Mongolia Travel Guide @ TravelNotes.org

Travel Notes: Asia: Mongolia Travel Notes

Mongolia tourist information with details about travel to and around the country. Where to stay and what to see is made easier with insider tips and hand-selected Mongolia links, by dedicated editors and visitors to TravelNotes.org - The Online Guide to Travel.

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Outer Mongolia

Mongolia is also known as Outer Mongolia. Inner Mongolia is the grasslands region in China.

Countries neighbouring Mongolia are: China, Russia, and Kazakhstan.

Weather in Mongolia

View a graphical weather forecast for the week ahead in places around Mongolia.

Dzuunmod Weather, Maanti Weather, Ulaanbaatar Weather.

The Gobi Desert

The Gobi is located in Mongolia and northern China. A plateau between higher mountains, the mainly gravel plains is the coldest, most northern desert in the world.

The Gobi is not entirely waterless, and several caravan trails dating from ancient times cross the Gobi region.

Marco Polo, along with his father and uncle, were the first Europeans to traverse the Gobi; around 1275.

The best time to visit the Gobi is June or September as temperatures aren't so hot then.

Sightseeing in South Gobi

Most tours of the southern Gobi region are likely to take in some, or all, of these sights.

Bayandalai

Includes the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan Mountain and a visit to the Yol canyon.

Dalanzadgad

The aimag's Museum displays some of the finest examples of Dariganga craftsmanship, with saddles, knives, silver cups and decorative ropes among the exhibits.

Hongoriin els

Hongoriin els, or the Hongor Sands, is a giant sand dune stretching 180km long and anything from a couple of hundred meters wide, to as much as 7-20km. Overnight stays are arranged in a ger camp.

Kharkhorin

Surrounded by 108 stupas, Erdenezuu monastery has been a place of Buddhist activity for more than 1000 years. Kharkhorin was the first capital of the Mongolian Empire, although there's not much to show for it. If you're in Mongolia in July, don't miss the Karakorum naadam on the 11th -- a three-day horse race, wrestling and archery festival to commemorate Genghis Khan's warriors.

Khorgo

Khorgo Volcano is a dead volcano covered with basalt lying in the east of the Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan (National Park) in Arhangai aimag.

Khuvsgul

Known as the Dark Blue Pearl of Mongolia, Lake Khuvsgul is one of the country's largest and most spectacular protected areas. An ideal location for boating and horse-riding. Also visit the natural history museum in Moron city.

Noyon

Visit the Noyon-Uul dead volcano. There's also a chance to observe Mongolian nomadic life and learn about their traditions.

Orkhon

The Orkhon river is popular for fishing tours. There's also a 20m high, 10m wide, waterfall - Ulaan tsutgalan. The Baruun huree monastery, also known as Shankh hiid, is a popular attraction and a visit to a horse breeders family will allow you the chance to taste the Mongolian's favourite drink, airag (fermented mare's milk).

Terelj

Open year-round, Terelj Resort is set in a spectacular valley only a two-hour drive from Ulaanbaatar.

Togrogiin shiree

Along with Bayanzag, the area is famous for the findings of dinosaur eggs and skeletons of giant, prehistoric animals.

Tsetserleg

Where steppes and desert meet, Tsetserleg is considered Mongolia's most beautiful aimag (province). You can also visit the Tsenkher hot spa for a relaxing bath.

Mongolian Tourism Board:
Mongolia's tourism season is from May to October because of the difficult climate at other times of the year. Visiting out of season is not a problem as long as you can tolerate cold weather, dust storms and difficulties in travelling.

Dinosaur Graveyard

Fossilised dinosaur eggs were discovered in the Gobi during the American Museum of Natural History sponsored expeditions in the 1920s.

With the fall of Communism, the American Museum were invited back in the early 1990s. They discovered one of the greatest graveyards that dinosaur palaeontology has ever known -- in the low, brown hills of Ukhaa Tolgod.

Ulaanbaatar

Also known as Ulan Bator, the capital of the Republic of Mongolia is in the Tuul River valley, in the north central region of the country.

