Dalanzadgad is the capital of Ömnögovi province.

Understand

Street in Dalanzadgad

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.

Dalanzadgad
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       1.4     −8 −21       1.1     −4 −17       3.3     4 −9       5.3     14 −1       12     21 7       18     26 12       33     28 15       32     26 13       13     20 7       4.4     12 −2       2     2 −11       1     −6 −18 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm NOAA (1961-1990)
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       0.1     18 −6       0     25 1       0.1     40 15       0.2     56 31       0.5     71 45       0.7     79 54       1.3     82 59       1.3     79 56       0.5     68 44       0.2     54 29       0.1     36 12       0     22 −1 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Get in

There is a pretty fast and efficient daily bus from Ulaanbaatar at 08:00 and 16:00 (about 10 hours, 28.000T (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 30.000T. Expect frequent breakdowns and up to 24h traveling time.

By plane

Dalanzadgad Airport

The airport serves workers at several large mines nearby and generally uses larger planes than other domestic flights in Mongolia. A new paved runway was built in 2007 that is the 2nd longest in Mongolia after Chinggis Khaan International.

• AeroMongolia, ☏ +976 11 330373 (Ulaanbaatar), +976 9606 0666 (Dalanzadgad), dalanzadgad@aeromongolia.mn. Office Hours: 09:00-18:00 Everyday except Sat and Sun. It is generally cheaper, but uses older planes. Charges foreigners double the local rate. Flights everyday of the week during summer. 

• Eznis Airways, ☏ +976 11 331111 (Ulaanbaatar), feedback@eznis.com. Uses newer planes, but more expensive than AeroMongolia. Flights 7 days a week during peak summer period. 

• Hunnu Air (Located in Building of Golomt bank), ☏ +976 7000 1111 (Ulaanbaatar), +976 7053 4422 (Dalanzadgad), info@hunnuair.com. Recently changed its name from 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 tugriks (ph: 19001565 - there is a 500 tugrik charge added onto your total fee if you call). Note: if you use this taxi to get to the bus station it will cost 2000 tugriks. If you use them to go to the airport it will cost 5000 tugriks.

See

Dalanzadgad Temple

Dinosaur in the local museum

• Dalanzadgad Temple
• Ömnögovi Aimag Museum
• Ömnögovi Aimag Children's Park

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

Dalanzadgad is surrounded by the Gobi Desert

There are two daily buses to Ulaanbaatar at 08:00 and 16:00 (about 10h, 22.900T (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.