreign nationals, the process for obtaining a thirty day visa or tourist visa is relatively painless, requiring a visa application form, a small fee at your local Mongolian embassy and an invitationletter that is arranged through tour companies. Licensed tour companies can issue this invitation letter

(http://www.selenatravel.com/22/mongolia_visa) for you. However, the citizens of Indonesia, Russia,China and Taiwan and some other countries needs to get an official invitation letter that is issued by theConsular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after confirmation by the tour company or firm orindividual who is inviting you. Longer visas are available; it requires an invitation letter from aMongolian company or individual.

Citizens of countries where a Mongolian Embassy or Honorary consulate of Mongolia doesn't exist, canapply for a Mongolian visa at the Mongolian borders - Chinggis Khaan Airport, Zamyn - Uud andAltanbulag. It requires your official permission letter that is issued by Immigration Office in Ulaanbaatar according to your invited person or entity's request, exact arrival date and time, flight or train number.

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Once you got the permission, you have to bring the copy of permission, passport sized photo and visa feeof c. US$105 per applicant and then you can get the visa at the airport. For most cases, it is easy to seek ahelp from licensed travel company that can get permission for you from Immigration Office inUlaanbaatar.

Also, it is possible to acquire an expedited visa in a matter of hours at the Mongolian consulate in Erlian,though there is a steep $50 US fee for this service. A similar service is available in the Mongolianconsulate in the Russian city of Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude. Indian nationals are required to apply for a visa,

although the visa fee is waived.

You won't get more than 30 days on a tourist visa. In Mongolia you can extend your visa for another 30days maximum.

The Embassy of Mongolia in the UK website (http://www.embassyofmongolia.co.uk/) is useful for updates.

The Embassy of Mongolia in China website (http://www.mongolembassychina.org/) allows you to printoff the application form you will need if you are applying for your Mongolian visa in China, although the

consulate does have them too. If you going to stay more than 30 days you have to get registered atMongolia Immigration.

As of September 2013, the consulate in Irkutsk does not require an invitation letter any more and will issueven one year multiple entry visas without a fuss.

By plane

There are a few places with flights into the capital, Ulaanbaatar. National air carrier MIAT Mongolianairlines operates daily flights (during some peak season - twice a day) from Beijing and Seoul, twice a

week flights from Hong Kong, Berlin, Moscow and Tokyo (during some peak season - from Narita).During peak summer season it increases flight frequencies and operates direct flights from Berlin. Thereare branch offices in Berlin, Moscow, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing. North American branchoffice is in Denver, CO and can be reached via Air Bridge (http://www.airbridgeusa.com)

There are almost daily flights from Seoul on Korean Air as well as other flights through Beijing. It is also possible to fly to Ulaanbaatar through Tokyo's Narita Airport. There are also direct flights from Istanbulwith Turkish Airlines. Don't buy a non-refundable or unchangeable ticket if you are going to Mongolia,

because flights don't always actually happen. You can also fly in from Beijing, with MIAT Mongolianairlines (http://www.miat.com) being the cheapest, then Air China after that. You may find the cheapest airticket to Mongolia from travel agents.

Hunnu Air (http://www.hunnuair.com/en/timetable), a Mongolian Airline, offers flights from Hong Kong,Shanghai, Bangkok to Ulaanbaatar.

Once you are in the country you can also fly to all the provincial capitals. Plane flights between thecapitals may be hard to find though. But air travel agents, guest houses, and hotels can help you to obtainyour domestic air ticket in Mongolia.

As of 24th September 2014 MIAT has started cheap (relatively) flights from Singapore to Ulan Bator twica week (Wednesdays and Saturday).

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By train

The Trans-Mongolian Line of the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway links Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar with Moscow and Vladivostok, Russia and Beijing, China.

From Russia

The Trans-Mongolian train crosses the Russia/Mongolia border at the town of Naushki, Russia.

Those interested in saving money can book one way elektrichka (regional train) tickets from Irkutskor Ulan Ude to Naushki. In Naushki, one can spend the night in the recently (June 2009) renovatedtrain resting rooms (komnati otdiha) for US$.50 per hour. From there, it is possible to take amarshrutka to the land border crossing town of Kyakhta, Russia. Walking across the border is

prohibited, but travelers have no problems arranging for Mongolia bound cars to take them acrossthe border, either for a small fee or for free. Upon crossing into Mongolia it is relatively easy tohitchhike, taxi, or bus to Sukhbaator or UB, as all southbound traffic is headed towards those cities.

