Short stay in UB

Where does the private bus run by the resort go? Does the public bus between UB and Terelj - the one you mentioned earlier which departs at 11 a.m. from UB and returns from Mirage at 8 a.m. - require advance reservation or can I just buy a ticket on the bus as I am boarding?

The private bus services the resort and stops right at the front of Mirage Ger Camp. You can see it in this photo (orange & white)

http://www.trekearth.com/viewphotos.php?l=7&p=850889

I used the public bus & no reservation was necessary. Just pay as you board.

Chris:

I was wondering how you entered and departed Mongolia during your trip there in 2007. As I mentioned, I am planning to enter by bus from Ulan Ude, Russia and I am planning to depart by train to Beijing. Did you also enter and depart in a similar manner? If so, I was wondering what the scenery is like coming in to UB from the North (Siberia) and departing heading South towards Beijing?

Also, where did you stay while in UB? I am planning to stay at Zaya Hostel.

Thanks.

I entered Mongolia by train from Beijing and exited by train through UU then to Irkutsk, Bratsk, Severobaikalsk, Tynda, Komsomolsk na Amur, Khabarovsk & Vladivostok. (Did not stop in UU, although I now wish I had of.) I stayed at Zaya for most of my stay in UB & Kims GH for 1 night (too noisy & crowded) Zaya gh was good. Don't forget the smoked fish from Lake Baikal, Omul? Cheap & delicious. Vendors will sell it to you when the train stops and its also in many street markets throughout the Baikal area. If you dont like smoked fish then the local cheese is good too. Good cheese is hard to find in Korea & China so I appreciated it on fresh buttered bread rolls that much more.

I mostly travelled at night and arrived at the Russian border at midnight. I was stunned it was 29c and Siberia??? The northern part of Mongolia is more like Russia, hilly with pine trees. I did see all of The south east of Mongolia by daylight, after crossing the Chinese border near dawn. Grassland, steppes, & semi desert & very flat. A few oil & gas derricks and ger camps & camels, & not much else to see.

Chris:

I am primarily interested in the train journey between UB and Beijing. Did you take a direct train or one where you had to change at the border? Also, did you travel in the deluxe compartment? It is a long journey and so I want to be comfortable. If you did travel in the deluxe 2 person compartment, how was the experience?

One more question:

Did you travel during high season? I have heard that for June, July and August, tickets are sold out months in advance. Did you purchase advance tickets through a travel agency or did you buy each leg in that city? How far in advance did you book the train ticket between Beijing and UB?

Thanks.

I travelled in a 4 berth compartment from Beijing to UB. It stops at the border for a few hours at Erlian & the store there at the train station sells fresh fruit & vegs plus snacks, sweets, drinks & chocolate. I would stock up on food at the Central Department store in UB, which also sold dried fruit & nuts. Can't remember if Beijing > UB was 39 hours or 30 hours? And UB > Irkutsk was 30 hours or 39 hours? I got tickets in Beijing through Bill Wang Ease travel in Chongwengmen, after booking them in Seoul via email in May. It was about $100 for a 4 berth & they were fine. 3 other foreigners & no Chinese, Russians, or Mongolians. A 2 berth was $200. You could double those prices now. July is Nadaam festival when trains are fully booked. And there are only a couple of trains a week. You should be okay in June but book asap. Weather was great in June when I went.

Good info here: http://wikitravel.org/en/Mongolia

Chris:

The train that I am looking at departs UB at 7:15 and arrives Beijing at 14:00 the next day - hence, I guess the journey time is around 30 hours. The 2 berth deluxe is now $220.

According to the information I have read, the train tracks goes along the Great Wall of China after crossing the Chinese border. I guess when traveling in the other direction (Beijing-UB), it travels through Chinese territory during the night and so you did not see any of the sights in China, right?

Also, when you mention the central store in UB for food supplies, are you referring to the State Department Store on Peace Ave? According to the map, it is quite close to Zaya Hostel, right?

Prices haven't gone up too much then. The 4 berth was fine. It would be about $110. Yes 30 hours sounds right UB to Beijing. Irkutsk to UB must be the 39 hour sector. The train left Beijing late afternoon and you do get glimpses of the distant wall. Yes the Central (State) Department store is on Peace Avenue close to Zaya's GH. Good for stocking up on fresh batteries, tissues and lots of other things. Most of the restaurants are along Peace Avenue. If you're out late at night travel in a group back to the gh for safety. A pair of girls staying there came in at 11 pm, and someone followed her back to the gh. They ran off when one of them screamed. I try to get back early, & stick to well lit streets. And some of the street kids in UB might try to pickpocket. Money belt concealed under clothes is a good idea. Give beggars food (a peach or apple eg,) instead of money or candy.