Thorn Tree travel forum

1

I don't think you can buy this ticket from the train station. In fact, I am pretty sure that it must be purchased through CITS or through a travel agency. At last report, tickets at the CITS office were available for the trains departing 3.5 weeks in advance. So, unless you plan to be in China in late May, I would order in advance.

I am told that the price of the ticket is about 85 USD. CITS charges 99 USD and Ocean Travel charges 95 USD. I'd say that this is a fair deal for a ticket that you probably can't get at the last minute at the end of June. In fact, you may already be too late to get this ticket given that summer travelers converge on UB for Nadaam in early July.

Try contacting CITS, www.cits.net or Richard Tian of Ocean Travel, whose email is oceantravelcn@yahoo.com.cn or richards@public3.bta.net.cn. Reportedly Richard and his company are quite reliable about obtaining the tickets at a fair price and delivering them during the day to your hostel or hotel in Beijing. Be sure to add him to your address book so that your spam filter does not "Eat" his response.

Last summer many people traveled from Beijing to Erlian/Erenhot via overnight train, the crossed the border and took the local Mongolian overnight train. Some even had trouble getting last minute tickets for these trains. Good luck getting this ticket.

Ruth

First check: Everbrite's travel pages, the New RU sticky,and New RU train sticky

Since I have taken the time to answer your question, it would be nice if you took the time to respond as to whether the information was helpful.

2

I've used Ocean Travel as well and found them very reliable.

However, OP wants to travel from Ulan Bataar to Beijing - so I'm not sure if using a Beijing agent will be any help.

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3

Try Legend Tour or one of the guesthouses in Ulan Bator. Unfortunately I don't know of any other reliable travel agencies and Legend does mark up their tickets rather excessively.

Again, even from UB there have been multiple reports in past years of people not being able to get tickets at the last minute.

Ruth

First check: Everbrite's travel pages, the New RU sticky,and New RU train sticky

Since I have taken the time to answer your question, it would be nice if you took the time to respond as to whether the information was helpful.

4

Thanks - Ruth- you mentioned first I should be able to contact CITS - then the second option is to contact a Mongolian agency. I sent an email to support-en@cits.com.cn last week on if they can purchase the ticket for me - I have not heard from them. Is that the correct address to enquire or is there another address for CITS that I should send email to?
Also I see they have an office in southern CA. Has anyone tried contacting CITS branch in US to purchase train tickets?

Thanks

Ravi

5

Check CITS website which is cits.net

Ruth

First check: Everbrite's travel pages, the New RU sticky,and New RU train sticky

Since I have taken the time to answer your question, it would be nice if you took the time to respond as to whether the information was helpful.