Travel to Mongolia

Lonely Planet Mongolia

Format: Paperback
Author: Michael Kohn
ReleaseDate: 30 July, 2005
Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications
Rating:

Mongolia's development hotly debated
There was initially a great deal of optimism that the economy would take off and that Mongolia would become another asian tiger. I think one of the reasons why this guide book comes in for criticisms has to do with Mongolia's mixed development since the collapse of communism. At that time the Ghengis Khan hotel was thrown up. But in fact the country has endured a topsy turvy road to economic stability, with widespread poverty and crumbling infrastructure. People look at China, and its breakneck development, and think Mongolia must be improving at the same pace.

Tourists seeking the sanitised and comfortable journey they can experience in China, end up feeling very disappointed. Tourists must be forewarned: Mongolia is still an adventure destination and one that takes an adventurous spirit to tackle successfully. Don't expect things to work well, or food standards to be high, or the infrastructure to be new. It is a ramshackle country with a fantastic culture and great people.

The people's pride comes in to this. Being a democracy, Mongolians hotly debate the state of their country, and many are not happy with the path taken so far. This pride and anger comes out in its attempts to pretend the place is more advanced than it is, or to take offence when people comment frankly on the true state of the capital. But it is better to tell the truth because then people will know what to expect. I can think of equally volatile debates over guidebooks about the UK. But I had to agree with LP,since its writers point out the true state of a place. .

Extremely useful and complete
Now that I'm back from the trip, I have not doubt about it: it's pretty much a must. Some of the negative reviews on this website actually got me wondering whether I should buy this book or not. Had I not brought the book along, I would've had to keep borrowing other travelers' copies during my visit. The information's extremely useful and complete, whether you agree with every single comment or not. I'm not familiar with other similar guides on Mongolia in English, but every foreigner that I met there seemed to be carrying a copy of this one.

I have found this book to be very helpful.
I have recommended "Lonely Planet Mongolia" to several others here visiting Mongolia. I used this book to prepare for my visit to Mongolia and I continue to use it as a great reference resource while here. .

Related products:
click image or link for details on these Mongolia travel books.

	Mongolia: The Bradt Travel Guide
	Mongolia Map
	Lonely Planet China
	Trans-Siberian Railway (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)