Customs
Every visitor will complete a customs declaration form on arrival, which must be retained by them until their departure. This allows the free import and export of articles for personal use during your stay. The contents of checked-in baggage must be declared on arrival if the total value of those contents exceeds US$1000 in value. The contents of checked-in baggage must be declared upon departure if the total value of those goods exceeds US$500. Mongolia allows the following items to be brought in duty free: • One litter of spirits • Two litters of wine • Three litters of beer • 200 cigarettes • 250 grams of tobacco The customs declaration form asks the visitor to declare the amount and currencies of money being carried. Visitors are advised that if they fail to declare the amount of money they are carrying, the money can be confiscated by customs officials. Visitors taking antiques and fossils out of the country must official documentation to do so. Some shops will provide the necessary documents upon purchase. Alternatively, permission can be obtained from the Ministry of Education and Science, Culture in Ulaanbaatar.
Health and Insurance
Mongolia is generally healthy country to travel in. The dry, cold climate and sparse human habitation means few of the infectious diseases. You may consider having the some vaccinations such as tetanus, polio, typhoid, hepatitis and rabies. All travelers should bring along an antibiotic and an anti diarrheal drug to be started promptly if significant diarrhea occurs, defined as three or more loose stools in an 8-hour period or five or more loose stools in a 24-hour period, especially if accompanied by nausea, vomiting, cramps, fever or blood in the stool. Antibiotics which have been shown to be effective include ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin), rifaximin (Xifaxan), or azithromycin (Zithromax). Either loperamide (Imodium) or diphenoxylate (Lomotil) should be taken in addition to the antibiotic to reduce diarrhea and prevent dehydration. Make sure that you arrange a good travel insurance which includes repatriation in an emergency situation. We recommend you to cover the cost of medical treatment, including hospitalization and evacuation by air ambulance. You should also ensure that your insurance covers unexpected losses or expenses such as lost luggage, stolen cash and credit cards and missed flights.
Money and Banks
The Mongolian currency is called Tugrik (MNT). Hardly any bank outside of Mongolia will stock Tugrik bills so that you will have to change your money after arrival. As in many developing countries, many businesses will be happy to accept US dollars and Euros. Especially in the travel industry, prices are normally calculated in dollars. Dollar bills should be no older than about 10 years, or nobody will accept them anymore. The banks in the capital city offer practically all service that can be expected, including currency exchange. In addition there are many exchange shops which offer good exchange rates. The Tugrik has been stable in relation to the US dollar for several years. 1 USD – 1994 MNT (Stand 1 March 2015). Most large shops, hotels and restaurants in Ulaanbaatar will accept the common credit cards. Visa and Master cards are widely accepted except AMEX card. Small shops, merchants on public markets and everybody on the countryside will only be able to process cash.
Safety and Security
Mongolia is relatively safe place, and women traveling alone are usually treated with respect and friendship. Normal sensible precautions should be taken to safeguard for your belongings, especially in Ulaanbaatar. Pick pocketing and bag slitting is most common in crowded places such as the black market, on buses or a tourist attractions. Valuables should be kept in a money belt and kept underneath your clothing. Be careful about being seen with large amounts of money outside. Vodka is a popular drink in Mongolia which used many celebrations, but it is also the source of some alcohol problem. Drunks tend to be more an annoying than a danger. They tend to be on their own rather than in large groups. Power cuts and hot water shortages used to be common – but not very frequent. Beggars are beginning problem in the capital city.
Climate and Clothing
The climate in Mongolia is extremely continental. Sudden changes from heat to cold, from summer to winter are amazing and sometimes hard to bear. Temperatures may fall by 30 degrees not only in season, but also within fortnight. Mongolia has about 260 sunny days per year average, which makes a rainy summer vacation very unlikely. On the other hand, you better bring appropriate sun protection, a wide brimmed hat is highly recommended. The most rainfalls occur in July and the first half of August. Fortunately it only does so in short and intense burst. A good rain coat will also protect against the constant wind. In the capital city many Mongolians dress in western style, so there’s no danger for westerners to attract inappropriate attention. On the countryside an overly liberal style of dress should be avoided, especially for women. That way you’ll avoid potentially embarrassing situations caused by a confrontation with the very traditional attitude of the locals.
Communication
The phone networks in the capital are in good shape, and even international connections normally work well in both directions. The Mongolian mobile phone operators use the widely adopted GSM standard. Basically, there is no obstacle to use roaming with European and Asian mobile phone. Of course you should only expect to connect in Ulaanbaatar and aimag and soum centers. In the countryside, satellite phones or AM radios are the communication devices of choice. In the capital, as well as in many province and sum centers, more and more internet cafes are established. This turns e-mail into one of the most reliable and cost effective ways to communicate. Nobody in Mongolia owns a letterbox, and consequently no mail gets delivered to the door. Anyone who wants to receive mail needs a P.O Box.
Electric voltage
The standard voltage in Mongolia is 220V. Mongolia uses European-style, 2-pin sockets, mostly sockets that accept round twin forks. If your gadget plug has flat forks you need fork adapter or convertor. Electricity is available constantly in Ulaanbaatar and most Aimag (i.e. province) capitals now have power for at most of the day. Electricity out in the countryside is very scarce -remember this before packing a heap of electronics, and ensure you pack some head torches
Food
The Mongolian diet includes a large proportion of dairy products and meat. The nomads of Mongolia sustain their lives directly from the products of their animals such as horses, cattle, yaks, camels, sheep and goats. Meat is either cooked, used as ingredient for soups or dumplings, or dried for winter. Milk and cream are used to make a variety of beverages, as well as cheese and similar products. Mongolians use a lot of fat in their diet in order to withstand the cold winters and their hard work. Winter temperatures are as low as -40 Celsius degrees and outdoor work requires sufficient energy reserves. The nomads on the countryside are self-supporting by principle. Travelers will find ger marked as Guanz in regular intervals near the roadside, which operate as simple restaurants. Cooking in the ger normally happens in a work on a small stove, using wood or dried animal dung as heating materials.
Best time to travel
As one of the highest and most landlocked countries in the world, Mongolia is subject to extreme continental climates with scorching hot summers and long sub arctic winters. The average temperature in Ulaanbaatar is -25C (-13F) in winter and +16C (60F) in summer. The capital city averages 260 sunny days per year. The summer travel season goes from mid May to mid October. June and July are usually blistering hot while August is cooler with more rain. Wet conditions make travel difficult, especially in the northern part of the country. Most travelers come for the annual Naadam Festival which is on July 11-13. September and October are the best times to see the Gobi. During the springs (March through mid May) fierce winds and dust storms blow in from Siberia.