It is better to go to Mongolia. Tips for everyone who travels to Mongolia

Being a geographer, I am interested in the natural and cultural diversity of this amazing corner of our planet. I have been living in Mongolia for the first year and have already managed to fall in love with this country with all my heart!

Most people have at least some idea of Mongolia. This is a country of snow-white yurts, wild nomads and eternally blue skies.

Traditional dwelling of nomads - felt yurt

Along with these associations, there are a lot of moldy stereotypes that still scare tourists from all over the world. The most common question that I often hear is: “Is there an Internet in Mongolia at all?”. Another popular stereotype is that the entire population is nomadic and lives only in yurts. The list of such strange guesses is endless. So, with this post, I would like to checkmate those who still live in a world of stereotypes and fears regarding modern Mongolia.

Night view of Ulaanbaatar

Yes, the country of the steppes really carefully preserved the culture of their ancestors. Life, clothing, food and traditions of this nomadic people, having passed through the centuries, entered the modern world without losing their originality. The real today's Mongolia is an amazing mixture of traditions and technologies: yurts and skyscrapers, ancient Buddhist temples and street graffiti, traditional clothes and the most expensive cashmere in the world, vast expanses and high-speed Internet.

Genghis Khan Square used to be called Sukhbaatar Square

On the territory of Mongolia, there are mostly sunny days all year round, and the capital is surrounded on all sides by mountain ranges. So for me, Mongolia, first of all, is an incredible source of inspiration.

The spirit of Asia is everywhere here. Oriental slowness of life, youth street fashion, adherence to traditions, street vendors - all these are the hallmarks of an Asian country. It is worth visiting Mongolia in order to see a different life, to look into the face of harsh Asia, to get in touch with nomadic exoticism. In addition, you do not have to travel over a hundred seas for vivid impressions, all of them are concentrated on the territory of the neighboring state - Mongolia.

Come to Mongolia, feel the real steppe hospitality.

Visa and border crossing

Feel free to pack your bags to the country of the eternal blue sky if you are planning a short trip, the duration of which will not exceed 30 days. Between Russia and Mongolia, work has long been carried out to facilitate the passage of the border, and in November 2014, a visa-free regime was finally introduced.

A visa is not required in cases where the purpose of the trip is tourism, visiting relatives and friends, or a business trip. However, you will not be allowed to abuse hospitality, so the period of stay in the Mongolian steppes should not exceed 90 days within six months.

As I write this text, my day counter is also ticking, and the 90 days of my stay are coming to an end. When I went through customs for the last time, the Mongolian workers politely hinted to me that it was time for me to get a visa. Since I almost moved to Mongolia for permanent residence (I only had to pick up my Mongolian visa from Russia), I had to actively storm the Consulate of Mongolia in Russia. In general, in the presence of compelling circumstances (work, study, marriage), nothing complicated. For those who wish to apply for a study, work or private visa for a long and not very long period - here are the addresses and the cost of visas.

You can apply for a visa in the following cities:

Consular section of the Embassy of Mongolia in Moscow (Spasopeskovskiy pereulok, 7/1);
Consulate General of Mongolia in Irkutsk (St. Lapina, 11);
Consulate General of Mongolia in (street Profsoyuznaya, 6);
Consulate General of Mongolia in Kyzyl (Internatsionalnaya st., 9);
Honorary Consulate of Mongolia in Yekaterinburg (Marshal Zhukov St., 3).

According to the official price list of the Mongolian government duty rates are:

Entry - exit visa (once / twice) - 18 USD / 34 USD;
Multiple entry visa - 40 USD;
Long-term visa (6 months / 6-12 months) - 53 USD / 106 USD.

Crossing the Mongolian border is a simple and troublesome business. In my case, the bus - Ulaanbaatar goes through the international round-the-clock checkpoint in the city of Kyakhta. It should be noted that this point is intended only for motorists, it will not be possible to walk, you will have to look for a car to pass the border (dedicated to hitchhikers).

In order to cross the border, you only need a valid passport. Upon entry, they offer to fill out a customs declaration if you have goods and products that require declaration.

What is forbidden to transport (import and export) across the Mongolian border:

explosive and radioactive substances;
narcotic substances;
materials containing pornography;
materials directed against Mongolia (publications, photos, videos);
paleontological and archaeological finds;
meat and fish without permission from the Mongolian side;
metal detectors (in order to prevent illegal excavations and looting of cultural and historical monuments of Mongolia);
any kind of weapon (I took with me my favorite switchblade knife, which is listed as a melee weapon. After going through an unpleasant 50-minute conversation with a customs officer, I returned to the bus full of passengers dissatisfied with the delay).

And here are the rules for transporting alcohol and tobacco products:

Alcohol - no more than 3 liters, moreover, vodka no more than 1 liter, wine 2 liters, and beer 3 liters.
Tobacco - no more than 200 cigarettes and 250 grams of tobacco.

My advice to lovers of traveling with pets is to take an international veterinary certificate. My cat, for example, was vaccinated and had documents from a private veterinary clinic, but they did not meet the established standards, and I had to postpone the transportation of the pet.

Another little hack for those who don't like to wait: keep a regular ballpoint pen nearby. At customs they give you to fill out a migration card and, as often happens, there are many tourists, but only one pen. Serious queues and battles for possession of it are created, and customs officers cheerfully look at this performance, assuring that they have no more pens.

So, having overcome an average of 1-2 hours of customs control, my bus stops in the Mongolian border town of Altanbulag (translated from Mongolian as “golden spring”), where you can have a very good meal in the cafe of the Altan Plaza Hotel. My average check turned out to be 200 rubles.

Those who cross the air border will be pleasantly surprised by the modern and convenient Chinggis Khaan International Airport, where the latest customs clearance technologies have already been introduced. From here you can get to the most remote corners of Mongolia.

How to get there

In my childhood, they often said: "A chicken is not a bird, Mongolia is not a foreign country." I understood this phrase as a hint of the accessibility of a nearby country. Indeed, getting to this neighboring Asian country will not be difficult. The direct distance between Moscow and Ulaanbaatar is 4,645 km.

