March 6, 2015 — Every summer, countless travelers transit between Beijing and Ulan Bator and vice versa. Those who prefer not to fly—and there are many, understandably—consider a train journey across the legendary Transmongolian line.

The train carries you through northern China, allowing you to traverse Inner Mongolia and the Gobi Desert. The Mongols, known for their cheerful nature, mean you might well spend much of the journey sharing a bottle of vodka with locals, playing cards, or simply chatting. In short, it's an exceptional experience we strongly recommend. Here are some tips to make the most of it…

When Should You Go?

If your goal is to experience the Trans-Siberian route to the fullest, concentrating little on each individual country, then without hesitation I'd suggest traveling off-season, from October to April. You'll encounter very few other Western travelers on the train, guaranteeing an authentic local atmosphere with Mongolian merchants transporting tons of goods from China to resell in Mongolia.

If you wish to spend time in Mongolia, you'll prefer traveling closer to the warmer months. June remains definitively the best month. It's not yet the "rush" of July and August, and yet it may be the warmest month of the year—not to mention it's the flowering season.

How Long Does the Journey Take?

The total journey lasts approximately 28 hours and 30 minutes. 2019 Schedule:

• From Mongolia, the train departs Ulan Bator at 7:15 AM, arriving the next morning at 2:35 PM in Beijing.
• From Beijing, departure is at 8:05 AM, arriving at 1:20 PM in the Mongolian capital. Allow at least 4 hours for the border crossing.

Are the Trains Daily?

On the Ulan Bator/Beijing route (and vice versa), trains are not daily. Throughout the year there are 2 trains per week. From June to October, an additional train is put into service. Generally, we have:

• The weekly train Ulan Bator/Beijing. It operates year-round, departing Ulan Bator on Thursdays and Beijing on Tuesdays.

Warning: in July and August this train fills extremely quickly—virtually, at least—since many travel agencies pre-book all seats in advance. You can reserve tickets through these agencies, but be aware your car may then be booked exclusively by foreign travelers... less fun. By booking through Horseback, for example, you'll get a ticket released for local purchase, meaning a "mixed" car. However, for a ticket in July or August, you'll need to book at least 3 months in advance.

• The Russian Train. It's possible to board the Ulan Bator/Beijing segment on the Russian train running the Moscow/Beijing route. It stops in Ulan Bator on Sundays and departs Beijing on Wednesdays.

For this train, it's nearly impossible to reserve in advance from Mongolia. To obtain a ticket, you must go to the station the evening before departure and purchase a ticket released at the last moment by Moscow. Guarantees are therefore weak, and in July or August it's unpredictable. We have a good contact at the station allowing us to purchase a ticket for the Sunday train several weeks in advance, and for small individual requests (fewer than 5 tickets) we can usually provide them without too much trouble, though nothing is 100% guaranteed.

• The Supplementary Train. In July and August, by far the easiest to book, and bookable up to 30 days before departure under normal circumstances.

The supplementary train schedule is announced late, typically during March. In practice, it follows a simple rule: in odd years it's a Mongolian train departing Ulan Bator on Saturday and Beijing on Monday. In even years it's a Chinese train departing Beijing on Saturday and Ulan Bator on Friday.

Should You Book in Advance?

As you'll have gathered, from June to September, booking in advance is nearly mandatory. Outside peak season, the train rarely fills, and you can arrange something at the last minute. Certain dates fill extremely quickly:

• The first train to Beijing after the Naadam Festival, held July 11-12
• Late August/early September: many students return to China for the school year, and seats are snapped up.
• Around the Lunar New Year. Most Mongols living in China return home just before Tsagaan Sar, and leave again after the holidays. If you're traveling between mid-January and late February, pay close attention to Lunar New Year dates!

What Does a Train Ticket Cost?

Booking train tickets through an agency costs slightly more than purchasing directly at the station. Tickets are scarce and highly sought after in summer, and to secure reservations easily, it's often necessary to be particularly attentive to station staff. Let's say good relationships take time to establish and require maintenance!

Ulan Bator/Beijing direction: A ticket in a 4-berth compartment costs €200 per person, while a deluxe compartment (2 berths) costs €310.

Beijing/Ulan Bator direction: Tickets are more expensive in this direction. Expect €260 for a 4-berth compartment ticket, while a deluxe compartment reaches €360.

That's Expensive! Are There More Economical Options?

Certainly these train tickets aren't economical, and a round-trip by train costs about as much as flying. It's therefore a journey undertaken for the experience it provides, not because it's economical. The good news, though, is that if this option exceeds your budget or you couldn't book a Transmongolian ticket, there's a very economical backup solution requiring no more than 1-2 weeks' advance reservation, even in peak summer. Simply book from Ulan Bator a train to Zamiin Uud (the Sino-Mongolian border).

This train departs daily from Ulan Bator at 4:00 PM and costs less than €20 (32,000 MNT). You arrive at Zamiin Uud at 7:00 AM the next morning, where numerous minibuses await to offer you a border crossing to Erlian. This will cost you 50 RMB (€7). The crossing takes about an hour. The minibus will drop you at the bus station where you can book your sleeper bus ticket to Beijing. The bus departs at 5:00 PM and costs 150/200 RMB (€25/30). It arrives in Beijing during the night around 3:00 AM, but the driver will let you sleep on the bus until the metro opens. In short, for approximately €50, you can travel from Ulan Bator to Beijing, and vice versa, in 36 hours.

From Beijing, it's the same procedure. Note only that buses to Erlian depart from different bus stations. Your guesthouse will point you to one.

Charlène — Nomadays

SEO writer from Nomadays' earliest days, Charlène has become content manager and head of the communications division, accompanying the adventure with passion and loyalty since its inception. After seven years living in Asia—from China to Thailand, passing through Mongolia and South Korea—she has made travel a way of being in the world. A lover of words, nature, and human connection, she strives to convey in her writing a sensitive, engaged, and responsible vision of tourism. Each article is for her a bridge between curiosity, respect, and wonder.