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Voykit pocket guide · Mongolia
Uliastai
Улиастай
Spend 1–2 days in Uliastai: a quick stop to see the nine white stupas, the Manchu fort ruins and the provincial museum.
Uliastai is the capital of Zavkhan province, set in a valley at the edge of desert and forest. Its main sights are clustered near the town centre, so a half‑day covers the stupas and museum, while an extra night lets you explore the ruined Manchu fort and relax by the rivers.
- Country
- Mongolia
- Local name
- Улиастай
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (heavy snow, mountain passes closed)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MNT
- Money
- Currency is the Mongolian tögrög (MNT, ₮). Cards work in Ulaanbaatar hotels, malls and larger restaurants; carry cash for markets, taxis and anything outside the city.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₮30,000–45,000 excl. bed · Mid ₮45,000–70,000 excl. bed · High ₮70,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Unitel, Mobicom, Skytel and G-Mobile sell prepaid SIMs at the airport and in town; bring your passport to register.
- Emergency
- Police 102 · Ambulance 103 · Fire 101
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · European round-pin plugs work; UK and US devices need adapters. Ger camps offer charging for a few hours a day.
- Tipping
- Restaurants in Ulaanbaatar: Not expected; round up or leave 5–10% in tourist places if no service charge.; Taxi: Round up.; Driver on a tour: ₮15,000–30,000 per day, given at the end.; Guide on a tour: ₮20,000–40,000 per day, given at the end.; Cook and camp staff: ₮10,000–20,000 per day, pooled.; Nomad family stay: Pay the agreed fee; a small gift (fruit, sweets, photos, tea) is better than extra cash.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled water is everywhere in towns; in camps, boiled or filtered water — bring a filter bottle for long trips.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in Ulaanbaatar. In ger camps: a shared shower block with flush toilets in better camps, pit latrines in simpler ones. With nomad families and on the road: a long-drop or the open steppe; carry paper and a trowel.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | ₮5,000–8,000 |
| Mongolian tea | ₮3,000–5,000 |
| Meal at a local café | ₮8,000–15,000 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ₮12,000–15,000 |
| Museum entry | ₮2,000–5,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ULZ · Donoi Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Donoi Airport → town centre (taxi)
- about ₮15,000 (check)
- Ulaanbaatar bus to Uliastai
- ≈ ₮30,000, 9 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is walkable; taxis from Donoi Airport or for trips to the fort. No public bus network; arrange a driver‑guide for out‑of‑town sites.
See and do
Known for
- nine white stupas
- Manchu fort ruins
- Zavkhan provincial museum
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Manchu fort ruins | Walk or short taxi from town centre, 10 min | 15 min total |
| Zavkhan provincial museum | Walk, 5 min from centre | 10 min total |
Sleep
- Zavkhan Hotel
- Central, restaurant on site; basic rooms.
- Altan centre
- Close to market, simple amenities.
- Bolorjin Hotel and Restaurant
- Near river, offers meals.
- Uran Baigal
- Budget option, walkable to sights.
Language
Mongolian is written in Cyrillic with two extra letters (Ө ө, Ү ү); the traditional vertical script appears on signs and banknotes. English is common among younger people in Ulaanbaatar and tour staff, rare in the countryside. Russian still works with many over-40s. A handful of phrases earn a lot of goodwill.
- Hello: Сайн байна уу (sain baina uu). Reply: Сайн (sain).
- Thank you: Баярлалаа (bayarlalaa). Yes / no: Тийм (tiim) / Үгүй (ügüi).
- How much? Хэд вэ? (khed ve?). Goodbye: Баяртай (bayartai).
- Hold the dogs!: Нохойгоо хориорой (nokhoigoo khorioroi) — called out as you approach a ger.
- I don't understand: Би ойлгохгүй байна (bi oilgokhgüi baina). Toilet: Жорлон (jorlon).
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Entering a ger: Call 'Nokhoi khorio' from a distance, enter right foot first without knocking, move clockwise to the left (west) side; avoid: Stepping on the threshold, walking between the two pillars, turning your back to the altar
- Offered food or drink: Receive with the right hand (left hand supporting the elbow), taste a little; avoid: Refusing outright or taking with the left hand only
- Snuff bottle exchange: When a man offers his snuff bottle, take it with the right hand, open slightly, sniff and hand it back; avoid: Taking snuff if you do not want it — just smell the cap
- Feet and knocks: If you step on someone's foot, shake their hand straight away; avoid: Leaving the touch unacknowledged — it is seen as the start of a quarrel
- Fire and stove: Treat the stove as sacred; avoid: Throwing rubbish into the fire or pointing your feet at it
- Hats: Hold a hat by the crown, remove it inside; avoid: Stepping over or throwing a hat
- Guests and gifts: Bring small gifts (fruit, sweets, vodka for elders, photos of your family) to a nomad family; avoid: Handing out sweets to children on the roadside
- Leaving: Keep goodbyes short; your guide will lead them; avoid: Whistling inside a ger
Scams and watch-outs
- Winter road closures make travel difficult; check pass conditions before visiting.
- Museum opening hours may vary seasonally; confirm before arrival.
Uliastai is generally safe for tourists; keep valuables secure and be cautious on unpaved roads in winter.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Uliastai yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- nine white stupas
- Manchu fort ruins
- Zavkhan provincial museum
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Uliastai: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Uliastai, revision 5254173 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5254173
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/uliastai). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.