In general, there are two route options from Moscow. The first one is quite easy, but at the same time very boring: get on a plane to Sheremetyevo and after 6 hours of flight you will be in Ulaanbaatar. The second one is more exciting and informative: fly to the sunny Republic of Buryatia, look around in a friendly manner and then take a bus to Ulaanbaatar. In the latter case, you will be able to get acquainted with the Buryat culture, whose roots go back to Mongolia. There is a third option for the development of events: he will land in the city of Irkutsk, visit Lake Baikal, and then get comfortable on the Irkutsk-Ulaanbaatar train.

By plane

From Moscow you can get to Ulaanbaatar direct flight aircraft of Aeroflot, MIAT Mongolian Airlines.

Aeroflot operates daily non-stop flights with an average flight duration of 6 hours. The cost of a one-way ticket starts from 300 USD (20,000 RUR) and goes up to 3,000 USD.

I would say that the prices are quite democratic for an international flight, because such flights as -, Moscow - Irkutsk reach the same 300 USD on average.

The s7 company has interesting flights with two transfers: - - - Ulaanbaatar or - - - Ulaanbaatar. Such a “fun” one-way trip will cost about 800 USD. There are options for transit from Kazakhstan (Ust-Kamenogorsk - Ulgiy), as well as from China (- Ulan Bator). The Chinese version costs 350 USD and it's only one way from Beijing.

Direct flights to Ulaanbaatar are also operated from the nearby Russian cities of Irkutsk and. As a rule, planes of the Mongolian airlines Eznis Aairways and Aeromongolia fly.

In any of the options, the traveler will arrive at the country's main airport Genghis Khan.

It is located 15 km from the city. It is better to get to the center by public transport, for example, by bus, the ticket price is less than 0.2 USD, so it will be much cheaper than by taxi (5–10 USD).

You can find out more accurate information about ticket prices and flight options for your dates.

By train

You can also come to Mongolia by train. Train - Ulaanbaatar departs from the Yaroslavl station every Wednesday and Thursday and arrives in Ulaanbaatar after 98 hours of travel on Monday and Tuesday. By train, the distance will be approximately 6,200 km. The railway checkpoint is located in the city of Naushki. The cost of a ticket in economy class is 300 USD, in first class - 450 USD.

There is also another daily train running along the route -. It passes through the Mongolian cities of Sukhebaatar, Darkhan, Ulan Bator, Choir, Erlian and goes to. The cost is approximately equal, but it is likely that the fullness of the cars will be much higher than on the train to Ulaanbaatar.

Please note that tickets for international flights cannot be purchased online, you will only have to buy through international ticket offices.

As I wrote above, you can fly from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Irkutsk or take a train. The railway station Irkutsk Passenger is located on the street. Chelnokova, 1. The daily train Irkutsk - Ulaanbaatar departs from Irkutsk at 16:32 Moscow time and travels 1,114 km in 32 hours.

Cheap accommodation options (hostels) are concentrated everywhere near the station. Pay attention to the fact that in Mongolia the social network Facebook is incredibly popular. The hotel or hostel may not have a website, but you will definitely find their page on Facebook and you can book online. You can find a suitable hostel for yourself, for example, on, and it’s convenient to look for apartments here.

By bus

The easiest way to get to Mongolia by bus is again from. International bus transportation between and Ulaanbaatar is carried out by a Mongolian transportation company Juulchin World Tours. In their fleet, all buses are Korean, so they are quite comfortable: large folding chairs, air conditioners, a warm stove in the winter, but without WiFi and dry closets. Buses depart daily at 07:00 am from the Yuzhny bus station, which is located in the very center of Ulan-Ude.

Travel time depends on customs clearance time, road conditions, weather conditions. On average, it turns out about 12-13 hours. On the way, the bus stops 5 times, of which only once for a lunch break. The price of a one-way ticket is quite attractive - 1,500 rubles.

In Ulaanbaatar, the bus arrives at the Dragon Bus Station, which is 7 km from the main square. You can get from the bus station to the center by anything: buses, trolleybuses and taxis. Choose what is more comfortable for you, and I choose the trolleybus, which is the cheapest public transport.

And now attention, another life hack for those who like to save money! I strongly recommend that you immediately take a return ticket to Ulan-Ude at the bus station, that is, purchase round-trip tickets right away. This will save you a significant amount, since at the Mongolian bus station tickets Ulan Bator - are more expensive than tickets Ulan Ude - Ulan Bator. The difference sometimes reaches 1,000 rubles and is connected, as they explained to me at the ticket office of the Mongolian bus station, with the difference in gasoline prices.

By car

Many people prefer to travel on their wheels. Traveling to Mongolia in your own car is not difficult. At the border, they give standard forms for drivers to fill out. Customs inspection is quite fast.

The only thing to consider is the qualitative difference between Russian and Mongolian roads. Example: a bus - Ulaanbaatar travels at an average speed of 90 km / h, or even 100 km / h to the border post in Kyakhta, after crossing the border, on the Mongolian side, the average speed does not exceed 60 km / h. Draw your own conclusions, I am not a driver, but I can say with confidence that the quality of roads in Mongolia leaves much to be desired.

Here is a car route from Moscow to Ulaanbaatar, passing through the Chuisky tract and Altai. You can lay any route yourself, depending on your location.

By ferry

Unfortunately, the country has no access to the sea. Although now the Mongolian authorities are actively discussing options for leasing Chinese ports for long periods. Let's hope that one day Mongolia will also take over the sea routes.

Tourist regions

The birthplace of Genghis Khan is known throughout the world for its rich cultural and historical heritage of nomads, as well as for its amazing expanses of untouched nature. That is why a stream of tourists, travelers, researchers, who arrived here with completely different goals and interests, goes to Mongolia every year. Consequently, I would also carry out the tourist zoning of Mongolia based on the areas of tourism such as: ecological, scientific, sports, religious, etc. But speaking in general, the following regions are considered especially attractive for most tourists:

CENTRAL AIMAK AND THE CAPITAL

In the central aimag of Tuv, the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, is an enclave. This is where all the tourists who travel around Mongolia get. Despite all the stereotypes, Ulaanbaatar is quite an advanced capital, perfectly combining ancient and modern. I recommend starting a trip to museums from the ancient temple complex, and now the Choyzhin Lamyn Sum Museum.

