Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure

Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure

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11 Days From

$3365

Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure

11 Days Starting in Beijing and ending in Ulaanbaatar

Visiting: Beijing, Inner Mongolia / Reshui, Inner Mongolia / Xilinhot, Erlian / Sainshand, Sainshand, Sainshand / Overnight Train, Ulaanbaatar / Khustai National Park, Khustai National Park, Ulaanbaatar

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

CBSM

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

15-99 years

From: $3365

NB: Prices correct on 04-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Want an epic rail journey that takes you to some of the world’s most remote regions? This 11-day adventure is for you. Experience riding a section of the Trans-Mongolian Railway as you make your way from China to Mongolia. Start with the bright lights of Beijing, then take a bullet train to Inner Mongolia. Then, it’s on to the vast steppes of Khustai National Park, the dunes of the Gobi Desert, the spiritual wonders of Sainshand and more. Spend time staying in a traditional ger campsite, join a family of camel herders for lunch and return home with truly unique travel stories to tell!

Highlights

  • Travel along a section of the epic Trans-Mongolian Railway through Mongolia, following the ancient path of tea caravans.

  • Explore China’s Inner Mongolia region and its iconic vast rolling grasslands, sandy deserts and dunes, and an otherworldly stone forest.

  • Get a (literal) taste of local life as you stop for barbeque lunch at the Ulihan Desert Campsite, sampling the freshest local lamb.

  • Whisper your wishes at Sainshand’s Mountain of Wishes, then learn about the nomadic way of life as you join a camel herding family for lunch.

  • Spend a full day seeing Khustai National Park, staying in traditional gers and spotting free roaming wild horses, Golden Eagles and more.

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Beijing

Location: Beijing

Accommodation: Hotel

Huanying! Welcome to China. Touch down in China’s capital, Beijing, ready for a railway adventure. Your trip begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you’ll meet your trip leader and travel companions. After this important meeting, why not get together with your group for an optional dinner, perhaps finding one of the best Beijing duck restaurants in the city. Your group leader will definitely know of some wonderful places where you can eat this delicious speciality.

Day 2: Inner Mongolia / Reshui

Location: Inner Mongolia / Reshui

Accommodation: Hotel

Bid farewell to Beijing and hop on a bullet train to the Inner Mongolian city of Chifeng. Stop for lunch with your group, and then learn about the area’s mix of steppe and Mongolian culture with a visit to the Chifeng Museum. Afterwards, take a private transfer to the town of Reshui, which will be your gateway to the vast grasslands of Inner Mongolia. Settle into your accommodation, and rest up for a full day of exploring tomorrow!

Included Activities:
-Chifeng - Chifeng Museum

Day 3: Inner Mongolia / Reshui

Location: Inner Mongolia / Reshui

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

Rise in Reshui, then head out to the Huanggangliang National Forest Park. Located in the remnants of the Greater Xing’an Mountains, it’s home to Huanggang Peak which stands at an altitude of 2029 m. There are glacial and U-shaped valleys to explore, and the journey itself will be made special by the abundant flowers and endless grasslands. After lunch, you’ll visit Asihatu Stone Forest. Over 2 million years of wind and rain have contributed to make the rare stone formations! To finish the day, you’ll get the chance to see the Gongge'er Grasslands. It’s quite the sight, with rivers lazily weaving through and wild deer roaming. If you’re into your photography, this is the place to be!

Included Activities:
-Inner Mongolia - Huanggangliang National Forest Park
-Inner Mongolia - Asihatu Stone Forest
-Inner Mongolia - Gongge'er Grasslands

Day 4: Inner Mongolia / Xilinhot

Location: Inner Mongolia / Xilinhot

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

This morning, drive to Hunshandake Sandy Land, located at the southern end of the Xilingol Grassland in central Inner Mongolia. It’s a famous water desert in China, where Spring water emerges from the sandy land and gathers into small rivers and lakes. In the heart of the Hunshandake you’ll visit Ulihan Desert Campsite. The lakes and grasslands will provide a scenic backdrop for a BBQ lunch. After, you’ll visit Dali Lake, one of the four famous lakes in Inner Mongolia, and then head to Xilinhot for the night.

Included Activities:
-Inner Mongolia - Hunshandake Sandy Land

Day 5: Erlian / Sainshand

Location: Erlian / Sainshand

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

Get set for a day of travel. After breakfast, drive from Xilinhot to Erlian, arriving around midday. Stop for lunch and meet your new leader for the Mongolian portion of your journey, then head to the train station and hop on board the Trans-Mongolian Railway line headed to Sainshand. Stop in Zamiin-Uud along the way for a border crossing and for a change of train bogies. Watch on as the train’s lifted into the air one carriage at a time, and the wheels replaced with a different gauge. Arrive in Sainshand at around 1:05 am. There’ll be a transfer waiting to whisk you from the train station to your accommodation, and your rooms will be ready for you. Check in then rest up for the night!

Day 6: Sainshand

Location: Sainshand

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

Take in the sights and sounds of Sainshand on a walking tour this morning. Visit a museum dedicated to the Noyon Khutagt, the Lama of the Gobi. A writer, composer, painter, Buddhist scholar and physician, the museum displays Buddhist artifacts that survived the period of the Mongolian People's Republic. Afterwards, a short drive will take you to Khamriin Monastery, which was founded by Noyon Khutagt on this site due to the spiritual energy radiating from the Gobi Desert. To the north of the monastery lie a series of caves where monks practiced high levels of meditation for 108 continuous days. Enjoy a short hike around the area to visit these caves, as well as the energy centre known as Mongolian Shambala. Return to Sainshand, and then spend the evening as you like!

