MONGOLIA 

Population:  32 million 

Capital: Ulaanbaatar

Climate: Expect cold and dry. Long very cold winters and short summers but with plenty of sunny days. Mongolia averages 257 cloudless days.  

Best time to visit: May – September with peak season in July for the Naadam festival. Wettest months are July and August.

Best time for Gobi desert: June or September 

Language: Mongolian 

Currency: Mongolian tögrög (MNT)

Passport, visa and entry info: Valid passport must have at least six months before expiration. One page for stamps. No visa needed for U.S. citizens. Countries that require visa. 

Tipping: 10% is acceptable in restaurants. When traveling with a guide and driver consider $10 – $20 per person per day for both.