Frequently Asked Questions
- Why Mongolia?
- How do I get to Mongolia?
- How is the infrastructure in Mongolia?
- Communication
- How long will the drive take per day?
- How can I figure my WC?
- Should I bring my towel?
- What is the electric measurement?
- Is there any possibility to have shower during the site trip?
- How is the drinking water?
- What kind of food will I have?
- What is the travel like?
- Gifts and Souvenirs
- Safety
- Camera and Video
- Guide
- Insurance?
- What should I bring?
- What visa requirements are there?
- Accomodation
WHY MONGOLIA?
Mongolia, once the greatest and biggest empire
that was built by a single emperor, Genghis Khan, is now his homeland and
located in the heart of
Asia. Once been in the
shadows of Communism, it has emerged and is now open to the world.
Mongolia
is a safe country. You will experience neither dangerous nor disturbing
weather, labour strikes, civil disturbances, political unrest or terrorist
attacks.
Mongolia
is one of the last few places on the planet where nomadic life is still a living
tradition and offers a rewarding destination for the travelers. You will
experience a nomadic culture that has remained from the time of Chinggis Khaan.
Mongolian nature is the most beautiful, unpolluted and wild place you have ever seen.
You will enjoy different landscapes with rare animals and plants. Explore and
discover our
Gobi
Deserts, Mountains, Steppes, Lakes and Rivers… all in
Mongolia.
Mongolia
has long historical and cultural heritages. You can enjoy beautiful melody of
Mongolian national instruments such as Morin Huur (horse headed fiddle), Huumii
(through singing) and folk music and dance and Naadam Festival.
Mongolia
makes travelers feel at peace, silence, relax and luxury. Real freedom here!
Mongolia
offers you a lot of adventures such as horse back riding, fishing,
motorcycling and mountain biking, mountaineering and hunting with many unforgettable memories.
Mongolia
makes you discover the real Mongol spirit and art. The creations of Zanabazar
are remarkable. You will explore many different monasteries such as Erdene Zuu,
Amarbayasgalant and Tuvkhun Buddhist monasteries with Mongolian architectures.
Even you will have a chance to see the ancient capital of the Genggis Khan realm.
How do I get to Mongolia?
If you have
decided to visit
Mongolia,
you can come by either plane or train.
There are a few places which fly to the capital,
Ulaanbaatar. From Europe, there is an
infrequent service from
Berlin, Frankfurt and
Moscow. Check with your
local Mongolian Embassy too. There are almost daily flights from
Seoul as well as other flights through
Beijing. It is also possible to fly to
Ulaanbaatar through
Tokyo's
Narita
Airport.
The Trans-Mongolian
Line of the Trans-Siberian Railway links
Mongolia's
capital
Ulaanbaatar with
Moscow
and
Beijing
.
The ride between
Ulaanbaatar and
Moscow will continue for
4 sometimes 5 days. From
Ulaanbaatar to
Beijing the trip takes almost
2 days. Although the train is very promising for the tourists who want to
discover the beauty of
Mongolia,
it might be a little tiring for the elders though.
How is the infrastructure in Mongolia?
Inside
Ulaanbaatar there are a number
of options, all suited to different time frame and budgets. The cheapest public
transport is the minivans. These minivans charge you with ranging from 200 to
400 Tugrics depending on the length of your travel. Every car in
Ulaanbaatar is a potential
taxi. However, there are official taxis with meters. At night it would be
safest if you take an official cab – one firm is easily recognizable as its all
cars are yellow. Taxi journey costs you 350 Tugrics in average. You can hire
cars too. But it is wise not to drive it yourself, rather hire a driver and
make sure he has insurance or liable for accidents.
Outside the
capital the easiest way to travel long distance is a plane, but air traveling in
Mongolia
involves a two-pier price structure, which is significantly higher for foreigners
than for locals. If you want your trip to be more adventurous and exciting, there
is also a possibility to charter with Russian and Japanese SUVs or 4WD Minivans
for private use from the most liable and high quality cars to visit more remote
sites.
Communication
You can make
an international call from almost every hotel in the capital and the main
cities. Also,
Mongolia
is widely accessed with mobile and internet operators throughout the country,
so communicating is never a problem. You can also rent a mobile phone or
satellite phones from the operators.
How long will the drive take per day?
When you
travel around the vast steppes in
Mongolia, our trip will take about
6 to 10 hours per day and it will cover from 100 up to 360 kilometers / 62-225 miles.
