coonass - You may need to prebook the return depending upon when you are planning to travel. In the period just after Naadam (11-13 July) you will need to prebook as there are lots of travelers passing through and out of Mongolia then. #24 train departs on Sunday, Thursday and this summer on Saturdays. Try contacting Legendtour.ru which is based in Ulan Baotr. Also try contacting Ocean Travel (Richard Tian or his assistants) while based in Beijing they have an office in UB as well. The 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. Be sure to add him to your address book so that your spam filter does not "Eat" his response.
Ruth
Question about buying tickets from Ocean Travel ....
I have been trying to pre-book my tickets with Ocean Travel, exchanging e-mails for the past couple of months. We are supposed to be leaving Beijing for UB on Aug. 7th, but they still have not confirmed actually getting the tickets yet. So far, they are quick to respond to my e-mails, but keep saying the tickets aren't available yet. I was wondering when these tickets actually go on sale, as I am starting to get a little nervous!
Thanks,
speselk
Tickets don't go on sale until either 30 or 45 days prior to departure for international trains.
Ruth
They got mine just a week before. I asked several times when they would be purchased and they said not until about a week before. Sure enough, a week before, I got an email confirming they had purchased them. I picked them up in their offices in Beijing the day before I left.
Like you, I was EXTREMELY nervous...but they came through just fine. Probably 5-10 others on my train had purchased their tickets via Ocean Travel...they have an office in UB also and can help with onward tickets...
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