| Mongolia ((mn)Монгол Улс) | |
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| Flag | |
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| Information | |
| Capital city | Ulaanbaatar |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 565 000 km² |
| Population | 2 791 272 hab. (2006) |
| Density | 1,78 inhab./km² |
| Form of State | parliamentary regime |
| Other languages | Mongolian (official), Turkish, Russian |
| Cash | tugrik (MNT) |
| Telephone prefix | 976 |
| Internet suffix | .mn |
| Flow direction | Right-hand drive |
| Spindle | UTC 7 to UTC 8 |
| Location | |
 47 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ N 104 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ E | |
| Official site | |
| Touristic site | |
The Mongolia, enclosed between the Russia to the north and the China in the south, is one of the most fascinating countries ofEast Asia, renowned for its important nomadic life (50% of the population is nomadic), its endless steppes and its outstanding riders. An unrivaled destination for fans of wild camping.
Understand
Geography
Mongolia is one of the few countries in the temperate belt in the northern hemisphere with a large, virgin land and a perfect ecosystem. Mongolia is the 7th largest country in Asia and covers an area of 1,500,000 km² (larger than the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy combined). This area makes Mongolia the largest country without a seafront. Mongolia borders Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west, for a total of 8 162 km, including 3,485 with Russia and 4,677 with China. Mongolian territory extends over 2 392 km from the Altai range in the west to the vast steppes in the east and on 1 259 km from the Soyon mountain range in the north to the Gobi desert in the south. The Yellow Sea (at 700 km of Mongolia) is the closest sea to the country.
Fauna and Flora
Horses, camels, goats, sheep, cows, yaks ...
Weather
The climate of Mongolia is an extreme continental climate. Average temperatures are around -25 ° in winter with peaks of -35 ° in the capital. In the northern regions, nothing differentiates Mongolia from Siberia in the north with -40 ° frequent in the province of Khuvsgul. The average temperature in the capital is 15 ° in summer but you can reach 30 ° in July. In the Gobi Desert, we find the same extremes even if it is warmer in general. Mongolia is one of the countries with the least precipitation in the world. It rains very little and we have over 300 sunny days a year. The change of seasons is violent in spring with snow and dust storms rising from the Gobi Desert to Ulaanbaatar.
In recent years, a phenomenon of desertification has spread in the country, increasing the amount of dust already omnipresent and the many storms. Contrary to the bucolic images often shown, the greenery of the steppes lasts only a few weeks and gives way to a very dry lunar landscape the rest of the year.
Story
In the XIIIe century, the famous Genghis Khan united most of the Turkish tribes and created the largest empire the world has known, stretching from North Korea to Hungary - an empire completed by his grandson (Kubilai Kahn) by the conquest of China. The Yuan dynasty then reigned from Beijing, driven out of China by the Ming in the 14the century.
Population
The population comprises 3,100,000 inhabitants, half of whom are nomadic. Two-thirds of the population is under 30 years old. Mongols are more numerous abroad, with more than 3 million Mongols in China and 1 million in Russia.
Holidays and public holidays
Regions
The country includes 21 provinces and the special municipality of Ulaanbaatar.
.png/450px-Mongolia_regions_map_(fr).png) Mongolia Map |
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Cities
- Ulaanbaatar – - the capital.
- Erdenet - the second city in the country with one of the largest copper deposits in the world and famous carpets.
- Tsetserleg - the capital of the province ofArkhangai.
To go
Formalities
Visas
- Mongolia
- Visa exemption for 90 days
- Visa exemption for 30 days
- Visa exemption for 21 days
- Visa exemption for 14 days
- Visa required
Customs
- Central Customs Department 81/1 rue Ikh Toiruu - Sukhbaatar district - BP 21060 - Ulan Bator,
976 11 35 00 49, 976 11 35 00 55, fax : 976 11 35 00 60, e-mail : [email protected]
By plane
Planes from Europe are rare and often expensive. To access Ulan Bator (ULN) from France, the main air routes pass through Beijing, Moscow (shortest route) or recently via Istanbul (technical stopover at Bishkek). It is also possible to stop at Beijing.
To date, there is no direct flight between Paris and Ulaanbaatar.
The four airlines that serve Mongolia end-to-end from Paris are:
TURKISH AIRLINES
AEROFLOT
AIR CHINA
KOREAN AIR
CZECH AIRLINES is due to open a flight in the course of 2013 and the Mongolian national company MIAT (company code OM) offers flights from Hong-Kong or Berlin.
It is also possible to get to Ulan Bator by rail aboard the Trans-Mongolian or the Trans-Siberian from Beijing, Moscow, Irkutsk or Ulan-Ude (capital of Buryatia).
