YES or NO! A tourist visa to visit Mongolia is valid for 30 days. If you are a passport holder from the CERTAIN countries, you’re allowed to visit Mongolia within 14, 21, 30, and 90 days of time WITHOUT VISA.

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hongkong SAR, China, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao SAR, China, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Romania, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, and Uzbekistan

First of all, please check whether your country has either of Mongolian Embassy or Honorary Consulates of Mongolia. Or you can check if you can apply for a visa here https://www.evisa.mn/main

Mongolia has not that many international flight connections to the world and it can be pricey. However, we have good news. In 2020, a brand new international standard and a bigger airport has been launched in Khoshigt Valley – about 52 km away in the southwest of Ulaanbaatar now Chinggis Khaan airport is the major international airport and we have a very bright future for international flight connections.

Now, there are a few major carriers like MIAT (Mongolian Airlines), Air China, Korea-Air, Turkish Airlines, Air Busan, Asiana Airlines Aeroflot, Hunnu Air, Eznis, and Aero Mongolia are currently on business/from Ulaanbaatar to Beijing, Seoul, Busan, Tokyo, Istanbul, Berlin, Frankfurt, Moscow, and Hong Kong.

TRANS-MONGOLIAN TRAIN ROUTE Mongolia is famous for its Trans – Mongolian Railway which gives the best opportunity to explore Asia and Europe one Trans – Mongolian train westbound starting from Beijing – Ulaanbaatar – Lake Baikal – Irkutsk – Novosibirsk – Yekaterinburg – Moscow and eastbound from Moscow and all the way through Russia to Mongolia and Beijing, China. Travelers from Mongolia, Russia, and China are allowed to enter Mongolia via Zamyn – Uud in the south, and Altanbulag in the north land border points.

And smaller borders also exist for Mongolian, Russian, and Chinese travelers in the west, east, north, and south and these small borders are for vehicles only.

Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia has many HOTELS ranging from 1* to 5*, comfortable and clean. Some international chains already have opened such as the Shangri-La, Kempinski, Holiday Inn, Novotel, Ramada, and Best Western so far. Premium Travel works with only the best of hotels that are centrally located and offer good services and amenities.

Please take in mind that traveling in the countryside of Mongolia is often tough, a trip is conducted in remote areas where there are no hotels and paved roads exist.

Only TOURIST GER CAMPS can be available in tourist destinations. Ger is the Mongolian traditional dwelling made of felt layers & wooden construction in which the Mongols have lived since time immemorial. All Ger camps also have electricity, western-style showers, and WCs (mostly shared). Some Ger camps offer en-suite Gers at an additional charge. Premium Travel constantly checks all Ger camps to ensure our travelers receive the best possible service at the destination.

Due to remoteness and seasonality, some tourist Ger camps may not excel in service, so travelers may not always expect high-pressure showers, gourmet food, spa, etc.

Mongolia’s landlocked location gives rise to an extreme continental climate, giving an average of 260 sunny days a year but with wide variations in temperature between summer and winter.

Ulaanbaatar is the world’s coldest capital, and across the country winter temperatures regularly drop to minus 30°C and below. Given the length and severity of the winter, travel beyond the capital is only feasible during the milder months between late May and early October for most travelers.

For June-August: in Central Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar and Karakorum region): 23'C daytime and 11'C at night with occasional rain. In the Gobi: 30'C daytime (mostly sunny) and 15'C at night. In northern Mongolia, the average temperature is some 20’C daytime and 10’C at night. And Mongolia isn’t humid.

Roughly 30% of Mongolian 50000km road is paved and the rest is dirt. As the Mongolian climate is harsh and extreme, it easily leaves the paved roads bumpy and cracked. The dirt road in Mongolia is much like that of Africa, there are no road signs nor much traffic, which makes your trip unforgettably peaceful in a way. They can be sometimes bumpy and dusty.

