Dalanzadgad
Dalanzadgad is the capital of Ömnögovi province.
Understand
Dalanzadgad is the base for explorations into the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park. With black smoke coming from the power station, and its dusty roads, it's not a very interesting town by itself, but it's a good place to stock up with food for your excursion into the desert.
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Get in
There is a pretty fast and efficient daily bus from Ulaanbaatar at 08:00 and 16:00 (about 10 hours, 28,000 ₮ (as of January 2015)). It leaves at the Bayanzurkh bus station which you can reach by the Electrobus #4 or City Bus #30 from Chinggis Square (Blue Sky Tower). Ask a bus worker to let you know when to get off.
Minibuses ("Porgons" and "Mikrs") leave from the Ulaanbaatar "Black Market" (Narantuul Zakh) when they are full (that means, really full: 16 people!), usually in the afternoon between 12:00-17:00 and cost around 30,000 ₮. Expect frequent breakdowns and up to 24hr traveling time.
By plane
The airport serves workers at several large mines nearby and generally uses larger planes than other domestic flights in Mongolia. The paved runway is the 2nd longest in Mongolia after Chinggis Khaan International.
- AeroMongolia, ☎ +976 11 330373 (Ulaanbaatar), +976 9606 0666 (Dalanzadgad), e-mail: dalanzadgad@aeromongolia.mn. M-F 09:00-18:00. It is generally cheaper, but uses older planes. Charges foreigners double the local rate. Flights everyday of the week during summer.
- Hunnu Air (Located in Building of Golomt bank), ☎ +976 7000 1111 (Ulaanbaatar), +976 7053 4422 (Dalanzadgad), e-mail: info@hunnuair.com. Formerly Mongolian Airlines. Flights to Ulaanbaatar everyday of the week during summer, and Mon, Wed, and Fri during winter.
Get around
There is a taxi service that will take you anywhere inside Dalanzadgad for 1000 ₮ (+976 19001565 - there is a 500 ₮ charge added onto your total fee if you call). Fare to the bus station: 2000 ₮; to the airport: 5000 ₮.
See
- Dalanzadgad Temple
- Ömnögovi Aimag Museum
- Ömnögovi Aimag Children's Park
Do
Buy
Eat
There are a few good restaurants in town. Most hotels will have a restaurant. There are a few good supermarkets in town.
Some non-hotel restaurants:
- Marvel Pub
- Gobi Restaurant
Drink
Draft beers are only available at Marvel Pub. The cocktail or mixed drink selection at the hotels will be very limited.
Sleep
These are the major hotels.
- Dalanzadgad Hotel
- Khaan Uul Hotel
- Gobi Sands
You can find smaller hotels around the city.
Go next
There are two daily buses to Ulaanbaatar at 08:00 and 16:00 (about 10hr, 22,900 ₮ (as of November 2015)). It leaves from the northern edge of town, next to the childrens park and is probably the fastest overland option. Porgons to Ulaanbaatar leave from the market and from Nomin supermarket.