By train
The only rail axis in Mongolia runs from North to South and remains the most efficient way to reach Ulaanbaatar from Russia (Ulan-Ude Where Irkutsk) or China (Beijing).
The Trans-Siberian railway travels more than 9 000 km from Moscow to Vladivostok. It takes 7 days to travel and cross 7 time zones to cover this distance. Its journey takes us to discover European Russia, the Urals, Western Siberia, the central Siberian plateaus, Eastern Siberia to reach the coast of the Sea of Japan. The train also crosses several large rivers: the Volga, Ob, Yenisei, Angara, Selenga, Zeïa, Love.
Ulan-Ude, located after the city of Irkutsk is the junction point to take the Transmongol leading us to Beijing via Ulaanbaatar.
By bus
By car
The border crossing between the Russia and Mongolia is possible by road but the wait at customs can take up to six hours. Most border posts are open between 9 h and 19 h at the latest with closure between 13 h and 14 h.
The international green insurance card does not cover any risk in this country, third party insurance (not compulsory ...) can always be taken out with a local company after having crossed the border. The damage is generally settled amicably, in the presence of the police.
It is compulsory to enter and exit with the same vehicle, which must also be registered with the central customs agency, before crossing the border. This can be done through a travel agency in the capital or through a correspondent residing in the country. The entry and exit points of the territory as well as the data of the vehicle registration document must be provided.
Circulate
By plane
Regional transport is mainly provided by recent private companies which have very comfortable aircraft (Saab 340 with 30 seats or Fokker 50 with 50 seats) the Mongolian company MIAT also operates on domestic lines.
For people who want a unique experience, it is possible to fly over the steppes in a CESSNA GRAND CARAVAN with the BLUE SKY company or in a MI-8 Helicopter.
This type of service is offered by specialized operators - Agence STEP'IN or JUULCHIN
By train
Thefts have already been reported on trains within the country, so it is recommended that you travel first class.
By bus
The lines are few and the schedules are quite elastic. The connections are mainly operated between Ulaanbaatar and the main cities of the country, which requires returning through the capital.
By car
A small percentage of Mongolian roads are paved. Most of them are in poor condition because they are subject to severe climatic conditions and in any case abandoned for lack of sufficient funds. The desert tracks are sometimes even unrecognizable because of the absence of markings and their silting up, the best solution is to follow the networks of telephone lines which connect the cities to each other. Road signs meet international standards but remain extremely rare from one axis to another, the indications are usually in the Cyrillic alphabet. Directional signs are blue in color, often attached to half-gantries.
The vast majority of Mongolian drivers have only a vague knowledge of the highway code, not to mention the dilapidated state of their cars for lack of spare parts available and compulsory technical control. The park being however in clear progression, it happens that traffic jams form at certain times of the day, especially in the capital (between 8 h and 22 h).
It is preferable to postpone all night journeys (vehicles with little or no lighting and the presence of gaping holes in the road ...) especially in open countryside.
No general speed limit in the country.
However, the car remains the best way to discover the country and many agencies in Ulan Bator offer formulas including the rental of a car (Russian Jeep or Japanese brand 4x4) and the presence of a local driver for tours of several days. The drivers rarely speak English and the presence of a translator becomes necessary, the disadvantage is that this significantly increases the cost but the advantage remains that these same drivers know perfectly the places as well as their routes to follow. Most of Guest Houses Ulan Bator will offer you such tours, and it is easy to share the cost with other travelers if it is a package (otherwise ... a price per person will be offers).
Mongolia having experienced oil supply difficulties, fuels can be quite expensive, especially as all-terrain vehicles consume more than 15 l / 100 km. Moreover, service stations and garages are very rare outside the capital, not to mention the lack of spare parts directly from car brands. It is not uncommon to travel a few hundred kilometers without encountering this kind of infrastructure: so remember to adapt your driving style and bring a sufficient number of full jerrycans so as not to find yourself so stupidly stuck in the middle of the desert.
It is advisable to check if the offer includes fuel costs or if they are your responsibility, then you can ask for an estimate before leaving.
It is recommended to have the international driving license in Mongolia.
No alcohol content is allowed behind the wheel of a vehicle (checks are carried out by the police).
On horseback
The horse is a means of transport still widely used in Mongolia, and a natural way to discover the country. While it makes it less possible to cover long distances, the trip on horseback has other advantages, including the proximity it allows to have with the inhabitants of the countryside.
Organizing such a trip can be more expensive, but the pleasure and discovery will be much more present than when crossing the country in a 4x4.
To speak
The Mongolian language is both complex and different. Knowledge of the language is a very positive element for a different trip. Non-verbal communication is special in Mongolia because the life of nomads has created a whole environment of myth and tradition around life.
