Flights not included
Now from
$1190
Was from
$1590
Days
11
Beijing lights, Gobi silence, Mongolia

Rails Across the Steppe

This 11-day journey begins in Beijing, then trades city energy for bullet trains, Inner Mongolia's grasslands, desert roads, a Trans-Mongolian rail crossing and Mongolia's wide-open steppe. It is a route for travelers who like trains, big horizons, local food, simple camps and the kind of landscapes that make a place feel much larger than the map suggests.
You will move from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar through museums, stone forests, sandy deserts, spiritual sites in Sainshand, a camel-herder family lunch, ger camp nights and Khustai National Park, where wild horses still roam.

Why you'll love this trip

  • Beijing Launch Point
    Start in China's capital, where dinner plans can easily become a Peking duck mission.
  • Inner Mongolia Grasslands
    Trade city blocks for open valleys, stone formations, wild deer and rolling green space.
  • Desert Camp Lunch
    Sit down for barbecue near Hunshandake's sandy lakes and grassland edges.
  • Trans-Mongolian Rail
    Ride a section of the legendary railway across the China-Mongolia border.
  • Gobi Spiritual Sites
    Visit Khamriin Monastery, meditation caves and Sainshand's wish-making mountain.
  • Khustai Ger Nights
    Sleep in traditional gers and look for wild horses, eagles and steppe wildlife.
This trip has a true rail-and-road rhythm: Beijing brightness, Inner Mongolian grasslands, a border train, Gobi stories and Mongolia's open steppe. It is simple, scenic and wonderfully different from a typical Asia itinerary.
Itinerary
Beijing
Inner Mongolia / Reshui
Inner Mongolia / Reshui
Inner Mongolia / Xilinhot
Erlian / Trans-Mongolian Railway / Sainshand
Sainshand
Sainshand / Overnight Train
Ulaanbaatar / Khustai National Park
Khustai National Park
Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar
Tour program
  • Welcome to China. Arrive in Beijing, where your high-altitude adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. You will meet your trip leader and fellow travelers, go over important details and get settled into the rhythm of the group. Afterward, you may want to head out together for an optional dinner. Beijing is a strong place to begin with Peking duck, and your leader can suggest good local restaurants.
  • Accommodation
    Hotel - 1 night
  • Meals
    There are no meals included on this day.
  • Special information
    Please attend the welcome meeting, as insurance details and emergency contact information are collected then. If you expect to be late, tell your travel agent or hotel reception. Check at reception or look for a lobby note for the meeting location.
  • Leave Beijing by bullet train and travel to Chifeng in China's Inner Mongolia region. After lunch with the group, visit Chifeng Museum to get a clearer sense of the area's steppe culture and Mongolian heritage. Later, continue by private transfer to Reshui, your base for exploring the grasslands and mountain scenery ahead. Settle in tonight and rest up for a full day outside tomorrow.
  • Accommodation
    Hotel - 1 night
  • Meals
    There are no meals included on this day.
  • Included activities
    • Chifeng - Chifeng Museum
  • Special information
    Today's total travel time is approximately 6 hours.
  • Head to Huanggangliang National Forest Park, set among the remains of the Greater Xing'an Mountains. The area includes Huanggang Peak, which rises to 2029 meters, along with glacial valleys, U-shaped valleys, wildflowers and broad grasslands. After lunch, visit Asihatu Stone Forest, where rare rock formations have been shaped by wind and rain over millions of years. Finish the day at Gongge'er Grasslands, a wide landscape of winding rivers, open space and roaming wildlife.
  • Accommodation
    Hotel - 1 night
  • Meals
    Breakfast
  • Included activities
    • Inner Mongolia - Huanggangliang National Forest Park
    • Inner Mongolia - Asihatu Stone Forest
    • Inner Mongolia - Gongge'er Grasslands
  • Drive to Hunshandake Sandy Land, a famous water desert at the southern end of the Xilingol Grassland. Here, spring water rises from the sand and gathers into small rivers and lakes, creating an unusual meeting of desert and grassland. In the heart of Hunshandake, stop at Ulihan Desert Campsite for a barbecue lunch with lakes and open land as the backdrop. Later, visit Dali Lake, one of Inner Mongolia's four famous lakes, before continuing to Xilinhot for the night.
  • Accommodation
    Hotel - 1 night
  • Meals
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
  • Included activities
    • Inner Mongolia - Hunshandake Sandy Land
  • Today is a travel-heavy day with a railway payoff. After breakfast, drive from Xilinhot to Erlian and arrive around midday. Stop for lunch, meet the leader for the Mongolian part of the trip, then head to the train station in the late afternoon. Board the Trans-Mongolian Railway toward Sainshand, stopping at Zamiin-Uud for the China-Mongolia border crossing. The train arrives just after midnight, and you will transfer straight to the hotel in Sainshand.
  • Accommodation
    Hotel - 1 night
  • Meals
    • Breakfast
  • Special information
    The drive from Xilinhot to Erlian is approximately 6.5 hours. The train from Erlian to Sainshand is approximately 8 hours, including the China-Mongolia border stop. Sleeper carriages are used to allow more space for rest. The train arrives in Sainshand right after midnight, but the hotel has been reserved for that night so the group can check in immediately after arrival.
