Practical Information for Travel to Mongolia.

When to visit Mongolia

Mongolia is a landlocked country, surrounded on all sides by the enormity of Siberia and the Peoples Republic of China. A vast country in its own right, Mongolia lies at the very heart of central Asia. With no seas to control the extreme continental climate, temperatures fluctuate greatly ranging from -40°C in winter, to +40°C during the peak summer months.

The main tourism season coincides with the easing of winter conditions, and runs from May through to October. Travellers should note that spring months, late February through to late April, have been times of extreme hardship for successive recent years. Following bitterly harsh winters, nomads and their flocks have been fighting a hard battle against conditions that see huge numbers of livestock fatalities. This can lead to food shortages and conditions of extreme poverty, as nomads are reliant on their produce for both trade and sustenance.

Winter travel is not to be dissuaded and can provide for a truly unique experience, valuable lessons are learnt about, just how hard, life on the steppes can be. Travellers must be prepared for, and able to tolerate the extreme conditions that can be expected at this time of year. Transportation outside of Ulaanbaatar, when possible, will be extremely slow and difficult. The rewards however are high, and unique opportunities are available, such as participation in Tsagaan Tsar (Mongolian New Year) and the soon to be world famous, Khuvsgol Ice Festival.

Hands down, the busiest time to visit Mongolia is in July, crowds flock to Ulaanbaatar to attend the wonderful Naadam festival. Travel at this time of year can also be slow and difficult, but due to logistical reasons rather than through any great hardship. Train tickets on the Trans Siberian express trains will need to be booked many months in advance, as will accommodation for Ulaanbaatar. Of course, if you can’t get a place on the trains you could always take part in the Mongol Rally. Competitors depart their home countries in mid July, making their way across Europe and central Asia in a variety of sensational vehicles. The intrepid adventurers typically arrive in Mongolia about four weeks later.

The hot summer months are also the wettest; I would recommend that you bring a lightweight waterproof jacket and a backpack cover at this time of year. Visits to the arid Gobi desert are best enjoyed in the months of June and September, avoiding the stifling heat and frequent dust storms of July and August.

Mongolia climate information.

Mongolia: What to take

Preparations should be one of the biggest concerns for the traveller aiming to venture into Mongolia, the extreme climate and harsh conditions will be tolerable only to those who arrive with suitable clothing and equipment.

There are four notable seasons, but the most distinct are the long cold winters and the short hot summers. The two sit comfortably at opposite ends of the spectrum, winter with its polar temperatures and severe wind chill, summer with harsh desert conditions.

The onset of winter comes quickly, temperatures rapidly dropping to sub-zero from September and lasting until late April or early May. As with polar locations, wind chill is a significant problem and can rapidly contribute to frostbite.

Summer Clothing

Summer clothing should consist of durable simple garments that can be washed easily. Travel trousers that can be unzipped into shorts would be ideal for most summer days. Short sleeved T-shirts should form the bulk of your luggage with at least one long sleeved shirt to provide protection from the sun and to wear for traditional home stays.

Despite the extreme heat of the day, the evening temperatures drop considerably. For this reason a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt would probably not go amiss.

Summer is also the time of rain on the Mongolian steppes, travellers should bring a lightweight waterproof jacket and if horse riding is on the cards, perhaps some waterproof over-trousers.

Clothing is extensively available in the markets of Ulaanbaatar. A cheap spring / autumn coat can usually be found for approximately US$ 25 – 35.

The sun is intense, due both climate and altitude. Good protection is a must, such as a wide brimmed sun hat, a long sleeved shirt, sunglasses and some high factor sun cream.

Winter Clothing

Opting for additional layers, rather than a single warm bulky item is generally a good idea. Two or three pairs of thermal undergarments will greatly add to your comfort and allow you to enjoy your time in Mongolia. These should be worn on different days of course, unless you really do feel the cold. The layers of clothing allow for efficient heat retention and provide protection against cold and wind chill.

Three quarter length, (and full length), down lined coats can be purchased in the markets of Ulaanbaatar from October to March. They typically retail for US$ 35 – 50, and would prove a great asset for travellers who find they are having trouble keeping warm.

Mongolian apartments and buildings are generally kept warm, however heating is regulated by the government and, more often than not, cannot be adjusted locally.

To protect against frostbite, a warm winter hat should be worn when venturing outdoors. This should be pulled down over the ears, with a scarf to cover the neck, mouth and nose. Ear bands and neck gators can be used to provide additional protection from the elements if needed. A warm pair of fur lined gloves, which can be pulled up above the wrists, may enable you to return home with many of your fingers.