From the West, from Russia, it is possible to cross at the land border in Tsagaannuur. There are daily petrol and wheat-carrying Russian Kamaz trucks headed to Olgii and it is possible to hitchhike toTsagaannuur or even Olgii. Regular buses and marshrutkas also operate from the border, thoughservice is unpredictable due to the lack of a schedule.

From China

Trans Mongolian Railway

2nd class (hard sleeper) costs about US$200 (Mar 2011) from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar. The ride takesalmost 30 hours, but you are given a berth in a sleeper-car. The train leaves twice per week from Beijing.Currently, as of Mar 2011, tickets cannot be purchased from the Beijing station. Instead you will bedirected to the China International Tour Service (CITS) office at 2nd floor of the Beijing InternationalHotel (10 min. walk north of the station, large, white building).

Local Trains

Beijing to the border: If the Beijing - Ulaanbaatar train is sold out, as seems to be common, or you need more frequent option, you can make your way from Beijing to the border at Erlian by local train as

described below, and then on to Ulaanbaatar by bus and train. You may also try looking on eLong.com forflights from Beijing to Erlian (Elianhaote on eLong). As of March 2011, there are morning flights fromBeijing to Erlian out of Capital Airport Terminal 1 that only cost 160Y, which is cheaper than the bus.

Trains run daily from Beijing to Jining (Inner Mongolia) or Hohhot. You can change there for a train to the border town of Erlian near the Mongolian-Chinese border. The K89 leaves Beijing in the morning andarrives at Jining in the evening. Jining has many hotels near the train station and has karaoke bars to keepyou entertained while you wait. From Jining to Erlian there is a slow train that leaves in the morning,

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passes the great wall multiple times, and arrives in the early evening. For up to date train times and costssee China Guide (http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/%7CTravel). Note that this will take anight longer than getting the sleeper bus as described in "By Bus".

Crossing the border

Be wary of scams at the border where people in uniform will attempt to sell you "required travelinsurance." There is no such thing and you can safely ignore them.

You should then cross the border from Erlian in China to Zamiin-Uud in Mongolia as described in Erlianto and from Mongolia.

In Erlian you can cross the border in a Jeep or by Bus. The bus goes everyday. In the bus station look for the international ticket window.

Once in Zamin-Uud, the only option is the train.

From the border to Ulaanbaatar

Once you have crossed the border, you will need to get from Zamiin-Uud to Ulaanbaatar as described inZamiin-Uud get in.

To China

From Ulaanbaatar there are several options.

Firstly, the International train. Tickets at the International ticket office located across the street from thetrain station. The ticket office is on the second floor in the VIP lounge.

The second option is to get on the Hohhot international train and transfer at Erlian or Jining (Inner Mongolia).

The third option is to take the daily train to Zamiin-Uud, Mongolia at the border and take a bus or jeep toChina. You can then go to the bus or train station in Erlian, China.

By bus

From Beijing to Erlian by bus costs 180 RMB and takes 12hrs. Several buses leave different bus stations inBeijing bound for Erlian:

Liuliqiao long-distance bus station (六里桥客运主枢纽 or lìu lǐ qiáo kè yùn zhǔ shū nǐu）, phone010-83831716, address: A1, Liuliqiao Nan Li, Fengtai District. Departure at 16:30. These aresupposed to run every day, but may not. You can phone at 10:00 on the morning of departure to seeif the bus is running and to reserve a place.Muxiyuan long-distance bus station (木樨园才华长途汽车站 ), phone 010-67267149, location: goto Liujiayao Metro Station and get a cab. Departs 17:00.Lizeqiao long-distance bus station (丽泽桥长途汽车站 ), phone (丽泽桥长途汽车站 ) Address中国,北京市丰台区北京市丰台区西三环丽泽桥东 010-63403408, address中国,北京市丰台区北京市丰台区西三环丽泽桥东. Location is difficult to get to. Departs 17:00.

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From Hohhot by bus cost 88 RMB and takes 6 - 7 hrs. There are several buses each day.

Once you've got to Erlian you should then follow the Crossing the border and From the border toUlaanbaatar steps above.

Should you be travelling at a busy time (i.e. around Naadam on the 11th/12th July) and want to be sure of getting tickets for the last leg of the trip in Mongolia, you could take one of the packages from theguesthouses in Beijing. These cost around 570 RMB (July 2009). They include will include a taxi to the

coach station in Beijing, Beijing to Erlian by sleeper coach, a bed in the hotel in the bus station for a fewhours, a bus from Erlian to Zamyn-Uud across the border, then soft sleeper overnight from Zamyn-Uud toUlaanbaatar. Purchased separately the tickets cost about 360 RMB. The Saga guesthouse in Beijing sellsthese, and although they insist til they're blue in the face the train is hard sleeper it's actually soft sleeper!

