Geography
Mongolia is a landlocked country of mountains, steppe and desert stretching over an area of 1,566,500 sq km / 604,830 sq miles. It is bordered to the north by Russia, while China forms the border to the east, south and west. In the south the Gobi Desert covers more than a third of the country. Around 20% of the remainder is grassland steppe, and some 25%, principally the central, northern and western provinces, is classed as mountain forest steppe. Along the northern border is a large area of larch and pine forest which is essentially the southernmost reaches of Siberia. In central Mongolia the steppe rises to the Kangai mountain range with its highest peak reaching 3905m/12611ft. Mongolia’s tallest mountain ranges are in the far west. The highest, Mount Khuiten at 4374m/14350ft is located on the border with both Russia and China and the western end of the in the Mongol Altai Tvanbogd. North of this range is a protected area known as the ‘Great Lakes Depression’ covering an area of 39,000 sq km/15,000 sq miles. This is an area of snow capped mountains and large saltwater and freshwater lakes set in a desert landscape. Politically Mongolia is divided into 18 provinces called aimags plus four independent municipalities which are also sometimes referred to as aimags. The aimags are further divided into 310 districts or sums.

Time Zone
The time in Mongolia is GMT +8 hours

Climate
With an average 260 days per year of sunshine Mongolia is justifiably known as ‘the Land of Blue Sky’ It is however a land of temperature extremes. Without a nearby sea to moderate its climate, winter temperatures can drop to minus 50 degrees centigrade whereas summer daytime temperatures can rise to a pleasant 25 degrees. The summer is wetter than the winter but at this time showers tend to be brief and gentle. In the mountain areas weather conditions are similar to the European Alps – long periods of high pressure and stable conditions, followed by relatively brief storms. August usually sees the warmest conditions, zero degrees at night followed by calm sunny days of 20 degrees centigrade. However, weather in the mountains is variable and visitors are likely to encounter some rain and blizzards can occur at any time of year.

History and Peoples
Mongolia has had a long and turbulent history. Towards the end of the twelfth century the nomadic inhabitants of northern Asia became united under the leadership of the remarkable Mongol king, Genghis Khan. Two generations later, during the reign of Genghis’s grandson Kublai Khan, the vast territory of Mongolia reached its greatest extent, stretching from the Black Sea to the Yellow Sea of Eastern China. After the Khan dynasty fizzled out at the end of the thirteenth century, the unity of Mongolia evaporated and the country experienced a period of several centuries which was dominated by inter-clan warfare. At the end of the eighteenth century, Mongolia came under the rule of Manchu China and then in the early twentieth century the country experienced a “Peoples Revolution” (1921) and became allied to the Soviet Union. Since 1991, with the break up of the Soviet Union, Mongolia has been an independent democracy and has become readily accessible to foreign travellers. The first major geographical expeditions to the remote Altai Tavan Bogd region were in the 1920’s, led by the famous Russian Botanist, Potaniin. No successful climbs of the snowy peaks were made at this time. Mount Khuiten was first climbed by a Mongolian team of Mountaineers in 1956. The 1960’s and 1970’s saw numerous expeditions from Czechoslovakia, Romania and Poland claim first ascents of other peaks in the region. The region opened up to western climbers in the early 1990’s and first British ascents were made in 1992 by teams from Operation Raleigh. Since that time, a small number of expeditions do visit this region, each year, during the brief summer months. Fewer than 20 people will summit Mount Khuiten on a yearly basis. Much of the Mongolia’s steppe is quite rich grassland which supports several species of wildlife, including antelope, gazelle and wild ass. It is also home to the nomadic Mongolian pastoralists who tend often large numbers of sheep, goats, cattle, horses, yaks and camels, travelling widely across the plains and living in very portable homes known as “gers.” Remarkably, out of a population of two and a half million people, fully fifty percent live in this traditional type of dwelling, which incorporates a framework of slender poles and a covering of tough felt.

Currency
Mongolia’s unit of currency is the Tugrik. As of February 2006, the exchange rates are:

£1 = 2108 Tugriks
$1 = 1208 Tugriks
€1 = 1438 Tugriks

It is not normally possible (and it is certainly not necessary) to purchase Mongolian currency outside the country. Your travel money should be carried in the form of cash in US dollars. Money can be exchanged at the airport on arrival and at your hotel in Ulan Bator.

Visas
A passport with at least six months validity is required. Visas are required by nationals of all countries in the European Union, and by nationals of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland. US citizens do not require a visa if their intended stay is less than 3 months. All visas are valid for 3 months from the date of issue. The fee for UK citizens (November 2003) is £35.

Vaccinations
You should visit your own doctor and dentist for a check-up prior to taking your trip to Mongolia.
The following is a ROUGH GUIDE for immunization. (We must stress that this is only a basic guide to the most commonly required vaccinations for travel worldwide. You must seek and abide by the specific advice of your local doctor/medical professional).

(a) Polio (normally you will just need a booster.)
(b) Tetanus.
(c) Typhoid. A full course requires 2 injections separated by an interval of 4-6 weeks.
(d) Hepatitis (A) and (B).
(e) Anti-malarial prophylaxis: There is no risk of malaria throughout Mongolia.
(f) Rabies pre-exposure vaccination. This may be useful especially if cycling. Please refer to your doctor for advice on whether you need rabies pre-exposure vaccination. In the unlikely case of your being bitten, this vaccination does not eliminate the need for urgent evacuation to a suitable medical facility for additional treatment, However, it does simplify that additional treatment and also prolongs the period that you can safely delay before receiving post-exposure treatment.

Given enough notice, your doctor will be able to administer all the above vaccinations.

Additional Sources of Information

Books
Mongolia - Lonely Planet - Travel Survival Kit. Paul Greenway
Edge of Blue Heaven - Benedict Allen
The Lost Country: Mongolia Revealed - Jasper Becker
In Search of Genghis Khan - Tim Sevrin
Nomads and Commissars: Mongolia Revisited - Owen Lattimore
Mongolian Phrasebook - Lonely Planet

Maps
There are no good maps of Mongolia available in the UK, but a detailed local map will be available for the group to look at on the trip. Other maps can be found in the Lonely Planet guide books.

Our trip dossiers/itineraries give details of books and maps that are specific to a particular trip. Click here for details of book and map retailers.

Web
Lonely PLanet - www.lonelyplanet.com
Rough Guides - www.roughguides.com