As there’s no road sign, sometimes drivers drive to the nearest Ger (1-3km) to ask directions to make sure he’s taking the right road. The most suitable vehicles are 4x4 Russian minivans (no AC. We use it for our remotest tours sometimes) and 4x4 Land Cruisers, minivans, or similar (have AC).

During the tour, you will be eating at good restaurants in Ulaanbaatar, we have a great variety of restaurants in the capital city. Once you are outside the capital, Ger restaurants in Ger camps and local cafes in the small towns and villages will be the places where you eat.

Ger restaurants often have set menus, but their food is usually very good. During your driving days, you will take packed lunch from Ger camps. Vegetarians are well taken care of both in Ulaanbaatar restaurants and tourist Ger camps.

MONEY: Mongolian currency “tugrug” MNT is used in the country. All shops, restaurants etc accept MNT only, and occasionally, some places such as tourist Ger camps, and souvenir shops accept USD.

In Ulaanbaatar, major cards such as Visa and Master cards are accepted. ATMs are easily found in Ulaanbaatar & provincial capitals. You can bring USD (must be printed after 2018), GBP, or Euro, and the cash limit is 15000 USD (can be changed at banks).

Travelers' Checks are changed into cash at banks with some charge. Leftover MNT can be converted back into USD or Euros. By April 2023, 1 US$ is equal to 3400 MNT.

COMMUNICATION: In Ulaanbaatar, provincial centers, and most small villages you can use your mobile phone, but it’s more economical if you buy a Mongolian SIM card (at some 10-15 USD you can use the internet and send texts home), most of our tours provide SIM cards.

Also, you can send postcards from every village. Free wireless/wired internet is widely available in Ulaanbaatar and provincial capitals (also at some tourist Ger camps).

For medical considerations during your travel in Mongolia, it is advisable to bring a travel first aid kit, as English-speaking doctors may be limited in most villages.

Travel insurance is recommended to cover any medical expenses, and while vaccinations are not required for travel in Mongolia, it is always prudent to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice.

ELECTRICITY: 220 V, round pinned European style plugs are used. Most of the tourist Ger camps have electricity for recharging batteries etc. You may also wish to bring a charger that you can use in cars.

You can buy pre-paid SIM cards for your mobile phone, smartphones including iPhone with a small cost of about ~ US$3-5, and can buy an international phone call unit with a cost of ~ US$3 – US$15 and can write sms to your family. Per sms is US$0.01.

It is available everywhere in Ulaanbaatar city, you can use wifi at almost all the restaurants, cafés, and coffee shops, but not available in the countryside. Some of the ger camps offer bad speed of internet with some extra charge.

So, don’t need to bring your laptop, iPad or your smart phone are okay to bring. 3G and 4G by Mobicom and Unitel/telecommunication company/are both broadly accessible throughout the countryside.The average price of 30 days numbers+4G access = fifteen to twenty thousand tugrugs. (US$10 - 15)

Visiting nomadic families in Mongolia is a highlight of the trip, typically occurring 1-5 times depending on the duration. Each family represents a unique lifestyle, with differences between regions. Mongolian nomads are known for their hospitality, welcoming guests without hesitation.

It is customary to bring a small gift such as stationery, books, toys, or souvenirs that can be useful in their everyday lives. This gift-giving tradition is deeply rooted in Mongolian culture and helps foster connections with the nomadic families encountered during the journey.

Mongolia has very extreme weather, especially if you traveling in May and September. When it rains in May & Sep, it can turn to snow a day after it rained. So, please bring, summer, & autumn and light warmer fleece, hat, gloves, scarf, etc.

We don’t have a monsoon season, but from the second week of July, rain can happen more often than in other months and when it has rain more than a week, the weather can get down to ~ + 5’C a day. So, when you’re traveling in Jun, Jul, and Aug, it would be great if you have one warm fleece or light outerwear, scarf, or trouser. Except for these situations, you can bring summer clothes like you wear at home.

Further information: Mongolia is not a tropical country even though it is hot during high summer but you do not need to worry about insects, poisonous snakes or mosquitoes, and any other sicknesses. Just Pack up + Go!