Mongolia might not be the first country that jumps to mind when you’re brainstorming travel destinations, but its hidden gem status is part of its charm. Adventure tourists in particular might be surprised to find out how much the country has to offer, from trekking on camels across the Gobi Desert to riding on horseback through vast expanses of grassland, or spending the night in a nomadic family’s ger (tent). If you’re looking to get in touch with a foreign culture, look no further than Mongolia.
If you’re planning a visit to Mongolia, please consider purchasing Mongolia travel medical insurance or travel insurance to protect yourself against any unexpected illnesses or injuries that might occur.
Travel Medical Insurance for Travelers in Mongolia – FAQs
Travel health insurance provides medical coverage while you’re abroad, allowing you receive necessary medical treatment without being solely responsible for the resulting bill.
Do I need travel medical insurance for Mongolia?
There is no legal mandate that requires you to purchase travel medical insurance in order to enter Mongolia. However, you must remember that your domestic health insurance is unlikely to provide any coverage outside your home country. If you were to get hurt or sick abroad, there could be serious financial consequences.
Why buy travel medical insurance before traveling to Mongolia?
The public healthcare facilities available in Mongolia are not up to Western standards, and may not be able to treat all medical conditions. In these cases, emergency medical evacuation could be necessary. This can cost well in excess of $50,000; a cost you would have to bear yourself if you do not have travel medical insurance with emergency medical evacuation coverage.
You may be able to seek treatment at a better-equipped private facility, but these can be quite expensive. Are you prepared to potentially pay tens of thousands of dollars out of your own pocket for uninsured medical treatment abroad? If not, it only makes sense to have travel medical insurance.
Trip Cancellation Insurance for Travelers in Mongolia – FAQs
Trip cancellation insurance primarily provides coverage for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses like emergency medical care, trip interruption, lost luggage, emergency cash transfers, rental car coverage, and flight accidents. If you need help selecting a plan or would like more information, our licensed, experienced representatives will be happy to help you select the plan that best fits your individual needs.
Why should I get trip cancellation insurance for my Mongolia travel?
In order to travel to Mongolia, you’ll have to spend a lot of money up front. Your airline tickets, hotels, tour guide, etc. must be prepaid, and these costs are usually nonrefundable. If you were unable to go on your Mongolia trip, you would still be stuck paying all of these expenses.
With trip cancellation insurance, you can be reimbursed for your prepaid, nonrefundable expenses if you must cancel your trip for a covered reason.
What should I look for in my trip cancellation insurance for Mongolia?
Compare numerous plans on this website, and find one that offers the benefits that are most valuable to you at a price that fits within your budget.
If you think there may be a chance that you’ll have to cancel your Mongolia trip for a reason that isn’t covered by standard travel insurance policies, look into cancel for any reason travel insurance.
Mongolia’s Most Popular Places for Travel
Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar serves as both the geographic and practical center of the country; it contains both Mongolia’s only international airport and only international rail line. The downtown area boasts modern buildings and glass skyscrapers, but horsemen and cattle can still be seen wandering through the streets, and on the outskirts of town lies the “ger district,” with thousands of traditional Mongolian tents.
Ulaanbaatar has a number of cultural and historic attractions. There’s the 19th-century Winter Palace of the Bogd Khaan, built by Mongolian masters and currently a museum complex. The Gandan Monastery is the largest monastery in the country, and the only one where Buddhist services continued during communist rule. Within the monastery lies the Migjid Janraisig Temple, housing a bejeweled, 85-foot statue of Migjid Janraisig. The Choijin Lama Temple, built between 1904 and 1908, serves as a classic example of traditional Buddhist architecture. The National Museum of Mongolia, true to its name, presents exhibits about the history of Mongolia from prehistory through the present day. Meanwhile, the Mongolian Natural History Museum offers information about the country’s flora, fauna, geology, geography, and anthropology. If you’re in the mood to shop, the covered, outdoor Naran Tuul Market contains a variety of stalls selling everything from souvenirs to clothing to carpets.
Gobi Desert
The Gobi Desert is a rain shadow desert running through Southern Mongolia. Great Gobi National Park was established in 1975. The region has become a goldmine for paleontologists. The first-ever full dinosaur skeleton was found in the Khermen Tsav canyon, and the first-ever dinosaur eggs (26 of them) were discovered in 1923. Attractions in the desert include Khongoryn Els, the “singing dunes”, so called because they resonate a strong sound as the sand blows in the wind or rolls downhill; Eagle Valley, a protected site that narrows into a gorge; and Bayanzag, the site of many of the paleontology discoveries mentioned above. Distinctive wildlife in the area includes the last two-humped camels and Gobi bears left in the world.
National Parks
Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park, about a five-hour drive west of Ulaanbaatar, encompasses two attractions: the extinct Khorgo volcano, and Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake. The park was established to protect its native scenery, flora, and fauna, and it’s surrounded by the Khangai Mountains. The Khorgo crater is the most notable of about a dozen extinct volcanoes in the area, as it regularly emits jets of steam that freeze in the winter to form ice molds. Meanwhile, the Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake is a sight to behold at 10 miles long, about 65 feet deep, and covering an area of almost 24 square miles. It was formed when a mass of hot lava blocked the bed of the River Terkh. Out of the lake bursts the River Suman, so turbulent that the water doesn’t freeze even in the coldest of winters. Common activities in the park include visiting nomadic families, horseback riding, hiking, and bird watching. The nearby Ugii Lake is also a popular fishing spot.
Khustain Nuruu National Park, also called Hustai National Park, is a specially protected area home to the world’s only naturally surviving species of wild horse, Przewalski’s horse. The horse was extinct in the wild until its reintroduction into the park in 1992. The park’s environment ranges from mountain steppes to sand dunes to river wetlands. Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, only an hour outside of Ulaanbataar, is one of the most scenic sites in the country, featuring mountains, rock formations, meadows, and a winding river. Available activities include horseback riding, hiking, visiting a hilltop Buddhist monastery, and visiting or staying with a nomadic family.
Key Guidelines for Travelers in Mongolia
- The Naran Tuul Market in Ulaanbaatar is a hotspot for pickpockets and purse-snatchers. Make sure to keep track of your personal belongings, and remember to stay safe!
- Mongolia is a rugged, rural country, and travel outside of Ulaanbaatar is not easy. The roads are rough and bumpy, the accommodations are sparse, and opportunities to resupply are limited. Budget ample time between destinations, and hire an experienced tour guide.
- Beware of dehydration. Mongolia is one of driest countries on earth, so you must make sure to drink a sufficient amount of water each day. Even if you do not sweat due to the arid conditions, your body will still be losing water.
Before You Travel to Mongolia – Do This
- Visit your healthcare professional and get all necessary vaccinations
- If traveling outside Ulaanbaatar, make sure you have the physical conditioning necessary to endure the harsh landscape.
- Don’t gamble with travel uncertainties. Do your research, and purchase travel medical insurance or travel insurance.