Mongolia Travel Hostel

Guide to Backpackers in Mongolia

Guide to Hiking and Trekking Around Mongolia

If you will be visiting Mongolia, you have to make sure you have the right gear, otherwise you will find it very hard to navigate through Mongolia’s countryside. Depending on where you go, your gear should be different, and you will need different things.

Riding Horses

If you will be riding horses, you want shoes that are light, so that heavy boots won’t be dragging you down or something. Sometimes you can even ride horses without any shoes but it’s best to keep them on 😉

Northern Mongolia

If you will be trekking through northern Mongolia, you need waterproof boots or leather boots that are water resistant. The northern climate of Mongolia is definitely a lot more moist and wetter than other parts of Mongolia. Sometimes during the summer it can rain for days and some of the rivers overflow, so be sure to schedule your travel during weather that is more appropriate.

Southern and Eastern Mongolia

Towards the south and the east, you will mostly find flat grasslands. So you should wear shoes that are good for keeping dirt away. Hiking boots or shoes are not recommended, because your feet will get really hot and smelly.

Rather just a pair of sneakers, or sandals will actually do just fine!

Western Mongolia

If you will be traveling towards the western part of Mongolia, you definitely need shoes and boots that have sturdy and thick soles. The soil is more jagged, rocky and there are more cliffs, and higher altitudes.

The climate is a mix between hot and dry heat, but it can rain a lot on certain days, so it’s bit of a mix of different climates. The western part of Mongolia is where you go to see Golden Eagle Festival, Kazakhs and people with a more Turkic / Central Asian ancestry.

What if I can only bring one pair of boots?

You should at least bring 2-3 pair of shoes, however, if you have limited space in your luggage and can’t bring any extra pair of boots or shoes, then you should get one of the Palladium boots for hiking. While traveling in France, I got one of these, and they have lasted well over 3 years even with daily use.

But, if you can bring more than one pair, I would suggest a pair of sneakers, sandals, and hiking boots that are waterproof!

What Clothes Should I Bring?

Mongolia’s weather is very unstable, so you should actually bring clothes for all seasons even when you are visiting during the summer. It’s really fickle. It can be sunny all day, rain for 30 minutes, become sunny again, and even snow on certain occasions.

During the night it becomes really cold as well, so it’s a bit of an annoying unstable weather.

If you are going down south, definitely bring some sunscreen and a hat.

Mongolian Language For Beginners

If you are travelling to Mongolia, then you must know the basics of the language otherwise, you will find it difficult to get around because most people do not speak English, especially out in the countryside.

For a detailed resource, try this website: http://learnmongolianlanguage.com/

Greetings

Greetings are pretty simple. There aren’t many variations, and most people use the Sain baina uu version which is pretty easy to remember.

Sain baina uu – It means hi in a more formal way

Yu baina – It is similar to saying what is up? Or how is it going?

Sain uu – This is the shorest and most simplest version. It just means hi

Introductions

Namaig Zaya gedeg – My name is Zaya. Use this if you need to introduce yourself to other people.

Chamaig hen gedeg ve? – If you want to ask someone else’s name, you just ask this.

Asking for help

Uuchlaarai – People don’t really use this much, but it is a way to be polite and ask for a request.

Nadad tuslaach? – This means can you please help me with something.

How do Mongolians communicate?

If you don’t know the person well, or if it someone visibly older than you then, you have to refer to someone as “ta”. It is similar to other languages where it is a formal version of you.

For someone who is a peer or on the same age group, you can refer to them as “chi”.

When Mongolians speak with each other, usually they talk in an informal way. You have to understand that most Mongolians are pretty blunt and there is not much of a political correctness to how people speak.

It does not necessarily mean that people are rude and disrespectful, but the culture of nomadic peoples are more blunt and direct with their words. Usually people are not afraid to say remarks that might be considered as insensitive.

Is Mongolian Language Similar to Other Languages?

A lot of people assume that Mongolian has to be somewhat related or similar to either Russian or Chinese, but it in fact is neither. The origins are very different and don’t necessarily have any resemblance to both languages.

It is a unique language of its own with its own grammar and distinctness. However, you will find a lot of loan words and borrowed words in Russian mostly technology related words are directly taken from the Russians and Western people.

Age Of People When Communcating

When you are talking to someone older, usually there is a sense of age hierarchy. However, if you are a foreigner, most people will understand what you are trying to mean without being offended. Older people are usually treated with respect and in a different tone and manner compared with someone who is younger or of the same age.