What to do: visit the capital's museums and temples, go to the Mongolian "Jurassic Park", climb Mount Bogd-Uul.

Fans of outdoor activities will love the location of the capital in the middle of the mountain peaks. In the vicinity of the city there are two significant national parks: Gorkhi-Terelzh - the most famous and beloved among tourists, a kind of "Jurassic Park" in Mongolian, as well as Bogd-Khan Uul - the patron mountain of the capital, protected since Genghis Khan, which is located in the preliminary UNESCO World Heritage List.

GOBI

This largest desert in Asia is one of the main attractions of the country. Gobi in Mongolian is pronounced as "gov" and is used for any desert/semi-desert landscape. Only 2% of the territory of this desert is represented by sand dunes and dunes familiar to our understanding, the rest is various types of rocky semi-desert landscapes.

What to do: ride camels, "loaves" (UAZ), look for dinosaur eggs, study Gobi endemic animals, visit the energy center - the entrance to Shambhala.

Gobi endemics live in these mountainous landscapes: the Gobi bear Mazaalai, which is on the verge of extinction; Argali Darwin - Gobi mountain sheep, wild camel.

The Gobi is a real paleontological treasury of the world. So in the 1920s. during many scientific expeditions, the first dinosaur eggs were discovered in the Gobi, before that people did not even suspect that dinosaurs laid eggs. In Soviet times, paleontologists found a huge number of whole skeletons of reptiles. The largest dinosaur skeleton in Mongolia - Tarbosaurus baatar - stands in the Museum of Nature in Ulaanbaatar.

Another no less interesting phenomenon of the Gobi is one of the three entrances to the mystical country of Shambhala. According to legend, Shambhala is a country where higher beings live, as well as the energy center of the world. 38 km from the city of Sayshand of Dundgovi aimag is Hamriin Hiyd - a monastery built by the Buddhist educator Danzanravzhey in the 19th century. It is here that one of the entrances to Shambhala is located, which was once sought by the Russian scientist Nicholas Roerich.

MONGOLIAN ALTAI

The western aimags Bayan-Ulgiy (Rich Cradle), Uvs, Khovd are among the most remote from the capital of the country. Nature here is not affected by industry and there is no tourist influx. The density of the local population does not exceed 1 person/m². Perfect for those who appreciate solitude in the mountains, diving into the wild.

What to do: conquer mountains, contemplate the beauty of glaciers and alpine meadows, meditate on the top of a Buddhist shrine, fish in high mountain lakes, listen to the ancient music of the Uryankhais.

A remarkable feature of the region is the opportunity to get acquainted with the culture of various ethnic groups of the Oirats. So, for example, the Mongolian tribe of the Altai Uriankhians owns the ancient technique of traditional playing the tsuur flute. It is an upright woodwind instrument typically used to induce good luck in business and ward off misfortunes in travel. Melodies reflect the inner state of a lonely traveler and connect a person with nature. To date, only 40 families of Mongols-Uriankhai own the game of tsuur, which is included in the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

KHUBSUGUL AIMAG

Khuvsgul (Khuvsgel) is a lake that foreigners admiringly call the dark blue pearl of Mongolia, and Russians call Baikal's younger brother.

What to do: try ice diving, ride a ferry, take pictures with real deer, meet tsaatans.

The ancient alpine lake is the most popular destination for domestic tourism. Every Mongolian family strives to get here during the holidays. Therefore, the tourist service is very advanced and offers many exciting tours. Diving lovers, especially ice diving enthusiasts, will be fascinated by this lake. Clear water and visible snowy peaks will not leave anyone indifferent.

Another amazing ethnic group living in Mongolia is the Tsaatans. Based on the name of the people, which literally translates as “those who own deer”, we can conclude that you will meet not only amazing people, but also their deer. Tsaatans live only in Khubsugul aimag and are mainly engaged in reindeer herding. Recently, the Tsaatans have been actively involved in the tourism business. So, you can take pictures with deer and with the tsaatans themselves in their traditional attire.

Top cities

Speaking about the cities of Mongolia, it should be noted that the Mongols call Ulaanbaatar "hot", which means "city". And if someone says: “I am going to the city” or “10 km from the city”, then he means exactly the capital. The remaining cities of Mongolia, and there are 29 of them, have the actual status of cities, but are not considered as such. Below are the top cities, which, in my opinion, are included in the must see category.

Ulaanbaatar

One can write endlessly about the capital, considering as in a kaleidoscope more and more bright facets.

I will give only my favorite facts about Ulaanbaatar:

the name Ulaanbaatar (Mong. Ulaanbaatar) is translated as "red hero";
the city was formed around the Buddhist monastery Gandan;
the population of the capital is half of the country's population, namely 1.4 million people;
the coldest capital in the world (take warm clothes with you);
the only capital in the world that has preserved all the “bucolic” charms of nomadic life (yurt districts of Ulaanbaatar).

Gandan;
Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan;
Monument to the Beatles;
Memorial complex Zaisan with a panoramic platform;
Flea market Naran Tuul;
Museum of nature with dinosaurs;
The tallest equestrian statue in the world.

Erdenet

The third largest city in Mongolia, which is known for the fact that in Soviet times a mining and processing plant was built here, around which the city grew at a frantic pace.

It still smells of Soviet aesthetics, and besides, our compatriots still make up 15% of the city's population. The distance from the capital is 330 km. The city is a major transport hub connecting Russia and Russia by rail.

Good news for tourists: this is the cheapest city in terms of the cost of food.

In Erdenet, tourists can get to a quarry, a mining museum with rare exhibits, purchase carpets without extra charge directly from a carpet factory, and visit Buddhist temples.

Choibalsan

Before the communist renaming, the city was called Bayan Tumen and was formed thanks to the caravan trade. Today it is the fourth largest city in Mongolia.

The distance from the capital by road is 670 km. The distance can be overcome by plane, as there is a large airport of the same name in Choibalsan. By the way, from Choibalsan Airport you can buy international tickets to the Chinese cities of Inner Mongolia: Manchuria, Hailar.

