Transportation to Mongolia

We can go in Mongolia by plane. But only the mongolian capital has international flight. Look the destination down below. There are some direct flight to Mongolia from many big city in Asia and a few of them in other country. With Aeroflot (russian company)– you can find flight to Ulaanbaatar * from Moscow for 450 US one way / 580 US return * from Oulan-Ude or from Irkutsk. With Korean AirLine (Korean company)– you can find flight to Ulaanbaatar * from Séoul for 380 US one way / 500 US return, With Air China (Chinese company)– you can find flight to Ulaanbaatar* from Beijing for one way 225 US / 430US return). With MIAT (Mongolian company)– you can find flight to Ulaanbaatar* from Berlin for 610 US one way / 930 US return, * from Irkutsk for 95 US one way / 185 US return, * from Moscow for 330 US one way / 660 US return, * from Osaka for 410 US one way / 800 US return, * from Tokyo for 450 US one way / 870 US return, * from Seoul for 380 US one way / 600 US return, * from Beijing for 225 US one way/ 430 US return). * from Milan new flight

If you want to go to Mongolia by train, you have to know that there is one rail track that cross the country from North to South. Here are the majors city to catch a train to Mongolia. Note that making this adventure is a travel by itself. Train can be confortable, but the way is long before arriving to the mongolian capital. Bying your train ticket to Mongolia can be difficult when you don’t know where to go. Here are some help to organise your travel to Mongolia.

From/To Beijing, North China:

The travel takes 30 hours and there are two trains a week. On the way from Beijing to Mongolia, the train start at 7h05 am and arrives at 13h00 the day after. The landscape is great and you’ll have a taste of Mongolia while heading in North. During you’re ride, you will be able to see the great wall and iun the morning, the Gobi desert. The train ticket must be buyed at the international office ticket in Beijing. The office is at the first floor of an hotel, 10 minutes walk in front of the main railway station.

Another way to travel from Beijing (China) to Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia):

Take the local train from Beijing central train station or the bus to Erlian. Take the shuttle bus or jeep from the Chinese side to the Mongolian border, Zammin uud. (takes about 3-4 hours to cross) Then take the daily train at 4 pm from Zammin uud to UB or there is plenty of local transportation from there.

From/To Moscow, Russia:

Depending on the train you decide to take to go in Mongolia, the travel may take about 5 days. You usually have to transfer to Ulan-Ude to catch the trans-mongolian train. Here aere some useful informations to organise your trip from Moscow by train. Don’t forget the russian visa. The big deal is to buy your train ticket to Mongolia. Some agency can arrange that for you if you don’t have the time and you don’t speak russian. These are the 2 main problems to get your own train pass. It’s usually a lot more expensive but most of us can’t avoid it! But here are some informations for those who want to organise this adventure to Mongolia by their own. There are some way to travel for a low cost to Mongolia.

International train or locals train?

The price is always more expensive for international train. So some travelers decide to take local trains until the russian-mongolian border (city of Naushki –Наушки), take antoher local train to cross the border to the first mongolian (city of Sükhbaatar –Сухбаатар). From there, you can catch a train to the Mongolian capital. This is a long adventure and you’will have to get your train ticket… which may be a big hassle… but at least, you’ll pay a lot less.

First class, second or third?

Only first class or second exists on international train to Mongolia or China. But for local train, there are three class and the last one is a very cheap way to travel to Mongolia. First class is very nice but often as expensive as plane ticket. Second class drop the price from 50%. There are some place to sleep for 4 persons int the compartiment. Then come the 3rd class, which is used by locals to travel in Russia. The price drop from another 50%. Most adventurer decide to take the 3rd class to save some money and to experience Russia with russian. This is a safe place because you’re surrounded by military, and family.