Mongolia: a real wild country

Lovers of wide open spaces and extraordinary destinations, Mongolia awaits you. The trip promises to be epic and exciting!

Land of dorms, horses, and endless plains

Mongolia is a country that makes all lovers of wide open spaces and extraordinary landscapes dream. With only 3 million inhabitants in an area of ​​more than 1.5 million km² (about three times the size of France), it’s easy to see why…

Very harsh climate in winter

Trapped in the heart of the Asian continent, between China in the south and Russia in the north, Mongolia really does not have a good climate for people. While the summers are generally hot and pleasant, the winters are very cold. At this time of year, temperatures regularly drop below -30 or even -40°C. It also rains very rarely (less than 300 mm per year).

Most of the Mongolian lands are located at more than 1,000 meters above sea level. Peaks exceeding 4,000 meters in the Altai and Khangai Mountains. This Gobi Desert It occupies a significant part of southern and eastern Mongolia.

Ulan Bator, a thriving capital

It has the feature of being accepted as Ulan Bator. coldest capital city on the planet, with an annual average of -2.4°C. It is home to almost a third of the country’s population and has struggled to cope with the rural exodus that has drawn many residents to the city in recent years.

However, this does not mean that there are not interesting things for tourists to see there and they are not well received. On the contrary ! Ulan Bator’s most iconic landmark – a must visit! – Definitely Gandantegchinlin Buddhist Monastery, the largest in the country. The city is also home to many interesting museums, such as the National Museum of History and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Go out of the ordinary to make beautiful encounters

The best way to visit Mongolia and explore its different sides is undoubtedly to choose a Mongolia. sightseeing tour by car (preferably 4×4) with a local guide. Second, it will make it much easier for you to become acquainted with the populations that live in the large steppes with their horses and cattle and regularly move their homes.
You will certainly be invited to share your meals and even some nights with the most hospitable Mongolian families. Great memories in perspective!

What to do and see in Mongolia

As you can tell, Mongolia’s best feature for attracting travelers is its vast wilderness and stunning landscapes that seem to come from another world.

Let’s make a pin, for example, among the sites you must visit. les lacs Khösvgol and Uvs, the two largest bodies of water in the country. Or the unusual ruins of the former capital of the Mongol Empire, Karakoram. The latter was founded by Genghis Khan’s son Ögödeï where his father set up his base camp around 1220.

Practical information: prepare your trip to Mongolia

Flag: ??
Capital city : Ulan Bator
Surface : 1,566 million km²
Population: 2.96 million

Advance :

Tugrik is the local currency used in Mongolia. 1 € = 250 MNT in 2017.

Language :

The official language of Mongolia is Khalkha Mongolian. However, there are a number of Mongolian languages ​​spoken in the country (depending on the region visited).
Russian is also regularly spoken, and people can be found to speak English and Mandarin Chinese.

Jet lag :

Mongolia is in the GMT+8 and GMT+9 time zones. At noon in Paris, it is 20:00 in Ulaangom and 9:00 in the capital, Oulan Bator.

Telephone :

To call Mongolia from France: Dial 00976 + local number.
From Mongolia to France: Dial 0033 + 0 without your correspondent’s number.

Weather :

Winter is freezing with temperatures that can drop below -40°. Spring is marked by sandstorms, while autumn often sees the arrival of the first snows. Therefore, the best time to go to Mongolia is summer, even though the temperatures can be very hot during the day, especially in the Gobi Desert.

Formalities and visa:

For French travelers, a passport valid for another six months after return is required. You will also need visa required (from 60 Euros in 2017).

Security :

As the care offer is very limited, it is recommended that you take advantage of a health insurance-repatriation contract for the entire period of your stay. For the rest, it is highly recommended to avoid illegal taxi services (especially for single women), but Mongolia remains a “safe” country overall. As always, we invite you to consult the site. French Diplomacy before going on a trip.

Arrival in Mongolia:

By plane : Chinggis Khaan ULN International Airport in Ulan Bator is the most important airport in the country. It is possible to land in Mongolia after stopping in Beijing from France, but there are also direct flights.

By train: For the more adventurous, it’s possible to go to Mongolia after a train journey across Trans-Siberia.

Useful addresses:

Mongolian Embassy in France
5 Avenue Robert Schuman, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt
Phone: 01 46 05 28 12

French Embassy in Mongolia
15, avenue de la Paix,
BP 687, Central Post Office
Phone. (976-11) 32 45 19 – Fax. (976-11) 31.9176
[email protected]