Trunk roads connect Ulan Bator to all the major towns in Mongolia, and by rail to the Trans-Siberian and Chinese railway network.

The city expanded greatly after World War II, with planning aid from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

The broad tree-lined boulevards and squares of the city are lined with large Neo- Classical buildings.

The city was founded in 1649 as a monastic centre and eventually became the seat of the Living Buddha.

The Monastery of the Living Buddha, the residence of the nation's former spiritual leader, is now a museum.

In the mid-19th century, Ulan Bator developed through its position on the trade route between Russia and China.

The Communist Mongolian People's Republic was established in 1924, and the city was renamed Ulaanbaatar-- Red Hero, in Mongolian.

Lamaist Buddhism was suppressed by the Communists in 1929, and only one small monastery remains in Ulaanbaatar.

Ulan Bator Foundation:
The Foundation is chartered to introduce Mongolian culture to the people of Southern California. This strategy includes the planning of several trips to Mongolia and greater Turkistan each summer, attending Mongolia's national independence celebrations and games, and visiting its capital, Ulaanbaatar.

Eating Cheap in Ulan Bator

The guanz is an institution in Mongolia, and especially in Ulaanbaatar's fast-paced city life. A guanz is a small and inexpensive restaurant that sells typical Mongolian fare.

Embassies

US Embassy in Ulaanbaatar.

Getting to Mongolia

Most tourists arrive in Mongolia through Buyant Ukha airport, 18km south-west of Ulaanbaatar.

Airlines:
International operators serving Mongolia are Aeroflot, Air China, Korean Airlines and MIAT Mongolian Airlines.

Flying to Ulaanbaatar

From Europe

Berlin (twice weekly) to Ulaanbaatar, with MIAT Mongolian Airlines.

Moscow to Ulaanbaatar, with Aeroflot.

From China

Beijing to Ulaanbaatar with MIAT Mongolian Airlines or Air China.

From Japan

Osaka to Ulaanbaatar, with MIAT Mongolian Airlines.

From South Korea

Seoul to Ulaanbaatar, with MIAT Mongolian Airlines or Korean Airlines.

By Rail

Mongolia is also a popular stop with travellers on the Trans-Mongolian, Moscow to Beijing, rail route.

Getting Around Mongolia

Mongolia is a vast country with an infrastructure that is still developing. Some roads are very poor or not there at all, communication is testing and accommodation in some areas is very basic.

It is for this reason that many people choose to go on an organised tour to the southern region; sleeping under canvas, in a typical Ger camp.

Visit Mongolia:
Mongolia has 21 provinces (aimags in Mongolian), with the South Gobi Province (Umnugobi aimag) being the largest and most sparsely populated.

Mongolian Embassies

Embassy of Mongolia in Austria:
Fasangartengasse 45, Vienna.

Embassy of Mongolia in Belgium:
Avenue Besme 18, Brussels.

Embassy of Mongolia in Bulgaria:
ul.Frederic Jolio Curie 52, Sofia.

Embassy of Mongolia in Canada:
Suite 503, 151 Slater Street, Ottawa.

Embassy of Mongolia in China:
2, Xiushui Beijie Jian Guo Men Wai Da Jie, Beijing.

Embassy of Mongolia in Czech Republic:
Na Marne 5, Prague.

Embassy of Mongolia in Cuba:
Calle 66 No 505 Esguina a 5 ta-A Miramar, Havana.

Embassy of Mongolia in Egypt:
No.14, Str-152 MAADI, Cairo.

Embassy of Mongolia in France:
5, Avenue Robert Schuman, Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris.

Embassy of Mongolia in Germany:
Dietzgen Str. 31, Berlin.

Embassy of Mogolia in Hungary:
Bogar Utca 14, Budapest.

Embassy of Mongolia in India:
34, Archbishop Makarious Marg, New Delhi.

Embassy of Mongolia in Japan:
21-4 Kamiyama Cho Shibuya Ku, Tokyo.

Embassy of Mongolia in Kazakhstan:
g.Almaty ul.Aubakerova 1/1, Almaty.