How do nomads make Mongolian fur?

If you are not familiar with Mongolian culture, then you are in for a treat because it’s one of the most unique cultures around the world that is almost forgotten and unheard of. Specifically we’ll be learning more about how Mongolian fur pillows are made.

Who are Mongolian nomads

The Mongolian nomads are people who still live by the traditions of living with the land and the animals. For thousands of years, nomadic tribes have lived throughout the steppes of Eurasia which spanned from Hungary to Manchuria. Most often these tribes warred, intermarried, and had constant contact with one another. It wasn’t until 1206 when Chinggis Khaan or Temujin, united all these tribes and founded the Mongolian empire. He further went on to become one of the greatest leaders in history.

However since the fall of the Mongolian empire, descendents of Mongolians and Chinggis Khaan have been living the traditional nomadic lifestyle throughout Eurasia, and these nomads can be found in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Inner Mongolia, and Mongolia.

How do Mongolian nomads live

Their lifestyle is pretty simple without much worries of the modern day world. They live in harmony with nature and tend to their animals. Did you know that livestock outnumber the population of Mongolia by 20:1? Meat and animald produce are fairly cheap in Mongolia due to that fact.

Studies have shown that Mongolian nomads who live out in the countryside are healthier, have better immune systems and overall happier despite living away from the luxuries from modern day technology and the convenience.

Researchers are showing that stronger family ties and communities are one of the big reasons for why some people live longer, are more healthier and happier.

Usually the nomad lifestyle involves performing manual work such as tending to the flock of sheep, animals, making sure they are well fed and maintained. Division of labour is pretty apparent, where women mostly take care of household chores and other tasks that don’t require much strength, whereas men are in charge of erecting, building things, breakind down horses, etc.

What do the nomads do for a living

While money is not an essential part of being a nomad, they still contribute greatly to the economy and produce quality materials and goods. From milk, to biscuits, to wool and fur, the Mongolian nomads are an integral part of the economy and supply the general population with food, clothing material, cashmere etc.

If you ever go to live with nomads, you will realize that they mix play and work together. It’s as if their lifestyle is not necessarily considered “work” but just part of their life.

For example, women wake up early to tend to their livestock, milk them, feed them, and the men shearing the sheep for fur etc.

Shearing Sheep

Some people might have wondered whether it is ethical to produce Mongolian fur. Good news, because the sheep are not necessarily harmed during the process of making Mongolian fur.

They sheep are sheared first, which require them to subdued for a few minutes while the nomads shear their wool and fur. The wool and fur are then transported/ collected and sent off to processing plants that clean them.

The material then is sent to other factories that create products and the wool ends up being used for products and goods that are sold in stores.

You will find Mongolian fur throws, pillows, deels, coats, jackets, and various other goods that are made specifically for keeping warmth and insulation.

Worldwide Distribution

Mongolia is still a developing economy so it still has a lot to catch up with when it comes to competing in the world markets, but it’s a growing industry and as the world learns more about Mongolia, more and more people are opting to buy Mongolian produce and goods.

Cashmere is one of those big trends and Mongolian fur and sheep wool seems to be next, because Mongolia’s quality is almost unmatched.

5 Reasons to Stay a Few Days in Ulaanbaatar

Mongolia is know for it’s beautiful landscapes and nature Although we strongly suggest to visit the countryside out in the steppes, there are still plenty of things to do besides trekking around the country in endless plains.

While Ulaanbaatar is not as advanced as Hong Kong, Singapore, New York, and such, Ulaanbaatar is still a good city to take a look around for a few days. You can go to the Shangri La mall, watch a movie, go to the square and many more.

The City Center

Renamed to the Chinggis square, the Sukhbaatar square is the center of the city where you will be able to see the “white house” of Mongolia. Much like the Red square in Moscow, Mongolia has a similar to layout to the square, although a bit smaller.

The city center is where most people gather during the night for bike rides, a stroll, etc. However, if you are looking for a night life, it is strongly suggested to visit the â€œHuuhdiin 100” district. Since June 2017, Mongolia has started celebrating the weekends out on the Huuhdiin 100 district.

You will find many beer taverns, night clubs, and other fun things to do around there. It is buzzing with young energetic people as well as tourists alike. You won’t feel bored there since there are plenty of things to do around the street, from food to socializing with strangers, dancing, etc you will have a great time.

