Ger /Yurt/
Mongolians are nomads. The main accommodation for tourist is “Ger camp”, the traditional dwelling of the Mongols. Ger one of the Mongolian greatest heritage from our ancestors, has long history tracing from earlier centuries. In this period, obviously Mongolians ger structure get changed, developed and it is keeping its own features today. Travelers stay in tourist ger camp where they could feel good enough comfort during their trip. The felt cover of the Ger dwelling smells naturally during the rainy days. Please try to understand it is our traditional, long-lasting accommodation. We advise you prepare yourself if you travel in Mongolia for a multi-day trip. Having extreme weather and nomadic way of life, ger is the most suitable dwelling for us. It is easy to collapse or build. And Mongolians used carts for moving to another place.
Rules in the Ger
It is incredible, even you’re not pre-arrangement you can visit nomadic families and they hospitalized you from the bottom of their heart.
We will NOT recomment to do this while you're staying in ger:
Structure
In accordance with the nomadic lifestyle, Mongolian ger is easy to build up or down. And ger consists of several parts:
Average ger is divided into three areas. There are male and female sections and khoimor area at the rear of the ger. The male area is on the western or left side of the ger. Here is man keeps his bridles, airag and arkhi (vodka). Women traditionally have the eastern side of a ger, where they keep kichen utensils, their own and childrens belongings. It is customary for a man entering a ger to step the western side and women to the east. The khoimer, which is directly opposite the door, is where valuable objects are stored or displayed, as well as a small Buddhist shrine and NO garbage, litter is ever thrown into the fire such as onionskin etc. . Northside of the ger is a sacred and holy area such as divinity. Most families also keep a collage of photographs of relatives and close friends at the back of the ger. This is the most important part of the ger and guests are often invited to sit at the khoimer.
Transportation
Public transportation vehicles include buses, minibuses, vans and cars.
Buses leave at a set time, minibuses and vans leave when they are full.
You can book a private car through a guesthouse or travel agency. They almost always come with a driver for whom you may have to provide food and accommodations, but this form of transportation will give you the most freedom to set your itinerary.
Train
You can purchase tickets for trains within Mongolia at the Ulaanbaatar Train Station known as either Вокзал (vokzal in Russian). To purchase the tickets, find the building on the left as you’re facing the station. The lounge and restaurants are in the building on the right. Traveling around Mongolia by train can be one of the most interesting and stress-free ways to visit places. It’s also the safest. Unfortunately, the routes are limited to north and south, pretty much confined to the path that the Trans-Mongolian takes from Russia to China, and they are slow. Nevertheless, they run on time, and there are some great places to see along the way. The main stops through Mongolia are Sukhbaatar (northern border), Darkhan, Erdenet, Choir, Ulaanbaatar, Sainshand, and Zamiin-Uud (southern border). There are three classes of train compartments, reflecting the level of privacy and comfort you can expect in the old Russian-style wagons. If you aren’t traveling for a long distance (i.e., UB to Beijing), getting a first class private coupe isn’t really worth the extra money considering that second class is much cheaper and still pretty comfortable. Because the ride is so long, you might be better off taking a purgon or bus if third class is your only option, unless you’re up for an adventure. However, if you’re traveling the 30 hours from UB to Beijing, do it in style; splurge for the coupe.
Bus
There are four main departure stations in Ulaanbaatar (Ulan Bator).
Be sure to buy your tickets at least a day in advance for most destinations, and buy them in the morning to ensure a seat for the next day. During the Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year) and Naadam (summer sports festival), you should purchase tickets two days in advance if possible. Buses leave around the scheduled departure time (especially for closer destinations), unlike any other shared vehicles in Mongolia. There are many pros and cons to traveling by bus, though most foreigners prefer buses over other shared transportation options because they can purchase an individual seat, not merely the opportunity to be in the vehicle. Buses, because they are so large, can make the long bumpy hauls more tolerable, and they are relatively safe. Even so, they are still pretty uncomfortable by most Western standards, especially if you’re not a small person. Some have air-conditioning, and some have better heat than others. If you are at all prone to motion sickness, be sure to pack Dramamine.
TIPS
Trust your driver
Although there are no maps/gps/road signs/roads available, rest assured, Mongolian drivers are incredibly skilled at navigating. Let yourself go in the incredible scenery and lose any worry about how and where you might be lost. However, if you feel the driver is speeding, do not hesitate to ask to slow down.