If you arrive before winter, fur lined scarves, hats, gloves and wool socks can all be bought locally in Ulaanbaatar.

Footwear

As with all travelling endeavours, a bad choice in terms of footwear can significantly detract from the experience. For Mongolia, waterproof walking boots are needed throughout the year. In winter these should be well insulated, allow adequate room for a good pair of thermal wool socks and provide excellent grip for walking on ice. Again, fur lined boots are available in the markets of Ulaanbaatar (US$ 25 – 90). These are often easier to slip on and off when staying with local nomads, than the equivalent product brought along from back home.

During summer, a sturdy pair of walking sandals can be useful for walking around ger camps, taking a shower, and for wading across streams. This may be preferable to wading barefoot, spending the day in soggy boots or returning home with an unwelcome foot condition.

Odds and ends.

So, now that we have most of the more obvious items out of the way, what else have travellers found useful whilst exploring this sparsely populated region?

Well, in the interest of sustainable eco-tourism, you won’t go far wrong by bringing a trowel, for those all important stops in the middle of the countryside. Accompanied by some baby wipes and a bottle of hand sanitizer, you really will be ‘living it up’, whilst your fervent companions wonder back from behind the wall, looking confused and saying ‘but there is no toilet back there....’ Unscented baby wipes are definitely to be recommended unless your desperate to be eaten alive by the local insect population.

At home stays and ger encampments, a flashlight will allow you vision at night, this could be very useful for finding your way around. A headlamp would be even better, allowing you the free use of both hands. In tourist ger camps, bedding is normally provided, but if you are expecting to stay somewhere a little more ‘off the beaten track’, you should bring a sleeping bag rated comfortable down to -5C for summer trips, -15C to -20C for spring and autumn, and -40C for winter.

If you’re intending to go horse riding, a useful item to bring along, is a poncho or some waterproof over-trousers. Sitting on a hard wooden saddle that repeatedly slaps against your wet bottom, is an experience best avoided. Reseal able Ziploc bags can be invaluable for protecting important documents and valuables, plus when you get caught in a shower they provide a means to transport your sodden clothing until you arrive somewhere that they can be washed and dried.

You may not expect it, but the sun in Mongolia is extremely intense. Many travellers report that they burn at a rate much faster than on the beaches of southern Thailand. Sun cream of at least factor 20 is recommended, especially in winter when the sun’s rays are reflected off the snow.

A watch or alarm clock can be useful for those times when your mobile phone does not have enough charge. Razorblades, shampoo, soap, lotions, deodorant, toothpaste and the like, are all available extensively in Ulaanbaatar, however they are not available at ger encampments, stock up. Contact lens solution and sun cream can be difficult to acquire, these items should definitely be brought along in your luggage, in sufficient quantities for your entire stay.

Excursions

For trips across desert or countryside, you had best come prepared. Travel through Mongolia is slow and uncomfortable with many, many miles of pot holed dirt track. Service stations come in the guise of a tree, bush, or if you are very lucky, wall.

If departing from Ulaanbaatar or another major town, a wise idea is to stock up on supplies. Bring water and snacks in abundance. Not only will these be invaluable on your journey, but upon arrival at your destination they can be used to supplement the food that is provided by your tour.

An mp3 player can be used to provide entertainment for journeys of considerable length; books on the other hand, are not to be recommended, unless you have a very strong stomach and remarkably steady hands.

Gifts

Travelling across the plains and visiting nomad families, it is traditional for ardent adventurers to bestow their hosts with gifts as a thank you for shelter and hospitality. I have heard one tale of a man donating a telescope to a family on the steppes, who knows what practical uses the thing is put to now. For the general visit I would recommend something a little less extravagant.

Offering money to nomadic families is considered impolite, although manners also dictate that they should accept your gift graciously. If children are offered money, expect that they will pass it on to their parents when you leave. Electronic gifts are useless, other than for short term novelty value as nomadic families have little to no access to batteries. So what form does a good gift take?

Children

Children have very limited access to toys and educational materials. For that reason they would be very appreciative of small toys, hair ribbons, childrens books from Ulaanbaatar, educational materials, paper, pencils and crayons. Sweets are also graciously accepted, but please remember, there are no dental or healthcare policies out on the steppes.

