Safety and security information for US tourists provided by US Embassy in Ulaanbaatar
There have been no significant acts of terrorism, kidnapping, criminal incidents, or extremist activity directed against foreign interests in Mongolia. There are no regions of instability in the country. Travelers should be extremely cautious at these specific locations:
• Chinggis Khan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar: tourists arriving and departing from this airport are frequently targeted for robbery and pick pocketing by organized groups.
• The State Department Store: tourists are targeted by organized pick pocket gangs at the entries/exits/elevators and the area surrounding the store.
• Naran Tuul Covered Market : Organized criminal groups look for and target foreigners for robbery and pick pocketing.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical facilities in Mongolia are very limited and do not meet most western standards, especially for emergency health care requirements. Readmore…
Packing for Mongolia Trip
Mongolia is a country of extreme weather conditions. Depending on the time of year you go you should pack accordingly.
For summer, it is rather hot, the evenings can get cool especially in the Gobi and mountains.
We would recommend traveling as light as possible and using a good backpack. But you can buy everything you need in Mongolia’s department stores and travel shops.
The following is a rough guide of things that you will need to pack for your trip to Mongolia.
Although this may not suit everyone’s needs, it can be adapted to personal requirements or the type of trip that you are planning to take.
Climate of Mongolia
Probably the first thing you were told about Mongolia was that it is very cold. This is true but rather than try to anticipate the various weather patterns of the country, it is better to prepare for the worst-case scenario, which is -40 degrees Celsius (-40º C) with a wind chill factor of -55 degrees Celsius.
Spring is sunny and extremely windy, and dust storms are common. The temperature ranges from 10 to 20 degrees Celsius (50º to 68º F), but the wind makes it seem colder. Summer is sunny and breezy, with an average temperature in the low 20s (70s F), though it can get as hot as 30 degrees (86º F) on a regular basis. Readmore…
Essential Telephone Numbers
If you are in emergency, try to find a Mongolian who speaks English (or your native language) because almost all of the people you will need to speak to understand only Mongolian. It can be useful to carry the contact details of your embassy with you. (See contact details of foreign embassies in Mongolia )
Emergency numbers in Ulaanbaatar are as follows:
Fire Station 101
Police 102
Traffic Police 321008
Ambulance 103 Readmore…
Postal Services
Letters and parcels posted abroad can take anything from ten days to a few months to arrive at their destination, but they do usually arrive. The current rates are relatively expensive; postcards MNT 400, letters under 20 grams MNT 550. Registered mail starts at MNT 950. Parcel rates range from around $14 to $27, for 1 kg parcel, depending on the destination.
An express mail service is available for a limited number of countries. Prices to send 1 kg package range from $25 to $40 depending on a destination. The Central Post Office in Ulaanbaatar has a good range of postcards available. Stamp collectors will be surprised at the range of stamps available. Couriers such as DHL (tel:310919) and TNT (tel:313389) will deliver and pick up door-to-door. DHL has its main office just off Peace Ave 15-A, near the Edelweiss Hotel. TNT packages can be sent through the post office.Postal Rates are often relatively expensive, especially for parcels, for which there is only an ‘air mail’ rate - yet they often arrive months later (probably by sea). Normal-sized letters cost T550 and postcards cost T400 to all countries.
Average temperature by seasons and aimags
Aside by having four seasons Mongolia has an extreme continental climate, meaning that it is so far in land that no sea moderates its climate. With over 260 sunny days a year, Mongolia is justifiably known as the “Land of Blue Sky”. Mongolia is high, cold, and dry. It has an extreme continental climate with long, cold winters and short summers, during which most precipitation falls. The country averages 257 cloudless days a year, and it is usually at the center of a region of high atmospheric pressure. Precipitation is highest in the north, which averages 20 to 35 centimeters per year, and lowest in the south, which receives 10 to 20 centimeters. Readmore…
Mongolian Border and Customs
Every traveler arriving in Mongolia must complete a customs declaration, which should be retained until departure. This allows the free import and re-export of articles intended for personal use for duration of stay.
These are prohibited to import and export:
- guns
- weapons
- ammunition without special permission
- explosive items
- radioactive substances
- opium
- hashish and other narcotics
- pornographic publications, records, films
- drawings opposing Mongolia Readmore…
Domestic Transportation
Domestic travel includes planes, trains and automobiles. For foreigners, flying is expensive as there are two rates applied to all tickets: local and foreign. Airfares for trips from Ulaanbaatar to a provincial center range in cost from $200-$300 round trip.
The Trans-Mongolian Railway operates on a 24-hour basis and connects northern Mongolia with the south. Trains are clean and comfortable, and offer a choice between a hard seat (second-class) and a sleeper cabin. They are not equipped with restaurant cars. The line linking Moscow and Beijing via Ulaanbaatar, which was completed in 1955, provides a shorter route between Russia and China than the older line through Manchuria. As trains operate on time and are reliable, they are the most convenient way to travel in-country.
Travel among cities by bus, van, or Russian-made jeep is almost completely on unpaved roads. The price of rides, which depends on the price of the fuel supplied by Russia, has fluctuated greatly in recent years. Note that Volunteers are prohibited from driving motorized vehicles in Mongolia or from riding on or operating motorcycles.
Hotels and housing in Mongolia
Rooms of deluxe, semi-deluxe, first-class and tourist categories are available at the Hotels in Ulaanbaatar and Mongolian Ger at the tourist camp. For Ulaanbaatar being the single hub for any travel destinations within Mongolia, nobody can skip staying at least one or two nights in Ulaanbaatar.
Travelers are welcome to major hotels in Ulaanbaatar such as, Chingis Khaan, Bayangol, Kempinski Khaan Palace, Ulaanbaatar, Flower and Anujin hotel. All hotels are centrally located making it easy for travelers to explore the capital on their own. Also the Ger Camps consist of gers, based on 2-4 beds, restaurants and shower/restroom facilities. Single supplements in hotel and gers are available upon request.
Readmore…
Currency Exchanges
There are many currency exchanging places in Ulaanbaatar. All the bank branches, most shopping centers have currency exchanging spots. Money gram and Western Union branches are at banks. But best rates can be found at the local currency exchange centers.
Naiman Sharga International Co.,Ltd
Chingeltei district, Peace and Friendship Palace
Altai Bayan Bogd NBFI
Chingeltei district, Bayanbogd Plaza
Tel: 99197085, 322019
Readmore…
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