Karakoram

Karakorum, or Kharkhorin, is the oldest capital of the Mongol Empire. The name literally means "black stones of the volcano".

At one time, the city of Genghis Khan was so majestic and luxurious that it aroused the envy of other rich cities in the world. Today, only the ruins of that famous capital, which was located 80 km from the geographical center of modern Mongolia, can be found here. Here is another object protected by UNESCO - the cultural landscape of the Orkhon River. On the right bank of this river is the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, Erdeni Zuu.

Ulgiy

The city, which is surrounded on all sides by mountain peaks, is located in Western Mongolia. The distance from the capital exceeds 1,100 km.

It is attractive for tourists with its location, relative accessibility to Russia, Kazakhstan, and China. You can get here from the Mongolian capital by plane, and from here you can take a plane to Alma-Ata.

Top attractions

Many tourists who come to Mongolia prefer to visit the capital and several famous places in its vicinity. However, this is a completely wrong approach, since the geography of Mongolia's attractions is incredibly vast, and any other country will envy the diversity of cultural landscapes. Here is a list of places that are located in various parts of the country.

Weather

The climate of Mongolia is really harsh. The local frosts have already overtaken all the Siberian colds, and in general, Ulaanbaatar is the coldest capital, and the Gobi is the most sharply continental place in the world. Winters are cold and long, while summers are short and unbearably hot with little rainfall. But there is one incredibly pleasing plus for me - this is the number of sunny days a year. The Mongolians use this plus in their own way, installing solar panels, which they use to power the refrigerator, charge cell phones and watch TV.

The best season to travel to Mongolia is, of course, summer. I advise you to come at the very beginning of summer, when the steppe is just beginning to turn green, and everything breathes with special freshness before the onset of terribly hot and stuffy days in July and August. It is in the summer that the Naadam holiday and other interesting festivals (for example, the rock music festival) take place.

The off-season begins with the first serious cold in October and lasts almost until April. However, despite the frightening temperatures, there are daredevils traveling in the off-season, and for good reason. For lovers of winter sports, Mongolia has modern ski resorts, and also offers such interesting destinations as underwater diving, paragliding.

Moving around the country

Soviet cars, reserved seat romance, relatively cheap prices for railway tickets and fairly long distances - all this pushes the idea that it is more convenient and cheapest to travel around Mongolia by train. However, the railway network of Mongolia is not that dense, the total length does not exceed 1,900 km. Trans-Mongolian Railway connects Russian, Mongolian and Chinese cities together. Currently, the country's authorities are planning to connect all large and remote settlements by rail.

Be prepared for the fact that instead of the usual comfortable seat in the reserved seat, you can purchase the so-called "sitting" seat. In places where the railway passes, most people are used to traveling by train, and therefore there is an unequal ratio of seats in trains in favor of seated ones. So there is no question of any comfort.

Fans of fast and comfortable travel can be recommended to use an airplane. There are about 80 different airports in Mongolia. From the largest airport Genghis Khan you can fly to the farthest corners of the country.

As mentioned above, there are more problems with highways than in Mother Russia. Of course, numerous buses run between cities, of course, you will find a bunch of passing drivers who want to give you a lift, BUT this is a burden for very patient and unpretentious people. I, with my love for hitchhiking and bus trips, after another trip around Mongolia, reconsidered my attitude to the road. Nevertheless, most of the local population moves around the country by road transport. Buses and private cars run throughout Mongolia, so you can get to remote places by buying a ticket at the bus station.

Connection

Being in Mongolia, you can easily keep in touch with your homeland. Most Russian operators have warm relations with Mongolia, so after crossing the border, caring SMS messages with the text “Welcome to Mongolia” come to the phone. I use a SIM card from Megafon, which cooperates with the Mongolian company Unitel, and thanks to this I am constantly in touch.

The largest mobile operators in Mongolia: Mobicom, Skytel, Unitel, G-Mobile, Telecom Mongolia. One minute of conversation will cost an average of 2 rubles.

With mobile Internet, things are a little sadder. For 1 GB you will have to pay about 200 rubles. Here are the internet prices from Mobicom:

But in any case, it is better than the roaming Internet provided by Russian operators. Mongolian operators have special SIM-cards for tourists with favorable rates. They can be found on the websites of mobile companies.

As for WiFi, as a rule, most hotels, cafes and other establishments in Ulaanbaatar have a free network. If the network is closed, contact the administrator, you will immediately be prompted for a password. You can also sit in an Internet cafe, which will cost quite cheaply, about 30 rubles per hour. Internet cafes can be found in large cities, in remote ones they are rare, if not completely absent.

Language and communication

Mongolian is the official language of Mongolia. All names and signs are extremely readable, as the modern Mongolian language uses the Cyrillic alphabet for writing.

The Old Mongolian script is rarely used: in official documents and in some special cases. At school, Mongols study Russian as a foreign language, starting from the 7th grade. Therefore, there are no difficulties in communication, at least in the capital. The older generation still remembers many Russian words, and many can boast of an education received at Russian universities. The Mongolian language has a lot of borrowings from Russian and Chinese. The influence of neighboring countries is especially noticeable in the names of imported products and goods.

Modern Mongolian youth study English with admirable tenacity. University graduates shine with excellent knowledge of academic English. In addition, Korean, Japanese and German are gaining popularity.

The Mongolian language has "eastern subtleties": tone and respectful pronouns and endings in relation to elders. From the intonation used, your phrase can take on the entire gradient of meanings from negative to respectful. An extremely important rule of communication in Mongolia is honoring elders. It is considered extremely rude to address an elder with “you”. Perhaps foreigners will be forgiven for such a linguistic oversight, but if you learn this rule in advance, it will be easier for you.