  • Get to know Sainshand on a walking tour this morning. Visit the museum dedicated to Noyon Khutagt, the Lama of the Gobi, who was a writer, composer, painter, Buddhist scholar and physician. The museum preserves Buddhist artifacts that survived the Mongolian People's Republic period. Later, drive to Khamriin Monastery, founded by Noyon Khutagt in a place believed to hold spiritual energy from the Gobi Desert. North of the monastery, visit caves where monks practiced deep meditation for 108 continuous days, then take a short hike around the area, including the energy center known as Mongolian Shambala. Return to Sainshand for a free evening.
  • Accommodation
    Hotel - 1 night
  • Meals
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
  • Included activities
    • Sainshand - Noyon Khutagt Museum
    • Sainshand - Khamriin Monastery, caves and Mongolian Shambala
  • After breakfast, drive to the Mountain of Wishes. Local belief says that if you climb to the top and whisper a wish, it may come true, so take the stairs, enjoy the valley view and make your own quiet wish. Later, visit a camel-herder family to learn more about nomadic life in the Gobi. Share a traditional home-cooked lunch and hear stories from your hosts before returning to Sainshand. Tonight, board the overnight train to Ulaanbaatar.
  • Accommodation
    Hotel - 1 night
  • Meals
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
  • Included activities
    • Sainshand - Mountain of Wishes
    • Sainshand - Camel herder family visit and traditional home-cooked lunch
  • Arrive in Ulaanbaatar around 7 am and start the day with an optional breakfast at a local cafe. Mongolia's capital is a mix of old and new, where traditional clothing and modern business life can share the same street. Drive to the 40-meter stainless-steel Chinggis Khaan Statue, built to honor the founder of the Mongolian Empire. You can climb to the horse's mane for views across the valley, then visit the small museum in the base. After lunch at a monastery cafe in Nalaikh town, continue to Khustai National Park and settle into your ger camp.
  • Accommodation
    Hotel - 1 night
  • Meals
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
  • Included activities
    • Ulaanbaatar - Chinggis Khaan Statue
  • Special information
    Today's total travel time is approximately 4 hours. For the next two nights, accommodation is in a ger camp. Rooms are twin-share with bedding provided, and shared bathrooms and toilets are in a separate building. Shower units have water heaters, though water pressure may be lower than what you expect in urban areas.
  • After breakfast at camp, head out on a hike to look for wildlife in Khustai National Park. Wild horses are the main draw, but keep an eye out for golden eagles, falcons and vultures above the steppe. After the trail, drive to the Ungut Monument, a collection of about 30 human-shaped stone monuments dating back to the 7th century. Believed to have been an offering site, it adds a quiet historical note to the day. Return to the ger camp for a free evening.
  • Accommodation
    Tourist ger camp - 1 night
  • Meals
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
  • Included activities
    • Khustai National Park - Leader-led hike
    • Khustai National Park - Ungut Stone Monuments
  • Drive back to Ulaanbaatar this morning. Your leader will take you on a final orientation walk through the city's central square, followed by an optional lunch at a cafe. In the afternoon, there may be time to shop for local handicrafts such as cashmere or felt products, or to visit more museums and city sights. Tonight, you can celebrate the journey with an optional cultural performance featuring throat singing and traditional dance, followed by an optional final dinner at a restaurant recommended by your leader.
  • Accommodation
    Hotel - 1 night
  • Meals
    Breakfast
  • Special information
    Today's total travel time is approximately 3 hours.
  • Say goodbye to your group as the adventure comes to a close. There are no scheduled activities today, and you are free to leave the hotel at any time. If you would like more time in Ulaanbaatar, arrange extra accommodation before the trip.
  • Meals
    There are no meals included on this day.
By the end, the journey feels like a slow widening of space: city streets, train windows, desert wind, ger-camp nights and the open Mongolian steppe.
Inclusions and activities
  • Destination
    Mongolia
    China
  • Meals
    7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners
  • Transport
    Train, Overnight train, Private vehicle
  • Accommodation
    Hotel (7 nights), Overnight train (1 night), Tourist ger camp (2 nights)
  • Included activities
    • Chifeng - Chifeng Museum
    • Inner Mongolia - Huanggangliang National Forest Park
    • Inner Mongolia - Asihatu Stone Forest
    • Inner Mongolia - Gongge'er Grasslands
    • Inner Mongolia - Hunshandake Sandy Land
    • Sainshand - Noyon Khutagt Museum
    • Sainshand - Khamriin Monastery, Caves & Mongolian Shambala
    • Sainshand - Mountain of Wishes
    • Sainshand - Camel Herder Family Visit & Traditional Home-cooked Lunch
    • Ulaanbaatar - Chinggis Khaan Statue
    • Khustai National Park - Leader-led Hike
    • Khustai National Park - Ungut Stone Monuments
