Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure
Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure
11 Days Starting in Beijing, China and ending in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Visiting: Beijing, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, Xilinhot, Sainshand, Ulaanbaatar, Khustai National Park
Tour operator:
Tour code:
CBSM
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey with the Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure, traversing the captivating landscapes of Mongolia and China. This tour invites you to explore the ancient paths of tea caravans, marvel at the vast grasslands and sandy deserts of Inner Mongolia, and experience the unique stone formations of the Asihatu Stone Forest. Delight in a traditional barbeque lunch at the Ulihan Desert Campsite and immerse yourself in the nomadic lifestyle with a camel herding family. Discover the spiritual energy of Sainshand's Mountain of Wishes and the historical treasures of Khustai National Park, where wild horses roam free. This cultural and wildlife tour offers a blend of rail travel, walking, and photography opportunities, providing a rich tapestry of experiences from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar. Enjoy the comfort of traditional ger accommodations and the thrill of overnight train journeys, making this an adventure of a lifetime.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Beijing
Location: Beijing
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 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: Chifeng
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel
Meals Included: Lunch
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:
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Day 3: Inner Mongolia / Reshui
Location: Inner Mongolia
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
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:
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Day 4: Inner Mongolia / Xilinhot
Location: Xilinhot
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, 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:
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Day 5: Erlian / Sainshand
Location: Sainshand
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
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
Accommodation Name: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, 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:
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Day 7: Sainshand / Overnight Train
Location: Sainshand
Accommodation: Overnight Train
Accommodation Name: Overnight Train
Meals Included: Breakfast, 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:
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Day 8: Ulaanbaatar / Khustai National Park
Location: Ulaanbaatar
Accommodation: Tourist ger camp
Accommodation Name: 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:
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Day 9: Khustai National Park
Location: Khustai National Park
Accommodation: Tourist ger camp
Accommodation Name: Tourist ger camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, 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:
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Day 10: Ulaanbaatar
Location: Ulaanbaatar
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
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
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Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights), Overnight train (1 night), Tourist ger camp (2 nights) -
Meals
7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners -
Chifeng - Chifeng Museum
Visit the Chifeng Museum to learn about the area's mix of steppe and Mongolian culture.
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Inner Mongolia - Huanggangliang National Forest Park
Explore the Huanggangliang National Forest Park, home to Huanggang Peak and glacial valleys.
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Inner Mongolia - Asihatu Stone Forest
Visit the Asihatu Stone Forest, known for its rare stone formations shaped by wind and rain.
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Inner Mongolia - Gongge'er Grasslands
Experience the Gongge'er Grasslands, with rivers and wild deer roaming the area.
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Inner Mongolia - Hunshandake Sandy Land
Explore the Hunshandake Sandy Land, a famous water desert in China.
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Sainshand - Noyon Khutagt Museum
Visit the Noyon Khutagt Museum, dedicated to the Lama of the Gobi.
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Sainshand - Khamriin Monastery, Caves & Mongolian Shambala
Explore the Khamriin Monastery and the surrounding caves and energy center known as Mongolian Shambala.
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Sainshand - Mountain of Wishes
Climb the Mountain of Wishes and make a wish at the top.
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Sainshand - Camel Herder Family Visit & Traditional Home-cooked Lunch
Visit a camel herder family and enjoy a traditional home-cooked lunch.
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Ulaanbaatar - Chinggis Khaan Statue
Visit the Chinggis Khaan Statue and enjoy views from the horse's mane.
What's Not Included
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Single Supplement
A single supplement is available for booking, excluding shared accommodation on certain days.
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Passport Copy Requirement
A scanned copy of the personal details page of your passport is required 40 days before departure for train ticket purchase.
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VPN and Payment Apps in China
A VPN is needed to access popular apps in China, and WeChat or Alipay is required for payments.
Transport
Train , Overnight train , Private vehicle
Accommodation
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATIONThe 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 BASISAccommodation 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 TIMEThroughout 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 ACCOMMODATIONIf 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.
Mode of Transport
Travel on this tour includes a mix of train journeys, including an overnight train, and private vehicle transfers, providing a comfortable and scenic way to explore the diverse landscapes of Mongolia and China.
Accommodation
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis, with occasional alternative arrangements due to availability. Facilities may be shared, and check-in times may vary. Pre/post-trip accommodation may require room changes.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of accommodation can I expect during the Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure?
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis, with occasional alternative arrangements due to availability. You may share facilities and rooms with passengers from other trips. There are also shared accommodations on the overnight train and in the ger camp.
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Will I have the opportunity to experience local culture during the tour?
Yes, you will have several opportunities to experience local culture, such as visiting a camel herder family for a traditional home-cooked lunch and exploring the nomadic way of life in Mongolia.
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What unique experiences are included in the Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure?
Unique experiences include visiting the Mountain of Wishes where you can whisper your wishes, exploring the Asihatu Stone Forest with its rare stone formations, and seeing the Chinggis Khaan Statue in Ulaanbaatar.
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What kind of wildlife might I see during the tour?
In Khustai National Park, you may see free-roaming wild horses, Golden Eagles, falcons, and vultures during a leader-led hike.
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Are there any special requirements for traveling in China during the tour?
Yes, you will need to set up a VPN to access popular apps and websites in China, and you should set up WeChat or Alipay for payments. A scanned copy of your passport is also required 40 days before departure for train ticket purchases.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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Terms and Conditions