To you, who dream of climbing the sand dunes of the Gobi. To go horseback riding in meadows covered with tussocks of grass as far as the eye can see. To observe herds of yaks or wild horses grazing in the middle of the valleys. To be welcomed by strangers who smile at you as if you were old friends. To sleep in yurts in the middle of nowhere, or under the stars, under a bright and shining Milky Way. To sink into an almost virgin nature. To contemplate immensities that stretch to the horizon. To you, who dream of Mongolia. The country is open and waiting for you!
A destination in full expansion
Dreamers, adventurers, photographers, sportsmen, contemplators and horse lovers rejoice: Mongolia, an Asian state landlocked between China and Russia, intends to attract travelers in search of a change of scenery and amazement. In order to promote the country as a tourist destination again after the stoppage imposed by the Covid-19 crisis, the government has proclaimed the years 2023 and 2024 as "years to visit Mongolia". For the occasion, the slogan "Welcome to Mongolia" is univocal: you are expected, from this year, to discover this unusual country where ancestral traditions and a culture of nomadism still live. In 2024, the Mongolian authorities aim to welcome one million travelers!
To support this strategy - the first in the history of the country to be implemented in the tourism industry - all ministries are mobilized. It must be said that Mongolia has suffered greatly from the global pandemic because of its landlocked position between China and Russia. If it knew, before the events of 2020, a certain tourist craze, the crisis hit it hard and deprived it of an important resource with its successive confinements. In February 2022, the country was able to reopen its borders and recorded 70,000 visitors in less than six months. The Mongolian authorities are now trying to give a new impetus and push foreigners to come and discover their country. Large-scale construction and works, setting up of state-of-the-art infrastructures, deployment of new services... What are you waiting for?
The deployment of services to facilitate the procedures
Are you so fascinated by Mongolia that you're thinking of going there next summer? Good news! Since 2023, French travelers are exempt from visa requirements. This easing of formalities will last until 2025 and concerns 32 European countries as well as Australia and New Zealand. For any stay of less than 30 days in Mongolia, there is no more need to make any formalities. In order to facilitate even more the organization of its trip, the authorities of the country have put online a website dedicated to Mongolia and tourism. You will find all the information you need to build your stay. The site is dedicated to Mongolian culture and nomadism, and lists upcoming events and festivals as well as iconic places and sites to visit... It is ideal to find inspiration and to get a feel for what awaits you!
New infrastructures to ensure a better welcome for visitors
You have obtained your visa online and planned your trip... Your adventure can begin! Your arrival in Mongolia is now at Chinggis Khaan International Airport. Located 60 km south of the capital, it has a larger capacity than the old Buyant-Ukhaa airport. Since its opening in June 2021, it now receives travelers instead of the latter. Ulaanbaatar, the capital, remains an obligatory point of passage. It is where all routes lead, including MIAT Mongolian Airlines, the national airline. The Mongolian capital is a good introduction to the discovery of the country with its many museums dedicated to culture, history or art.
Among them, the Chinggis Khaan museum was just inaugurated in October 2022. As its name suggests, it is entirely dedicated to the Mongolian warrior who unified the tribes and launched them to the conquest of the world at the beginning of the 13th century to found the largest empire in the history of humanity. Spread over 15 rooms, the collections include more than 6,000 objects and artifacts, housed in a rectangular building recognizable by its white dome topped by a golden eagle.
While Ulaanbaatar is the most important city in the country, other cities also have museums that are worth seeing.
