Mongolia Favorites

  Wild rosemary everywhere!!
by Willettsworld
 
  • Wild rosemary everywhere!!
      Wild rosemary everywhere!!
    by Willettsworld
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    by Willettsworld
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    by Willettsworld
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    by Willettsworld
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    by Willettsworld
 
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Films to watch

by Willettsworld

Before I set off for Mongolia, I watched a few TV programmes that centred on the way of life of the Mongolian's as well as showing the beauty of the country. It may be an idea to check them out before you set off so as to get some idea as to what to expect.Firstly, one of the best for showing the landscapes is Long Way Round which stars film star Ewan McGregor (of the recent Star Wars trilogy fame) and Charley Boorman. Both of them are keen motorcyclists and they completed a trip around the world on two bikes from London to New York in which they passed through Mongolia.Secondly, a TV programme called Tribe (series 1) which features Bruce Parry who spends a month living and interacting with the Darhad people of northern Mongolia. He helps them to pack up and leave their ger in the autumn plains and take a 3-day journey through the mountains to their winter camp.And lastly, a TV programme...

Getting a tour when in mongolia?

by Bonobo2005

You can sort it out when you're there. They usually need only 2 days to organise everything. It's best though to have a clear idea of your itinerary in advance.We booked with Tserentours, they charged lumpsum fee of $130 per day for 2 persons in a jeep with guide/driver all in (based on camping & excl. special requests). Then you can go wherever you like (as long reasonable road conditions and not more then ca. 300km per day), but they need to have it decided in advance.Bargaining is not so common, but at least try to negotiate more inclusions, such as cost for a day horse-/cameltrek, canoeing, bathhouse use and such things.If you want to sleep one night in a hotel/guesthouse as a nice treat halfway the trip or so, try to include that in the lump sum price as well. Also make sure you include special food wishes in the contract. F.e. food was included but our guide rarely wanted to buy...

Opinion about agency Ger-to-Ger

by Bonobo2005

We used their services just a month ago (Blue Lake trek) with overall positive opinion. a few comments for consideration:* Ger-to-Ger says 85% of the price goes to the families where you stay with and that guide you. That's good to know, also to avoid abuse of Mongolian hospitality. F.e. most regualar agencies employ a local guide for the whole trip (usually student in early 20's)that are supplied with a lumpsum to feed the (tourist-)guests. Then along the way they regularly visit familis in remote ger's that usually generously present food and tea as a custom, although they have very little. Unfortunately we have seen & heard about guides /operator who accept these invitations but do nothing for these families in return while saving a on their own budget. We found this very shamefull practise and with Ger-to-Ger at least you ensured - as they say - that the money goes to those who...

Mongoian visa's

by doombor

You are able to get visa issued at Mongolian border when you arrive Ulanbator.I am 100% sure, i have helped few travellers before and one of them was Canadian.You need invitation letter from your host in Mongolia sent to the Airport customs before your arrival and, you should hold the copy in your hand.The letter should have clear information about your host's contact details etc.Good luck!

Genghis Khan - The man

by Willettsworld

Not many historical figures are bigger than their country but Genghis Khan (1162-1227) was certainly one of them. In the west he's always been perceived as a great statesman and warrior of the Mongol empire who knew of no limits or boundaries. He came to power by uniting many of the nomadic tribes of northeast Asia and he pursued an aggressive foreign policy by starting the Mongol invasions of East and Central Asia. During his life, the Mongol Empire eventually occupied most of Asia and his descendants went on to stretch the Mongol Empire across most of Eurasia by conquering all of modern-day China, Korea, Caucasus, Central Asian countries and substantial portions of modern Russia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. It's no wonder, then, that he is revered among Mongolians. For example, it is not uncommon for Mongolians to refer to Mongolia as "Genghis Khan's Mongolia," to themselves as...

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Surfacing roads

by Willettsworld

When you leave UB and the towns, the tarmaced roads will simply end in the middle of nowhere. This particular road, on the way to Ogii Lake was actually being worked on with several trucks delivering roads and such like for the road surface. It's good to see that roads in Mongolia are being built but it'll take them a long time to complete the whole country.

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Dirt tracks

by Willettsworld

Ever watched the film "Back to the Future" and the scene where the Doc returns from the future and visits Marty and Jennifer? Marty says to him "You don't have enough road to get up to 88mph". Doc replies, "Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads". Well, it's kind of like that in Mongolia, minus doing 88mph and the time travelling, that is! When you leave UB and the towns, the tarmaced roads will simply end in the middle of nowhere. You'll just end up on dirt tracks that will roll over the steppe landscape like a highway in their own right as there'll sometimes be more than one carved out of the dirt.

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Camels

by Willettsworld

Umnogobi province is home to part of the Gobi desert and, of course, you'll see plenty of these guys walking around along the dirt tracks. These are Bactrian camels that normally have a fury neck during the winder but this is sheered for wool during the summer. Mongolian's capture wild camels and it takes a year for them to be obedient but well worth the time as a camel can transport up to 160kg in weight, 100 miles a day without food or water.

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Horses

by Willettsworld

Horses are everywhere in Mongolian but most of them belong to people and are not wild. The wild one's are caught and tamed but it takes a very skilled horseman to do this. It's no wonder that Mongolian's are said to be the best horseman in the world. Whenever we encountered them, on our tour, we would stop the car in order to take pictures of them as they are so beautiful.

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Wild mushrooms, rosemary and chives

by Willettsworld

When you're outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia has some of the cleanest air I've ever encountered. When we travelled between Karakorum and Ongi Temple in the Gobi desert, I kept smelling this wonderful fragrance that I just couldn't put my finger on what it was or where it was coming from. We stopped where some other tourists had stopped and I got talking to an American woman about the smell. She picked something from the ground and let me smell it and that was it! Wild rosemary! Also in the ground was wild chives as well as wild mushrooms. I could've started a meal with all of this at my feet!

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Related Mongolia Favorites Tips

Top 3 Hotels in Mongolia

The Continental Hotel  Ulaanbaatar

 1 Review and 23 Opinions  during my stay in UB I was completely cought of guard by this hotel. now they have a new fitness... 

 Hotels in Ulaanbaatar

Chinggis Khaan Hotel  Ulaanbaatar

 1 Review and 46 Opinions  Very good high end hotel. Modern, recently built. Very good service. We went there with very low... 

 Hotels in Ulaanbaatar

Bayangol Hotel  Ulaanbaatar

 2 Reviews and 68 Opinions  I stayed here for a couple of nights - the first and last night’s of my Mongolian tour. This 4-star... 

 Hotels in Ulaanbaatar

34 Hotels in Mongolia
 
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Reviews and photos of Mongolia attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Mongolia sightseeing.

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Favorites: Cities in Mongolia
  1. Ulaanbaatar Favorites
  2. Harhorin Favorites
  3. Erdene-Dzuu Favorites
  4. Erdenet Favorites

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Popular Regions in Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar Hot Favorites  Ovorhangay Aymag Favorites  Hovsgol Aymag Favorites  Omnogovi Aymag Favorites  Arhangay Aymag Favorites  Erdenet Hot Favorites  Tov Aymag Favorites 

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Questions and Answers

ozpaul profile photo

Q:  We have the opportunity of visiting Ulaanbaator for two days in December this year. Could anyone tell me how difficult it is to... 

Fluffy_bunny profile photo

A: That depends, do you know what -20 to -30 C fells like? The locals are used to it. Just because it's cold, doesn't mean the whole city goes into hibernation. Things are... 

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