Included Activities:
-Sainshand - Noyon Khutagt Museum
-Sainshand - Khamriin Monastery, Caves & Mongolian Shambala

Day 7: Sainshand / Overnight Train

Location: Sainshand / Overnight Train

Accommodation: Overnight Train

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

After breakfast, drive to the Mountain of Wishes – named thanks to the belief that if you climb to the top and whisper a wish, it’ll come true. You’ll get the chance to do exactly that, using the stairs to enjoy the view over the valley and making a wish or two. Then, get an insight into local ways of life as you visit a family of camel herders. Hear stories about the nomadic way of life over a traditional, home-cooked lunch with the family. Later, return to Sainshand then board an overnight train headed to Ulaanbaatar.

Included Activities:
-Sainshand - Mountain of Wishes
-Sainshand - Camel Herder Family Visit & Traditional Home-cooked Lunch

Day 8: Ulaanbaatar / Khustai National Park

Location: Ulaanbaatar / Khustai National Park

Accommodation: Tourist ger camp

Meals Included: lunch, dinner

Arrive into Mongolia’s capital city around 7 am this morning, and get set for the day with an optional breakfast at a local cafe. Ulaanbaatar’s a fascinating town, where elderly Mongolians in traditional dress mingle with the nation's young business elite. Drive to the imposing Chinggis Khaan Statue, a 40 m high stainless-steel statue honouring the founder of the Mongolian Empire. You can take the steps to the horse’s mane for views over the valley, then visit a small museum located in the statue’s base. For lunch, drive to Nalaikh town for a meal at a monastery cafe, then continue on to Khustai National Park. Settle into your ger camp accommodation for a very special slice of traditional life!

Included Activities:
-Ulaanbaatar - Chinggis Khaan Statue

Day 9: Khustai National Park

Location: Khustai National Park

Accommodation: Tourist ger camp

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast at camp, embark on a hike to see the wildlife of the national park. Wild horses running free will be quite a sight to behold, and keep an eye on the sky for Golden Eagles, falcons and vultures. Once you’ve finished your trail, drive on to the Ungut Monument. The collection of 30 human-shaped stone monuments traces back to the 7th century. Thought to be an offering site, it makes for a thought-provoking stop! Then, drive back to your camp at Khustai National Park and enjoy a free evening of leisure.

Included Activities:
-Khustai National Park - Leader-led Hike
-Khustai National Park - Ungut Stone Monuments

Day 10: Ulaanbaatar

Location: Ulaanbaatar

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

Drive back to Ulaanbaatar this morning. Your leader will take you on a final orientation walk through the city’s central square, then stop in for an optional lunch at a cafe. In the afternoon there might be the chance to shop for some local handicrafts such as cashmere and felt products, or to check out some more of the city's sights and museums. Tonight you can celebrate your journey to Mongolia by witnessing a special cultural performance featuring throat singing and traditional dancing (optional). There will be an optional final dinner at a local restaurant recommended by your leader.

Day 11: Ulaanbaatar

Location: Ulaanbaatar

Say 'bayartai' to your group as your adventure draws to a close. There are no activities planned for the day, and you're free to depart the hotel at any time. If you'd like to stay longer in UB, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    Hotel (7 nights), Overnight train (1 night), Tourist ger camp (2 nights)

  • Meals
    7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners

  • Chifeng - Chifeng Museum

  • Inner Mongolia - Huanggangliang National Forest Park

  • Inner Mongolia - Asihatu Stone Forest

  • Inner Mongolia - Gongge'er Grasslands

  • Inner Mongolia - Hunshandake Sandy Land

  • Sainshand - Noyon Khutagt Museum

  • Sainshand - Khamriin Monastery, Caves & Mongolian Shambala

  • Sainshand - Mountain of Wishes

  • Sainshand - Camel Herder Family Visit & Traditional Home-cooked Lunch

  • Ulaanbaatar - Chinggis Khaan Statue

show more

Transport

  • Train , Overnight train , Private vehicle

Accommodation

  • OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
  • The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
  • TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASIS
  • Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on a different Intrepid trip than your own.
  • CHECK-IN TIME
  • Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
  • PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
  • If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.

Important Information

  • 1. A single supplement is available to be booked if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 7 (Overnight Train), 8 and 9 (Ger camp), where you will be in shared accommodation. The single supplement is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
  • 2. A scanned copy of the personal details page of your passport needs to be sent to your booking agent no later than 40 days before departure in order for us to purchase our train tickets.
  • 3. You'll need to set up a VPN in order to access popular apps and websites including What'sapp when you travel in China. You'll need to set up wechat (preferred) or Alipay in order to make payments in China. Please read the Essential Trip Information thoroughly and prepare accordingly.

Check out our Q&As

  • Is this trip right for you

    Accommodation at the ger camp is twin share with bedding provided, and the shared bathroom and toilet facilities are located in a separate building. Shower units have installed water heaters, but please note that the water pressure may not be as what you would expect in urban areas.

    Our overnight train on this trip is in 4 berth compartments. Please note that cabins are allocated on a mixed gender basis, and depending on the group size some group members will share a cabin with passengers that are not part of our group. Sheets, pillow and a blanket are provided, and there are communal bathrooms at the end of each carriage.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

Reviews of this operator

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Jack Edwards (Google Reviewer)  

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I have travelled with Intrepid a number of times now and can't recommend them enough. The trips are always exciting, full of history and immersive in the culture and environment. The office staff are great too and always happy to help with any questions you might have. Everywhere I have gone with the company has been different but the guides and itinerary have always been excellent and full of knowledge and passion for their country. Add in the social responsibility angle the company has and it top quality ethical practice and you can't go wrong

Jo Clayton (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on an...

15-Mar-2024

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Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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