Trans-Mongolian

18 days from Moscow to Shanghai

Overview

Day 1-2: Moscow
Day 3: Moscow > Irkutsk
Day 4: Irkutsk
Day 5: Baikal Lake
Day 6: Irkutsk > Ulaanbaatar
Day 7: Ulaanbaatar
Day 8: Gorkhi Terelj National Park
Day 9: Hustai National Park
Day 10: Ulaanbaatar > Beijing
Day 11: Beijing
Day 12: Mutianyu Great Wall
Day 13: Beijing
Day 14: Beijing > Shanghai
Day 15: Zhujiajiao
Day 16-18: Shanghai

Low Cost Flight Moscow – Irkutsk: Pobeda Airlines
Online Train Tickets: Russian Train Tickets


Detailed Trans-Mongolian Itinerary

DSC-0195.jpgDay 1 – 2: Moscow

Distance: Walking distance
Highlights: 2 full days to visit Moscow’s highlights (The Kremlin, Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral, Old Arbat street, etc)
Stay: GoodMood Hostel

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Day 3: Moscow > Irkutsk

Distance: Flight to Irkutsk (4.220km – 5h:45m)
Highlights: Last day in Moscow discovering the Moscow International Business Center and around.
Stay: Overnight Flight

DSC-0262.jpgDay 4: Irkutsk

Distance: Walking distance
Highlights: Enjoy walking around Irkutsk, the facto capital of Eastern Siberia.
Stay:Montana Hostel

DSC-0341 (1).jpgDay 5: Baikal Lake

Distance: Bus Irkutsk – Listvyanka – Irkutsk (140km – 2h:00m)
Highlights: Hike a small section of the Great Baikal Trail and spend the rest of the day around the lake.
Stay: Montana Hostel

DSC-0388.jpgDay 6: Irkutsk > Ulaanbaatar

Distance: Train (520km – 22h:40m)
Highlights: Enjoy life on board while passing through the Siberian landscapes.
Stay: Overnight Train

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Day 7: Ulaanbaatar

Distance: Walking Distance
Highlights: Full day to visit Ulaanbaatar’s highlights (Sükhbaatar Square, Naran Tuul Market, Gandan Khiid, Zaisan Memorial, etc)
Stay: Wonder Mongolia Guest House

DSC-0501.jpgDay 8: Gorkhi Terelj National Park

Distance: Car with driver (155km – 3h:15m)
Highlights: Visit Chinggis Khaan statue complex and hike to the Aryapala Meditation Temple.
Stay: Wonder Mongolia Guest House

DSC-0614.jpgDay 9: Hustai National Park

Distance: Car with driver (205km – 3h:15m)
Highlights: Spend the day at Hustai in search of the Przewalski wild horses.
Stay: Wonder Mongolia Guest House

DSC-0658.jpgDay 10: Ulaanbaatar > Beijing

Distance: Train (1.170km – 32h:00m)
Highlights: Enjoy life on board while crossing The Gobi Desert.
Stay: Overnight Train

DSC-0650.jpgDay 11: Beijing

Distance: Walking Distance
Highlights: Arrive to Beijing at midday and spend the afternoon walking through the hutongs around Gulou street.
Stay: Sofu Hotel

DSC-0702.jpgDay 12: Mutianyu Great Wall

Distance: Car with driver (155km – 3h:00m)
Highlights: Wake up early in the morning to visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Make sure to be there around 7:00 a.m to have on of the new seven wonders of the world all for yourself.
Stay: Sofu Hotel

DSC-0021.jpgDay 13: Beijing

Distance: Walking Distance
Highlights: Discover Beijing main attractions (Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, etc).
Stay: Sofu Hotel

DSC-0048.jpgDay 14: Beijing > Shanghai

Distance: High Speed Train (1.318km – 5h:30m)
Highlights: Last day in Beijing discovering the local cuisine. Take the high speed train to Shanghai in the afternoon.
Stay: Shanghai Blue Mountain Bund

DSC-0112.jpgDay 15: Zhujiajiao 

Distance: Metro (100km – 3h:00m)
Highlights: Enjoy a day trip to the ancient water town of Zhujiajiao dubbed the “Venice of the East”.
Stay: Shanghai Blue Mountain Bund

DSC-0136.jpgDay 16-18: Shanghai

Distance: Walking Distance
Highlights: 2 full days to visit Shanghai’s highlights (The Bund, Pudong Financial District, French Concession, etc)
Stay: Shanghai Blue Mountain Bund