Hello! - Sayn baina uu (literally translated as “are you doing well?” And this is more a question than a greeting, so this phrase must be answered “sayn baina” - “good”).
Hello - Saying woo.
You \ you - Ta \ chi.
Yes \ no - team \ uguy.
Thank you \ thank you very much - Bayarlalaa \ Mash their bayarlalaa.
Do you know Russian? - Ta oros hal medeh uu?
I don't speak Mongolian - Bi mongoloor yardagguy.
I don't understand you - Tanai helsniig bi oilgohguy bina.
Where is the shop (hotel)? - Khaana delguur (zochid buudal) bayna ve?
How much does it cost? - Ene hed we?
Can you help me - Nadad tuslahguy yuu?
I need... - Nadad... heregtey bina.
Sorry - Uuchlaaray
Goodbye! - Bayarty!

Features of the mentality

I always think that it is impossible to generalize some features and equate the whole people to them, but the Mongols really have pronounced features of the national mentality. The following are some of the distinguishing features of the Mongolian character:

Food and drink

Mongolian national cuisine is a paradise for meat lovers and a quiet horror for vegetarians. Culinary traditions are closely related to climatic conditions and nomadic lifestyle. The cuisine is not particularly sophisticated, for example, spices are used quite rarely.

But Mongolian food is very nutritious, healthy and satisfying.

Lamb and beef are leading in the top meat ingredients, horse meat and goat meat are less common.

Mongolian cuisine is rich in dairy products, and milk is not only cow's, but often mare's, camel's and yak's.

Vegetable dishes are not very popular, but are used as a dilution of meat dishes. Steamed dishes such as buuz and tsuivan play a special role.

Bread is also not particularly loved, but instead of it there are many flour products: boov, bortsog.

The most common variant of the first course is guriltai shul - a soup with homemade noodles.

Beverages

The theme of drinks is extremely interesting. Mongolian tea (suutei cai) is not at all what we imagine with the word "tea". It is brewed from tile green tea, which is brought to a boil with milk, then butter and toasted flour are added, salt can also be added, and lard can also be added. This tea is an excellent refreshment for nomads. In the process of drinking tea, do not forget that the Mongols love customs, and you will need to take everything either with two hands or with your right hand.

While in Mongolia, I discovered the most delicious tea - sea buckthorn. Hot sea buckthorn tea now replaces all my favorite herbal teas. And a bunch of other delicious drinks are prepared from sea buckthorn.

Of the milk drinks, the most common are tarag (like kefir) and airag (mare's milk).

It is worth mentioning the Mongolian milk vodka archi. The archi preparation technology is similar to the preparation of moonshine, the degrees in such vodka are approximately 38–43 °.

For lovers of vegetarian cuisine: don't be upset, there are enough vegetarian establishments in Ulaanbaatar, where all national dishes are duplicated, only without meat.

5 dishes worth trying

According to Russian travelers, Mongolia - the safest country in the world. I manage to walk through a flea market alone, get into huge crowds of people on buses, talk to strangers, hitchhike and stay safe with all my valuables. This is because everyone knows that it is necessary to hide documents and money away in inner pockets. As long as you follow the well-known rules in public places and do not provoke criminals, you are safe.

Road Safety

That's the scariest thing about Mongolia. Cars in the city rush like a dashing race, and sometimes they really compete right in the city center. Drivers have a special hatred for slow pedestrians, they can honk very loudly and scold in addition.

Health rules:

Do not drink water from untested sources. Even when buying water in a store, be careful and choose familiar manufacturers.
Grab a gauze bandage. In winter, Ulaanbaatar is covered with caustic smog, which is formed due to the burning of yurts with coal. Dust storms often occur in autumn and spring.
Be prepared for terrible temperature changes. In the cold months, you should be afraid of frostbite of the limbs, in the warm season you should be afraid of overheating. The sharp continentality of the climate, as well as altitude sickness, can take an unprepared tourist by surprise.

Popular types of scams

Petty theft in public places is the most common type of crime. Be sure, if someone's phone was stolen, then you can say goodbye to the device forever. No one in Mongolia will investigate the theft of phones, laptops, etc.

As a rule, two great Mongols are depicted on banknotes: Sukhbaatar and Genghis Khan. On the reverse side, you can see Przewalski's horses, a nomadic yurt with bulls, the city of Karakorum, 9 flags of the Mongol Empire.

There are no problems with currency exchange, everywhere, even in small towns, there are exchange offices. There were a lot of changes on the streets, which may slightly overestimate the rate. At the border, you don’t even have to change rubles for tugriks, because border cafes and shops willingly accept Russian currency. At the main airport of the country there are also exchange offices with clear names in three languages: currency exchange / currency exchange / currency exchange. From cards you can use Visa, Mastercard.

When visiting a supermarket, Russian tourists will be horrified. On the shelves you can find all the same typical Russian goods and food straight from home, but with incomprehensibly high prices. So, for example, eggs here are twice as expensive as in Russia: a dozen eggs will cost about 150 rubles.

Nevertheless, it is valuable for a certain part of travelers with its unique nature, original cuisine, ancient Buddhist monuments and bright folk holidays. And also the birthplace of Genghis Khan is the blue sky of infinite purity and richness and the amazing hospitality of the locals. Even this is enough to try to find out how to get to the endless Mongolian steppes.

Choosing wings

Four and a half thousand kilometers in a straight line separate the capitals and Mongolia. This distance is most quickly overcome on the wings of airlines that make non-stop scheduled flights. Connecting flights significantly increase travel time, but often save money and are therefore also popular with budget travelers:

The fastest way to get to Ulaanbaatar is by Aeroflot planes, plowing the blue sky over the endless Mongolian steppes several times a week. The price of a romantic trip is from 550 euros for a round-trip ticket. You can admire the sky for about 5.5 hours. The planes take off from Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport.
Mongolian airlines charge about 600 euros for their services. Aircraft of the MIAT Mongolian Airlines will start from the same Sheremetyevo. The journey takes from 5 to 6.5 hours to Ulaanbaatar and back, respectively.
With connections from to the Mongolian capital, the cheapest way to fly is with the ubiquitous Turkish Airlines. In this direction, Turkish Airlines boards rise from Vnukovo Airport. The round-trip ticket price is about 430 euros for early booking, and the travel time, excluding connections, is from 11 hours. There are two transfers - traditional in and additional in Kyrgyz.
With one transfer to Ulaanbaatar from Moscow, you will get on the wings of Chinese air carriers. Air China flies through, but only in the sky you will have to spend about 9 hours, while paying at least 680 euros for a ticket.