From Russia

A daily bus goes from Ulan-Ude to Ulanbaatar. The ticket is priced at 1500 Roubles (As on July, 2015) buit is better to take help of various tour companies which can buy the tickets for you. The tickets bear your name and Passport number so may be used for visa purpose as well. The companies may charge anywhere

between 1700 Roubles to 1900 Roubles for each ticket.

The bus leaves at 7:30 AM from South Bus Station in Ulan Ude and reaches Ulanbaatar at about 10:00PM, depending on the time taken at border. It drops passengers at Dragon Bus Station. Try getting windowseat for enjoying beautiful scenery on your way.

By thumb

The road stops at the border town of Zamyn-Uud and gives way to an open desert, with tracks going invarious directions but generally heading north toward the capital city. Hitchhiking in Mongolia is not easy

and a little bit of money can be expected. There is an average of one car every hour heading into the deserExpect a bumpy road with not much to see -- but this is the real Mongolian steppe.

Get around

If you plan to travel around the countryside without a guide, take a GPS and get some maps. The"Mongolia Road Atlas" is available in many bookstores, it is over 60 pages and covers the whole country:note there is a latin character version and cyrillic character version, in the countryside most people won'tunderstand the latin version. More detailed maps are available at the Mongolian Government Map Store.

These maps are 1:500,000. Also some other special purpose maps and a very good map of downtownUlaanbaatar. The map store is on Ih Toiruu St. Go west from the State Department store on the main streetcalled Peace, Peace and Friendship, or Ekhtavan Ave, two blocks to the large intersection with trafficlights, Turn right (North) and the map store is about half way along the block. There is an Elba electronicappliance store set back from the street, a yellow and blue building, the next building is a large Russianstyle office building 4 floors in height, the map store entrance is on the west side, toward the south end of the building, it lines up with the North wall of the Elba building.

Whichever method of long-distance travel is chosen, keep in mind that everything in Mongolia has atendency to break down. Don't be shocked if part of the suspension breaks and the driver jimmy-rigs acarved wooden block in the place of a mount. For more serious breakdowns, it can easily take an entire

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day or longer for somebody to come along and help, so leave plenty of slack in itineraries. Finally,Mongolians are rather notorious for being late. A bus that is scheduled to leave at 08:00 will probably not

be out of the city till almost 11:00.

By plane

Domestic flight to the popular capital city in the province is available. There are 3 domestic airlinecompanies including Aero Mongolia (http://www.aeromongolia.mn/home), Eznis Airways(http://www.eznisairways.com/), and Hunnu Air (http://www.hunnuair.com/). All websites have online

booking system but Aero Mongolia does not accept last name less than 3 letters. Hunnu Air's online booking system can process for sure. Contacting travel agents for booking flight tickets is another way toget the domestic flight ticket in advance.

By car

Road accidents are frequent. The bigger the vehicle is, the safer it is. Outside of the capital, there are few paved roads. The easiest way to travel long distance is using AeroMongolia. AeroMongolia uses Fokker-

50 turboprops. Air travel in Mongolia involves a two-tier price structure, with the costs for foreigners being significantly higher than for locals.

For the budget conscious, Russian Jeeps and 4WD Mini-buses act as a public transport system. About85,000 tugrik pays for the all-day trip from UB to Tsetserleg (the regional capital of Arkhangai). Note thatthis involves being crammed into a Jeep with about nine locals (some of whom may be drunk) andspending the entire day racing over very bumpy dirt trails. Bus is a better option.

By motorbike

Having read the above statement about road safety in Mongolia you might be put off by touring thecountry by motorcycle but you would be missing out on some of the best motorbike touring in the world:open steppes, freedom and a culture of hospitality make Mongolia one of the best motorcycle touringdestinations - period.

If you haven't brought your own you can rent them for as little as 13 Euro per day in UB. Alternatively,you can arrange buy-sell back agreements with motorbike sellers of Chinese motorbikes at motorbikemarkets like the Black Market that will often end up being cheaper than renting if you plan on biking for two weeks or more. Plus, you will ride a brand new bike as opposed to the often quite run-down rental

bikes. New Chinese Mustang bikes sell for 725 USD and can be sold back for about 2/3 the original pricedepending on your negotiating skills. Registration of the motorbike is a must and must be done by a

Mongolian or a person holding a visa of 90 days or longer.

By bus

Travelling by local bus is also an option, though these buses tend only to connect the provincial capitalwith UB, and it is quite difficult to find any public transportation linking one provincial capital withanother. Lately the Bus situation is much better. Most cities and towns are refered to in two ways, their name or the name of the Aimag (province) or Sum (county). e.g. Dornod or Dornod Aimag or Choybalsan

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(the actual city name). Most buses have their destination on a card in the front window. If you have either name written down in Mongolian Cyrillic, you can just show to the drivers or helpers and they will get youon the right bus.

