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16 days
starting in Beijing and ending in Ulaanbaatar. Go West!
Meeting
Point: Beijing, China
Departure
Point: Ulaanbataar
(no included the international air)
Minimum
group: 2 adults or more persons
Tour duration:
16 days/15 nights
This is the
most interesting route. Join us aboard the train to go West!.
Travel the legendary Trans-Mongolian railway, starting in
Beijing to Mongolia. An incredible journey in just sixteen
days. The active adventure is complete; a brilliant and
unforgettable experience on an exciting combination of the
Mongolian and Chinese railways ( from Beijing, China continue
down into Ulan Bator, Mongolia, by train with stops at important
cities along the way. These trains have 2-berth compartments
for 2 persons and 4-berth compartments for 4 persons, all
very comfortable.
One departure
each Monday,
and Friday,
starting in Beijing-
valid from May to October.
2009
Tour Costs per person for a minimum of 2
adults or more persons |
from $ 2,999.00
or 2,499.00 Euros |
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Tour Code: SMT-PM-16D |
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This is a unique
and cheap way to discover China, and Mongolia. A train tour
you will never forget. The longest and most famous railway
journey in the world, the Trans Mongolian traverses Mongolia
from China. We advise to arrange as much as possible before
starting the trip by booking of the start package listed
below, so we can make all the necessary preparations.
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| Train No. |
Destination |
Departure
time |
Arrival time |
Hours |
Distance
in km |
23
Extra |
Beijing-Ulaanbaatar
Valid from June 11-October
27 |
7:40am
Tue |
14:30
Wed |
33 1/2 |
1561 |
23
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Beijing-Ulaanbaatar |
7:40am
Sat |
14:30
Sun |
331/2 |
1561 |
Notes:
The schedule for train # 23 from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar
changes every year in May. Train #23 Beijing to Ulaanbaatar
departs on Tuesdays until 27th May 2008 and is run by Chinese
Railways. From 7th June 2008 train #23 switches departure
to Saturdays and is run by Mongolian railways. It is likely
that Chinese Railways will operate an extra service departing
Beijing on Tuesdays during the peak summer months but this
won’t be confirmed until late April.
***The Train Fare is subject to change
without notice.
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VALID
FROM MAY 22-OCTOBER 16, 2009 |
Day
1
MON, FRI |
Arrive in Beijing
Arrival in Beijing
from LA or from your country destination. Welcome and Overnight
at Courtyard Marriott Hotel 4
or similar.
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Day
2
TUE, SAT |
Depart Beijing by Train No. 23 (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Beijing
International Railway Station. We
board the Trans-Mongolian No.
23 and depart
at 07:40am. As we leave behind the crowds of Beijing,
the train heads north towards the Mongolian border. We pass
through mountainous countryside and enjoy several parts
of the Great Wall. After, we have passed the Chinese-Mongolian
border, the train makes its way into the famous Gobi desert.
You will travel from Beijing to Ulaan Bataar in 33 1/2hours.
Night by train.
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Day
3
WED, SUN |
Arrive in Ulaan Bataar (D)
Arrive in Ulaanbataar
(UB) at 14:30. Meet
and transfer to the hotel. Free time at hotel. 18:00-See
Mongolian traditional folk songs and dance concert.
Welcome dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight at Flower Japanese Top Hotel, 3
or similar.
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Day
4
THU, MON |
Ulaanbaatar-Nomad's Tuul River Valley (B, L, D)
In the morning, visit Gandan Lamasery,
the largest Monastery in Mongolia (80 foot tall statue of
Buddha, practicing Tibetan Buddhist Lamas), the
Buddhist ceremony at 10:00AM and the experience of
the Tibetan-Buddhist tradition. Today is spent on a guided
city tour of Ulaanbataar, highlights include Sukhbataar
Central Square, the "Chinggis"
Khan's main monument, the National
History Museum where you will see artifacts from Mongolia
from the Stone Age to the present, and displays of the development
of Mongolian arts and culture and the Natural
Museum, where you will see two complete dinosaur skeletons,
which were found in the Gobi - the giant flesh-eating Tarbosaurus,
15m tall and four to five tons in weight, and the little duck-billed
plant-eating Saurolophus , and displays of Mongolia's geography,
flora and fauna. Lunch in local restaurant.
