Search

Intrepid Travel · Escorted small group tour

Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure

Epic rail journey from Beijing through Inner Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar on two overnight trains

Illustration of Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure

Intrepid Travel's Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure is an 11-day escorted small group journey from Beijing through Inner Mongolia into Mongolia, ending near Ulaanbaatar. The trip blends two distinctly different rail experiences: a high-speed bullet train from Beijing to the Inner Mongolian city of Chifeng, then the legendary Trans-Mongolian Railway as a sleeper train from Erlian southeastward through the Gobi Desert to Sainshand, crossing the China-Mongolia border at Zamiin-Uud. A second overnight sleeper train carries the group north from Sainshand to Ulaanbaatar. Between trains, days explore Inner Mongolia's grasslands, desert, stone forests, and mountain parks by private vehicle, with visits to the Noyon Khutagt Museum, Khamriin Monastery, and a camel herding family. The final days are spent in a traditional ger camp in Khustai National Park, where a guided hike offers chances to spot wild Przewalski horses and golden eagles. This itinerary suits first-time rail travellers eager to ride an famous route in a structured group setting, as well as repeat rail enthusiasts collecting major train journeys.

What to know before you look closer

  • The single supplement (AUD 4,978) is substantially higher than half the double-room rate, adding approximately AUD 850 above the per-person share.
  • Day 5 involves a long drive (6.5 hours from Xilinhot to Erlian) followed immediately by an 8-hour overnight train journey with a border crossing; expect an exhausting day.
  • Overnight sleeper compartments are 4-berth shared cabins, not private rooms; you will share with strangers on both sleeper legs.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Hotel

    Beijing

    Touch down in China's capital, Beijing. Trip begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet your trip leader and travel companions. After the meeting, optional dinner available, Beijing duck is recommended.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Hotel

    Reshui

    Bid farewell to Beijing and hop on a bullet train to the Inner Mongolian city of Chifeng. Stop for lunch, then visit the Chifeng Museum to learn about the area's mix of steppe and Mongolian culture. Afterwards, take a private transfer to the town of Reshui. Travel time approximately 6 hours.

  3. Day 3overnight: Hotel

    Reshui

    Head out to Huanggangliang National Forest Park in the remnants of the Greater Xing'an Mountains, featuring Huanggang Peak at 2029 m altitude with glacial and U-shaped valleys. After lunch, visit Asihatu Stone Forest, rare stone formations shaped over 2 million years. Finish the day at Gongge'er Grasslands with rivers and wild deer.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4overnight: Hotel

    Xilinhot

    Drive to Hunshandake Sandy Land at the southern end of Xilingol Grassland. Visit Ulihan Desert Campsite for a BBQ lunch with scenic lake and grassland backdrop. Visit Dali Lake, one of the four famous lakes in Inner Mongolia, then head to Xilinhot for the night.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  5. Day 5railovernight: Hotel

    Erlian / Trans-Mongolia Railway / Sainshand (Border crossing into Mongolia)

    After breakfast, drive from Xilinhot to Erlian (approx. 6.5 hours), arriving around midday. Stop for lunch and meet the new leader for the Mongolian portion. Board the Trans-Mongolian Railway late afternoon headed to Sainshand. Stop at Zamiin-Uud for China/Mongolia border crossing (approx. 8 hours total train ride). Arrive after midnight and transfer to hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6overnight: Hotel

    Sainshand

    Walking tour of Sainshand. Visit the Noyon Khutagt Museum dedicated to the Lama of the Gobi. Drive to Khamriin Monastery, founded by Noyon Khutagt. Hike to caves where monks meditated for 108 continuous days and visit the energy centre known as Mongolian Shambala. Free evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  7. Day 7railovernight: Overnight Train

    Sainshand / Overnight Train

    Drive to the Mountain of Wishes, climb to the top and whisper a wish. Visit a family of camel herders for insight into nomadic life over a traditional home-cooked lunch. Return to Sainshand then board an overnight train to Ulaanbaatar.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  8. Day 8overnight: Tourist ger camp

    Ulaanbaatar / Khustai National Park

    Arrive into Ulaanbaatar around 7 am. Optional breakfast at a local cafe. Drive to the 40 m high stainless-steel Chinggis Khaan Statue with views over the valley and a small museum in the base. Lunch at a monastery cafe in Nalaikh town. Continue to Khustai National Park and settle into ger camp accommodation. Travel time approximately 4 hours.