There are two types of buses, micro vans and large buses (some large buses are old Russian types andsome are modern western type), depending on the road. The large buses run on schedule, but the micro-

buses are much more lax. In Ulaanbaatar, there are two bus stations, one on the west near the DragonShopping Center and one on the East near the Botanical Gardens. Get local to write directions. For the

large buses buy your tickets the day before.

In the Aimag centres, there will be service to Ulaanbaatar and to local suems (small county seats) andusually the next Aimag Center. However, all locations may not be available at one location. Ask for helpfrom the locals. For example, In Ondorkhaan, the capital of Khentii Province, there is bus service betweenOndorkhaan and UB from a central bus station, however the through buses going to/from UB to Dornadand Sukhbaatar Aimags (Choybalsan and Baruun-Urt) will stop at a gas station on the North side of thecity.

Bus tickets

You purchase your ticket at the station, not in the coach. Don't expect any cashier, driver or conductor tospeak anything but Mongolian and, possibly, Russian. It's not possible to pay by credit card. Your passporis required to buy a ticket. If you have a luggage exceeding the standard (written in your ticket) in weightor size, you'll be asked for an extra fee by the conductor. You can negotiate this one.

Inside a bus

On some destinations, the driver and the conductor illegally add extra passengers and get the money for themselves. They might even try to make 3 people sit on 2 seats, for instance: you can protest in such acase. Your ticket gives you the right to a full seat and this is what you get in most coaches. The coaches fordifferent destinations have normally 20-40 passenger seats.

The coach will usually stop for a rather quick lunch or dinner at a local snack or canteen.

By train

There is only one railway company in Mongolia, owned by the Russian and Mongolian States. It is probably the best way to experience something of the communist time, even if it has evolved a bit sincethen. The railway network is poor, consisting mainly in the Irkutsk-Beijing trans-mongolian way with a

few extensions. The rolling stock consist of 30–40 years old Soviet cars. Trains are extremely slow. Theyusually leave on time, and arrive on time or less than 20 min late.

Don't expect to encounter any English-speaking staff. Conductors and cashiers speak only Mongolian, andif you're lucky, also a little bit Russian.

The local trains stop at many small stations in the countryside. For example, there is the small town of Batsumber, located about 34km north of Ulaanbaatar (as the crow flies) longer on the train. Take your camping gear and hike to the mountains about 10km east of the town. There are two streams flowing west


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out of the mountains, hike and camp along the streams. There is a small restaurant, and food shops in thetown.

See train timetable and ticket prices on the company website [2] (http://www.ubtz.mn/page?id=41) (only iMongolian).

Train tickets

Mongolian trains are cheap, even in comparison with Russian and Chinese trains. You pay an extra fee if you book in advance, and also an extra fee if you buy it in the train, which is the only possibility left if there are less than 10 min left before the train departure. Your passport is required to buy a ticket.

There are 3 classes: tasalgaat , untlagyn, and niytiyn, they directly correspond to the Russian train classeskupeyniy, platskartniy and obshchiy.

Tasalgaat class is the only one with closed compartments, with 4 berths for each. You'll be charged for MNT200o for compulsory bed sheets inside the train (Aug 2013).

Untlagyn cars have open compartments with 6 berths.

Niytiyn class is the cheapest, but definitely not recommended. You have to spend your night sitting andeven with little space on crowded days. The tickets are numbered, but, when the seats are exhausted, thecompany overbooks public seats with tickets numbered "0", at the same price.

Inside a national train

There is a small water boiler at the end of each train car which dispenses free hot water, so it's a good ideato stock up on instant noodles and tea for the trip. You will be offered drinks and Mongolian food inside

the train, both by official sellers of the company and, at the big stations with long stops, from private people getting in the train for that purpose.

Be careful of your belongings: thefts are not rare. But there are policemen in each train.

On a long trip, your ticket will be checked again and again, and you'll be woken up in the middle of thenight for that. Nobody will wake you if you have to get off during the trip, but if you get off at theterminus, you'll be woken up, even more than one hour before arrival, depending on the agent. The traintoilets officially close 30 min before the terminus, sometimes even before that.

By minivan

Public countryside taxis and minivans offer more destinations than coaches and many more than train,especially between provinces. They are more dangerous than coaches and trains. Most drivers don't respecthe traffic rules. Countryside taxis and minivans leave when full. They always say they will go "now"("odo") but it's rarely true and you can wait hours before they really go. See how many people are alreadysitting inside the vehicle to have an idea of how long you'll wait.