Dalanzadgad, located in the heart of the Gobi Desert, also celebrated the opening of a new museum in 2022. The building, heavy and imposing on the outside, actually contains an airy, almost futuristic interior, in which dinosaur skeletons and fossils are displayed, as well as paintings and religious and traditional artifacts. With over 4,000 objects and different sections on geology, Gobi history, archaeological excavations and ethnology, it is one of the largest Mongolian museums of its kind. In Karakorum, there is also a brand new calligraphy center, Erdenesiin Khurin, to discover this ancestral art and the Mongolian bishing, the traditional alphabet abandoned during the Soviet era. Nevertheless, a trip to Mongolia would not be complete without an escape from the cities, in the countryside. It is the natural sites and the omnipresent nature which constitute all the attraction of the country. Imagine yourself on horseback in the middle of the steppes or setting up your tent near a stream in a valley. Mongolia's vastness and landscapes are impressive and inspiring, but crossing them can be difficult. There are only few paved roads, Mongolia being mainly marked out by dirt or sand tracks, sometimes impassable because of the climatic conditions. If the charm of the country is above all this unpredictable character and this perfume of adventure that has each journey, new road projects are currently underway in many provinces. Major work has already been undertaken in recent years, and new roads are being built to make some remote and isolated areas more accessible. It is therefore the right time to go for a ride and take advantage of these new infrastructures.
What to see in the country? The 9 Mongolian wonders
Mongolia remains an unknown country. Beyond its steppes which extend as far as the eye can see, we find very contrasted and diversified landscapes: reliefs, valleys and canyons dug by deep rivers, high altitude lakes filled with salt water, hot springs in the shade of larch and pine forests... Without forgetting the Buddhist monasteries clinging to the mountainside and the remains of the Soviet era. Among the treasures of the country, nine wonders stand out.
1.the birthplace of Chinggis Khaan, "Deluun Boldog". In the early 13th century, the famous Chinggis Khaan unified the Mongolian tribes and led his horsemen to conquer the world, forming the largest empire in human history. From Central Asia, he and his descendants took control of China, part of Russia and reached the gates of Europe through northern India. According to The Secret History of the Mongols, the first literary work of the Mongolian culture, the great Khaan, whose real name was Temujin, was born in the Khentii province in 1162, in Dadal. The place, located at the meeting point of two rivers, is surrounded by forests. It is today frequented by Mongols who come to pay homage to Chinggis Khaan, and it is a place not to be missed to leave on the traces of history!
2.khermen Tsav. Among the natural jewels of the country, Khermen Tsav stands out as a real gem. Imagine a canyon carved in the rock in the middle of the Gobi desert, enveloped by the light of the last rays of the sun. At dusk, the site is adorned with red tones and ochre gradations that make the happiness of photographers. It is not only famous for its beauty, but also for being the place of discovery of many dinosaur fossils. It will make the happiness of the travelers in search of change of scene.
3.altai Tavan Bogd National Park. Located in the extreme west of Mongolia, the "Five Sacred Mountains of Altai" National Park is an area of high mountains and glaciers. It is home to the highest peak in the country, Mount Kuiten, which rises to 4,374 meters. It will delight the sportsmen in search of strong sensations, the amateurs of climbing, trekking and hiking in altitude, but also the history buffs, who will be able to see the petroglyphs of the Mongolian Altai, archaeological site including thousands of rock paintings and classified with the world heritage of UNESCO.
4.khongor sand dunes. With their 200 meters height, their 180 km length and their 8 km width, the Khongor sand dunes form one of the most spectacular sites of the Gobi. In the heart of the desert, the landscape surprises by the contrasts between the green vegetation of the oasis, the white and ochre tones of the dunes and the chestnut touches of the Altai Mountains which merge in the background. The most daring will not hesitate to launch out to the assault of the dunes at sunset!
5.khuvsgul Lake. The blue pearl of Mongolia has not stolen its nickname! With its transparent and pure waters, the Khuvsgul lake is indeed considered as the little sister of the Baikal lake. Located in the north of the country, at the meeting point of the Central Asian steppes and the Siberian taiga, it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful lakes in Mongolia. It attracts many visitors, in summer and winter, who come to admire the beauty of its banks, but also to meet the Tsaatan, a Turkic people of reindeer breeders.
