Mongolia: What to Expect

Few people travel to Mongolia, and even fewer anglers. There are guidebooks and it is worth getting one of these so that you can understand and enjoy the local culture, even if you are only making a brief visit.

A lack of understanding can lead to disappointment and confusion. Your Tour Leader is there to try and help you understand, but any reading you can do before your fishing holiday will make the transition that much easier and ensure that you have a much more worthwhile experience.

Mongolia is a land of great wilderness; there are barely any roads to speak of, and only a few small towns outside of the capital. Please be prepared for this. Once outside of Ulaanbaatar there are few facilities - which is both demanding and exciting.

The adventurous souls that do make it to Mongolia are rewarded by stunning scenery and amazing hospitality by its inhabitants. Your own gifts brought from home are always warmly welcomed.

The following is intended to ease you into the country gently, and to ensure that you are prepared to be a welcome guest.

Contents

Background information

Country profile

Capital:

Ulaanbaatar

Ethnic groups:

Khalkha Mongolians, other Mongolian groups, Kazakhs, Chinese & Russians

Languages:

Mongolian (different dialects), Kazakh (Turkic), Russian

Scripts:

Mongolian , Cyrillic

Religions:

Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism), Shamanism, Islam

Currency:

Tugrik (togrog) Symbol: T (Tg) International banking code: MNT

(For the latest rate, check Oanda The rate has been fairly stable at between MNT 1100 - 1200 to USD 1)

Major holidays:

Nadaam Festival

The very traditional Nadaam Festival takes place in Ulaanbaatar on 11 and 12 July each year. Other Nadaams take place elsewhere around this time.

Tsagaan Sar

This New Year Festival marks the end of Winter and beginning of Spring. It is based on the Lunar Calendar and can fall in February or March,.

Travel Advice

Read what the British Government has to say about travel to Mongolia

Mongolia: The Geography

Mongolia is landlocked - between two giants: Russia to the north and China on the other three sides. Much of Mongolia is still undeveloped wilderness with the capital, Ulaanbaatar, the only sizeable urban area.

The countryside can be divided into 3 bands. There is a small amount of forested mountain area, especially in the north. The southern area is largely desert, leaving a belt of productive grasslands in the middle.

The main river systems feed northwards towards Siberia. The largest of these, the Selenge river and its tributaries, feeds into Lake Baikal just beyond Ulan Ude. This ranks as the world's largest freshwater lake in terms of volume. Mongolia's Lake Khovsgol ranks second, with about 2% of the world's total fresh water. Both Lakes freeze over in winter; Lake Khovsgol often staying frozen from January until May.

Surfaced roads are almost non-existent (whatever your atlas/map shows) and land travel can be harsh. There is a small network of domestic airports, with Ulaanbaatar as the hub. The Trans-Mongolia railway links Ulaanbaatar to Ulan-Ude in Siberia and to Beijing. Other than that there are only a few minor branch lines, mostly there to serve mines.

Mongolia has rich deposits of copper and gold, as well as oil & gas, silver, uranium, lead, zinc and rare earth metals. Unfortunately the potential profits from this industry have dominated the country's politics for some time.

Mongolia: The Weather

Mongolia has long cold winters (down to about 30C below zero) with short warm (average daily temperatures range between 10C and 27C) summers. With its continental position and shield of mountains, Mongolia gets little rain. On average there are over 250 cloudless days each year, leading to one of Mongolia's nicknames: the blue-sky country.

The main precipitation falls as snow during the winter, especially when blizzards sweep down over the grasslands. Rain mostly falls in a short period of summer (July/August) when heavy thunderstorms can bring torrential rain even if only for a short time. Flash floods are a danger. There can be furious dust storms in Spring and Autumn. These can be very disruptive at the time, but rarely last long.

Weather Statistics for Ulaanbaatar

The current weather for Ulaanbaatar is shown on the left-hand side of several of our pages, including the Home page.

Statistic	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct
Average Min temp °C	7	11	8	2	-8
Average Max temp °C	21	22	21	14	6
Extreme Min temp °C	-4	1	-7	-11	-27
Extreme Max temp °C	36	33	33	28	23
Average rainfall mm	28	76	51	23	5
Wet days	5	10	8	3	2
Average hours of sunlight	7	7	7	6	5

Please note: You should look at the two sets of temperatures. The Averages are more useful, though you ought to consider the extremes as well.

The Mongolian People and Their Customs

Visiting any foreign land is always a more rewarding experience if you take the time to learn something of the local people and their customs.

This section is not intended to be a complete description of these very hospitable people, but will hopefully be enough to introduce the main concepts and allow you to feel relaxed from the moment of your arrival. It is that relaxed air that will win you local friends, so try to just go with the flow whenever you aren't quite sure.

The Mongolian peoples

It wouldn't be fair to describe the Mongolian people as one homogenous group. The vast majority are Khalkha Mongolians but there is the usual Asian crossover with other ethnic groups.

For most visitors, the most noticeable feature of Mongolian personality is hospitality. The way of the grasslands has always treated travellers with kindness, without any expectation of reward other than to be treated the same when travelling. This has continued despite the relatively new phenomenon of tourism - which does not offer the same balance.