By chartered jeep

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It is also possible to charter a Jeep and driver for private use. Prices are typically negotiated by thekilometre. While far more expensive than sharing a ride with the locals, this means of transport isconsiderably more convenient and allows you to visit more remote sites. It can also be quite convenient tohire a guide to use during the length of your stay. Doing so can allow you to travel without worrying abouttaxi drivers wanting to overcharge up to 10X just for being a foreigner.

By taxi

In the cities, taxis should charge about MNT800/km. The drivers will set their trip meter and chargeaccordingly.

By horse

For local travel, horse-back is a good option. Note, however, that Mongolians ride on wooden saddles, soif you value your buttocks it's probably a good idea to pick up a leather, Russian saddle in UB.

By foot

Another great alternative is to simply walk. Since camping is possible anywhere, resting is never a problem. Wherever there is water there are nomads, and if you stick to the major dirt-roads you willencounter plenty of guanz, who can provide huge cheap meals to keep you going. Adopting the Mongolianstyle of sleeping outdoors is also an option - wrap yourself in wool blankets and then cover yourself with aRussian raincoat (essentially a tarp in the form of a trench coat), and simply plop yourself down on theground. One night sleeping this way gives a whole new appreciation for the wonders of sleeping bags and

bivvy sacks/tents.

Talk

See also: Mongolian phrasebook

With the exception of the westernmost province where Kazakh is spoken, everybody in the country speakMongolian. The language is extremely difficult for Westerners to learn and speak, even after multiplemonths of being immersed in the culture. Westerners typically take a minimum of 9-18 months of full timMongolian language study to be conversant. Most locals will appreciate attempts to speak phrases inMongolian, although the traveller will inevitably pronounce them wrong (be careful when ordering water in a restaurant - the word for water [pronounced "oos"] is indistinguishable for that of "hair" to the Englishear! Makes for a good laugh over and over ...). Picking up a phrasebook and practising a few phrases will

help. The numbering system is regular, and fairly easy to learn. Despite the government's efforts to promote the Mongolian writing system, the Cyrillic system is still the standard and being able to read itmight help you.

If you can speak Russian you should not have any major problems communicating. Mongolia has had along history of alliance with the Soviet Union, and Russia after the break up of the Soviet Union, soRussian is compulsory in all Mongolian schools and widely spoken in urban areas. English is not widelyspoken, although it's been getting more popular lately.

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Foreigners able to speak German should give it a try, as especially in the older generations there are folksthat do speak it due to Mongolia's ties to the G.D.R. that caused many Mongolians to work and study inEast Berlin.

See

Mongolia is a big country with bad transportation means, so trying to see too many provinces you would

spend your holidays inside vehicles. Hôvsgôl (or "Hövsgöl") lake, in Hövsgöl province, is very beautiful.There is not much architecture in Mongolia, but Amarbaysgalant monastery, Selenge province, in themiddle of nowhere, is worth seeing. Interested by the economical aspect ? See Erdenet's open copper minethe biggest copper mine in Asia, in Orhon province.

Do

The Trans-Mongolian Railway passes through the country.

Mongolia Canoeing,☎ 976-99826883, [3] (http://www.mongoliacanoeing.com/). River Tours,Canoe down some of Mongolia's major rivers editvisit Reindeer Herders (Tsaatan Community), Tsagaan nuur, Khovsgol (West of Khovsgol lake,

From Moron drive WNW, Past the Airport, Go to Ulaan Uul and continue north. High water canmake the roads difficult.), [4] (http://itgel.org/). Reindeer herders living in High Alpine mountains.Must ride horses or reindeer from Tsagaan nuur. It can be a long hard ride. edit

Local Bonda Lake Camp in Khatgal village near Lake Khovsgol offers various nature and culturalfeaturing: fishing, hiking, winter tours, nomad visits, horse back riding, visiting reindeer herders andDarhad valley. Horse riding, you have chance discover Lake Khovsgol and its beautiful waters, meeTsataan (nomadic reindeer herders) living in yurts in the north of Khovsgol area. This region is

incredibly scenic, perched at 1645 m altitude in green mountains, covered with thick pine forests anlush meadows with grazing yaks and horses, and rich with wildlife: the lake has 9 species of fish anits surroundings are full of sheep, goats, elk and more than 430 species of birds. There are 5 differenMongolian tribes nearby: Khalh, Darhad, Buriad, Hotgoid, & Urianhai. The Camp has a hot showersauna, internet and a restaurant with Mongolian and European meals.