Stay in Mongolian ger /yurt/
Mongolian gers, or yurts, are the traditional nomadic style of housing in the country—but plenty of people still live in them today! Even on the edges of Ulaanbaatar, you’ll find sprawling ger districts full of families who want to live in the classic style while still enjoying all the conveniences of life in the capital city. Staying in a ger during your stay is definitely an experience that you won’t want to miss out on.
Circle Ovoo
These are heaps of stones and wood piled on top of each other that you’ll frequently see by the mountains. While it may look like just a bare structure, they have a very special meaning to the Mongolian people. This is, in fact, a shrine used to honor spirits and Mother Earth.
When you see Ovoo, stop by one and circle it three times for a safe journey. If you’re in a hurry, asking your driver to honk will suffice.
Visit Gandan Monastery
The Monastery is the largest Buddhist center of Mongolia. The Migjid Janraisig Temple is the main highlight of the Monastery. The temple houses feature a 26-meter-high majestic gilded statue of Migjid Janraisig.
Ride a camel in the Gobi Desert
Gobi Desert is one part of Mongolia that’s not to be missed if you’re going to be getting out into the countryside.
You’ll get an opportunity to interact with the camels and learn first-hand about the camel herders’ nomadic lifestyle.
Dog Sledding
Who loves dogs? Of course, everyone loves dogs. You can spend wonderful time with those cute beings in Mongolia. You can pet them, feed them, take a picture with them, and you can even sled with them. Isn't it great?
Just give them some love and they would take you to the journey you've never experienced!
Backpack and small bag
Besides putting your daily items in a backpack, having a small bag with your valuables—like your wallet and travel documents—is handy. As far as dimensions go, it should be small enough to carry around at nearly all times and big enough to fit valuable items.
(belt pouch/ hip bag/ bum bag/etc)
Personal medication
Make sure to bring your own medications, based on your traveling experiences and personal knowledge of your current health.
Bring cash in the countryside
Please prefer Mongolian currency-Tugrik. By the way, during the national holidays, they have 3-5 days of rest and no bank and no currency exchange are working. In this case, it is better to change at the airport. Otherwise, the bank or exchange has a better rate. And Mongolian countryside is cash-based society and ATM in a small town might have no cash even it is the tourist peak season. Also, it has a risk of no electricity in the whole soums or towns, it can happen anytime in any place. No electricity means none of the business goes normally.
The Land of the Blue Sky
Mongolia Is Called "The Land of the Blue Sky. The sky in Mongolia remains cloudless for over two-thirds of the year. Thus, the blue sky is visible throughout the vast stretch of the country on most days. Hence, Mongolia is often referred to as "The Land of The Blue Sky."
Takhi
Mongolian native horses are called Takhi, the Asian wild horse, known as Przewalski's horse, the Mongol word for “spirit,” and have 66 chromosomes or two more than the average horse. They are the last truly wild horses left on the planet.
The Tarpan, a Eurasian subspecies of wild horse found from southern Spain to eastern Russia, died out in the 1920s.
World's Coldest Capital City
Mongolia Has The World's Coldest Capital City. Ulaanbaatar is the capital of Mongolia. It is located in the country's north-central part at 1,300 m above sea level in a valley formed by the Tuul River. Nearly half of Mongolia's population lives in and around this city. It is also the world's coldest capital.
The annual average temperature of Ulaanbaatar is around -1.3°C. The summers here are short and warm while winters are extremely dry and bitterly cold. January temperatures can drop to as low as −36 to −40 °C.
Bactrian camel
The endangered two-humped Bactrian camel is indigenous to Mongolia.
You’ll get an opportunity to interact with the camels and learn first-hand about the camel herders’ nomadic lifestyle by taking tours with us.
(The two-humped Bactrian camels are very comfortable to ride as they walk slowly and gently)
Wrestling Record
On September 17, 2011, 6,002 wrestlers participated in the Mongolian National Wrestling Match. It was the largest wrestling competition in the world, according to the Guinness World Records.
It was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. And wrestlers came from 21 different provinces and 325 “soums” (sub-provinces), with some traveling as far as 1,700 km (1,050 miles) to attend the event.
