Post on 05-Apr-2018
7/31/2019 Trans Siberian Railway 4 Trans Mongolian Preview
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Why Go?The Trans-Mongolian route is the most diverse leg of the
cross-continental journey, cutting across three distinct cul-
tures, landscapes and languages. It includes some of the
most awe-inspiring sights of the long journey, not the least
of which is the Great Wall of China, but also the Gobi Desert
and the vast Mongolian steppes, still the domain of horse-
bound nomads. The major jumping-offpoint is Ulaanbaatar.
Many travellers plan their visit around the colourful Naad-am Festival, but a visit any time of year reveals a surprisingly
fast-paced city with great cultural attractions and heady
nightlife. Before heading for Mongolia from Russia, pause
to explore Ulan-Ude, where you could leave the train briefly
for a minibus ride to the border, taking in the historic towns
of Novoseleginsk and Kyakhta. The China leg is a relatively
short hop but has its own unique character, highlighted by
the beguiling Yungang Caves near Dtng.
When to Go
mid-Jul Naadamgrinds Ulaan-baatar to a haltto make way forwrestling, archeryand horse racing.
Aug Prime timefor lounging inUlaanbaatarsopen-air cafes,swapping travelstories.
Sep Autumnbrings changingcolours in for-ested areas andsmaller touristcrowds.
F DNOSAJJMAMJ
Ulaanbaatar
C/F Temp Rainfall inches/mm
0
2/50
4/100
6/150
-50/-58
-30/-22
-10/14
10/50
30/86
-40/-40
-20/-4
0/32
20/68
Kyakhta, Russia ............269Ulaanbaatar,Mongolia .......................270Around Ulaanbaatar.....284rlin (Erenhot),China ............................286Dtng, China...............286
Route Info Distance: 2217km Duration: Two days six
hours
Time zones: Ulan-Ude:Moscow +5; Ulaanbaatarand Dtng: Moscow +4
Best Places toStay & Eat Lotus Guesthouse (p277) Zaya Backpacker Hostel
(p277)
Ulaanbaatar Hotel (p277) Tngti Bngun hotel
(p289)
Millies Espresso cafe(p278)
Mongolians restaurant(p278)
The Trans-MongolianRoute
Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
7/31/2019 Trans Siberian Railway 4 Trans Mongolian Preview
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T
HE
TRANS-MONGOLIANROUTE
T
HE
TRANS-MONGOLIAN
ROUTE
(Shnx)Shaanxi
AimagTv
AimagDornogov
Aimagmngov
AimagSkhbaatar
SumberGov
AimagDornod
AimagSelenge
AimagKhentii
Dundgov Aimag
Hbi
Inner Mongolia
Nailakh
Zagustay
Bdlng
Altanbulag
Novoselenginsk
Zamyn-drlin (Erenhot)
Znkharaa
Borzya
Choir
Skhbaatar
Mandalgov
Choibalsan
Baruun Urt
Sainshand
Dtng
Jnng
Zhngjikou
HohhotBIJNG
Tarskaya
Zaudinsky
Darkhan
Ulan-Ude
BaikalLake
(Goose Lake)Gusinoe Ozero
River
Yellow
UldzR
iver
C H I N A
C H I N AR U S S I A
M O N G O L I A
Khiid
Mandshir
AreaProtected
Uul StrictlyBogdkhan
KhiidKhamaryn
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
CavesYungang
ParkNationalKhustain
Kyakhta
Mongolian Steppes
Ulaanbaatar
Other Railway Lines
Trans-Mongolian & Trans-Manchurian Routes
Main Trans-Siberian Route
180 miles0
300 km0
1 Enjoying a meal of boiledmutton and fermented mares
milk in a ger (yurt) on the vast
Mongolian steppes (p285)
2Attending a mysticalceremony at the countrys
largest monastery, Ulaan-
baatars Gandan Khiid (p272)
3Browsing through thecollection of stuffed animals,
curios and artefacts atUlaanbaatars Winter Palace
of the Bogd Khan (p272)
4 Spotting rare wild horsesat Khustain National Park
(p285)
5 Staring in wonder atthe 51,000 Buddhist statues
inside the Yungang Caves
(p288) near Dtng
6Exploring the antiquatedtown of Kyakhta (p269) on the
MongolianRussian border,
once home to a thriving trading
post on the ancient tea route
7Celebrating Naadam(p280), Mongolias mid-
summer festival that features
the countrys best wrestlers,
archers and race horses
Trans-Mongolian Route Highlights