Buy

The Mongolian currency is the tôgrôg (төгрөг), also spelled tugrik , tugrug or togrog , Unicode and localsymbol: "₮", ISO symbol: MNT. There were 2,010 tugrik for USD1 or MNT2,939=GBP1 as of 28 April

2016.

Shopping

Mongolian cashmere is known as the best in the world. Garments and blankets made of cashmere.You can find lots of stores that sells cashmere products.Mongolia is famous for its copper mines Erdenet and Oyu Tolgoi. Copper bookmark is one of theideal souvenirs and you can easily find this USD1 metal souvenir in Ulaanbaatar souvenir shops.Paintings by local artists are excellent buys in Mongolia(local painting center gps coordinate:47.928958, 106.928024 , "N+106°55'40.9"E/@47.9289438,106.9280278,15

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(https://www.google.mn/maps/place/47°55'44.2)).You can find felt poker-work in Erdenet.

Note that it is illegal to take antiques out of the country without a special permit.The huge open-air market, Narantuul ("The Black Market") in Ulaanbaatar offers the lowest priceson just about anything you could want. Be very careful of the many pickpockets and even attackersthere. This can be a great place to get a good pair of riding boots. You can opt for a variety of Mongolian styles, from fancy to the more practical, or even get a good set of Russian style boots.In Erdenet is a ISO 9 001 certified carpet factory, making and selling also slippers made in carpet.

Eat

The main diet in rural Mongolia is mutton or sheep. Beef might also hit the menu occasionally. Here, abouMNT8,000-10,000 will buy you a large platter heaped with fried noodles and slivers of mutton. On theside will be a large bottle of ketchup. A tasty and greasy dish served is khuushuur (huushoor), which is afried pancake stuffed with bits of mutton and onion. Three to four make a typical meal. Also, theubiquitous buuz (booz) can be had at any canteen in town or the countryside. Buuz are similar tokhuushuur in that they are big dumplings stuffed with mutton and onion, however they are steamed rather than fried. About 6 buuz cost MNT3,000-4,000 (USD2.15-2.87) and serves one.

The boodog or goat/marmot barbecue, is particularly worth experiencing. For about MNT30,000-40,000, nomad will head out with his gun, shoot a marmot, and then cook it for you using hot stones in its skinwithout a pot. Along the same lines as boodog is khorkhog (made of mutton), which is prepared like so:

build a fire; toss stones into fire until red hot; place water, hot stones, onions, potatoes, carrots, and, finallymutton chops, into a large vacuum-sealed kettle; let the kettle simmer over a fire for 30-60 minutes; openkettle carefully, as the top will inevitably explode, sending hot juices flying everywhere; once the kettle isopened, and all injuries have been tended to, eat contents of kettle, including the salty broth. This cookingmethod makes mutton taste tender and juicy, like slow-roasted turkey. Ask your guide if he or she canarrange one (but only during summer).

The boodog is also made of other meat, usually goat, and is similar to the khorhog with one major difference: the meat, vegetables, water and stones are cooked inside the skin of the animal. They skin itvery carefully, and then tie off the holes at the legs and back side, put the food and hot stones inside, tie ofthe throat, and let it cook for about 30 minutes.

Drink

The legal drinking/purchasing age of alcoholic beverages is 18.

The national drink is called Airag . (It is available in for example in traditional mongolian "ger" tents inUlan Bator at the main entrance of Gandantegchinlen Monastery, GPS decimal coordinates N47.92069E106.89467 for 1500T and a the West Market N47.91118 E106.83569 for MNT1000 per bowl as of September 2010) This is a summer seasonal drink made from fermented mare's milk, and is certainly anacquired taste. The alcohol content is less than that of beer, but can have noticeable effects. Be careful, if you aren't accustomed to drinking sour milk products the first time might give you diarrhea as your stomach gets accustomed to it. This should only happen the first time though. Once you've completed theritual, your digestive system shouldn't complain again. There are numerous ways to describe the taste,

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from bile-like to a mixture of lemonade and sour cream. The texture can also be offputting to some peoplesince it can be slightly gritty. It is worth keeping in mind that Airag is milk and a source of nutrients. Aftea day of riding it can actually be quite refreshing, once acquiring a taste for it.

The first thing you will be served every time you visit a ger will be milk tea, which is essentially a cup of boiled milk and water, sometimes with a couple pieces of tea leaf thrown in for good measure. You mightwant to build up your tolerance by drinking lots of milk in preparation for your stay because they don'tdrink much else, except perhaps boiled water if you specially request it during a longer stay. Also, most

traditional nomadic foods such as dried yogurt and the like require acclimatization to milk as well. Colddrinks don't actually exist in the countryside (unless you intend to drink straight out of a river, generallynot recommended).