Adults

Adults appreciate the gifts of toys and educational materials for their children, but if you also want to bring along a gift to be given directly to your hosts, photographs and postcards will not go far amiss. Mongolians particularly like pictures of the sea, most will of course never get to see the ocean for themselves and find it fascinating. Perfume, face cream or sewing kits will stand you in great stead with the lady of the household. Snuff, cigarettes, cigarette papers, tobacco and matches will be greatly appreciated by the man of the house.

Medication

This is a very important topic as medication is NOT readily available in Mongolia. There are no medical facilities outside of Ulaanbaatar; even in the city itself, the largest medical provider exists as a means to evacuate people to a nearby country with adequate staff and equipment. This is usually to be found in Beijing and, without a visa, is subject to permissions for emergency entry.

Any essential medication should be bought, in sufficient quantities, for the entire duration of your trip. It is usually recommended to bring an extra weeks supply on top of this, just in case.

In addition to your essential medications, think about bringing:

Travel sickness pills for bumpy journeys across the steppes.
Pepto-Bismol for the inevitable upset stomach.
Immodium to postpone your case of the trots.
Ibuprofen as a pain killer.
Claritan for allergies, there is a vast expanse of grassland after all.
Insect repellent to protect against hungry mozzies and other such things.
Antibiotic cream for cuts, scratches and insect bites.
Vaseline to lube up those blisters.

Any medications should be checked with the Mongolian embassy prior to arrival in Mongolia, to ensure legality. Personally, I have never received a reply from the Mongolian embassy in the UK, or Mongolian customs. The UK embassy in Ulaanbaatar does not, at present, provide an email address, very useful. Travel with only the drugs that are required for your own personal, prescribed use. These should be carried in the original, clearly labelled container, in your hand luggage.

At the very least it is recommended that you travel with a doctor’s prescription and a doctors letter detailing:

Doctor/Surgery/Clinic Header.
Doctors name.
Doctors registered number.
The name and amount of the prescribed medicine.
Who it is for.
What it is for.

This has become a standard requirement in many countries and personally I wouldn’t take the risk of travelling without the documentation.

Mongolian Ministry of Health

Currency

The currency of Mongolia is the Tugrik (Mongolian: tögrög). Currency is circulated by the Bank of Mongolia, with notes in denominations of MNT 10, MNT 20, MNT 50, MNT 100, MNT 500, MNT 1000, MNT 5000, MNT 10000 and MNT 20000. Coins come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 Tugrik’s.

Smaller notes and coins are no longer in official circulation. In addition, the Tugrik used to be divided into möngö, these are now worthless unless you are a fervent collector of coins, and if so you can usually pick some up in the Black Market of Ulaanbaatar.

For travellers arriving with $US and €EU, money can be changed at banks and authorised money changers within Ulaanbaatar, this service is not usually available outside the city. There is a currency exchange at the airport in Ulaanbaatar, but it is not 24 hours, so will be closed for early or late night arrivals. It may be a good idea to come prepared with a limited number of Tugrik’s to see you through until you ‘find your bearings’. Tugrik’s can be picked up in Russia and China, but please note, in Russia you must keep exchange receipts and keep your entry and exit declarations in good order. If you fail to observe these points, your money can be confiscated by unscrupulous border guards, who have found a profitable loophole in Russian customs legislation.

The recommended currency, for the best exchange rate and ease of use, is US$ or travellers cheques. €EU are the next best thing, but £GBP can be very difficult to exchange. Spangly, crisp new notes are sought after, and Mongolians may be reluctant to accept notes that appear damaged or in poor condition.

Debit and credit cards can be used in upmarket shops, hotels and restaurants, but not in smaller establishments, where only Tugriks will be accepted. Visa is the best card for Mongolia, allowing access to most ATM machines. Mastercard and American Express can also be used to withdraw money at some locations.

Tipping, Prices and Haggling

Tipping in restaurants and bars is not expected, but as more tourists pass through Ulaanbaatar the locals are getting used to the notion and will be very appreciative of the extra money. Travellers should recognise that menu prices often are often subject to a 13% sales tax that will be added to the final bill. If on top of this, you wish to leave a generous tip, then the ‘international rate’ of 10% is a very reasonable starting place.

The prices in Mongolia’s shops and restaurants are fixed; trying to negotiate on prices here would be asking for trouble. In Ulaanbaatar, the last vestige of haggling is really the Black Market, where shoppers should aim to pay about 70% of the original asking price. The Mongolians are quite fair in this respect, and are unlikely to charge tourists more than local shoppers. Of course, as with anywhere else in the world, if you are out to buy tourist tat, expect to get fleeced.

