On Site: Visa, Money & Communication

Visa

Germans, Austrians, and Swiss do not need a visa for stays up to 30 days. A passport is required, valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of the trip. Entry at Chinggis Khaan Airport is straightforward — stamp in, done.

For longer stays: Apply for a visa at the Mongolian Embassy in Berlin (approx. 60€, 60–90 days). Extension possible on-site at the Immigration Agency in UB (but bureaucratic).

Money & Currency

Tugrik (MNT) is the national currency. Exchange rate (reference 2025): 1 EUR ≈ 3,800 MNT / 1 USD ≈ 3,500 MNT.

• ATMs: Available everywhere in Ulaanbaatar (Khan Bank, Golomt Bank, Trade & Development Bank). Visa and Mastercard accepted. Outside of UB: ATMs only in provincial capitals (Mörön, Ölgii, Dalanzadgad).
• Credit cards: Accepted in upscale hotels and restaurants in UB. In the countryside: CASH ONLY!
• In the steppe: Withdraw enough Tugrik in UB to finance the entire tour! On a 7-day Gobi tour, there are ZERO opportunities to withdraw money.
• US dollars: Accepted in UB and useful as an emergency reserve. Bring current, clean bills.

SIM Card & Internet

• Providers: Mobicom (best network), Unitel, Skytel. Buy SIM cards at the airport or in UB shops.
• Price: 5,000–10,000 MNT (1.30–2.60€) for a SIM with 5–10 GB data volume.
• Network coverage: 4G in Ulaanbaatar and provincial capitals. In the steppe, the Gobi, and the mountains: NO signal! On a 10-day tour, you are completely offline. Enjoy the digital disconnection — it's part of the Mongolia experience.

Important Mongolian Words

English is increasingly spoken by the younger generation in UB, but in the countryside: hardly any English. A Mongolian-speaking guide is indispensable on a tour — not just as a translator, but also as a cultural mediator.

Mongolia requires a well-thought-out packing list. The conditions are extreme — from blazing sun to freezing cold to hours of dust in the jeep. Here's the most important:

Clothing (Layering Principle!)

• Warm sleeping bag (comfort range 0°C to −5°C): Ger camps have blankets, but your own sleeping bag is worth its weight in gold. It gets quite cold at night, even in summer.
• Fleece jacket + light down jacket: For the cold mornings and evenings.
• Rain jacket: Light and packable. Afternoon thunderstorms come quickly.
• Sun hat + sunglasses: The UV radiation at 1,500 m altitude is intense.
• Buff/scarf: Against dust in the jeep — your best friend on gravel roads.
• Sturdy hiking boots: For canyons, dunes, and uneven terrain.

Equipment

• Headlamp: There is no light in the steppe. Going to the outhouse at night without a lamp: impossible.
• Sunscreen (SPF 50+): Mandatory! The dry high-altitude air and strong sun burn the skin quickly.
• Toilet paper: There are no toilets in the steppe. Pack enough and a small shovel.
• Water bottles (reusable): 2–3 liters capacity. Your guide will refill them, but you need the bottles yourself.
• Earplugs + pillow: For ger camps (other guests, wind) and the jeep.
• Power bank: Sockets are only available in UB and some ger camps.

Gifts for Nomadic Families

• Sweets, colored pencils, and small toys for children
• Tea (loose black tea), flour, and rice for adults
• Snuff for older men (a traditional gesture)
• No money — it changes the dynamics of hospitality