6.the extinct volcano of Khorgo. Mongolia never ceases to surprise with its ever more spectacular landscapes. The volcano of Khorgo, which erupted more than 8,000 years ago, left behind a lava field and an impressive crater of 300 meters in diameter. Now extinct, it is possible to visit the site, protected since 1997, to observe many endangered species and explore the volcanic landscape.
7.the Turgen Mountains. Located in the far west of the country, near the town of Ulaangom, the Turgen Mountains form a perfectly preserved wilderness area at an altitude of almost 4,000 meters. The valleys, mountains and glaciers are home to rare or endangered species such as the snow leopard, ibex and argali. They are ideal for trekking, but also for horse or camel riding, mountaineering and photography. An ideal place to feel like at the end of the world.
8.lake Buir. This lake, the largest in the eastern region of Mongolia, is home to a large number of fish and bird species. It is a real paradise for birdwatchers because there are almost 200 species of migratory birds! Its fine sandy shores in summer are also the delight of local tourists who come to enjoy the warmth of its waters for swimming.
9.erdene Zuu Monastery. It is probably the most important heritage site in Mongolia. Founded in 1586 by Altai Khaan, Erdene Zuu is the first Buddhist sanctuary of the country, built on the remains of the former capital of the Mongolian empire, Kharkhorum. In 1937, it was closed and partially destroyed during the Stalinist purges and then converted into a museum in 1965. It is only in 1990 that it finds its original function of place of worship. Today it is worth the time to visit the temples and see the artifacts they contain - paintings, sculptures, engravings, Tsam masks, pottery, etc.
Events not to be missed in 2023!
Mongolians live by the rhythm of festivals that take place throughout the year. To immerse yourself in their culture and share their traditions, there is nothing like going to Mongolia during an important event. Whether it is to discover the local customs, to which the nomadic herders remain very attached, or to participate in a contemporary event, you will undoubtedly spend an unforgettable moment.
1.in March 2023. Two festivals take place in March: the Blue Pearl Ice Festival and the 10,000 Camels Festival. Very different, these two events have nothing to do with each other and show two very distinct facets of Mongolia. The first will be held from March1 to 5, in the north, in the province of Khuvsgul, to promote winter sports. The second will be held in the south of the country, in the middle of the Gobi, in the province of Omnogovi, to celebrate the camel, the emblematic animal of the desert, on March 6 and 7.
2.in June and July 2023. Summer is the time for music festivals, mostly concentrated in Ulaanbaatar. You can find a K-Pop festival on June 15 and July 2, as well as Playtime, an international music festival, from July 7 to 9. The month of July is especially marked by the country's national holiday, Naadam, which takes place in the capital on the 11th and 12th and then in the rest of the country until August. To celebrate the independence of Mongolia from China in 1924, competitions are organized, first in Ulaanbaatar and then in almost every aimag. The events include the traditional Mongolian sports, namely archery, Mongolian wrestling, horse racing and, recently, bone throwing.
3.in August 2023. In the heart of the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, the "Nomadic Mongolia" festival will take place from August 18 to 20, to highlight and promote the nomadic culture.
4.in September 2023. The festival of the golden eagle is organized in the extreme west of Mongolia, in the province of Bayan-Olgii, and will be held on September 30 and October1 , 2023. Every year it provokes the wonder of many tourists who come to attend the festivities to discover the eagle hunting, an ancestral Kazakh tradition that is passed on from father to son.
Mongolia: a culture of nomadism and breeding
Traveling in Mongolia is to experience a way of life that has disappeared from our Western societies. Nomadism and animal husbandry still exist in a country where urbanization and modernization are taking off. They have a direct impact on the way of life of the Mongols.
