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MONGOLIACapital: Ulaanbaatar Language: Khalkha Mongol, Turkic, Russian

Population: 2.8 Million Time Zone: EST plus 12 hours

Currency: Togrog/Tugik (MNT) Electricity: 220V/20Hz

Fun Facts● Mongolia is more than twice the size of Texas● Mongolian cashmere is known as some of the best in the world● Sheep outnumber people, 35 to one

Exploring the terrain of Mongolia, situated between southern Russia and China, is a surprising experience– to be amongst a civilization that is still so engaged in its nomadic roots is to step outside of the 21stcentury. Between the populous capital city of Ulaanbaatar and the vast variations of the barren Gobi Desert,Mongolia offers up a chance to sink into one of the most intriguing cultures you may ever encounter. Thoughgreatly influenced by threatening Russian and Chinese rule all throughout its history, Mongolia has retainedits independence and natives wear this with pride.

UlaanbaatarUlaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, is the driving force of the country and its industrial, cultural, and financialheart. It is home to over a million residents and vastly scattered with historical and national landmarks. TheNatural and National History Museums feature exhibits of the unique land, agriculture, and the history of theMongolian people. A visit to the Bogd Khan Winter Palace and the Gandan Monastery are an interestingchange of pace amidst the modern architecture of the city center. The monastery still houses more than 150monks and is the most important Buddhist monastery in the country.

Gobi DesertStep out of the city and into a land known as the Serengeti of Asia; the Gobi desert is pure uninhibited terrainof glaciers, endangered animal species, unique flora and fauna, countless dinosaur fossils well preserved,and a civilization of people unlike any you would find in the world – able to brave fierce winters, live entirely offthe land, and depend on nothing but each other and their trusted nomadic animals to survive. These desertdwellers are fascinating people and welcoming to visitors – more than happy to share in their special customsand deeply-rooted ancestry.

Get ready for a wild expedition and head into Eagle Valley National Park, where purely stunning mountainscenery and the impressive Gobi Glacier are found. The Gobi supports endangered species like themagnificent snow leopard and the Bactrian camel, as well as over 300 varieties of flora and fauna – this isa boundless expanse of wild where pin-drop quiet nature overtakes you. After seeing the glacial mountains,the sand dunes of the Gobi desert will lead you into Bayan Zag, where the Cemetery of Dinosaurs holds theworld’s best-preserved dinosaur skeletons. The tented camps or “gers” as they are called locally give youthe chance to experience the traditional housing of the Gobi plains in comfort and with hospitable attention.

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Feel a part of nature and history in this magnificent country that blends modern city life, as you’ll find inUlaanbaatar, and the ancient nomadic influence of the great Gobi desert, a truly unique experience in themidst of the clamor and commotion of the 21st century.

VISAS AND PASSPORTS

A visa for your visit to Mongolia is not necessary for U.S. Citizens. If you hold a passport from anothercountry, check with your local consulate about requirements for travel to Mongolia.

All passengers traveling internationally are required to have a passport. Please carry proper identification(your passport) on you and do not leave in your suitcase or hotel room. Most countries have laws that requireyou to carry your passport with you at all times.

COUNTRY CODES

The country code for Mongolia is 976. When calling to Mongolia from overseas, dial your internationalaccess code (011 from the U.S./Canada) followed by the country code, area code, and phone number.Phone numbers in Mongolia are 6-10 digits in length. Dialing from the U.S./Canada: 011 976#### ####.

CURRENCY

The official currency of Mongolia is the Mongolian Togrog/Tugik (MNT).

1 Mongolian Tughrik = 100 möngö

● Banknote denominations: 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000, 20000● Coin denominations: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500

For initial convenience we recommend you bring some local currency with you from home in case you arenot able to immediately access a money exchange or ATM.

For the most current exchange rates, please go to our Web site at www.globusfamily.com/currency.

Credit cards are accepted in Ulaanbaatar, though not widely popular outside of hotels. Visa and MasterCardare most accepted.

Smaller shops most likely will ask you to pay in cash or have a minimum amount required to use a credit card.