Visiting monasteries

If you like philosophy and religious studies, you must visit the monasteries around the city. There are a few around the western parts of the city. You will find statues, old manuscripts, monks chanting, artwork, and souvenirs.

Around those areas, there are many pigeons looking for food, so if you have rice or bread crumbs, you can feed them (although it is discouraged by the monks around the area). If you are feeling generous there are kids who are selling food to feed the pigeon.

Beautiful Zaisan

Zaisan is the more of the modern/richer parts of Ulaanbaatar. You will find the giant Buddha statue and a lot of other development going on around that area.

During the summer you can find people grilling food, riding bikes, enjoying the beach near the river, and such. If you go further south, that’s where you will find the Bogd Khan mountain ranges. If you enjoy trekking, you can go camping or picnicking.

National Park

Somewhat similar to a carnival at the national park you can try your luck playing games with prizes, or ride around the park on bicycles, see a water fountain, and enjoy the atmosphere. You will most likely find children, teenagers, and parents taking their kids out for a stroll.

Around 8-10 PM is the most active time of the day, so unless you don’t want to get caught in traffic, you can try going there a bit earlier and leaving a bit later.

City Outskirts

The outskirts of the capital has a lot of beautifully scenic places. The recommended places to visit are Terelj, which is 40km from the city, Handgait, 15 km north from the city, or maybe Zuun Mod, which a smaller town nearby the capital. Although it’s not as big or developed, life is more slower paced.

Terelj: You can go horse riding, camping, enjoying the air, and walk around. It’s mostly for tourists and people who are looking to get away for the weekend from the stress. You have to go see the Melkhiin Had if you happen go around Terelj.

Handgait is an area for mostly richer people. It’s a place where people go during the summer called “Zuslan”, so if you happen to be visiting during the summer, you can enjoy the quieter suburbs of the city.

Chinggis Khaan statue: ~40 km from the city center towards the east, you can find the giant Chinggis Khaan statue. You will find a museum with yurt (ger) houses. Not as scenic as Handgait or Terelj, but if you enjoy the open fields, it’s your place.

So, now that you know there are quite a few things to do around the city, maybe you will spend a few days around he capital before heading out to the countryside. However, the reason to visit Mongolia is mainly for the pristine country side and the nomads you get to meet along the way.

Best Destinations to Visit in Mongolia

Trying to decide where to go and what places to visit in Mongolia? Here are some of the best spots and sights to see.

Khongoriin Els

If you like to ride camels and see the Gobi dunes, this is THE place for you. Make sure to bring sunscreen, a lot of water, and pair of good shades, because it can get extremely hot and dry.

Trekking up the dunes can even take hours, so if you want to climb the dunes and take awesome pictures, you better start working out and getting in shape. While the peak isn’t that high, the sand dunes are very slippery and it takes a lot of effort to trek through the sand.

Khuvsgul Lake

This is where you will get to see one of the clearest waters in the world. Although it is very beautiful and pretty to look at, be careful of dipping your toes and cooling your feet, because the Khuvsgul Lake might look shallow, but it can be very deep and sometimes people do drown because of their carelessness.

Altai Mountains

Are you more of a hiker? Then the Altai Mountains towards Western Mongolia is the place for you. This is where most Kazakhs, Muslim Mongolians, live. So culturally it might be very different from the rest of Mongolia. If you come during the Eagle Festival season, you could partake in the event.

Auro Toson

This is more of a resort where you can relax for a few days and suntan. It’s in the Khentii province of Mongolia far away from any major cities, but there are plenty of foreigners and lodging specifically suited for travelers.

If you suffer from acne or any forms of skin problem, the pond is especially good for treating them. The salt, the oil, and the clay in the pond has minerals and nutrients that greatly benefit your skin.

Karakorum

Karakorum is the old capital of the Mongolian empire. For history nerds and enthusiasts this is the perfect place to learn more about Mongolian history, religion, and the culture.

Lake Baikal

Although this is not exactly in Mongolia, it’s still pretty close and if you happen to traveling through the country, then might as well drop by Lake Baikal.

Ulaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar itself has its own unique culture compared to rest of the country. It’s interesting to compare how the progress it has had for the last few years. Try staying a few nights close the Night Street, and the main square if you like to party and are interested in more metropolitan areas.