ATM Machines

ATM machines can be found in Ulaanbaatar and Darkhan, but outside these two major cities do not expect to find one easily. In Ulaanbaatar, they can be found at the majority of banks, the central train station and the State Department Store. For withdrawing money, Visa should be your card of choice, if you bring any other card, it can take some time to locate a compatible ATM. For a cash advance from a bank teller, both Visa and Mastercard will be acceptable, although this process can incur some hefty additional fees from the card issuer.

The Steppes and Smaller Towns

Out on the steppes and amongst the smaller towns, there is no scope for the use of credit cards or foreign currencies; local cash is the way to go. Bring along Togriks in small denominations, under 10,000T as a general guide.

It's strictly a cash economy and most people have never seen any other currency than their own. Advice: bring smaller denomination bills (10,000T and smaller) to the countryside. There are no ATMs and they definitely don't take dollars.

Budgeting for Mongolia

There follow some very rough estimates of what you might expect to pay for goods and services in Mongolia. Obviously prices and exchange rates change dramatically over time, but these shouldn’t be too far wrong for 2009-2010. If you see something that needs updating, feel free to contact us and make us aware. It’ll be appreciated.

Transport:
	Taxi	T400/km ($0.3/km)
	Airport transfer	T7,000 ($5). Foreigners are often charged in excess of T15,000 ($11). Most hotels, guesthouses and hostels offer very reasonable, (or free), pickup services. These are well recommended.
	Bus	Fixed charge of T400 ($0.3)
	Trolleybus	Fixed charge of T300 ($0.25) for travel within UB.
	Micro-bus	Fixed charge of T300-500 ($0.25-$0.4)
Sightseeing:
	Entrance	T2000-5000 ($1.5-$3.5)
	Camera Charge	An additional charge of T5,000-10,000 ($3.5 - $7)
Food:
	Budget	T2,500-6500 ($2-5)
	Mid-range	T6500-13500 ($5-10)
	Top-notch	T13500+ ($10+)
Drink:
	Beer	T3500-6500($2.5)
	100ml Vodka	T4500 ($3.5)
Accommodation:
	Hostels	T6500-13500 ($5-10/night) (Dorm or Single). T20,000-27,000 ($15-20/night) (Double)
	Budget Hotel	T27,000-67,000 ($20-50/night)
	Mid-range	T67,000-135,000 ($50-100/night)
	Top-notch	T135,000+ ($100+/night)

Time zone

Arguments rage on, about the number of time zones to be found in Mongolia, according to international timelines there should be three zones. Frequent changes have led to much confusion, with the introduction of daylight saving time and its abolition shortly after in February 2007. It would seem of late, central and eastern Mongolia are operating on GMT +8hrs whilst western Mongolia, (Bayan Ulgii, Uvs, and Khovd aimags) operate on GMT +7hrs. The answer is simple; Mongolians tend to rise at dawn so that’s easy, if you travel to remote areas of western or eastern Mongolia check with your tour operator or host, they will likely operate on Ulaanbaatar time regardless.

Telephones

Landlines are impractical outside Ulaanbaatar; consequently most Mongolians rely on the mobile network. This is being expanded to encompass most major towns throughout the country. If you do find that you need to use a landline the country code for Mongolia is 976 with an area code of 11 for Ulaanbaatar. The statistics sum the situation up nicely; by the end of 2009 there were 1,850,000 mobile telephone users in Mongolia, compared to 404,400 landlines.

In Mongolia mobile phones operate on GSM 900, 1800 and CDMA 450, 800, 1800, 1900. Armed with this information you can check your handset for compatibility with the system. There are four main operators Mobicom (recommended), Skytel, Unitel, and G-mobile. Tariff and coverage information is available on the respective websites, however at present there is no English language option to be found on the G-mobile or Skytel websites.

Simcards are readily available, come with a whole bundle of minutes and are, quite frankly, ridiculously cheap. Mobicom are widely attributed as having the best coverage in Mongolia. They allow calls from some pretty remote locations, however, they are slightly more expensive than Unitel. The cost of calls with Mobitel is, in the region of, 70 MNT per minute to the same network, and 100MNT to other networks. Mobitel is by far the most popular mobile service provider in Mongolia.