BUDGETING AND SHOPPING

The following budget guidelines are just approximate values or starting values for meals and are per person.Actual prices will vary widely by restaurant and city within a country but below are some averages asprovided by our experienced personnel.

The approximate cost of a soft drink/mineral water/coffee is 1,000-3,000 MNT.

An average lunch consisting of a salad or sandwich and a soda or water starts at approximately 5,000-10,000MNT.

A steak dinner at a mid-range restaurant with dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage starts at approximately25,000-35,000 MNT.

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ShoppingPlease be warned that if you buy items on tour to be shipped to your home, customs import charges arehardly ever included in the price. Sales tax or GST (Goods & Services Tax) is normally already included onprice tags; GST refunds, if applicable, are processed at the departing airport from the relevant country.

TIPPING

It is customary to tip table staff at local restaurants the equivalent of 10% of your bill. A service charge mayalready be added to the bill, but it likely won’t be passed along to the wait staff.

For a taxi, pre-negotiate the price before getting in and then round up the fare as tip.

Tipping hotel staff for bar or room service is at your discretion but if you choose to we recommend 1,000MNT at the most.

ELECTRICAL OUTLETS

Voltage for outlets is 220V. North American voltage is generally 110V. Therefore, a converter may benecessary for your travels. Adapters will be necessary to adapt your plug into the outlet but may not convertthe voltage, so both devices are necessary.

Mongolia uses a round, 2-prong plug that looks like:

Type C Type F

TEMPERATURES

To help you plan, below are average low and high temperatures for Ulaanbaatar.

Janurary

February

March

April

May

June July

August

Septem

ber

October

Novem

ber

Decem

ber

-13/34°F 10/37°F 37/59°F 53/71°F 38/58°F 46/23°F-8/12°F 23/44°F 48/68°F 50/68°F 23/43°F -8/7°F

To convert to Celsius, subtract 32, then multiply by 5 and then divide by 9.

FOOD SPECIALTIES

With its position between China and Russia, Mongolia has adopted the influences of both countries. Dueto the climate, a lot of cuisine features dairy products, meats, and game. Nomadic people consume a greatdeal of animal fat in order to withstand the cold conditions. In the city you may find a lot of cooked mutton,buuz (dumplings), fresh noodles, and stews. Milk is a vital and prevalent resource so it is frequently used.Russian vodka has also become a recently favored libation.

Last Updated 3/27/15

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Drinking WaterTap water is generally not safe to drink throughout Asia. For sightseeing and excursions, we recommendyou purchase bottled water to bring with you. Bottled water is also common in restaurants.

CUSTOMS AND CULTURE

● When giving or receiving something, use both hands or the right hand.● Never take food from a plate with your left hand.● Hold a cup by the bottom, not by the top rim.● When sitting in a ger, don’t put your feet in front of you or let them point in the direction of the altar/

northern area. Tuck them under when on a stool or chair or kneel. Women should not sit cross-legged.

● Because fire is considered sacred, please do not stamp out a fire or put water or any trash on it.● Smoking is common in Asia so locals tend to be less sensitive to issues regarding smoking around

others and often ignore “non-smoking” signs.

A FEW WORDS OF THE LOCAL LANGUAGE

Mongolian:Good morning/day: Ugluunii mend, Good evening: Oroin mend, Hi: Sain uu, Thank you: Bayarlalaa,You're welcome: Zugeer, Yes: Tiimee, No: Ugui, Do you speak English? Ta Angliar yaridag uu?, I don'tunderstand: Bi oilgohgui baina, How much? Yamar unetei ve?, 1: Neg, 2: Hoyor, 3: Gurav, 4: Duruv,5:Tav, 6:Zurgaa, 7:Doloo, 8: Naim, 9: Yus, 10: Arav, Where is...? Haana baidag ve?, Telephone: Utas,WC: Jorlon, Tea: Tsai, Coffee: Kofe, Bottled water: Tsever us, Cheers! Togtooyo!, Have a nice day! Sainsaihniig huseye!