The onus is therefore on you not to abuse any hospitality received. It is always a good idea to have some gifts from home, ready to be given in thanks to kindnesses received.

After a while the perceptive visitor will notice another strong feature of the Mongolian personality, pride. Many of the customs outlined below have grown out of respect for others, and for the self. Other customs have grown out of the nomadic lifestyle.

Traditionally, herders keep five types of animals: goats, sheep, cattle (including yaks), camels and, their favourites, horses. These provide meat and dairy products for food as well as wool for shelter/clothing (usually in the form of felt) and transport.

Children learn to ride at an early age and therefore pretty much everyone preferred that mode of propulsion - until the introduction of the motorbike!

No introduction to the Mongolian people would be complete without mention of singing. Singers with good, strong voices are much appreciated, especially those that have mastered the technique known as Khoomi. This ‘Throat Singing’ creates two distinct tones at the same time; a style that is eerie and wonderful, just like the grasslands themselves.

Gers and ger etiquette

The whole family move around with the seasons in their traditional tents called gers. These tents are constructed from felt layers with a canvas cover, stretched over a collapsible wooden frame. Gers can be erected or collapsed in a very short time, and are easily transportable.

A ger will be simply furnished with a stove, beds and perhaps a small cupboard for family heirlooms. The walls may be decorated with hung carpets.

If you are lucky enough to be invited into a family ger enter without hesitation trying not to touch the threshold. You will be shown to a seat (or bed) usually on the left-hand side as you enter.

You should not pass between or lean on the central supports.

The fire is sacred and best left alone. Certainly you should never throw rubbish (including cigarette butts into the family hearth.

You will be offered food and drink. You should always accept something and at least make a show of trying whatever you are given. You may then leave anything you do not like.

Social customs

The normal greeting is ‘Sain Bainuu’. You would normally only say this once for the day.

Conversation will normally begin with enquiries into the family's well-being, including the condition of their livestock.

Keep your feet to yourself; not on furniture and not with the soles facing another person. Should you stand on someone else’s foot (or even just touch foot to foot) you should shake hands quickly.

Miscellaneous customs

The long poles used as a lasso have a special significance. You should never step over one lying on the ground, and if you see one stuck up in the air then you should avoid that area. It’s a request for privacy!

You should give and receive with the palms of your hands upwards - to make your good intentions clear. Special gifts, such as Vodka or a Snuff Bottle, should be received and returned with the right hand, with the left hand supporting the right elbow. It sounds complicated but once you have seen it done it becomes natural.

Milk (and all dairy products) and blood should not be spilt on the ground if at all possible. You'll see Mongolians make an apology if this happens.

The countryside is dotted with Ovoo (cairns). These mark special spots. It is auspicious to make three circuits anti-clockwise around an Ovoo, especially before commencing a long journey.

Mongolian Wildlife

The forests hold the most wildlife, supporting a range of large mammals including reindeer, elk, brown bears, wolves, lynx and sable.

The mountains are also known to be home for ibex, Marco Polo sheep and snow leopards.

The Gobi Desert has its own special bear. The grasslands and semi-desert are home to marmots and gazelle as well as Takhi (Przewalski horses), the last remaining species of wild horse.

There is plentiful bird life, including large birds of prey.

The main game fish are described in our page - The Fish and Fishing

If you wish to know more you may find the following link useful: WWF - Wildlife in Mongolia

Recommended Reading

You might enjoy any of the following, either before your trip or to while away time away from the fishing:

If you find any other great reads then do let us know.

Practical issues for our fishing holidays

Ulaanbaatar notes

Sightseeing

Ulaanbaatar has some excellent museums and other sights of interest. We have not included sightseeing within tours as the focus is very much on the fishing. If you would like to see more of Ulaanbaatar, or other parts of Mongolia, then allow extra days before or after your fishing holiday. You can always email with queries as to time needed/cost etc.

Getting around

Ulaanbaatar is not a big city but it is developing fast and some maps are a bit out of date. Our hotel is centrally located so you will be able to walk to many of the sights of interest. If you do want to go further afield then take a taxi, but be sure to agree on a fare first. We can always arrange a vehicle for a day if you would prefer, with or without a guide.

Safety

The Mongolian people are very friendly and particularly hospitable towards travellers. Although the residents of Ulaanbaatar are generally the same, there are incidents - usually caused by excessive alcohol consumption - especially after dark. You should be more cautious at night, and not wander alone.

Pickpockets do operate in the city, notoriously in the Central (or Black) Market. Avoid carrying unnecessary valuables, and make sure the ones you do need are stored safely.

Nadaam Festival

During the Nadaam Festival period (11-12 July), Ulaanbaatar virtually shuts down. Services are severely disrupted as everyone wants to enjoy the sports and social events. We do not plan to run standard tours that would be affected but can arrange tailor-made tours for groups that would like to combine fishing with this magnificent cultural experience.

Your Mongolian Visa

Most nationalities require a visa before entry into Mongolia. It is your responsibility to obtain this, and any other visas required during your trip, and we cannot be held responsible for any costs incurred by you if you lack the correct documentation to complete your journey.

