Thorn Tree travel forum

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1. For weather there are average temperatures here: Temps along the TransMong route but I also suggest looking at www.wunderground.com and other historical weather sites.

2. Yes, you can visit the Gobi and go horseback riding all year round, even when it is very cold.

3. It doesn't pay to go to Mongolia for 4-5 days. The train is 30 hours in each direction plus an overland trip to the Gobi takes several days in each direction as well.

There is only one through train per week in each direction. Train ticket costs depend upon the class of travel but the upper price is 115 USD and the lower price is about 85 USD or perhaps less. Tickets cannot be bought at the train station in Beijing but must be bought through an agency or CITS. 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 or Bill Wang of EaseTravel at easetravel@hotmail.com or bill@easetravel.com. Reportedly these companies 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 them to your address book so that your spam filter does not "Eat" their responses. You can buy the return ticket

There are limited flights from China to Mongolia and back. Air China, MIAT and AeroMongolia.

4. You would need a double entry Chinese visa and a Mongolian visa. These cannot be arranged on the train but must be arranged in advance.

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.

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Hi Daniel,

It's definitely possible to travel in Mongolia at this time, but like Ruth said, it will also take time. Travelling to Mongolia and back on train would definitely be the cheapest option, but you would need the time to fit two 30 train journeys into your itinerary.

Travel to the Gobi in winter, although possible, is expensive as the tourist infrastructure has all but closed down. Flying there and back would be the quickest way, but there are only two flights a week and these are often cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. To travel overland would be expensive and time consuming.

However, there are interesting places within easy reach of Ulaanbaatar, and after all, you'd get to see a fair bit of the Gobi from the train!

You could easily go horse riding in Terelj National Park, or in Khustai Nuruu, home of the wild Przewalski horse. You could visit the small monastery in Bogd Khan Uul National Park, or the huge working monastery of Amarbayasgalant Khiid. Winter is also a fascinating and beautiful time to be in Mongolia - so long as you are prepared for the cold!

Good luck with your plans!

Mongolia tours and expeditions, guesthouse and general advice:
myurl

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see my new post above

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Here is a link to the post that Tourist4life mentioned: visa and train info

Ruth

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First check: Everbrite's travel pages, 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.

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.

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Hi Daniel,

During december and January would be cold in Mongolia, I think it'd be interesting to visit Mongolia during its winter time along with lots of snow. I sugget you to contact with Mongolian tour operators for your trip, otherwise in winder harsh time, it'd be difficult to organize your tour by yourself. I recommend you a company "Chinggis Nomads" , which is local tour operator and is available to organize trips all the year. Their website was: www.chinggis-nomads.com
The train ticket from Beijing to Mongolia is about 800RMB.

Good luck!

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Hi everyone!!

Thanks very much for all the help. Its been really useful. It seems like it will take too much time to go to Mongolia considering that I got only a week in Beijing. Im thinking of going this summer instead. Thanks for helping me out to make a good decision.

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Hi Daniel

Its really nice to hear someone travel to Mongolia in Winter, of course it will be cold but not 50*degree. ;-). My friend, he will come also end of the December and he has chosen Khuvsgul National Park, where is great pure lake and Reindeer riders live. I think, according to your trip days, it would be nice to visit Khustai National Park, Terelj National park. There you could to ride a Mongolian wonderful horses, see and take a pictures of wild horses / Predziwalsky/, and of course visit nomad family. I promise you, that would be great ! So than you need local tour operator company, which can be organize your winter trip. I suggest you one tour operator, which organizes really nice trips in Mongolia. also they are responsible anytime.
visit this page www. ashihai.mn

best wishes and have a nice journey in Mongolia

Muujig