HATS 

Bring something light with a brim for sunny days, and a warm beanie that will cover your ears for colder days.

GLOVES  

Bring one medium weight fleece or wool pair.

Biking GLOVES  (optional)

Since we’ll be our in the desert sun, bringing a pair of biking gloves will provide you protection from blisters and from the sun. We love it when a piece of gear does double duty!

3-4 MOISTURE WICKING TOPS

Bring a few lightweight tops, so you can layer and re-wear them. Pack a mixture of tanks, short, and long sleeve options. For colder days, you will want long sleeved insulated shirts to wear under your fleece and down. Make sure one of these shirts is a sun shirt with UPF protection to wear in the Gobi desert. Pro Tip: Look for wool and/or synthetic garments that, unlike cotton, wick away moisture. We love KORA for these!

2-3 MEDIUM LAYERS  

These will provide insulation, and include, but are not limited to, fleeces, down jackets, and vests that you can easily stuff in your daypack and layer on and off as your temperature and the conditions change (which they will)! Mongolia can be very hot in the summer months, however trekking in the mountains can quickly turn cold and wet if a front moves down from Siberia.   

WATERPROOF OUTER LAYER JACKET

A breathable, waterproof and windproof jacket with a hood that you can wear comfortably over all your layers. We love this one from Outdoor Research!

1 PAIR OF HIKING BOOTS 

The most important thing you’ll bring! Make sure they are Gore-Tex, have ankle support, and that you’ve broken them in nice and good. Brands we love: LOWA, Salomon, Vasque, Asolo.

1 PAIR OF CAMP SHOES 

Comfy, easy-to-slip-on shoes or sandals are great to have for camp and the bus. We love our Crocs for this - they’re lightweight and durable

1-2 PAIRS HIKING bottoms

Choose hiking pants or leggings made from strong and light materials that dry quickly - and preferably that are wind and water resistant. For days (and nights) in the mountains, you will want thicker hiking pants or leggings to layer on as it gets colder. Check out these fleece tights from The North Face for when we’re in the west (and our Move Mountains ones too)!

1-2 PAIRS of shorts

In the Gobi it gets HOT, so you’ll want a couple pairs of shorts. Make sure they’re comfortable and quick drying.

Padded bike shorts (optional)

When biking longer distances some people prefer wearing a pair of padded bike shorts. These are optional but can help provide some extra comfort on days when we go biking.

WIND + WATERPROOF PANT

A non-insulated, outer layer pant is a MUST-HAVE to layer on over your base layers when it’s rainy or windy in the mountains. REI makes an affordable and high quality pair.

You can get four seasons in one day, so be prepared for it all! In June, the Gobi temperature range is between 6-30 °C or 43-86 °F. In western Mongolia, it’s between 12-32 °C or 54-90°F. For warm days bring loose-fitting, lightweight materials, and for colder days (or if you feel the cold) bring thermal layers, fleece tops, jackets for layering. Dark colors are usually better at hiding dirt, but in the Gobi it can get hot, so lighter colors may be preferable.

There will be opportunities to hand wash clothes, just ask your trip assistant, however, drying can take a while depending on the weather.

There are no specific dress codes, and Mongolian women dress in contemporary style fashions. Mongolians are open and modern in their approach to clothing and are mostly very well-dressed. You do not typically have to cover up within religious buildings although in western Mongolia, the Kazakhs are slightly more conservative in their dress code.

Medical facilities in Mongolia are basic. There are a couple of private international standard hospitals in Ulaanbaatar – but their facilities are expensive. We assume you are in good health and have a sufficient level of fitness to complete the Mongolia Adventure, and that it’s very important that any illness, disability or medical condition, has been brought to our attention well before the trip. If you are taking medication, please bring your own adequate supply, as you will probably not be able to obtain suitable medication en-route.  Each vehicle and trip leader has a basic first aid kit but you should also bring your own medical supply for personal use. 

Sanitary products and bags are available in UB, but will be more difficult to find in rural areas. Sanitary disposal is limited, and we ask that you wrap them and bring them with you and place them in the main rubbish bin in the vehicle. Please do not bury any sanitary items. NOTE: Mongolian women deal with their menstruation privately, rarely discussing it with each other. However, all our trip assistants are women and are happy to provide advice or support if you require it. Do not hesitate to ask them or if you need information.

