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Great service
I really enjoyed my trip from Ulaanbaatar to Moscow. The staff on board were so friendly and made delicious soup everyday. The 2nd class carriage was comfortable and I was very happy and relaxed.
Distance
6266 km
1 train
on the route
Runs
once a week
Travel time
4 days
39 stops
on the way
Price from
380 USD
The lone Ulaanbaatar (Ulan Bator) to Moscow train departs daily, making 39 stops over the 6266 km journey. It takes 4 days to run from Mongolia’s capital to Moscow, with the same train making the daily return Moscow to Ulaanbaatar trip as well.
based on 25 customer reviews
You can take one of three, actually - the Ulaanbaatar to Irkutsk (#305/306), the Beijing to Ulaanbaatar to Moscow (#003/004), and the Ulaanbaatar to Moscow (#005/006).
Generally, no. You should carry sufficient cash for your trip.
In Russia you need Russian rubles (RUB). When the train crosses into Mongolia, you need Mongolian Tughrik (MNT).
Unfortunately, Wi-fi is not available on this route.
Yes, this train does have a restaurant car. Meals are available from about $5 to $20. You may also bring along your own food and drink. Passenger carriages do not have showers, though the staff car will have a shower that can be used for a small fee.
The five-day train journey from Ulaanbaatar to Moscow showcases a rich transition in topography, religion, language and of course, culture. It’s best to pause to take in what several stops have to offer. Ulaanbaatar is a fantastic place to start a train journey. Before departing from Mongolia’s most populous city, the Gobi desert south of the city is interesting to visit. Beijing can be reached from Ulaanbaatar in only one day. The train ride itself offers diverse scenery, from forests, to steppes, to cities. Not to mention the experience of traveling internationally and seeing the diversity within Russia itself when moving from east to west. The Ulaanbaatar to Moscow train journey is unforgettable.
Ulaanbaatar: As Mongolia’s only true city, it’s interesting, rustic and a relatively densely populated city. Half of all Mongols reside there. Isolated and unique, its religious monuments and venerated cuisine make it a sensory-pleasing experience. As Mongolian warriors were famous for their exploits atop milk-producing horses that provided them mobile sustenance, horse milk is still steamed and sold today. Delicious local foods to try include stir fry and stews. Because of Buddhist influence, vegetarians won’t struggle to find options. Visit the Gandan monastery, which formerly housed many renowned monks, such as the thirteenth Dalai Lama. The monastery thrives today, with over 150 monks currently residing there. Visitors can witness the daily throat-chanting prayer sessions.
Northern Mongolia: Rolling grasslands in the thinly populated areas of the Ulaanbaatar Moscow train route are delightful to watch out the window. Yurts, or traditional Mongolian homes, dot the landscape every few miles. Nearby pens with livestock, depending on the area, might have goats or cows. Some areas even have reindeer or camels. Since cars are not within the means of many Mongolians, horses are common. If you can enlist a family to take you out on their horses, it will be worth it. Mongolians are famous for their horse-riding skills from a young age.
Ulan-Ude: When passing into Russia, passengers will slowly notice the topography changing. The grasslands give way to forests of birch trees. The Buryat culture in Ulan-Ude is more akin to Mongolian life, although they reside in Russia. Tibetan Buddhism has stayed strong and many impressive temples remain in the city. Still, a twenty-five-foot bust of Lenin’s head is one of Ulan-Ude’s principal sights. Passengers will not doubt that they have indeed crossed into Russia.
Irkutsk: The main attraction of Irkutsk is nearby Lake Baikal, although this city is quaint and attractive. Large, ornate wooden houses still stand, and with an interesting history. Some larger wooden mansions were constructed for the noble Decembrists who were exiled to Irkutsk after rebelling against the Tsar. You can even stay in a few of the wooden houses that have been converted to bed and breakfasts and café’s along the main street.
Novosibirsk: This capital city of Siberia has impressive and mighty structures. The neoclassical opera house is among the biggest in the world. A metro bridge over the Ob river is also imposing. Outside of the city, a town constructed for Soviet scientists, Akademgorodok is still a center of higher learning and research.
Yekaterinburg: Although it was home to one of the darkest events in Russia’s history, the murder of the Romanov family, today Yekaterinburg is a funky and bright place that welcomes tourists. This Siberian/Ural town sports colorful lines on the streets that point tourists toward the sights. The lines will also guide you to some of the best street art in the country. A QWERTY keyboard monument is quirky.
Nizhny Novgorod: A medieval Slav’ city with a rich and prosperous history, that has retained a beautiful cobble-stoned pedestrian area. It’s a great place to spend some time if you can. Between the Kremlin atop the hill and beautiful buildings trimmed in gold with green roofs and interesting spires, it has no shortage of architectural and religious sights. A cable car over the Volga is used by the locals as regular transport. A massive staircase descending to the Volga can help work off extra calories gained while sampling the local Russian food.
Witnessing the transition from Mongolia’s largest city to the countryside, where life is more closely intertwined with the land and fauna, is only the first delight of this train journey. Continuing on to Ulan-Ude, Buryat culture is interesting and colorful. After leaving Ulan-Ude, Buddhist influence will fade as you travel deeper into Russia. The geographic splendor of Lake Baikal dominates the area near Irkutsk, which should not be overlooked as a place to spend a few hours at least. Novosibirsk is another large city on a river to mix things up. Serving as an early gateway to European Russia, Yekaterinburg is interesting and vibrant. Finally, before reaching Moscow, you’ll enjoy the gem that is Nizhny Novgorod, rich with history, monuments and beautiful buildings.
Get ready to be whisked along on a smooth and magical ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
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