A Few Useful Telephone Numbers:

Fire: 101
Police: 102
Ambulance: 103
Central railway station (enquiries): 194
International telephone enquiries (English): 106116

Email and Internet

Internet cafes are widely available in Ulaanbaatar, the cost for an hour is usually in the region of T1000. Larger hotels also tend to provide internet access. At the time of writing, most hostels and many small businesses are catching on, allowing free Wifi internet access to customers.

With the implementation of 3G mobile communications, mobile internet is now also available in Ulaanbaatar and most large towns.

Postal Services

The Central Post Office ('tuv shuudan') in Ulaanbaatar is fairly reliable but extremely slow. It is conveniently located, just off Sukhbaatar Square. In addition to normal and express mail services, there is a tourist information centre, providing information about public services and tour operators.

A regular sized letter will cost in the region of T600 to post while postcards are T400. Postal services are extremely slow and may take several weeks to arrive at a destination within Mongolia.

Express mail services such as DHL, UPS and EMS are also available from Ulaanbaatar.

Media

English Newspapers

UB Post: The only independent English newspaper in Mongolia.
Mongol Messenger: English language newspaper, by the state press agency Montsame.

Television Stations

There are four television stations in Mongolia. These are UBS, Mongol TV, Channel 25 and Eagle. Eagle provides some television programming in English. With the advent of satellite and cable television many Mongolians now have access to cable television, allowing access to BBC World, CNN and many other international media channels.

Radio Stations

The BBC World service has an FM transmitter that broadcast on the frequency 103.1 in Ulaanbaatar. A few other international radio stations can be picked up on shortwave. Notable Mongolian stations are Mongolian Radio, Radio Ulan Bator and Inforadio 105.5.

Mongolia: Accommodation.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Mongolia can range from incredibly cheap hostels, right through to expensive luxury hotels. A rough estimate of pricing is given below.

Hostels:	Dorm or Single	T6500-13500 ($5-10/night)
	Double	T20,000-27,000 ($15-20/night)

Budget Hotel:		T27,000-67,000 ($20-50/night)

Mid-range:		T67,000-135,000 ($50-100/night)

Top-notch:		T135,000+ ($100+/night)

Electricity

Mongolian electricity is supplied at 220 volts, 50 Hz. A type C travel adaptor or plug, (2 round pins), will be required. Fluctuations in the electricity supply are not unknown, so a surge protector is recommended to protect expensive equipment.

Mongolia: Food and Drink.

You don’t hear many recommendations for Mongolian food. However, during the summer, fresh fruit, meat, bread, pasta, rice and dairy products are all widely available in Ulaanbaatar. This grand selection of goods, gets more limited the further you travel from the capital. In these outlying areas meat is readily available but vegetables can be much harder to come by.

Ulaanbaatar

A great range of western style restaurants reside in Ulaanbaatar, offering reasonably priced meals. By far, the most widely available food is of Chinese origin, adapted of course, to accommodate the Central Asian palate. Having said that, you won’t be hard pressed to find American, Indian, Japanese, Italian and even Mexican restaurants scattered about the city. Before setting off into the countryside for any length of time, it is a good idea to gorge, and make the most of the food available in Mongolia’s capital city. It is also a good idea to stock up on some snacks to tide you over, until you return to the city. The quantities of these snacks should correlate inversely to your tolerance for adventurous food. Read on...

Outside Ulaanbaatar (aka ‘Traditional Mongolian Food’ or ‘What You’ll be Eating in the Countryside’)

Aaruul:

A Mongolian cheese made from airag, aaruul may consist of sheep, goat, mare, or camel milk, that has been boiled and then curdled. This enticing concoction is combined with sugar and berries, to produce the distinctive flavour of the end product. Traditionally aaruul is cut into strips and sun dried on the roofs of Mongolian gers. After this process aaruul may be kept for a long while without spoiling.

Airag:

The traditional drink of Mongolian people, airag could go head to head with Coca Cola for the top spot in Mongolia. It is quite simply fermented horse milk. Producing airag is a labour of love for the Mongolian nomads, mares must be milked six times a day to produce just 2 litres of milk. This means, to maintain a constant supply that will accommodate family and guests, at least twelve female horses must be kept and milked. Despite the hardships involved, Mongolian nomads produce Airag throughout the summer months.

To produce the airag, mares milk is sieved through a cloth and decanted into a cowhide bag known locally as a khukhuur. The milk is left to ferment, thereby lowering the lactose content and allowing the, previously intolerable milk, to be digested by the human body.