If you are in Mongolia especially in the country side try their National Home Made Vodka. It's usuallymade from distilled yogurt or milk. It doesn't have any weird taste. After you have your first shot of thevodka you won't feel anything, but few minutes later it will get to your head. Most people in Mongoliausually drink this for medical reasons. First you heat up the vodka then put in a little bit of special oilwhich is also made from milk. Careful don't overheat it, you might get blind. Mongolians call their national vodka nermel areehk ("distilled vodka") or changa yum ("tight stuff"). There are lots of Russian

type Vodkas sold all over the country. The best ones are Chinggis Khaan vodka, Soyombo and GoldenChinggis.

In Ulaanbaataar you can find most of Western beers, from Miller to Heineken. They sell Budweiser -- notAmerican Bud but the Czech Budweiser. Local beer, such as Chingiss, Gem Grand, Borgio or Sengur isfine.

Sleep

Some western-style accommodations are available in Ulaanbaatar, but they go for western prices. Thereare a few nice guest houses in UB for less than US$10 per night (even as cheap as 3,000 tugrik if you'rewilling to share a room), but they are crowded during the tourist season and hard to get into.

Out in the countryside, most of the hotels are rundown leftovers from the Soviet era. A better option istourist ger , set up by various entrepreneurial locals. Staying at one of these costs about MNT5,000 per

person per night. They often include breakfast and dinner as well. When staying in one of these guest ger,the usual gift-giving customs can be skipped.

Finally, there are also ger-camps. Set up by tour-companies, they do occasional rent out space toindependent travellers. Unfortunately, they tend to be both expensive (35 US$ per person per night with 3

meals) and out of the way.

Except for the cities and larger towns, all of the land is publicly owned. This means you can pitch a tent pretty much anywhere. Courtesy dictates that you keep your distance from existing nomad encampments.Common-sense dictates that you don't pitch a tent in the middle of or too close to a road.

In Mongolia, nowadays there are more 300 hotels and these are graded between 1 to 5 stars in theinternational standards Hotels holding 3 stars or more are for tourist service. 3 – 5 star holders must obtainspecial permission in order to operate. “Accommodation grading committee” consisting of the Ministry,

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travel industry associations and tourism researchers categorize an accommodation according to Mongolianstandards.

Currently, 4 five star hotels: Shangri-La Hotel, Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel (one of the BestWestern international chain hotels, located next to the Mongolian parliament building), Terelj Hotel (set inthe natural environment of the popular Terelj National Park, around 70km from Ulaanbaatar.) andUlaanbaatar Hotel, three 4 star hotels: Chinggis, Kempinski hotel Khan Palace (German-based KempinskiHotels took over the management of Khan Palace, renaming it Kempinski Hotel Khan Palace.) Ramada

Hotel and Bayangol hotel.

Three stars 30 hotels and other hotels have one or two stars hotels are operating. Most hotels offered on a bed and breakfast basis and hotels have three types of rooms: a deluxe, a semiluxe, and a standard.

Learn

There are some language schools in the capital. The two best known ones to foreigners are Bridge Schooland Friends School. Both schools offer group study classes or individual tutors. Also the National

University of Mongolia (http://www.num.edu.mn/Default.aspx?alias=www.num.edu.mn/eng) offerscourses.

It usually takes Westerners about 9 to 18 months before they acquire good conversational abilities inMongolian. Speakers of Turkic languages, such as Turks or Kazakhs, tend to pick it up quicker due to thesimilarities in grammatical structure.

Work

There is a huge demand for "Native" English speakers as English teachers. Anyone who is interested in

teaching English will have no trouble getting employment and a work visa through a school or organization. However, the pay is generally low compared to other countries. Though it'll usually be justenough for room and board plus a little extra.

Local English-language media are another source of employment for native English speakers, offeringwork as editors, proof-readers or photojournalists.

Volunteer work is available teaching English, assisting with charity work and joining archaeological digs.These jobs are easy to find and are very rewarding.

Stay safeApart from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia is generally a safe place to travel. However, incidences of pick

pocketing and bag slashing have been on the rise in recent years, so always keep your personal belongingsin a safe place (money belts are highly recommended), especially in crowded areas or in places where youattention is diverted, such as internet cafes . Notorious places for theft are the Black Market (bazaar), therailway station and crowded bus stops.

Violent crime is uncommon outside the capital city, but still caution is required at night, and dark or deserted alleys and streets, in particular, should be avoided.

