Fancy somewhere different for a long weekend or to break up a long flight to the Far East? How about Mongolia?

Mongolia is a landlocked country between Russia and China.

We visited Mongolia as part of a longer trip we were taking, staying for three nights in the capital, Ulaanbaatar. We arrived in November, and it was cold. It was minus 16C when we arrived and coldest I saw it get on a digital temp gauge was minus 20C in the main square. Yes it was cold, but dry and sunny, so once we wrapped up it was ok and all places had great heating and had cloakrooms to hang your coats in.

The weather varies drastically month by month, so check the weather forecast before you go to make sure you have suitable clothing.

Since it was only a short visit, we only got to experience a small snapshot of what Mongolia has to offer. If you plan to stay longer, I’d recommend taking a trip to the Gobi Desert or exploring one of the many National Parks in the country.

Ulaanbaatar was easy enough to walk around. In the city centre, there are museums, temples, and monasteries to visit. We hired a local guide to show us some of the top sights in and around the city.

(Sükhbaatar Square at night)

(Bogd Khaan Palace)

If shopping is your thing, there are plenty of stores to browse through as well.

Some road names and shop names are in Mongolian and English, so we didn’t encounter any major language barriers during our short stay.

Our guide then took us to see the huge monument of Chinggis Khaan sitting astride a horse. It’s located on a hillside on the bank of the Tuul River, in an area called Tsonjin Boldog, about 54 km from Ulaanbaatar, so you’ll need a driver or guide to get there. The statue is an incredible sight in person: 40 meters tall, made of stainless steel that reflects the light beautifully. You can go up inside the monument (yes, you exit through the horse’s rear!) and stand near the horse’s head for great views of the Mongolian steppe. The Chinggis Khaan museum in Ulaanbattar and the smaller museum about him under the statue were both interesting and worth a visit.

(Chinggis Khaan Statue)

Food: If you’re a lover of lamb, Mongolia is the place for you – most meals include it in some form. We had lamb in nearly every meal, including some delicious lamb nachos. If you’re offered Mongolian milk tea be aware, it often has small chunks of lamb and tastes of lamb fat! I’m an adventurous eater, but that was a bit too much for me. However, my partner liked it, so you never know, try it  it could be something you would enjoy.

Currency: The currency is the Mongolian Tugrik (also known as tögrög). It’s a closed currency, so you’ll need to exchange your money at the airport. Bring U.S. Dollars if possible. Some hotels accept dollars, but most places only take Tugriks.

Language: The main language is Mongolian, though dialects vary by region. Older people often speak Russian, while younger generations are learning English. Our guides spoke English well, and we had no trouble communicating when shopping or getting around.

I hope that you have found this little snapshot of Mongolia interesting, if it’s somewhere that you think you would like to go, then get in touch with Helen and I’m sure she will be able to plan an amazing holiday for you.

By Nici