In the eyes of many, the name Mongolia probably brings to mind Genghis Khan and wild steppes. Mongolia’s landscape consists of golden deserts and elongated, windy grasslands, and the country’s most famous inhabitant, Genghis Khan, was in the eyes of neighboring countries a barbaric conqueror. The Mongol people were so threatening that the Chinese emperor felt compelled to have the world’s largest building, the Great Wall of China, erected in order to keep the Mongols away from China. Crossing the border into Mongolia can still feel like entering another age, and not just another country. Visit printerhall for Mongolia Tour Plan.

Worth knowing about Mongolia

• Language: Mongolian

• Capital: Ulan Bator

• Residents: 3 million

• Religion: Taoism, Confucianism and Mongolian Buddhism

• Currency: Tugrik

• Surface: 1,566,500 km2

Worth knowing

Time difference

The time difference between Sweden and Mongolia is determined by whether it is summer or winter time in Sweden.

Winter time: + 7 hours

Summer time: + 6 hours

Transport in Mongolia

Only about 6 percent of Mongolia’s road network is paved, the rest consists of gravel roads and jeep tracks. The roads outside Ulan Bator are not particularly busy and driving is very stress-free. Here, four-wheel drive jeeps or minivans are mainly used.

Price level

The price level in Mongolia is quite low. A meal at a middle-class restaurant in Ulan Bator costs between 50 and 100 kronor, and most people manage on about 100 kronor per day in pocket money. Bring a little more if you want to buy souvenirs to take home.

Tip

It is not very common to tip in Mongolia, but it is good to add about 10 percent to the restaurant bill if you have been satisfied with the service. Staff in the tourism industry expect tips. On round trips, guests usually tip to bus drivers and local guides. In the travel description for the trip, you will find recommendations for suitable tips.

Currency and credit cards

Mongolia’s currency is called tugrik (MNT). We recommend that you bring US dollars which you can exchange for Mongolian tugrik on arrival in Mongolia. It is not possible to exchange for tugrik in Sweden and it is not possible to exchange from the currency outside Mongolia. Remember to exchange your tugrik for US dollars or euros before returning home. There are ATMs in Ulan Bator. International credit cards can only be used as means of payment in hotels and antique shops.

Electricity

In Mongolia, 230 volts / 50 Hz is used. The sockets are the same as in Sweden and you do not need to bring an adapter.

Telephone and internet

Mongolia’s international country code is +976. There are internet cafes in Ulan Bator and individual hotels in the capital have internet connection, but the coverage for both mobile phones and internet is not very good, especially outside Ulan Bator.

Hygiene

Hotels and larger restaurants have western toilet facilities. In public toilets and in the countryside, however, it can look different with pedal toilets and lack of toilet paper. However, the standard of public toilets in cities and in the countryside may seem somewhat primitive. Bring your own toilet paper or a package of wet wipes and possibly. hand disinfection (available at Swedish pharmacies, among other places). Then you can do without water if there is no such thing.

Good tone

The Mongols have their roots in nomadic culture and are friendly and accommodating to tourists, however, very few speak English.

Climate and weather Mongolia

Read about Mongolia’s climate – see, among other things, weather and temperatures for Ulan Bator.

	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	CHRISTMAS	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Ulan Bator
Daytime temperature	-19	-13	-4	7	13	21	22	21	14	6	-6	-16
Night temperature	-32	-29	-22	-8	-2	7	11	8	2	-8	-20	-28
Precipitation (mm)	1	1	2	5	10	28	76	51	23	5	5	2

Mongolia has a classic mainland climate with short, hot summers and long, cold winters and large temperature fluctuations. In some places the temperature can fluctuate between -35 ° C and + 50 ° C in one year. Rain is not very common and in the Gobi Desert it is not uncommon for a whole year to pass between the raindrops. Once the precipitation arrives, it often does so in the form of heavy rainfall or snowstorms. The best travel weather occurs between May and October. During the rest of the year it is very cold and sudden snowstorms are common.