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Unfortunately, Xenophobia is rampant, and violence towards foreigners is not uncommon. This problemusually affects males. Mongolian men will generally pick out the largest foreign men and attack them,mostly with their fists. This is known to happen at all hours of the day and in any part of the city. Of course, at night the problem becomes much worse. Be very, very wary of clubs that have a majority of Mongolians. Do not under any circumstances fight back if a Mongolian man assaults you. Many foreignerhave been hospitalized and it will never be a fair fight. Ignore completely any drunk Mongolian man; NOEXCEPTIONS. If you are on the street keep walking. If you are in a club and Mongolian men becomeaggressive, leave immediately. Also be aware that if you are a male, in a group with Asian women(Mongolian or not), this is perceived incredibly negatively by Mongolian men, and it is very likely thatyou will get assaulted.

Additionally there are ultra nationalist Neo Nazis operating freely in Ulaanbaatar, and they have multipletimes shown up at clubs and assaulted foreigners. Some of these assaults end up with hospitalizations. Inone particular instance these Neo Nazis showed up at around 2AM at the gay club (Hanzo or 'H') andthreatened to 'kill all gay people'.

Most foreigners visit Ulaanbaatar without incident, but remember to be extremely cautious.

Corruption is a huge problem in Mongolia, and locals are convinced that the police are not to be trusted.

There are small bands of Mongolian ultra nationalists that style themselves as neo-Nazis who assaultforeigners including white, black and particularly Chinese. They are especially provoked by foreigner interaction with Mongolian women.

Lone or female travellers, especially blondes, obviously need to exercise a higher degree of awareness of their surroundings as getting groped in the chest or buttocks is not uncommon.

Be careful when travelling by horse as it is not unknown for groups to follow tourists and then steal their goods, including the horses, while they sleep at night.

Many tourists are injured from falling off of horses. Mongolian herders are expert riders, thus their idea ofa horse suitable for riding is quite different from most casual riders. Also, the horses are trained differentlythan in the west. If you are injured in Mongolia, you may be hundreds of kilometres from medical aid andambulance service may be hard to obtain and consist of a Russian minivan. Medical evacuation insuranceis advisable.

Dogs in Mongolia can be aggressive and may run in packs. It is a good idea to be wary of them since theyare not likely to be as tame as domestic dogs elsewhere.

Stay healthy

Nomads' dogs may have rabies. As a precaution, consider having a rabies shots before coming.

Marmots should not be eaten at certain times of the year because they can carry pnemonia. That said, thedisease is carried by the marmot's fleas so the afflicted tend to be fur traders, and marmot is not amainstream dish even in Mongolia.

Hepatitis and tuberculosis are common throughout Mongolia.


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The USA Center for Disease Control, [5] (http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationMongolia.aspx)Country by country warnings and advice edit

Respect

Mongols traditionally live on the steppes, breeding horses, just like their ancestor Genghis Khan. Notsurprisingly, following Western pleasantries will not have the intended effect in Mongolia. That being said

there are still a few rules to follow. Always receive items with the right hand, palm facing up. Drink fromthe right hand with the palm up as well. It is very rude to refuse a gift. If offered a plate of hospitalitymunchies, take at least a small nibble from something. You should never point anyone with your indexfinger since it implies disrespect.

Whenever you approach a nomadic family, or enter a ger, you will, without knowing, break one or severalof the many traditional, religious and superstitious customs. If you do become confused, don't panic, minoindiscretions will be tolerated and forgiven. The following do's and don'ts will help minimize culturaldifferences.

Do

Say hello (sain bainuu) when you arrive (but repeating it again when you see the same person isconsidered strange to Mongolians)Take at least a sip, or a nibble, of the delicacies offeredPick up everything with an open hand, with your palm facing upwardsHold a cup by the bottom, and not by the top rimIf by accident you tap someones foot with yours, immediately shake hands with them (failing to doso will be seen as an insult).

Don't

Lean against a support columnWhistle inside a ger Stand on, or lean over, the thresholdStamp out a fire, or put water or any rubbish on it (fire is sacred to Mongolians)Walk in front of an older person; or turn your back to the altar, or religious objects (except whenleaving)Take food from a communal plate with your left handTouch other people's hatsHave a long conversation in your own language in front of your hosts

Contact

There are plenty of Internet cafés in the capital. The postal service is slow and most people have a POBox if they want to get anything. It is possible to buy phone cards that can be used to call abroad verycheaply from domestic phones, but not all phones can do this. (You can ask for MiCom or MobiComcards). In the countryside, don't expect to be staying in contact with anyone. Most Aimag Centers(Province Capitals) have an Internet Café in the post office.

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To make local calls in Ulaanbaatar use a phone of one of the many entrepreneurs with cellular telephoneson the street corners. Expect to pay MNT800-1000/h (June 2009 prices).

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