It is always difficult to suggest a suitable amount of spending money to bring with you as everyone is different. Most things are covered, and there is very little to pay for out of pocket during your trip, but, to be safe, we’d say an extra 300 USD should easily cover you (probably less if don’t plan on purchasing many souvenirs or drinking much alcohol). It’s always better to try to bring more money than you think you need in case of emergencies, and we suggest bringing your debit or credit card so that if you do miss-calculate you can access extra funds through an ATM. 

The local currency in Mongolia is Tögrög/Tugrik. A rough guide to exchange rates:
One US Dollar ($) = 2000-2400 Tugrik
One GBP (£) = 2800-3300 Tugrik
One Euro (E) = 1900-2400 Tugrik 

It’s not possible to obtain outside of Mongolia. USD, GBP, Euro, Yuan, Yen, and other major international currencies (particularly Asian ones), are all fine to bring to exchange in Ulaanbaatar. There are ATM and exchange facilities at the airport in UB, but rates for exchange are better in the city (there are good currency exchanges close to the Ard Kino Square in UB). When traveling in the countryside you must have Mongolian currency. Try to have small notes (such as 100, 500, and 1000 Tugrik notes). US Dollars are the best foreign currency to travel with outside of Ulaanbaatar as this is the easiest currency to exchange in the small banks in the countryside (ATM’s are available in some small towns in the countryside but do not always work).

NOTE: Your foreign currency bills must be as new as possible (2009 or newer where possible) and clean and crisp – most currency exchanges and banks will not accept old, torn or faded bank notes! Remember to inform your bank that you are traveling in Mongolia and when, so that you avoid any security blocks placed on your account. 

WHOA will proved tips for the local Eternal Landscapes crew at the end of the tour on behalf of our group. Each member of the local team receives a responsible and fair salary and none have to rely on receiving tips to supplement their income. In addition, everyone who works with EL or helps us, is fairly rewarded for their work and the service they provide, so you will not need to tip the rural families you meet or stay with. If you wish to tip additionally it will be appreciated, but not expected.

Tipping is quite a new concept in Mongolia but when you’re in UB, you may like to keep some small change at hand for it if you receive good service in a restaurant or in the hotel. In this circumstance, you may like to leave a small amount as a thank you (up to 10% is fine).

Locals will not expect anything in return for their hospitality. However, it is perfectly appropriate to offer gifts as a small token of your appreciation! Gifts that are appreciated by rural families include both small tokens of friendship and also practical presents. Families in the remote areas of Mongolia rarely have stores nearby, are often on a tight budget, and they appreciate useful gifts. It is not necessary to bring large quantities - just a few items. You can also purchase items in UB. Another idea is to bring gifts that help to break the ice....which you can then give to the families when you leave. Here are some ideas:

Ice Breakers: UNO, pack of cards, Twister, Jigsaws, Snakes and Ladders.

Children: frisbees, coloring books, yo-yos, notebooks, pick-up sticks

Men: Small pocket knives/multi-tools, handkerchiefs, wooly hats or socks, small torches (battery or wind-up), standard prescription reading glasses

Women: Small mirror, sewing kits (scissors, sewing thread, needles), perfume samples (in bottles), headscarves/scarves or moisturizer, standard prescription reading glasses

You may also like to bring a couple of mementos from home – great for starting conversations with Mongolian families! Items can include photos or postcards from where you live, such as photos of your family, your city or the countryside. Another good idea is videos on your cameras. Gifts to show and then to give could include decorated tea towels, coasters or key rings. NOTE: Please do not bring sweets (the dental service in Mongolia is very limited) or give vodka, for obvious reasons!,

Ulaannbatar is covered by a 3G/4G network and some of the provincial towns do have 3G coverage. It’s possible to buy a Sim card cheaply in UB (if you need to connect to the net frequently then you can buy data as well). However, as Mongolia still has a reputation for being off-the-beaten-track and remote (which it is - just with 3G) it provides a perfect excuse to have some digital detox and tell your boss that you will be unreachable during your trip!