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A vast, sparsely populated country with little infrastructure, Mongolia relies heavily on air transport. There are over 80 airports, few of which have paved runways. MIAT, the major internal airline, has flights to most of the provincial capitals, major cities and tourist destinations - but not all of them. Foreigners pay several times more than Mongolians for tickets and there's no computerized reservation system, so you should book your return flight upon your arrival at the destination.

Buses are an increasingly popular way of traveling around the country, but services are still limited, the buses old and the journeys uncomfortable and slow. Breakdowns can be expected on all long distance trips. Bus routes start and end in Ulaanbataar and no buses travel around western Mongolia. Slightly more expensive minibuses that travel between popular spots are quicker and more comfortable. Mongolia's 1750km (1090mi) railway is made up of a north-south line, which is part of the Trans-Mongolian Railway, connecting China with Russia.

Jeeps are an important form of transport and mandatory when visiting remote attractions since only 1200km (744mi) of road out of a total of 47,000km (29,150mi) are paved. The price can be Tg 300 or $ 0.25 per kilometer if the car is a sturdy, Russian made military jeep. Ride on bigger jeeps like Nissan, Land Cruiser or Cherokee will cost $0.50 per kilometer. Usually they come with a driver and, if it's a public jeep, with other passengers. The price includes the cost of petrol and a driver's pay. It is crucial to find a reliable, experienced driver as well as to check the car. Missing this point may result in a few days long waiting amidst nowhere for a pick up.

In Ulaanbaatar City
Getting around the city is very easy, especially if you can explain where you want to go in Mongolian. The city is divided into six districts and many sub districts and micro-districts. More and more street name signs are being erected although taxi drivers and the locals tend to use the names of the districts or identifiable buildings to find locations. Some tourist signposts have recently been erected to help visitors get around.

There is a good network of both buses and trolley buses. Maps are available that show the routes and all the buses clearly display the route number. There is a standard charge of MNT 200 for buses and MNT 100 for trolley buses. Payment is made to the conductor, who usually wears a bright blue apron. The only difficulty is accepting how crowded they are. You may find yourself squeezed inside the bus so tightly that you'll miss your stop. Also, foreigners on buses are an attraction for pickpockets. Please ensure you take the utmost care with money, wallets and personal possessions. The buses and trolleybuses run from around 6am to 10pm everyday.

Since the buses are so crowded, a number of entrepreneurs have started their own services using minibuses. They usually ply the same routes as the buses and have route numbers displayed. The normal rate is similar to the buses.

Taxi services run all around the city. Although some taxis have meters they are not often used and no pressure should be put on the driver to use it. The standard cost is MNT 250-300 per kilometer. Ulaanbaatar must be one of the only places in the world where you can stop almost any car for a lift. Potentially, every car in the capital is a taxi. If you hale a car and the driver is prepared to pick you up, he'll do so and charge the same rates as taxis. This is seen to be a safe way of traveling, although it may not be appropriate if you are a single woman and traveling late at night.

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