Residents can fly to the Mongolian capital with transfers in Beijing (a combined flight of Aeroflot and MIAT for 780 euros and 3 hours) and on Korean airlines (travel time - 4 hours excluding the transfer that will take place in, the issue price is from 800 euros) .
Siberians have a chance to buy tickets from and and get to Mongolia, which is called "on the bed" with connections in Vladivostok, Beijing or Seoul. The cost of the flight will be at least 1,000 euros round trip, and the travel time will depend on the direction and duration of the flight at the transfer airport.

How to get to Ulaanbaatar from the airport

The international airport of the Mongolian capital is located 18 kilometers from the city center. It is called Buyant-Ukha - Genghis Khan. The easiest way is to choose a taxi car as a transfer option. A trip to the center of Ulaanbaatar is unlikely to cost less than 10 euros. But if you want to plunge into the local flavor and take a ride on public transport, the bus route NN11 and 22 will take about half an hour and require no more than 500 Mongolian tugriks, which is equivalent to 0.20 euros in European money. By the way, tugriks are not an allegory and the currency of Mongolia is called that.

To the homeland of Genghis Khan by train

Fans of long conversations to the sound of wheels will be able to indulge in communication with random fellow travelers for several days if they buy a ticket - Ulaanbaatar and hit the road by train to Beijing, which passes through the Mongolian capital. The trains depart from Yaroslavsky railway station in the Russian capital at 23.55 several times a month. The road to the Mongolian capital takes four full days and another two hours, and the cost of the cheapest seat in a compartment car is 255 euros one way. You can book tickets and find out the schedule details on the website of the Russian Railways - www.rzd.ru.
Residents of Irkutsk or have every chance to be in the Mongolian capital much faster than Muscovites. It is enough for them to buy a ticket for regional trains. And in the first case, the journey takes 36 hours, in the second - 17 hours. The price of tickets in a compartment car in one direction will be 40 and 20 euros, respectively.

All prices in the material are approximate and are given for April 2017. It is better to check the exact fare on the official websites of carriers.

Let me briefly explain to the girls and those who are not yet in the know: the Toyota Prius is a Japanese hybrid car in which a gasoline engine is supplemented with an electric one. The process of their joint work is controlled by the on-board computer, and the main (gasoline) engine only works when it is needed. And it turns off as soon as the need for his efforts disappears - when driving at low speed (for example, in traffic jams), while stopping at a traffic light, when braking, when driving with the gas pedal released or on a slope, and in other situations when the electric motor is strong cope on your own.

This makes hybrid cars more environmentally friendly than regular ICE cars, but that's certainly not why Mongolians buy them. But because "hybrids" allow you to save on gasoline, which, as I already wrote, is expensive in Mongolia. Consumption for the "Prius" - from 4 to 6 liters per 100 kilometers, depending on the version, season and driving style. Driving in eco-mode along long steppe trails allows local residents to significantly save on fuel.

Hybrid cars have one small drawback (but it is also an advantage) - a starting battery. It is used to turn on the car - yes, yes, just turn it on - and maintain its functions when it is turned off (powering the clock and alarm, for example), so it gradually discharges. So the “hybrid” does not like to stand idle for a long time, it needs to be “walked” at least once every few days so that the starting battery is recharged. These cars especially do not like to mess around in the cold season. But in the mode of constant operation, the battery feels cheerful, and the car does not need to be put on regular warm-up in cold weather, like ordinary cars. Even at -30 ° and below, it will turn on without problems - after all, it does not need to turn a frozen starter. But the possibilities of a starting battery are very limited, and, for example, you cannot “light up” an ordinary car from a “hybrid”, only a brother with the same nice little battery. So if you suddenly need this kind of help, do not rely on the Prius, look for a simpler and larger car.

The government of Mongolia welcomes the purchase of "hybrids" in every possible way. In principle, this country already has very humane duties on imported cars - they don’t have their own “like car industry, which needs to be pulled by the ears with all its might, which means there is no need for protective duties on imports. For hybrid cars, the duty is even lower than for conventional cars. Moreover, since June 2016, Mongolia has canceled the customs rate for importing new cars from Japan and taxes on Japanese cars with less than 3 years of mileage. An excellent example of competent import regulation, when the import of higher quality goods is encouraged. So in the near future, this country will plug us into the belt in terms of the number of cool cars per capita. In terms of automotive environmental friendliness, I think I have already shut it up. Eh, it's good luck!

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So you just want to roll off into the endless steppes. And so that the wind in my head. Harness.

The article is huge, you will need navigation:

They galloped.

When to go to Mongolia?

Due to the fierce continental climate, the country has changeable and windy weather.In winter - frost, minus 25°С - 35°С. Ulaanbaatar at this time of the year leads the list of the coldest capitals in the world.In summer - up to plus 25 ° С - 35 °. The heat is softened by the winds that roam the steppe, but they also sometimes create sandstorms.In spring and autumn there are sharp temperature changes.Comfortable time - from May to October.

There is also an advantage: more than 250 clear days a year, which is why Mongolia is called the country of the blue sky. A dream for those who like to leave themselves clear days and look at buckets of stars.

Do I need a visa

Since 2014, Russian citizens do not need a visa if they are not going to roam for more than 30 days. You only need a passport.

If you want to fly for a couple of months, then you need to apply for a visa.Embassies exist in Moscow, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Kyzyl and Yekaterinburg.

How to get to Mongolia

By plane

There is only one international airport in Mongolia, in Ulaanbaatar. From Moscow you will find tickets with a bunch of transfers from Turkish Airlines.The cost is from 29,000 rubles.

It is also easily accessible by direct flights of Aeroflot and Mongolian Airlines. Fly around 6 hours.The cost is from 35,000 rubles.

But from Buryatia you can find tickets from 6500 rubles.

From the airport to the city center take a taxi for $ 5 or walk a kilometer to the bus stop ( here) - for $0.2.