According to tradition, airag must be stirred at least 1000 times a day, thereby incorporating oxygen into the fermentation process and ensuring airag of exceptional qualiy is produced. To make this process more convenient, the khukhuur is usually hung by the entrance to the ger, and all guests are encouraged to take part in the task when entering or leaving the ger.

Airag has an acidic, sour taste often compared to sour buttermilk. Typically it is found to be in the region of 8% proof, although airag can be left to ferment to strengths of 14%. The stronger the alcohol content the sourer the airag, so a balancing act is called for.

Mongolian hospitality dictates that each guest should be offered a bowl of airag upon their arrival, it is ok to take a sip and return the bowl, but refusal to drink may be a cause of great offense.

Airag can be distilled to form a stronger beverage known as arkhi, this is best described as Mongolian milk vodka.

Boodog:

A traditional Mongolian meat dish, Boodog is usually made with a young goat or marmot. The carcass is beheaded, gutted and filled with hot stones, salt, water, and spices.

The carcass is sealed well and after 2 – 2 1/2 hours it has cooked from the inside creating a tasty stew. As the skin is left on, the meat needs to be simultaneously heated from the outside, to remove the hair and roast the meat. This process must be well regulated, or else the resulting pressure difference can lead to an explosion of heated rocks and goat / marmot carcass.

Traditionally, after the meal has been cooked, the greasy hot stones are passed to guests who roll them in their hands for warmth and comfort. The dish is then served hot.

Borts Dried Meat:

In the harsh conditions of the Mongolian plain, nomads discovered a method of preserving meat. This process, known as bortsloh, allowed them to survive during the inhospitable winter months. Think traditional home-made stock cubes and you’re on the right track. Here are the instructions, for those foolhardy enough, to hang out meat at home. Firstly, the meat needs to be cut into long thin strips and suspended from the ceiling of your ger, here the air circulates freely and aids the drying process. After about a month all moisture content should be gone from the meat, it will have shrunk considerably into a hard, shrivelled stick of wooden appearance. In a breathable canvas bag the meat can last for many months, and sometimes many years.

To prepare yourself a hearty dish with your borts, the dried meat must be ground to a fine powder. This can be easily carried on long journeys, added to a suitable mug, and with the addition of some boiling water, turned into a tasty camel soup.

Khorkhog:

Pronounced ‘horhog’, this hearty Mongolian stew, is very similar in nature to Boodog. One major difference is the cooking vessel. Khorkhog is cooked in a metal container (often a sturdy metal milk jug), whereas boodog is prepared and cooked within the animal carcass. For this reason, Khorkhog may be more appealling to squeamish guests. The traditional recipe can also be adjusted for western tastes with the addition of onions, vegetables, garlic and spices.

Smooth river rocks, the size of an adult fist, are gathered and placed into a campfire. Left here for about an hour, they retain a significant amount of heat, which can be used to slowly cook our dinner. Whilst the stones are heated, our chef prepares the lamb or goats meat, chopping it into manageable chunks for his guests. It is usual for the meat to be cooked on the bone, because marrow contributes flavour and nutrition to the finished dish.

With the rocks having attained the correct temperature, the chef is now good to go. Rocks, meat and vegetables are added to the milk jug in layers, ensuring even distribution of heat throughout. The container is topped up with water, sealed and left to steam slowly for two hours. Where necessary the sturdy metal container may also be placed on the campfire, as a source of additional heat.

Khorkhog is eaten with the fingers, although a knife may be used to cut meat from bone. The rocks, now warm, black and greasy are handed to guests to rub between their hands.

Mongolian tea:

As an Englishman abroad, I’m glad to see that one of Mongolia’s most revered drinks is tea with milk. There are three colours typically served with each of the three main meals, black (red tea in China and the west), yellow (jasmine) and blue (brick tea). Brick tea, is the most popular as it is compressed into blocks, hence the name, making it easy to store and transport. The majority of tea in Mongolia is imported from India, although the flowers, leaves and stems of Mongolian plants are sometimes used to make tasty local infusions. Tea with milk is served to guests and is the drink of choice when Mongolians get thirsty. Milk is obtained from a families cows, camels or sheep, and boiled fervently to prevent disease. As a word of warning some Mongolians, enjoy tea with an extra little something, this usually comes in the form of salt.

Water:

Travellers to Mongolia should drink bottled water, even in the capital city. Before setting off into the countryside, it will be necessary to stock up on supplies of bottled water. Mineral water is readily available in the capital and many of the main Mongolian aimag towns.