    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  9. Day 9overnight: Tourist ger camp

    Khustai National Park

    After breakfast, embark on a leader-led hike to see wildlife including wild Przewalski horses, Golden Eagles, falcons and vultures. Drive to the Ungut Monument, a collection of 30 human-shaped stone monuments from the 7th century. Return to ger camp for a free evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  10. Day 10overnight: Hotel

    Ulaanbaatar

    Drive back to Ulaanbaatar (approx. 3 hours). Leader-led orientation walk through the city's central square. Optional lunch at a cafe. Afternoon free for shopping (cashmere, felt products) or sightseeing. Optional cultural performance featuring throat singing and traditional dancing in the evening. Optional final dinner at a local restaurant.

    Meals: Breakfast

  11. Day 11

    Ulaanbaatar

    Say 'bayartai' as your adventure draws to a close. No activities planned. Free to depart the hotel at any time.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Bullet train departs Beijing for Chifeng in Inner Mongolia, then a visit to Chifeng Museum explores the region's blend of steppe and Mongolian culture.
  • Day 5Trans-Mongolian Railway boards late afternoon from Erlian, crossing the China-Mongolia border at Zamiin-Uud over approximately 8 hours to Sainshand.
  • Day 7Climb Mountain of Wishes in Sainshand, then visit a camel herding family for a traditional home-cooked lunch before boarding the overnight train to Ulaanbaatar.
  • Day 9Leader-led hike in Khustai National Park to spot wild Przewalski horses, Golden Eagles, falcons, and vultures; visit the Ungut Monument, a collection of 7th-century stone monuments.

Included

  • 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners
  • Hotel accommodation (7 nights)
  • Overnight train accommodation (1 night)
  • Tourist ger camp accommodation (2 nights)
  • Train travel including Trans-Mongolian Railway and bullet train
  • Private vehicle transfers
  • Chifeng Museum visit
  • Huanggangliang National Forest Park visit
  • Asihatu Stone Forest visit
  • Gongge'er Grasslands visit
  • Hunshandake Sandy Land visit
  • Noyon Khutagt Museum visit (Sainshand)
  • Khamriin Monastery, Caves & Mongolian Shambala visit
  • Mountain of Wishes visit
  • Camel Herder Family Visit & Traditional Home-cooked Lunch
  • Chinggis Khaan Statue visit (Ulaanbaatar)
  • Leader-led hike in Khustai National Park
  • Ungut Stone Monuments visit
  • Services of a local group leader

Not included

  • International flights
  • China and Mongolia visas (where required)
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional activities and meals not listed as included
  • Personal expenses
  • Optional dinner on Day 1 in Beijing
  • Optional breakfast on Day 8 in Ulaanbaatar
  • Optional cultural performance (throat singing and traditional dancing) on Day 10
  • Optional final dinner on Day 10

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes a bullet train from Beijing to Chifeng, the Trans-Mongolian Railway from Erlian to Sainshand via the China-Mongolia border, and an overnight train from Sainshand to Ulaanbaatar. All train accommodation and travel costs are covered in the tour price.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Intrepid Travel provides an escorted small group tour with a trip leader throughout. A new Mongolian leader joins on Day 5 at Erlian for the Mongolia portion.
What trains are used?
A bullet train connects Beijing to Chifeng. The Trans-Mongolian Railway travels from Erlian through Zamiin-Uud border crossing to Sainshand in 4-berth sleeper compartments. An overnight train departs Sainshand for Ulaanbaatar in 4-berth sleeper compartments.
What accommodation is provided?
Seven nights in hotels (Beijing Chongwenmen Hotel in Beijing; hotels in Reshui, Xilinhot, and Sainshand; one night in Ulaanbaatar), two nights in a tourist ger camp in Khustai National Park, and one night in a 4-berth sleeper compartment on the overnight train to Ulaanbaatar.
How many meals are included?
Seven breakfasts, five lunches, and two dinners are included. Breakfast is provided most mornings except Day 1 (optional Beijing duck dinner) and Day 8 (optional local cafe breakfast). Other meals and all drinks are at your own cost.
How much walking is involved?
There is a leader-led hike in Khustai National Park, a walking tour of Sainshand, and an orientation walk through Ulaanbaatar's central square. Most days also involve moderate walking at sites such as museums, monasteries, grasslands, and the stone forest.

Similar journeys