East and Central Asia

Trans-Mongolian

Beijing to Ulaanbaatar and the Gobi by rail

18 days

Duration

$40

Daily budget

Moderate

Difficulty

Jun – Sep

Best months

One of the great train journeys. Beijing to the Mongolian steppe, then ger camps, camel treks and the Gobi before looping back. Sleeper class is your accommodation for two nights.

The route, stop by stop

🇨🇳 Beijing · China

Great Wall at Jinshanling, hutong hostels, then board.

3 nights$42/day

🚉 Erlian border · China

Bogie-changing overnight — the strangest part of the ride.

1 nights$30/day

🇲🇳 Ulaanbaatar · Mongolia

Sort Gobi tours, Gandan monastery, black market gear.

3 nights$38/day

🐎 Terelj · Mongolia

Closest ger camps and horse riding to the capital.

2 nights$40/day

🐫 Gobi Desert · Mongolia

Flaming Cliffs, singing dunes, camel herders' gers.

5 nights$45/day

🏯 Kharkhorin · Mongolia

Ancient Mongol capital and Erdene Zuu monastery.

2 nights$38/day

🏙️ Ulaanbaatar · Mongolia

Hot shower, Naadam if you timed it right, fly out.

2 nights$38/day

7 stops · 18 nights

≈ $727 total

Totals are estimates built from the per-night budgets above — your real spend will vary.

Getting around

→Trans-Mongolian K23 sleeper
→Local buses in Mongolia
→Shared 4x4 tours in the Gobi

Don't forget

✓Instant noodles for the train
✓Warm layer — steppe nights are cold
✓Wet wipes
✓Cash tugrik outside UB

Ready to walk it?

Save the stops as a trip, track your budget and find hostels along the way.

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