Planning a group trip? Contact our manager at info@eurotourclub.com — we’ll help you organize every detail for a smooth and unforgettable journey.
Trip moments from our travelers
Before you book you should know
Is this trip right for you?
This trip is a strong fit for travelers who like railway journeys, wide landscapes, cultural stops and simple but memorable accommodation. It is not a luxury rail tour. Expect practical hotels, shared train facilities, two nights in a ger camp and a few long travel days.
The ger camp accommodation is twin-share with bedding provided. Bathrooms and toilets are shared and located in a separate building. Showers have water heaters, but the water pressure may be weaker than what you are used to in a city hotel.
The overnight train uses four-berth compartments. Cabins are allocated on a mixed-gender basis, and depending on group size, some travelers may share with passengers who are not part of the group. Sheets, a pillow and a blanket are provided, and communal bathrooms are located at the end of each carriage.
This tour is part of a longer itinerary, so you may join travelers who have already been on the road together. If you have more time and want a broader route, ask about the longer China and Mongolia railway option.
Visa information
Visa details are provided through Sherpa, a third-party service. The “Add connection” feature only shows transit visa requirements, not full entry visas. Additional service fees apply if you purchase a visa via Sherpa.
Accommodation
Accommodation includes 7 nights in hotels, 1 night on an overnight train and 2 nights in a tourist ger camp. The accommodation type listed in the itinerary is a guide and can change if preferred properties are unavailable. If that happens, a similar standard will be arranged where possible.
Rooms are generally twin-share unless the itinerary says otherwise. Some facilities may be shared rather than ensuite, and this is noted where relevant.
Hotels are asked to prepare rooms before the group arrives, especially after early arrivals, but immediate check-in cannot always be guaranteed. If rooms are not ready, luggage can usually be stored so the group can explore before checking in.
If you book pre-trip or post-trip accommodation, you may need to change rooms from your main trip room for those extra nights, depending on hotel availability.
Joining point
Beijing Chong Wen Men Hotel, No. 2 Chongwenmen West Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China.
Phone: +86 10 6512 2211.
The hotel is conveniently located about a 5-minute walk from Chongwenmen subway station, with access to major Beijing sights. It is about an 8-minute drive from Wangfujing Street, about an 8-minute drive from the Temple of Heaven and about a 10-minute drive from Tiananmen Square.
An airport arrival transfer can be booked with EurotourClub. Provide flight details no later than 14 days before departure. Meeting points vary by airport terminal, so check the instructions for your confirmed transfer. Your driver will hold a sign with your name and EurotourClub or local partner identification. The maximum waiting time is 2.5 hours after flight arrival. If your flight is canceled or changed, immigration or baggage claim is severely delayed, or you cannot find the driver, contact the local office using the emergency contact details in your travel documents. Beijing airports are clearly signed but can be crowded, so allow extra patience.
Dates and prices
Lock in your trip with a 50% flexible deposit
  • Starting
    Wednesday 8 Oct 2025
  • Ending
    Wednesday 15 Oct 2025
  • Prices from
    $1500 $1800
  • Sunday 12 Oct 2025
  • Sunday 19 Oct 2025
  • $1800
  • Wednesday 15 Oct 2025
  • Wednesday 22 Oct 2025
  • $1800
  • Sunday 19 Oct 2025
  • Sunday 26 Oct 2025
  • $1500 $1800
  • Wednesday 22 Oct 2025
  • Wednesday 29 Oct 2025
  • $1500 $1800
Starting Wednesday 8 Oct 2025
Ending Wednesday 15 Oct 2025
$1500 $1800
Starting Sunday 12 Oct 2025
Ending Sunday 19 Oct 2025
$1500 $1800
Starting Wednesday 15 Oct 2025
Ending Wednesday 22 Oct 2025
$1500 $1800
Starting Sunday 19 Oct 2025
Ending Sunday 26 Oct 2025
$1500 $1800

Important notes

  1. A single supplement may be available if you prefer not to share a room. It excludes Day 7 on the overnight train and Days 8 and 9 at the ger camp, where shared accommodation is used. Availability is limited, so ask your booking agent for details.
  2. A scanned copy of the personal details page of your passport must be sent to your booking agent no later than 40 days before departure so train tickets can be purchased.
  3. The overnight train uses four-berth compartments. Cabins are mixed-gender, and depending on group size, some travelers may share a cabin with passengers outside the group. Sheets, a pillow and a blanket are provided, with communal bathrooms at the end of each carriage.
  4. Travel in China relies heavily on local payment apps, especially WeChat and Alipay. Install them before departure and have a data package ready. Do not rely on credit cards as your main payment method in China.
  5. While traveling in China, social media and some websites will not be accessible. You may consider installing a VPN before travel if you need access to blocked sites or apps. Check the Essential Trip Information for details.
  6. Some items are prohibited on trains and flights in China. Review the packing section of the Essential Trip Information before departure.
Reviews
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