Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chris_J2]

I flew to Beijing from Seoul, then took a train to UB across the Gobi Desert. (About $100 USD for a 4 berth soft sleeper & it took 30 hours). Miat (Mongolian Airlines) also fly Beijing & Seoul to UB. A o/w ticket Seoul to Beijing with Air China was around $300 USD. I flew back to Seoul from Vladivostok on August 1st. (Vladavia).

Try to time a visit to Mongolia to include Nadaam 11-13 July 2008. I missed Nadaam as my train to Irkutsk in Siberia departed on the 10th July 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naadam

Don't miss Lake Hovsgol, the Gobi, & Terelj. I paid $123 USD each, for two 6 day tours, & got a discount to $200 with OTAM. (Open Tour Around Mongolia.) A local bus to Terelj was $1 each way, & departs in Peace St at 11 am & 4 pm, returning from Terelj at 8am.

[aoster48]

I'm planning on going to Mongolia in the last week of July? Any suggestions? If I want to do some trekking should I book with companies when I get there or from Korea?

Also there is a nine day organized trip from Korea available for 1700 US dollars. Will going there on my own be a lot cheaper?

[chris_J2]

OTAM offer 6 day trips for $123 US. Much cheaper to book tours when you get there. I've read you now need an invitation letter, from a guesthouse or Mongolian travel agent, similar to Russia.

[aoster48]

What do you mean about an invitation from a travel agent? That's news to me. How do I arrange something like that?

[chris_J2]

http://mongolembassychina.org/upload/en/Visa_Requirements.pdf

From Lonely Planet:

"fullmylenejacket - Yes, you need an invitation letter from a travel agency or confirmation of accommodations from a guesthouse. The Mongolian government doesn't want travelers arriving without some plans and a place to stay." (everbrite)

Try emailing a guesthouse in UB. Or OTAM (Open Tour Around Mongolia Eco Tours). They have/had a website.

http://www.otamecotours.com/web/

[Stormy]

chris, how did you find Mongolia cost-wise? Cheaper than Korea or Aus, about the same? I want to head that way when my time here is up but know next to nothing about the place except it sounds exotic!

[chris_J2]

Much cheaper than Korea or Australia. About $11 US a night at Zaya's Guesthouse in UB. A public bus from UB to Terelj NP (60 km) was $1 US! The train from Beijing was around $100 US, & took 30 hrs. But you'd want to head to Mongolia before winter sets in. It's 20c colder than Korea.

[aoster48]

The OATME Tours, the website you mentioned says that Americans can get visas upon arrival in Mongolia, is that true?

[chris_J2]

Americans are visa exempt, & get 90 days gratis, on arrival in Mongolia.

[travel zen]

How did you find the train ride from Beijing to UB ? I took tons of trains inside China and it wasn't very pleasant.

Flying in from Seoul to UB sounds better and faster (4 hours)

Nice pics everyone! I'm planning a 3 month 'tour' of Mongolia in 2009. Darhan city feaures prominently.

[Tiger Beer]

[chris_J2]

The train from Beijing to UB was fine. I shared a 4 berth sleeper compartment with 3 other foreigners. It goes through the border checkpoint around midnight. There's plenty of fresh fruit, bottled drinks chocolate, icecream, sweets, etc for sale there. Took about an hour to go through customs. The train goes through part of the Gobi desert in east Mongolia during the day, & arrives in UB in the afternoon, before sundown.

A very good first impression of the vastness of Mongolia. You won't get the same favourable first impression, in decrepit Ulan Bator, if you fly direct from Seoul -> UB.

There are a fleet of touts from guesthouses around UB waiting at the train station with minibusses & vans. eg:

"UB Guesthouse A clean, well-organized and centrally located hotel that also arranges tours around the country. E-mail ahead for a free pickup from the train station. Dorms beds, $5; Single room, $10; Double room, $14. A light breakfast, tea and coffee are included."

I stayed in UB GH, for a day or 2, but found it too crowded. It's run by a Korean, & you have to take your shoes off, every time you enter.

I liked Zaya Guesthouse, Tserendorj Street Bld 63, App 10,11,12. Tel:+976 11 331-575. E-mail: [email protected] Budget accommodation in convenient location. Also arranges tours.

Same deal with the shoes at Zayas.

Tiger Beer: Check this website for visa exemptions:

http://mongolembassychina.org/upload/en/Visa_Requirements.pdf

[Tiger Beer]

[Kuros]

I went to Mongolia during the worst possible time: May, 2007. This was their driest dry season in their living memory. It was still awesome.

[chris_J2]

Nah, the worst possible time is winter, when its -40c