Roam the dry wastes of the famous Gobi for dinosaur bones, feel the hospitality
of our nomad people, enjoy staying at their cozy, traditional Mongolian gers, have
fun at the wonderful
Huvsgul
Lake National park which
has a totally exotic and untouched nature with spectacular scenery and watch
the naadam festival. Watch our fastest horses racing, our strongest wrestlers
wrestling and the sharpest sighted archers shooting. For the intrepid, a visit to the
Reindeer people of Tsaatan tribe or Kazakh eagle hunters will be an
uforgettable experience.
How can I figure my WC?
There are WCs at the camp sites. But during the tent camp,
we will take care of it. Please be rest assured.
Should I bring my towels?
In the cities or camp sites, towels are not required. But, If you came to explore the country life, they would be of
great use.
What is the electric measurement?
The standard
voltage in
Mongolia
is 220volts/50Hz with European two-pin type sockets.
Is there any possibility to have shower during the site trip?
In the countryside to the remote sites there are certain
tourist camps, there you can have a shower.
How is the drinking water?
There are river streams and wells everywhere and they are as
pure as crystal. Mineral waters may be prepared at your requirement.
What kind of food will I have?
Main food in
Mongolia
consists of beef or mutton, including different kinds of vegetables, rice and
flour. You can find many kinds of restaurants of different ethnicities, like Mongolian,
European, Japanese, Korean, Indian and Chinese. Also a popular chicken restaurant
chain has established its branch in the Capital city. But a traditional food, Khorkhog, or marmot barbecue, is particularly worth experiencing. It is a
mix of mutton chops, water, potatoes, onions, carrots and hot stones in a
kettle on a fire with red hot stones. This cooking style makes the mutton taste
tender and juicy. The other style Boodog is also made of other meat, usually
goat, and is similar to the Khorkhog with one major difference: the meat,
vegetables, water and stones are cooked inside the skin of the animal. You can
ask one delicious meal for your tour operator to arrange you one.
What is the travel like?
For over
2300 years, the Mongols and their ancestors have been roaming over this sacred
land of camels wandering the
Gobi desert and
wild horses galloping freely across the steppes. We loved, tended and lived in
harmony with our nature until now. Only by seeing it in your own eyes, you will
understand why
Mongolia is
called the
Land
of
Blue Sky.
Gifts and Souvenirs
Mongolia
is the best place for cashmere products. As one of the leading countries in the
production of cashmere, it offers the cheapest prices for the highest quality
and design. Lately cashmere production is developing rapidly and being very
fashionable. As a gift for the one you care, you can buy beautifully ornamented
art crafts which usually use nomadic life.
Safety
Mongolia
is generally a very 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 belongings in a safe place (money belts are highly recommended),
especially in crowded areas or in places where your attention is diverted, such
as internet cafes . Notorious places for theft are the Black Market (bazaar),
the railway station and crowded bus stops. Violent crime is uncommon, but still
caution is required at night, and dark or deserted alleys and streets, in
particular, should be avoided. Lone or female travellers obviously need to
exercise a higher degree of awareness of their surroundings. 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. Dogs in
Mongolia can be
aggressive and may run in packs. It is a good idea to be wary of them since
they are not likely to be as tame as domestic dogs elsewhere.
Camera and Video
All museums, monasteries and historical site displays and
arts demonstrations charge you with a particular fee.
Guide
We provide our guests with professional guides with referring
languages.
Insurance
Out travel
agency will supply travel insurance if requested. Mongolia, is a peaceful country though.
However, we highly recommend all tourists have their own insurance back at their referring countries.
What should I bring?
During the tourist season, it is warm. But sometimes it gets a
little chilly. So if you plan to visit
Mongolia, you should first find out
more about the forthcoming weather. Warm thin layers of clothing are favorable,
try and bring a hat or headscarf to protect your skin. Insect repellent, sun
cream, water purifying tablets are not so plentiful. Upon request our company
will provide high quality tents, sleeping bags and other stuffs.
What visa requirements are there?
Each and every individual must
have at least 6 months validity on it, and you will also need a visa. Mongolian
visas are issued by Mongolian Diplomatic Mission abroad or upon arrival at a
special request. We will service visa if you requested.
Accomodation
If you are staying in
Ulaanbaatar,
you will be staying in a hotel with 3-5 stars and will stay in tourist Ger camp
(Mongolian traditional dwelling) in attraction areas.