Mongolian is one of the Ural-Altaic languages (as are Turkish, Finnish, Kazakh, Korean). A throaty language par excellence, learning it does not seem easy. Mongolian has been written since 1944 in the Russian Cyrillic alphabet increased by 2 letters.
The possibility of learning English at school is still recent, and remains an option, and therefore few Mongolians speak it. The main foreign language spoken in Mongolia is Russian. Apart from very touristy places, traveling without an interpreter is very risky.
Learning the Mongolian language is a must for anyone wanting to travel to Mongolia and wanting a different trip. There are only a few Mongolian language methods in French, including the one entitled "Introduction to the Mongolian language" (348p. 2 CD book) by Louis-Simon Roy. For those who speak English or German, you have other choices: Colloquial Mongolian or Mongolian Grammar.
To buy
The currency is the tugrik (Tögrög) abbreviated as ₮.The usual exchange rate is ~ 2850 '₮' for 1 €. Most Western hotels in the capital offer a currency exchange service.
| Current MNT exchange rate | |
| XE.com: | CADCHFEURGBPUSDCNYRUR |
| OANDA.com: | CADCHFEURGBPUSDCNYRUR |
| fxtop.com: | CADCHFEURGBPUSDCNYRUR |
Eat
Meat.
Airag : milk alcohol.
Apart from the classic "boiled mutton" Mongolia is not really famous for its gastronomy. However, in the big towns you will find a restaurant or a stall that offers dishes without mutton. Some may have the chance to taste marmot , although poaching of the latter is prohibited under penalty of a fine. Fermented mare's milk "Airag" is certainly the most famous drink among tourists, bottles of vodka are legion, all the same avoid the bottles sold under the coat (adulterated). The local beers are very good.
Have a drink / Go out
Nightlife in Mongolia is very lively. However, it is not recommended to go out alone and it is better to go to places that are a little upscale in order to avoid trouble.
Housing
TO Ulaanbaatar, there is no shortage of Guest Houses for budget travelers (~4 $ / night including breakfast). Once out of town, it is possible to camp virtually anywhere, or find a yurt for a few dollars a night (while avoiding tourist camps).
To learn
To work
Mongolia, with its 17% growth in 2012, is in full economic and industrial development. It offers many investment opportunities in the mining, agro-food industry and renewable energies sectors.
Manage daily
Time zones
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Security
 | Emergency telephone number: All emergency services:105 |
Particular attention should be paid to pickpockets. They are very present at the NaraanTuul market, also referred to as "black market" in tourist guides (although it is completely legal).
Night walks in the capital (going out to a nightclub or restaurant, etc.) should, however, urge you to be extremely careful. Some tourists have already been victims of attacks followed by racketeering and / or theft perpetrated by groups, so avoid solo journeys as well as unlit and deserted places.
The rise of Mongolian neo-Nazi movements like "Fire of the Nation" is a real problem in the capital. These extremist Mongol groups can target tourists, which can lead to theft and beatings. Police complicity makes prosecution unlikely, with the country also having one of the highest corruption rates in the world.
Note also the problems of racism against mixed couples. Mongols share racial theories defended to the top of the state. According to these, there is a Mongolian "pure blood" that foreigners in a relationship with Mongolians come to smear. Mongolians do not like seeing strangers with Mongolian women, even a friendly closeness can lead to rejection, insults or even attacks.
Government travel advice
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Belgium (Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) 
Canada (Government of Canada) 
France (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 
Swiss (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)
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Health
The medical infrastructure is largely underdeveloped and suffers from serious dysfunctions linked to corruption, the lack of training of doctors and the rapid privatization of hospitals during the fall of communism which fed strong inequalities in access to care. Medicines are expensive in Mongolia and there is no social security.
Emergency services are largely failing and paramedics do not come around all the time if a phone line is working to contact them.
In the steppe, the situation is even worse since it is sometimes necessary to travel several hundred kilometers before finding a dispensary selling basic medicines.
It is absolutely essential to have good repatriation insurance and an emergency medical kit for sightseeing.
The second cause of death in Mongolia are road accidents, in a country with almost no roads outside the capital. We must therefore deduce the level of dangerousness of the streets of Ulan Bator: cars drive very fast, without regard for pedestrians who are often run over. No highway code is respected.
In addition Ulaanbaatar was designated by the WHO as being the most polluted city in the world from September to April, because of the rate of carbon particles higher up to 300 times the maximum standard. This is linked to the thousands of charcoal-heated yurts whose smoke remains in the city. Many young Mongolians suffer from severe respiratory illnesses as a result of this phenomenon. According to the latest WHO study, breathing winter in Ulaanbaatar, during a typical working day for a Mongolian, is like smoking 5 packs of cigarettes a day. This is all the more serious as many young children are exposed to pollution.
