Mongolia (Downloaded from internet, spring 2000) Compiled and printed by Maroš Markovič 2 1 General information about Mongolia _________________________________________________________________________________________ 6 1.1 Yahoo: Essential informationes of Mongolia _____________________________________________________________________________ 6 1.1.1 Essentials______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6 1.1.2 Environment ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6 1.1.3 When to Go ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6 1.1.4 Facts for the Traveller ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 6 1.1.5 Money & Costs_________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6 1.1.6 Facts at a Glance ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7 1.1.7 Economic Profile________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7 1.2 CIA -- The World Factbook 1999 -- Mongolia ____________________________________________________________________________ 7 1.2.1 Geography ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7 1.2.2 People ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8 1.2.3 Government ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8 1.2.4 Economy______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9 1.2.5 Communications _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 10 1.2.6 Transportation _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10 1.2.7 Military _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11 1.3 Lonely Planet - Destination Mongolia__________________________________________________________________________________ 11 1.3.1 Facts at a Glance _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 11 1.3.2 Environment __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11 1.3.3 History_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11 1.3.4 Economic Profile_______________________________________________________________________________________________ 13 1.3.5 Culture_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 13 1.3.6 Events _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 13 1.3.7 Facts for the Traveller ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 14 1.3.8 Money & Costs________________________________________________________________________________________________ 14 1.3.9 When to Go ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 14 1.3.10 Attractions____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 14 1.3.10.1 Ulaan Baatar_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 14 1.3.10.2 Four Holy Peaks __________________________________________________________________________________________ 15 1.3.10.3 Khustain Nuruu Nature Reserve ______________________________________________________________________________ 15 1.3.10.4 Kharkhorin (Karakorum) ___________________________________________________________________________________ 15 1.3.10.5 Khövsgöl Nuur___________________________________________________________________________________________ 16 1.3.11 Off the Beaten Track____________________________________________________________________________________________ 16 1.3.11.1 Amarbayasgalant Khiid_____________________________________________________________________________________ 16 1.3.11.2 Gurvansaikhan National Park ________________________________________________________________________________ 16 1.3.11.3 Khovd __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 16 1.3.12 Activities _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 16 1.3.13 Getting There & Away __________________________________________________________________________________________ 17 1.3.14 Getting Around ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 17 1.4 Lonely Planet - Travellers' reports on Mongolia _________________________________________________________________________ 17 1.4.1 Visas, Embassies & Border Crossings ______________________________________________________________________________ 17 1.4.2 Travel Tips ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 18 1.4.3 Moving About_________________________________________________________________________________________________ 18 1.4.4 Gems, Highlights & Attractions ___________________________________________________________________________________ 18 1.4.5 Yarns, Fables & Anecdotes_______________________________________________________________________________________ 18 2 FAQ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 19 2.1 Normandic Expedition ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 19 2.1.1 Why would I want to visit Mongolia?_______________________________________________________________________________ 19 2.1.2 Is Mongolia safe? ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 19 2.1.3 When is the best time of the year to go to Mongolia and what is the weather like? ____________________________________________ 19 2.1.4 What are the ports of entry into Mongolia? __________________________________________________________________________ 20 2.1.5 What forms of transportation are used for traveling within Mongolia? _____________________________________________________ 20 2.1.6 What type of accommodations are available in Mongolia? ______________________________________________________________ 20 2.1.7 What types of food will I be eating in Mongolia?______________________________________________________________________ 20 2.1.8 What sorts of activities are available and how do I know which trip will provide me with the activity level I desire? _________________ 20 2.1.9 What is the medical care like in Mongolia? __________________________________________________________________________ 21 2.1.10 What is the average price of a trip to Mongolia? ______________________________________________________________________ 21 2.1.11 Can children participate in a trip to Mongolia?________________________________________________________________________ 21 2.1.12 What type of government is in power? ______________________________________________________________________________ 21 2.1.13 What is "inner" and "outer" Mongolia? _____________________________________________________________________________ 21 2.1.14 What language is spoken in Mongolia? _____________________________________________________________________________ 21 2.1.15 What currency is used in Mongolia?________________________________________________________________________________ 21 2.1.16 What is the main religion practiced in Mongolia? _____________________________________________________________________ 22 2.2 Mongolia FAQ_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 22 2.2.1 Land, People, Language _________________________________________________________________________________________ 22 2.2.1.1 Where do Mongolians live? ____________________________________________________________________________________ 22 2.2.2 Administrative_________________________________________________________________________________________________ 22 2.2.2.1 I want to travel to Mongolia. What kind of travel documentation do I need? ______________________________________________ 22 2.2.2.2 I want to travel to Inner Mongolia. What kind of travel documentation do I need? _________________________________________ 22 2.2.3 Tourism______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 22 2.2.3.1 How to travel to Mongolia? ____________________________________________________________________________________ 22 2.2.3.2 What kind of accommodation is available in Mongolia?______________________________________________________________ 23 2.2.4 Inner Mongolia - Tourism________________________________________________________________________________________ 23 3 2.2.4.1 How to travel to Inner Mongolia? _______________________________________________________________________________ 23 2.2.4.2 What kind of accommodation is available in Inner Mongolia? _________________________________________________________ 23 2.2.4.3 What kind of transport is available in Inner Mongolia?_______________________________________________________________