Embassy of Mongolia in Poland:
ul.Rejtana 15 m.16, Warsaw.

Embassy of Mongolia in Russia:
ul.Borisoglebsky Per. 11, Moscow.

Embassy of Mongolia in South Korea:
33-5 Hannam-Dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

Embassy of Mongolia in Thailand:
100/3 Soi Ekkamai 22, 63 Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok.

Embassy of Mongolia in Turkey:
Koza Sokak-109, Ankara.

Embassy of Mongolia in United Kingdom:
7 Kensington Court, London.

Embassy of Mongolia in United States:
2833 M street, N.W., Washington D.C.

Embassy of Mongolia in Vietnam:
39, Tran phu str., Hanoi.

Genghis Khan

Born Temujin, the famous Mongol conqueror's nomad armies conquered a vast empire from China to Russia, and west through Pakistan to Iran and Iraq.

The young Temujin succeeded his father as tribal chief at the age of 13.

By the time he was in his fifties his ruthlessness earned him the name Genghis Khan. In Chinese chêng-sze means precious warrior and khan is Turkish for lord.

The Mongol ruler's empire was so well arranged that travellers were said to be able to go from one end of his domain to the other without fear or danger.

His rivals and enemies had no such chance and were massacred as a rite of conquest.

Kublai Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, extended the empire to its greatest reach in the late 1200s and founded the Yuan dynasty, which lasted until 1368.

Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection
Genghis Khan is one of history's immortals, alive in memory as a scourge, hero, military genius and demi-god. To Muslims, Russians and westerners, he is a murderer of millions, a brutal oppressor. Yet in his homeland of Mongolia he is the revered father of the nation, and the Chinese honour him as the founder of a dynasty.

The Secret History of the Mongols:
English edition of the great 13th century historical epic -- the only surviving Mongol source about the empire. The book is mainly about the life and career of Chinggis Khan, his ancestors and his rise to power.

Mongolian Language and Culture

The official language of Mongolia is Mongolian; an Altaic language.

Mongol Art:
Mongolian music, fine arts, theatre, dance, film, entertainment, fashion and museums.

Mongolian Museums:
Listing of Mongolian museums with contact numbers.

Mongolia Tour Operators

Ayanchin Travel:
Ulaanbaatar-based tour operator founded in 2001. Experience breathtaking scenery, heartfelt hospitality, and thousand years of history. Travel through untouched wilderness on regular tours from June to September, when the weather in Mongolia is the most inviting.

Black Ibex Expeditions:
Discover Mongolia with an Ulaanbaatar tour operator who encourages the client to have as much input into their holiday as possible thus personalising their trip with a combination of tours.

Blue Sky Travel:
Discover the real Mongolian experience with adventure filled safaris in the Land of Eternal Blue Skies.

Blue Mongolia Tours:
A variety of all-inclusive tours aimed to highlight the best that Mongolia has to offer.

Mongol Gobi Travel:
Privately owned company located in Ulaanbaatar organising seven-day tours from Ulaanbaatar to Terelj and South Gobi or you may prefer the Ulaanbaatar - Kharkhorin - Tsetserleg - Khuvsgul circuit.
10% discount to Travel Notes members.

Mongolian Ways:
A journey in Mongolia is much more than a trip, there is so much to learn about the unique history, way of living, costumes, variety of natural phenomena and many other things.

Nomadic Journeys:
Mongolia is still a country where half the population maintain a nomadic lifestyle in a pastoral society.

Nomads Mongolian Treks & Tours:
Adventurous treks and cultural tours in Mongolia, visiting ancient monasteries and nomadic peoples. Activities include horse riding, mountain climbing and trekking.

Selena Travel:
Mongolian Culture is unique and dissimilar to anywhere else on earth. It isn't so much individual parts that are fascinating but the combination of history, traditions and customs that makes Mongolia a truly special experience.

Mongolia Travel Guides

Books on Mongolia Travel:
Browse Amazon's best-selling list of books on travel in Mongolia.