Is Mongolia expensive for backpackers?

Someone told me Mongolia is expensive because there are no infraustractures and that you'll need to pay to much for transportation, if you want to go around to see some hills and more hills and steppes and slopes.

Let's say I am coming from Harbin or Beijing. Are airplanes cheaper than the train (hard seat).

Well, I got the information from so called backpacker who goes to a spa and has never been to Mongolia coz he thinks its TOURISTIC, lol.

Hmm i am watching this thread closely. I have the exact same question but i will be doing it by train from Beijing. From what i have gathered, the package tours into the desert are expensive, but living costs - accomodation, food etc arent too bad. Someone i met quoted around 30 USD a day...

To sidetrack a bit, Sweptaway please do let me know if you managed to get the Mongolian visa, was it a painless process of did it involve a heck load of bureaucracy? Thanks

Catch you in Ulan Bator then

Visa to Mongolia? I'm Filipino,why would I need a Visa? Genghis Khan was half Filipino. I'm kidding. But yes I won't need a Visa to see steppes and slopes and cows. So maybe Malaysians won't need a Visa either.

The Pakistan trail is also very interesting, but I'm might save it for May.

Hiyas, I travelled there last year & the Beijing to UB train is about $150, bookings essential & only available through a travel agent, but the flights were very expensive, something like $400! I did meet an Aussie girl who bought a ticket to Erenhot on the border (ie. where the train stops for 3-4 hours to change the wheels), with the idea of talking her way onto next stage to UB without a booking, in the end she was successful, not sure how much she saved, but it looked like alot of hassle! In terms of Gobi tours, it was about $100/person/day.

Quoting Swept Away

Genghis Khan was half Filipino.

I'm not sure Genghis Khan was Filipino but I had some lovely food in a Mongolian restaurant in Iloilo in the Philippines at a restaurant called "Genghis Khan's".

Quoting bwiiian

Quoting Swept Away

Genghis Khan was half Filipino.

I'm not sure Genghis Khan was Filipino but I had some lovely food in a Mongolian restaurant in Iloilo in the Philippines at a restaurant called "Genghis Khan's".

I had Mongolian BBQ in Davao and we had a TV show called, Mongolian BBQ, its like a satire.