Normally a tourist can expect to be issued with a 30 day visa valid for 3 months from the date of issue. Regulations vary by nationality and change frequently. We advise that you check directly with your nearest Mongolia Consulate to obtain the latest information. If there is no Consulate nearby then you may find a visa service more convenient. We have used Travcour in the UK and have found them to be knowledgeable and reliable.

Mongolian money matters

We recommend you travel with USD cash. GBP are acceptable for cash exchanges (as are CNY and Russian Roubles ) but none of these is generally acceptable for goods or services.

Travellers cheques can be changed. Only Amex USD Travellers Cheques are recommended. Other brands and currencies can be difficult to change.

You will only be able to change money easily in Ulaanbaatar so it is best to change as much as you think you'll need before leaving for the countryside. You will not need much, unless you plan on buying lots of souvenirs or are a non-fishing participant who wants to undertake other activities such as horse riding. We will send further information to help you calculate your budget before your departure. This will be specific to your choice of fishing holiday.

UB has a few ATMs that accept foreign cards. The daily limit is normally 500 000 Togrog (about 420 USD). You should be able to get a cash advance on a credit card at the Trade & Development Bank but it is best not to rely on either of these methods other than as an emergency measure.

You can change Togrog back to other currencies but will lose on the exchange so try not to exchange more than you intend to use.

As an indication of prices:

A 1 litre bottle of water (or a 300 ml can of soft drink or beer) costs between one and a half and two USD.

A snack or light meal should cost between one and four USD.

Expect to pay ten USD or more for a restaurant meal.

A taxi ride should cost about fifty cents per kilometre.

You probably already know where to get Foreign Exchange.

If not, try the online service from

Mongolian Food and Drink

Traditional Mongolian food is largely based around protein. Mongolians love their meats, especially mutton. During the summer months, milk products such as yoghurt and dried curds predominate. A favourite drink, and one worth trying, is airag - fermented mare's milk, a slightly effervescent and alcoholic cloudy liquid.

There are three favourite ways of serving mutton:

Booz: these are small mutton dumplings, usually boiled

Khushur: these small pancakes are stuffed with mutton and fried

Tsooivan: Noodle slices fried up with mutton and a few vegetables (onion, potato, carrot)

Marmot (and sheep) are sometimes slow roasted with hot rocks from a fire.

Vegetables do not constitute a large part of the traditional diet but are becoming more widely available. Certainly our cooks will include vegetables in the meals on offer.

Brick tea is a popular drink, and the one that will most often be served to guests. Soft drinks and beer have become popular and are widely available from Aimags (provincial towns), as are biscuits, crisps and other snacks.

Ulaanbaatar has a wide range of international restaurants. It is not normally necessary to book ahead.

Environmental Guidelines for Camping in Mongolia

Water supply

Local people rely on local water sources. These are currently potable in most cases, and should remain so.

Please do not wash yourself, your clothes or anything else in a water supply. Anything that needs washing should be washed in a bowl (or similar) with the waste released at least 60m from a water supply. Our shower tent will be erected following these guidelines.

All detergents should be biodegradeable. Try to limit the amount used. Other toiletries should be kept to a minimum.

Waste disposal

Only biodegradeable waste should be left at a camp site. Even that, such as food scraps, needs to be buried.

There are facilities for waste disposal in some protected areas. Other, non-biodegradeable waste should be carried away to the nearest proper waste site.

Toilet matters

We will set up a camp toilet as appropriate. Try to use this as much as possible.

If you need to go to toilet whilst away from the camp site, it is most important that you do so at least 60m away from a water source. You are unlikely to have any digging tool with you but do your best to ensure that any faeces are covered. You are unlikely to be able to burn any paper used so better to bring it back to camp in a plastic bag for proper disposal.

Mongolian Communications with the Outside World

Telephone

The Mongolian land-line phone system is reliable even if a little pricey. A 3 minute call to the UK will cost approximately 8-12 USD depending where you make it.

The mobile phone network is developing and most aimags (adminstrative towns) now have a service. You will have to check with your phone company to see whether any roaming service will be available, otherwise you can pick up a local Pay-as-you-go SIM card fairly cheaply in Ulaanbaatar.

Email

Ulaanbaatar has many internet cafes, charging between 1 and 3 USD per hour. There is no internet service anywhere else that we go on our fishing holidays.

Post

The postal service is reliable but slow. Sending a postcard costs about 1 USD. It is probably not worth sending post from anywhere other than Ulaanbaatar.

Electricity supply in Mongolia

Electricity supply: 220V, 2 round-pin style plug - though we will rarely have access to mains supply outside of Ulaanbaatar. Some charging can be done from the vans 'cigarette lighters' if you have a suitable adaptor.

We recommend that you either bring a plentiful supply of batteries or check out solar chargers. There are a number of inexpensive travel chargers now available. You would need to ensure that you find one that is compatible with the items you want to charge.

Please note: We do not guarantee the availability of electricty supply for any part of the fishing holiday. If a supply is essential please contact us.

Laundry

Laundry outside of Ulaanbaatar will be done for you by our staff but this will be by hand. It is therefore important that you choose items made of suitable materials.