Frequently Asked Questions

All direct flights come into Ulaanbaatar – most of them from Beijing, Moscow, Seoul, Istanbul, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Berlin, Bangkok and Frankfurt. The Trans-Siberian train from Moscow or Beijing makes a particularly exhilarating entry into the country. There are domestic flights and trains from Ulaanbaatar to the rest of Mongolia. Many of the tours use a 4WD Japanese and Russian vehicle to transport you to your destination.

Detailed information about visa from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia – www.mfa.gov.mn/?page_id=28254&lang=en
If there is no Mongolian Embassy in your country, one-month visas can be obtained on the spot once you arrive at the airport or railway station. There will also be a visa fee of $45US and we will supply an official confirmation letter (by email or post) for your visa application once you book a trip with us.

Mongolia is a relatively safe country for foreigners even though there have been big social changes in transition since the 1990s. Cities are mostly safe; however, as in other large cities, you may face some street crimes particularly in Ulaanbaatar and especially late at night. In the countryside, foreigners feel much safer because nomadic people have more respect for travelers. In general Mongolian people are known for their nomadic hospitality and they will make you feel very welcome.

If you are staying in Ulaanbaatar, you will be accommodated in a 3 to a 5-star hotel. There are other options to place in the hostel/guesthouse as well. During any trips around the country, you will be camping in tents and in a traditional Mongolian dwelling called a Ger. All accommodation offered by MonTrails Tours is personally checked by our staff to ensure the required standards.

The tourist camps use traditional ger (the national dwelling of Mongolia) for accommodation for 2-4 people. The Ger camps also have a separate washing block that contains western style flushing toilets in cubicles and shower rooms. There are also laundry, eating and shopping facilities and you can charge your camera batteries and plug other electronics in the camps.

Warm thin layers of clothing, waterproof jacket, good walking boots, sandals, a hat, and/or headscarf to protect you from the sun and winds. Don’t forget insect repellent, sunblock cream, lip-gloss and first aid kit (medicine for headache, cold, diarrhea, runny nose; bandages; any medicine prescribed for you); all your camera equipment and binoculars, perhaps some snacks to eat between mealtimes.

Mutton, beef, vegetables, rice and noodles form the basis of the Mongolian diet, so your meals will be based around this. However, the trail rations may include vegetables, eggs, cheese and BBQ! Tourist camps provide western style meals. Please let us know in advance if you are a vegetarian.

Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. The tap water in the cities is not safe to drink, but mineral water is recommended. We will supply you with mineral water during your trip.

Official Daily Foreign Exchange Rates of the Bank of Mongolia – www.mongolbank.mn/eng/dblistofficialdailyrate.aspx or check here – www.xe.com  
US Dollars are the most used foreign currency and accepted in many places, especially in Ulaanbaatar, but it is also useful to carry some cash in the local currency, the Tugrik. 1US$=2810 Tugrik (Jun. 2020). Any bank in Mongolia will exchange your currency, as will most of the hotels you’ll stay in. But a better rate is on Foreign Currency Exchange places and you can ask our guides.

Travel insurance is compulsory for MonTrails Tours travelers and should be taken out at the time of booking. We recommend that our tour participants purchase a standard travel insurance policy that covers you for unexpected events that could cause you to cancel or interrupt your vacation, unexpected delays, medical assistance, loss of or damage to baggage.

On all of our scheduled group tours, the number varies from one group to another. However, we keep our groups small with an average size group of 4-12 people.

We offer tailor-made tours to individuals, families, and small groups. Our private tours include a wide range of activities from cultural explorations to exhilarating outdoor adventures (Altai Mountain Trekking, Horse and camel riding, Fishing, Gobi desert safari and many more).

We are able to organize any of our scheduled trips privately for more than 2 people as private if the tour date doesn’t meet your schedule or you want to travel with your family or friends. There will be no extra cost for customizing your trip.

MonTrails Tours sells its scheduled group tours in more than 8 countries around the world. Therefore quite typical to expect between 2-4 different nationalities on any tour, i.e., (American, British, Belgian, Swiss, Australian, German, Russian, Hong Kong, Singapore and etc.) Most of the time, our travelers enjoy that experience and end up building ties with other people from the tour that can last for a lifetime.

Yes, early arrival might be recommended if your flights take a long time or due to time differences between our countries. In this case, we can book you hotel room at a discounted rate.

MonTrails Tours is committed to providing high quality, flexible and well-designed travel products and services to meet the needs of our clients. We work hard to ensure that your memories of Mongolia will be a treasure for a lifetime.