On the food for example. In Mongolia, one tastes mainly dishes based on fatty meat and dairy products. The country, as big as three times France, is covered on only 1% of its surface by agricultural land. The diet is adapted to the harsh climate and the nomadic lifestyle. Among the most popular dishes of the local gastronomy, you will not fail to find everywhere buuz, steamed ravioli stuffed with mutton and onion, and their fried variant, khuushuurs. Nomadic families eat a lot of soups and noodles, which form the basis of their diet. As for drinks, salted milk tea is served in all local canteens, and you can also taste all kinds of milks - camel and mare in particular, both raw and fermented - but also alcohols like beer and vodka.
The country's herds of cattle number nearly 67 million and are used not only for food, but also to make clothes and yurt covers! Cashmere and felt are typical Mongolian materials and emblematic of the country. Cashmere comes from the down that goats produce to protect themselves from the cold. Mongolia is the second largest producer of cashmere wool in the world after China. Sweaters, scarves, dresses, coats, pants ... you will find many stores that sell all types of clothing, and at prices more interesting than in Europe.
Yak and camel wools, collected according to similar processes, are also used to make nice hats and socks. Felt is another typical material of the country. Made from sheep's wool, this textile has been manufactured by nomads for generations, according to an ancestral know-how. It is used for the covering of yurts, but also for slippers and boots, because it has particularly insulating properties. Even in the capital, you will come across many Mongolians wearing deel, the traditional long coat. The folk clothes are still worn by the nomads and give the impression of being transported to another time.
Discover the cultural richness of Mongolia
Mongolia is not only a land of traditions, it also produces artists and films that are well anchored in the contemporary world. In 2022, the first Mongolian National Film Council was established by the Ministry of Culture to promote and support film production in Mongolia. With its breathtaking landscapes, Mongolia can bring any story to life and is perfect for shooting short and feature films. It is also home to a major recording studio and music label, B Production, based in Ulaanbaatar, allowing artists from around the world to come and record their sounds.
The music produced by the country contains notes of mystery that rise and fall in the endless steppes. During a trip, you will have the opportunity to hear tunes played on the morin khuur, the national instrument. This two-stringed violin, with a horse's head on the neck, was included in the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2008. Beyond the music it produces, the instrument is also an integral part of the culture and daily life of the nomads. The Mongolian band The Hu, formed in 2016 in Ulaanbaatar, uses this traditional violin in their heavy metal music, along with khöömii throat singing, to create a new genre that they themselves have dubbed "hunnu rock." On November 25, 2022, the band, on tour in Paris to promote its new album, was named "UNESCO Artist for Peace". They contribute to the transmission of the world's intangible heritage through the vibrant notes of their music, which mixes traditional Mongolian instruments and songs with heavy metal. See him in concert in Europe throughout the year 2023!
For those who want to experience the richness of Mongolian culture even more, visit the Great Mongolian National Art Theatre in Ulaanbaatar. Artists from this institution came to France in September 2022 to present an exceptional performance entitled "Legends of the Nomads" as part of the Mongolian Cultural Days. Ancient dances and songs as well as folk costumes subtly reveal the soul of the nomadic culture and the life in harmony with nature in the performances given by the troupe. While the eyes follow the spellbinding movements of the dancers, the notes of another time rise to play the tunes of the land of infinity and blue sky..
FUTURE INFO
To go there
Mongolia is landlocked between Russia and China. Since the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, it is no longer possible to reach the country by the Trans-Mongolian railroad. You will have to opt for a flight from France. You can expect to pay between 1,000 and 2,000 euros, depending on the season. In any case, remember to book in advance!
Useful
AMBASSADOR OF FRANCE IN Ulaanbaatar - More information on the site
Enkhtaivany urgun chuluu-15
Central Post OfficePost Office Box 687
Ulaanbaatar 15160, Mongolia
Phone: (+976-11) 32 45 19
- Apply for an e-visa on the website
- For more information, visit the official government website
AMBASSADOR OF MONGOLIA IN FRANCE - More information on the website
5, avenue Robert Schuman
92100 Boulogne-Billancourt
Phone : 01 46 05 28 12
