Mongolia: What to Know Before Traveling

Weather

Most people associate Mongolia with desert and eagles, horses, and mountain steppe. All that exists and with a high altitude. This gives ranging arid temperatures and a lot of sunny days. While summer and autumn boast lovely daytimes, night and early morning can be quite cold anywhere in the country. Winter and springtime are frigid and require proper attire.

On the Road

The country is large and things outside of the capital are very spread out. You’ll likely need at least a few hours in a car if you plan to travel anywhere. Tours often use Soviet vans, public transport uses regular large buses or microvans, and private tour drivers use vehicles. Microvan travel is for the adventurous spirit. Bus and tour van travel is reasonably comfortable. Private vehicles, particularly SUVs provide a sound way to get places.

Language

Mongolians know English in the city but outside of that don’t expect people to be conversational. Lonely Planet, online, and specific phrasebooks are recommended if you travel rurally and visit local homestays. The families will so appreciate efforts to say “thank you” which is “bayarlalaa” [bye-are-llla].

Food

Mongolians love meat and they love dairy. These are the bulk diets of the traditional culture of pastoral agriculture. Expect food offerings to be comprised of an array of these things in the countryside. Tours however will cater to specific diets and provide Western-influenced meals multiple times a day, not to worry.

Ulaanbaatar itself hosts a good selection of diverse foods inclusive to vegetarian and vegan diets. However, if you want to eat like a real Mongolian expect meat, dairy, and unusual manifestations of each at any and all times of the day.

Customs

Mongolia has a plethora of particular customs derived from nomadism. These revolve around horse culture in mobilities and travel. As well as home-based in the traditional household with materials of use. Gender, age, status, relation, time of day, year, and more are important inputs to how customs go about. While foreigners are not expected to be in the know of these things it’s best to read up on certain basics so that you don’t unintentionally do what’s considered rude there. Some of the biggest are:

Don’t knock on the ger door

Don’t step on the doorframe of the ger with your shoes

Don’t throw garbage into the ger fire stove

Don’t lean on the two center poles on either side of the stove and fireplace in the ger

Don’t kick or touch other people’s feet with yours. If you do, shake their hand as a sign of apology

Don’t touch Mongolians’ heads and don’t touch pregnant women’s bellies

Don’t point your feet towards the Buddhist shrine inside of Mongolian gers

Slurping is not considered rude

Receive as much food and drink as you can

History

If you’re a history zealot then I truly suggest indulging in literature on the most notorious figure of Mongolia, Genghis Khan, and the related Mongol Queens before embarking on terrain there.

Shopping

As most visitors like bringing tokens home, Mongolia is host to some key materials. Most notably this is cashmere which the country makes in plentitude and range. Gobi is the best brand hands down but there are many brands and stores throughout the city. Gobi stores and its factory are worth going to, the State Department Store and Ulaanbaatar Store are also good. The State Store has a top-floor souvenir spot that has a plentitude of local artisan things from clothing and slippers to Mongolian artwork, traditional homewares, and more. For camel wool items and more affordable local textiles, check out the Black Market also known as Narantuul Zah.

The thoroughfare adjacent to the State Department Store with the Beatles statue is of craft items such as local felt, clothing, and accessories. For vintage finds and precious relics, Choijin Lama Museum Store is the place to go.

For basic shopping Grand Plaza on the West end of the city center is the best local shopping mall.

For upscale shopping, the Shanghai-La shopping center is the most Western-influenced influenced with known designer options.

Horse Culture

Horses are the emblem of the country. Their namesake holds value even in the city. There are thousands and thousands and thousands of expressions, poems, songs, adjectives, and lessons related to the horse. The most important holiday specific to Mongolia is central to horse racing. While you need not know much about horses or even like them to immerse in the country, know that their legend and status are as remembered as the legacy of Khan.

Toilets

Like camping? If so, you’ll do fine. But be warned that there are no toilets in rural Mongolia. If there are, they are simple pots set over dug-out holds with wooden frameworks surrounding them or simple holds in the ground. It’s best to carry TP and wipes around with you for good measure.

Alcohol

Mongolians have adapted customs to Russian vodka which is the most digested liquor on site. More traditionally fermented horse milk or airag is made and served, a sort of fizzy dairy that’s also alcoholic. Though customs purport taking 3 shots and drinking continually especially once singing gets involved. The liquor can be strong. Drink accordingly and don’t worry about refusing at your own point.

Taxis and Traffic

Traffic can be quite congested at rush hours in the city center. I suggest having maps at the ready and walking as much as possible as the central city of UB is concentrated.

However, for outskirts spots note that taxis are informal. There are official vehicles but for the most part, any vehicle in Mongolia can act as a taxi and will pull over if you stick your arm out and wave one down. They’re safe. Many rural-based residents migrate to become drivers and drivers in the city specifically.

Mongolia is largely safe for foreigners without the language, altogether for solo travelers, backpackers, and solo female travelers alike. Just make sure that the price per kilometer is understood ahead of time if you get into an unofficial taxi which should be at a set amount at any given time.

Happy travels and safe journeying.

For intel on where to stay in Ulaanbaatar, check out my post here.

For more in-depth intel on the country and traveling Mongolia, check my post here.