By bus

A cool option for a compound trip to Lake Baikal. Daily, at 7:30 p.m. Ulan-Ude bus station to Ulaanbaatar a shuttle bus departs. On the road - 12 hours, there may be slight delays at the border. Buy your ticket at the box office or travel agency website.

Cost: from 1500 rubles one way.

During sales of Pobeda Airlines, plane tickets to Ulan-Ude can be bought for 6,500 rubles round trip.

By train

For those wishing to ride along the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway: a train departs from Moscow once every two weeks. You will have to listen to the sound of wheels for a little more than 4 days.Cost: from $200 one way.

Trains depart from Irkutsk 3 times a week. On the road - 1.5 days.Cost: from $80 one way.

You can buy tickets for this route only at the box office.

By car

There are about a dozen border crossings on the border with Russia. Main post - Kyakhta , around the clock. It works only with motorists, it will not work on foot.

The distance from the border to Ulaanbaatar is 350 km. However, know that there are practically no roads there, if you love your “swallow”, then think twice.

Customs

It is important to remember that you can import duty-free no more than: $ 2,000, 200 cigarettes, 1 liter of strong alcohol or 3 liters of beer.

It is also forbidden to carry with you: archaeological finds, meat or fish, metal detectors and everything that a decent traveler does not take on the road.

Time difference between our capitals +5 hours

Money is not an issue

The national currency of the country is Tugrik (MNT). It exists only in paper form. For coins - not here.

Conditional conversion to other currencies (February 2019): $1 = 2600.1₽ = 40, and 1€ = 3000.

Take dollars with you, in some places you can also pay with them. But with other currencies there will be no big problems. Be sure to have cash. If there are no problems with banks and cash machines in the capital, then in other parts of the country such blessings may not be found.

Immediately after crossing the border (or in the markets), street money changers will offer a favorable rate. It's a matter of risk.

Who will meet: about people

The population density is 1.7 people per square kilometer, and there are 13 horses for one oncoming Mongol.

Staying incognito will not work. But it's even great. After all, thanks to the harsh climate and nomadic lifestyle, the Mongolian people are super hospitable: it is considered commonplace to give lodging and food to a stranger. If you don’t know where to spend the night, you can always count on being “sheltered”. However, if invited to visit, remember some rules of Mongolian decency.

Don't skip meals.
Do not take gifts with your left hand.
Don't lean on the supporting pillar of the yurt.
Don't whistle.
Don't turn your back on the older generation.
Don't throw trash into the fire.

All signs and names are readable for our person, as the Cyrillic alphabet is used. And Mongolian children learn Russian as a foreign language. There are even those who speak well, but do not bet on it.

The English language also has the status of "everything is complicated." Therefore, download a phrase book in advance or learn simple phrases:

Hello - Sayin bina uu
Where is? - Ene Gazar Khana Baidag ve
Do you know Russian? - Oros kheliig ta medeh үү?
I don't understand - Bi oylgokhgyi bina
Yes - Chiimee
No - yyy
Thank you - Bayarlaa
Sorry - Uuchlaaray
What is the price? - Kher their bayna ve?
Expensive - Unetei
Goodbye - Bayartai

Walking in the steppes

The area of Mongolia is slightly more than 1.5 million km², and the distances between cities and sights are sometimes prohibitive. Don't get off on foot.

A truly Mongolian variant of travel is horseback riding. But this option is for the strong and brave, who have nowhere to hurry.
It is more comfortable and cheaper to travel between settlements by train. So from Ulaanbaatar you will overcome 500 km to the Gobi desert for only $ 3.5. Check the schedule and buy tickets at website.
For about the same money you can go by bus. But the lack of roads is unlikely to make travel more convenient than by train. If you still chose this path, then buy tickets at the bus station.
There are many small airports. But air tickets are not too cheap - from 4000 rubles.
Renting a car is a risky idea, you can get lost. If you still decide, then Russian rights will do. Also take cash for a deposit.

In the usual rental cars, the cost is from $70 per day, for a jeep - all $100. Mongolian Avito find it much cheaper.

The most reliable option is to rent a jeep or "loaf" with a local driver. Pay around $100 per day.
Or go on an organized tour. Ask about these options at the hotel where you stay.

Communication and Internet

In Mongolia, normal cellular communications and the Internet, although it would seem.

Major operators: Unitel, Mobicom and Skytel. 2 GB internet stand 1$. More profitable than connecting Russian roaming.

Almost all hotels, cafes and other establishments have free Wi-Fi.

Mongolian cuisine

Mongolian cuisine is nutritious and very tasty. It is directly related to the climate and the nomadic way of life. Vegetables just don't grow here. Therefore, if you poke your finger at the menu, they will bring meat. They cook lamb, beef, and a little less often - horse meat and goat meat.

You can eat in numerous institutions of the country. And here's what you can say about them:

They serve large portions. If you order a dish with the prefix "khaan", then the size will be like for Genghis Khan.
The most budget option is to eat in the dining room. Calculate by the sign "Tsain Gazar" or "Guanz". The average check in such establishments is $2.
A slightly higher class cafe is Zoogiin Gazar. The check is about $4.
In establishments "expensive-rich" the average cost is $ 15.
Leaving a tip is not accepted here.
There are also vegetarian establishments, where dishes are duplicated without meat.
Most meals are fatty, take medicines that can help with stomach heaviness.

Dishes to try

Buuz - m Mongolian version of the usual manti. HTo eat, you need 2-3 things.
Huitzaa. If you are offered to taste a cock, then do not rush to swear with the offenders. This is a rich soup made from fat tail fat and minced meat.
Huushuur. A word stuffed with the letters "u". And the dish represents pasties stuffed with minced meat.
Cuiwang - noodles fried with meat and potatoes.
Wrestler - dried meat, which is cut into small strips.
Boodog is a national dish. This is a lamb roasted inside with hot stones. Finding this dish is not easy. E the same whole lamb, fried from the inside with hot stones, well.
Aaruul - dried cottage cheese from the milk of different animals.

Drinks to try in Mongolia

Suutei cai is green tea boiled with milk, butter, salt and flour. If eaten with dumplings, then it turns out banshtai tsai.
Airag is a frothy, refreshing, sour-sweet fermented milk drink. This is koumiss.
Archi (Be healthy) - national vodka, which is insisted on mare's milk. Fortress - 38 degrees.

