The Orient - Mongolia - Country Information

In the 13th century the great Khans of Mongolia created the largest land-empire the world has ever known stretching from the shores of the Pacific to the very edge of Europe. The capital Ulan Bator is the country's political, commercial and cultural centre. The Gobi Desert is the habitat of several rare animals, including Bactrian wild camels, snow leopards, Przhevalsky horses and Gobi bears. The centuries old Naadam Festival is celebrated annually in mid July in Ulan Bator, when herdsmen travel from all over the country to take part in large-scale national games - wrestling, horseracing and archery.

Key Facts
Full Country Name	Mongolia
Area	1,566,000 square kilometres
Population	2,619,300
Capital	Ulan Bator
Time Difference	GMT +8 (from 25 March to 30 September: GMT +2)
Visa	Visa is required. For visa application form click here
Currency	Tughrik, US dollar
People	The principal ethnic majority are the Mongols, of which the Khalka group account for almost 78% of the population, followed by the Kazakh who represent 5.3% while around 15% include the following Mongol groups, the Durbet, Dariganga, Turvins and Khotans.
Language	Khalka Mongolian
Dialling Code	+976
Electricity	220V

Visas:

A visa is required for Mongolia. A full 10-year passport is required and it must be valid for at least six months after your arrival back into the UK. If your passport is not valid for six months it will be necessary to obtain a new one. For visa application form click here

Health risks:

Hepatitis A & B, Japanese encephalitis, Malaria, Typhoid

When to Go:

In Mongolia April sees the transition from the long very cold winter to the short, warm summer with a return to winter in October.  Rainfall is low. Travel is best between late May and early September. It can be chilly in the morning and the evening, even in summer.