When to go
The best season to go to Mongolia is during summer, from June to September, because the temperatures are lower. It's recommended that you book with an agency, which will provide you with a guide and a driver.Entry requirements
Starting on the 1st of January 2016, all Europeans will need a visa for their trip to Mongolia. Indeed, the Mongolian government has issued a note informing that the law allowing citizens from over 40 countries to travel a month in Mongolia without a visa would not be renewed.
As a consequence, you will need to submit a visa application at the Mongolian embassy, whatever the length of your stay!
Health advise
Medical facilities in the country are pretty basic, so you'll need to take out medical insurance which covers repatriation before your stay in Mongolia. For those who suffer from allergies and asthma, be aware that the capital of Mongolia has the highest level of atmospheric pollution in the world.
Before setting off, make sure your diphtheria/tetanus/polio and MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccines are up to date. It's also recommended that you get vaccinated against typhoid fever, hepatitis A and B and TBE (tick-born encephalitis).
Don't drink the tap water there; go for bottled water. Make sure too that all your food is well cooked.
And finally, don't touch any animals you come across.
Airline tickets
The price of a return flight to Mongolia is around £700. Tourist agencies will often offer a package deal, including accommodation in a yurt or some other kind of lodging – it all depends whom you book with.Time difference
Mongolia is divided into two time zones. The Western part of the country is 7 hours ahead of GMT (6 in summer, with BST), and the rest of the country is 8 hours ahead of GMT (7 in summer, with BST). So when it's 12:00 in London, it's 19:00 in Khovd and 20:00 at Oulan Bator.Language
The official language is Mongol, but part of the population speaks Russian, and increasingly, young people speak English.Relevant contacts
The French embassy in Mongolia
3, Avenue de la Paix - Area 1 - District of Chingeltei PO Box 687
Oulan Bator
The Mongolian embassy in France
5, avenue Robert-Schuman
92100 Boulogne-Billancourt
Police: 102
Fire brigade: 101
Emergency services: 103
Phone and internet connection
The dial code for Mongolia is 00976. For local phone calls, you can make phone calls at a reasonable price from the post office or the street telephone booths. For international phone calls, you can buy a sim card in a post office.
Outside of the cities, there isn't always internet access in Mongolia, so you may have difficulties getting online.
