Whether you have little knowledge about Mongolia and/or wish to prepare your Mongolian trip in the best possible conditions, below you'll find a wealth of frequently asked questions about the land of Genghis Khan!

How long is the flight from Paris to Ulaanbaatar? The flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Mongolia's capital takes approximately 11 to 18 hours, depending mainly on the layover duration. Three airlines offer flights: Turkish Airlines, with a stopover in Istanbul; Aeroflot, with a stopover in Moscow; and more recently, Air Astana with a stopover in Astana. However, if you have more flexibility and wish to depart from another European city, three additional airlines are available: MIAT, departing from Frankfurt or Moscow; Korean Airlines, with transit through Seoul; and Air China, with a stopover in Beijing. We recommend purchasing your tickets early, as flights fill up quickly during peak summer season, particularly in July and August.

How long is the flight from China to Mongolia? Flights depart mainly from Beijing and Hong Kong, with an approximate duration of two hours.

What is the name of the desert region located in the south of the country? The Gobi Desert, part of the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park, represents 30% of the territory and is the country's largest protected area. Not to be confused with the Sahara, the Gobi offers diverse terrain—both sandy and rocky. It is home to various animal species including Mongolian gazelles, Siberian ibex, the Gobi bear, wild asses, and many others. The region also has numerous camels, making a trek along the dunes quite possible.

What is the climate of Mongolia? The country has a dry continental climate with a long, cold winter and a mild, short summer. Indeed, in winter, Mongolia can reach temperatures of −40°C. However, the cold is dry, facilitating acclimatization. The winter-to-spring transition occurs between April and May, with temperatures approaching 0°C. The thaw progresses gradually, making June and September the best periods to visit the country. In summer, temperatures range between 25 and 30°C, with showers in July.

When was Mongolia founded and who was its founder? Mongolia's history is quite complex, and its borders and systems evolved tremendously over the centuries. What we can retain is that the Mongolia we know today resulted from the conquests under Genghis Khan's Empire (unification of various clans, creating the first Mongolian State in 1206), followed by the empire's fall and Chinese occupation until 1911. Following the communist revolution in that year, modern Mongolia was created with the borders we know today, a landlocked country between China and Russia. Mongolia, as a sovereign state, was officially recognized in 1945 on the international stage. The founder of Mongolia as a state is generally recognized as Genghis Khan, the Emperor who extended his influence over nearly all of the known world in the 13th century.

Where is Mongolia? Mongolia is located between Russia and China in Eurasia. It has Russia as its northern border and the People's Republic of China as its southern, eastern, and western borders.

What is the capital of Mongolia? Ulaanbaatar, which literally means Red Hero, was named thus following the 1923 popular revolution in honor of its hero Sukhbaatar, who helped the country counter Chinese imperialism. Today, the city is home to over 1.3 million inhabitants, representing 45% of the total population.

Can I use my phone? The telephone network is developing throughout the country, including in the steppes! You'll be surprised to encounter a nomad with a mobile phone in the middle of nowhere. The two main companies are Mobicom and Unitel. Therefore, you'll have network coverage not only in Ulaanbaatar but also in rural areas. You can consult Mobicom's website for more details about available offers: https://www.mobicom.mn/en/m/476

Why is there an Inner Mongolia? Mongolia has been divided into two regions for several centuries; today Inner Mongolia belongs to China, while the Republic of Mongolia is an independent country.

What is the most widely practiced religion in Mongolia? Buddhism remains the most popular; however, shamanic practices remain quite vibrant in certain regions.

What is the traditional clothing of Mongols? Mongols wear the same clothing as Westerners. However, traditional attire is the "deel," often worn during celebrations or festivals, though it remains quite common in rural areas.

Who is the President of Mongolia? Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj has been Mongolia's President since 2009 and represents the Democratic Party. He also served as Prime Minister of Mongolia from April to December 1998.

How many inhabitants does Mongolia have? In January 2015, Mongolia celebrated its 3 millionth inhabitant.

What is the deepest lake in the country? Khuvsgul Lake, with a depth of 267 meters. Located in the north of the country, it is the largest freshwater lake in the nation.

What type of government does Mongolia have? Mongolia is a parliamentary regime, governed under the Constitution of Mongolia.

What is Mongolia's agriculture? Wheat and, especially, the herding of the five precious animals: cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and horses. Today, the country has more livestock than people. Indeed, in 2014 according to Mongolia's National Bureau of Statistics, the country had 45 million heads of livestock.

What are the important facts to remember about the country? It is the only country in the world where livestock outnumber inhabitants. For example, 2 million sheep in 2014. It is also the 19th largest country in the world by area. Genghis Khan, who founded the Mongol Empire, conquered the largest territory in world history.

What made Mongolia famous? Genghis Khan's great conquest across the Eurasian continent.

What is the Mongolian currency? The Tugrik exists exclusively in banknote form, in denominations from 100 to 20,000. For 1 €, expect approximately 2,200 Tg, and around 10,000 Tg is equivalent to approximately €4.50.

How do you write Hello in Mongolian? Sain baina uu? (which literally means: How are you?) Сайн Байна уу?

Which language would be closest to Mongolian? Mongolian belongs to the Uralic-Altaic language family, which includes Turkish, Kazakh, Finnish, and Hungarian.

What is the unemployment rate in Mongolia? In 2014, the rate stood at 7%, according to World Statistics. However, it's worth noting that the average salary was 792,000 MNT in 2014, or approximately €360. In the capital, the salary is somewhat higher at 872,000 MNT. However, depending on the region, it can drop to 580,000 MNT. Figures reported by the National Bureau of Statistics.

What is Mongolia's national anthem? After several versions in the 20th century, Mongolia's current national anthem uses the lyrics and music of the Communist International from 1924. To commemorate Genghis Khan, the Mongolian Parliament modified its anthem's lyrics in 2006. The original music was composed by Bilegiin Damdinsuren (1919–1991) and Luvsanjamts Murjorj (1915–1996).

How long is winter in Mongolia? The average annual temperature is −1.5° C, with winter beginning in November and ending in March. Temperatures can reach −40° C in January and February, making Ulaanbaatar the coldest capital in the world.

What is Mongolia's national sport? Mongolia does not have one sport but three iconic sports, traditionally associated with men. These are wrestling, archery, and horse racing. Most often, it is during the Naadam festival that competitions are held and you can witness these events.

What are Mongolia's traditional games? In Mongolia, people are resourceful! That is, they find ways to keep themselves occupied during winter months. The most popular games are knucklebones, or astragali as the name suggests—polished sheep bones—as well as card games, dominoes, and chess.

What is Mongolia's most popular dish? Mongolian cuisine is quite limited and consists essentially of meat. Thus, the main culinary dishes found quite often are Buuz (a type of meat dumpling), Huushuur (fried meat pastry), and Tsuivan (noodles).

What animals are endemic to Mongolia? − The Przewalski's horse or takhi, is a unique species. The takhi, whose name means "sacrifice, respect," stands apart from other equids because of its small stature. Unique in the world, it can essentially be observed in Khustai National Park. − The Gobi bear and the Gobi argali (endangered species), which as the name suggests, are endemic to the Gobi region.