Quick Travel Tips for Mongolia: Mongolia has a unique culture and customs that are different from other countries. They teach their children to strictly follow these customs at every step. Therefore, all Mongolians follow these traditional customs and are very sensitive to the actions of foreigners who violate them due to a lack of knowledge. To avoid embarrassing foreign tourists and making a bad impression on Mongolians, we have developed a set of Travel Tips for Mongolia, which you can find below.
In the Countryside:
- When you come across a herd of animals, do not split them. Wait until they have passed to go around.
- Avoid making new roads or driving off the existing roads in areas with weak and sparse vegetation.
- Women should not get out of the car on the top of a pass that has a “high place” or “cairn.” These places are considered sacred.
- Do not drink water from any wells that you might come across since not all wells have suitable drinking water.
- Do not urinate on the road, in a river, or near a water spirit or water nymph.
- Do not wash your hands in a well or spring, and do not put any filth in them.
- Do not dump your dirty water into a well or spring.
- If there are animals beside the well, give them water before leaving.
- Always cover a well after use, or some animals might fall in and die.
When Traveling:
- Avoid arguing when traveling.
- Ensure that a horse is well-fed and watered before riding it.
- Clean up the place where you camp, but do not throw away the ashes without putting out the fire.
- Do not leave an open fire without putting it out.
- Do not return a dairy product container empty. Wash it well, wipe it out, put some kind of candy in it, and return it. An empty container is considered a curse to the one returning it.
- Turn off the motor when your trip is finished since it pollutes the environment.
- If you stop for the night and it is already dark, do not turn on the lights or play music loudly.
- Avoid staying near a family or small town since nosy people could make things uncomfortable.
- Do not stay the night near a road since passersby might make it uncomfortable for you.
- Do not stay in the lowlands or depression since rain that falls during the day might flood that place at night.
In the Ger:
- The family heart, or stove, is unapproachable. You may not put anything in there since it is a holy place.
- Do not point your feet towards the fire/stove since the fire spirits will become angry.
- By no means should you wear anyone else’s hat, and do not let anyone else wear your hat.
- It is not allowed to put your hat on the place where the idols are, and do not lean against the wooden chest where the idols are.
- Do not step over any bowls or plates that are placed on the floor. Walk around them.
- Do not take any pictures of the family without their permission.
- If fermented mare milk is served in a large wooden bowl, do not drink it all. Leave a mouthful in the bowl.
- Do not leave a ger without taking a bit from the plate of food. First, reach with your right hand and touch the bottom edge of the dish, then take a little bit of the food item. If you eat all of it, you will violate the customs of visitors and give yourself a bad reputation.
- It is not permitted to refuse the cup of tea or vodka given to you by the lady of the house.
- If the man of the house offers you his snuff bottle, you may not refuse it. But you are not required to use the tobacco; just sniff the bottle top.
- When you go to sleep, do not point your feet towards the stove or the idol, and try not to leave any tea in your cup.
When Arriving and Leaving a Place With Few Yurts:
- Go slowly when you arrive at a family’s place since someone with bad news may come quickly.
- Do not park your vehicle perpendicular across the family door. This is how a car comes that takes away someone who has passed away.
- Do not step over a horse-catching pole, an old plastic container, or a small whip-like stick that is used to herd sheep and goats.
- When arriving at a family’s place, call out, “Hold the dog!” in Mongolian, “Nokhoi khorio.” Since a yurt is a one-room house, it might take some time for the residents to come and greet you.
- When entering the yurt, open the door with your left hand, bend down, and step in with your right foot without stepping on the threshold.
- Do not step on the threshold of a home or temple.
- Do not leave a household quickly since someone might think you are fleeing a dangerous situation or glance.
- When entering a family’s home, button your clothes and do not show any bare skin.
- If there is a red cloth or cords tied to the two sides of the door, or sticks laid on the ground in front of the door forming a kind of square with the door, then you are not permitted to enter.
- It is forbidden to go in front of a family’s door. As much as possible, go around the yurt in the direction of the sun.
- Do not go into a yurt that has the roof cover pulled down over the smoke hole.