5 great establishments

Modern Nomads, on the map.
Luna Blanca Restaurant, on the map.
The Bull, on the map.
BD "s Mongolian Barbeque, on the map.
Grand Khaan Irish Pub, on the map.

Mongolian shopping

In the spring, when mountain goats begin to molt, the animals arewool, choose the undercoat, weave yarn and make cloth. This is how cashmere is made. - the main hit of Mongolia. This fabric is amazingly soft and warm.However, the price of such a product is also amazing, but definitely worth it.Shop at factories:

Gobi Cashmere, on the map
Buyan, on the map
Goyo , on the map

Also great gifts are:

leather products;
woolen socks from the Yanmal factory;
carpets;
National costumes;
goods from neighboring China.

All of the above can be found in the largest market Naran Tuul ( on the map ) or in souvenir shops.

Where to live?

Outside of Ulaanbaatar, the only options for living - tourist centers working with sightseeing tours. Such peculiar yurt towns.

Hotels in the usual sense of the word (with separate numbers and other requests) - found only in the capital.

A bed in a shared room will cost from 4$.
Private room - from 7$.
Room in a five-star hotel - from 58$.

Ulaanbaatar

This is not only the capital of the country, but also by right the "capital" of any trip to this state. In fact, the only major city, in the standard view. Now it is changing at a dizzying pace: new residential areas and even skyscrapers are appearing. would.

Half of the country's citizens already live here - 1.4 million people.

Despite the fast pace of construction, Ulaanbaatar is the only capital where yurt quarters are still preserved.

Transport

The metro was not built right away. The opening is expected in 2020.
It is convenient to move around the city by buses, trolleybuses and minibuses. Here is the route map , can you figure it out?
Buy a card like the Moscow "troika" and replenish the deposit. Travel within the city will cost about $ 0.2 , go to the area - about 1$ .
Taxi - $ 0.3 per kilometer.

Gandan

The monastery around which the city once began to form. The full name is Gandantegchenlin, which translates as "The Great Chariot of All-Encompassing Joy." The main temple houses an illustrious 26-meter statue of a bodhisattva.

Spin the prayer wheels while walking clockwise around the stupa. After "fumigate" your wallet for material well-being.

Opening hours of the monastery: from 9:00 to 16:00. Paid entrance only to the Magjid-Janraiseg temple. On the map .

A few more interesting places in the city:

Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan. The entrance fee is $3. On the map.
Zaisan complex with an observation deck. On the map.
Central Square of Sukhbaatar. On the map.

Near the capital

An interesting program is located in the vicinity of Ulaanbaatar, and with a strong desire, everything can be conquered in one day.

Getting to most places by public transport is possible in half. Therefore, you have to catch a taxi or take a tour.

Monument to Genghis Khan

The tallest equestrian statue in the world. The main symbol of the state and one of the wonders of Mongolia. According to the legends, the history of the entire empire begins here, and the “steel conqueror” looks towards the house, which was never destined to be reached.

Mongolia, a wonderful country, an inexplicable combination of local color and European luxury of restaurants and hotels...

I have been to Mongolia three times. It is better to go in August - it is not so hot anymore, but not cold either: 25-28 degrees. In winter, it is very cold there, and in Ulaanbaatar it was also smog from the fact that they are drowning with manure ...
Visa to Mongolia can be obtained either through a travel agency, which is quite expensive (usually about 5 thousand rubles if you do not live in Moscow), although the visa itself costs a penny. Or go to Irkutsk, where you can get a visa in 3 days. And to see Irkutsk itself is also very interesting.
Prices in Mongolia: the local currency is tugrik, in restaurants the average check is 500-700 rubles, but, of course, you can eat much cheaper. So, lunch in local cafes will cost 50-70 rubles, and the food in the cafe is quite edible. With sanitation, of course, a problem, as in all Asian countries.
Hotels in Mongolia there are different - democratic for 600 rubles. per room, there are very expensive... In Ulaanbaatar, star hotels are very expensive, but there are many small hotels where prices are very reasonable. You don't need to make a reservation, there are always plenty of places available.

Take care of your wallet
Russians in Mongolia are treated very well, taxi drivers almost all speak Russian.
You can fly from Moscow, but it is quite expensive, about 25 thousand rubles round trip. There is also a fast train from Moscow, 2 times a week in summer. Three days and on the spot, the train is good, all compartment. The only thing is the border from Russia - we stood for about 8 hours.
In Mongolia, you have to be careful - there are a lot of street thefts. In the market you need to be very careful, there are a lot of beggars and beggars.
Of the oddities - half the city walks in gauze bandages. Since they are steppe people, they have a toilet everywhere ... In Ulaanbaatar, this is not so noticeable, but you go outside - and there is one big toilet. They don't even give a damn about it.

You are the boss - I'm a fool
Of the features - they greatly respect the higher management and superiors (DARGA), idolize everyone who is higher in rank. Women are treated differently - in the cities it is civilized, but it is not safe to go to the steppe alone. But the people are hospitable - the locals will always invite you to their home. Many studied in the former USSR, so they will be happy to talk and treat them with koumiss.
There are a lot of foreigners in Mongolia now: Americans, Germans, fewer Russians. It is better to take your own first-aid kit, there are obvious problems with medicines. Their fruits and vegetables are tasteless - mostly from China.
At the border in Mongolia it is very strict, it is better not to hide anything, to include everything in the declaration. Last year they even asked me to take off my tights, but this is because the work visa was archaeological ....
You can walk, during the day it is relatively calm, it gets dark early - in August at 8 o'clock it is already dark, although taxis are around the clock. But how do motorists drive? There is only one rule: no rules!

Natalya K. traveled in Mongolia.

Khorkhog - Mongolian cottage cheese. It can be of different types, it is believed that it is very useful ... But it seemed to me that everything tastes the same. It keeps for a long time, I even brought it home. It costs a penny, the products there are very cheap, especially all dairy and meat. It is better to change money in Ulaanbaatar, opposite the railway. station there is an exchange office, there is the most profitable exchange.