Afterward, drive to the "Tuul
river Nomad's Valley" (55kms/27.5miles)-this is a beautiful
valley of streams. There are national gers in beautiful natural
locations, so it's easy to meet with locals and see their
daily lives, interact with them. The river Tuul is one of
the longest rivers of the country, flowing from the Khentii
Mountain Range. The valley of the river has been called sacred
for centuries by the nomads as they truly respect the nature
especially the rivers and the surface water. In route, we
stop to observe and to take some amazing photos to the
40 meter (~133,3 feet) Statue of "Genghis or Chinggis" Khan
on a big horse on Tsonjin Boldog Hill is located just
~3kms (~1,5miles) to "Chinggis" Tourist Traditional Ger Camp.
Welcome dinner with traditional mongolian
meal (khorkhog), which is mutton cooked with hot rock
and with vegetables, water, potatoes, and onion. Overnight
in "Chinggis" Tourist Base Ger Camp. Have your first ger camp
experience. "Chinggis" Tourist Camp
is Highly recommended by "Lonely Planet Mongolia" by the author
Michael Kohn.
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Day
5
FRI, TUE |
Horseback Exploration (B, L, D)
Breakfast. Mongolian
Horseback Exploration to enjoy this amazing scenery
of wide-open steppe with rolling hills in the background
and river, we recommend you take a walk around the Tuul
river or into the foothills to witness this amazing landscapes
and wild life. Horseback riding tour along the Tuul river,
so it's easy to meet with locals and see their daily lives,
interact with them, take water adventures, go trekking,
swimming in the Tuul river. Overnight at the "Chinggis"
Tourist Base Camp.
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Day
6
SAT, WED
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Terelj National Park-Turtle Rock-Arryabal Temple (B, L,
D)
Breakfast. Today, we drive to Terelj
National Park for a walking tour to Turtle
Rock and hiking to the Arryabal Buddhist monastery
on the top of the mountain. It is famous for its amazing
rock formations, pristine alpine scenery and varied bird
life. The Terelj National Park incorporates parts of Khenty
Mountain Range. The forest consists of Aspen, Larch and
Birch trees which support wolf, eagles. birds, and others
animals. Picnic lunch is provided. In the afternoon, drive
back to Chinggis tourist ger camp. Free time for mongolian
archery, etc. Dinner and overnight.
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Day 7
SUN,THU
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Middle
Gobi (B, L, D)
Breakfast. Drive
to Middle Gobi on the way visit ruins
of Sum Khukh Burd Temple, one of the few monasteries
and temples to survive the communist purges in 1930s. Boxed
lunch on the way. Next stop is in Bagazarin
Chuluu. Free time for photo opportunities. We recommend
you take a walk around the Bagazarin Chuluu. Overnight in
tourist ger camp.
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Day 8
MON,FRI
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Gobi
desert (B, L, D)
Breakfast. Today, we drive to the legendary "Flaming
Cliffs"; named for its glowing orange rock that is
rich with dinosaur fossils in Bayanzad (dinosaur excavation
site) to explore the Gobi Dinosaur Cemetery
and to follow the historic trail of paleontologist
/ explorer Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews. Overnight in tourist ger
camp.
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Day 9
TUE,SAT |
Gobi
desert (B, L, D)
Breakfast. Drive to "Yol Valley Protected
Area in Gobi Gurvan Shaikhan National Park" for trekking
and an opportunity to photograph the stunning landscape, the
Gobi Glacier and the wildlife of the cradled in the foothills
of the Altai Mountains. Hike through the valley before visiting
the local natural history museum for
an overview of the flora and fauna of the area. Afterward,
drive to visit the camel family. Enjoy Nomad hospitality.
Visit a camel-breeding farm to
get introduce to their lifestyle and taste the khoormog, camel
milk. Optional camel riding. Overnight in tourist ger camp.
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Day
10
WED, SUN |
Gobi
desert (B, L, D)
Breakfast. After breakfast, drive to the
largest sand dunes Hongoryn Els in Gobi desert. It
is the biggest sand dunes in Mongolia and lasts 200kms and
app. 40-50 ms high. Has an extraordinary length of 180 kms
and 15-20 m. Climb up the towering piles of sand standing
hundreds of metres high and later walk along Hongor River.
Wildlife here includes ibex and gazelle and rare wild camels.
See the largest sand dunes. Bactrian
Camel (two-humped) Safari tour. Overnight in tourist
ger camp.
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Day 11
THU, MON
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Ongiin
Steppe (B, L, D)
Breakfast. Overland journey through
famous Ongiin Steppe to the ruins
of the Ongiin Monastery. In the afternoon walk to
the ruins of the Ongiin Monastery. Overnight in tourist
ger camp.
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Day 12
FRI, TUE |
Karakorum
(B, L, D)
Breakfast. This morning,
we drive through the grassland toward Karakhorum-was
founded in 1220 at the crossroads of the Silk Road. It was
the capital of the Mongol Empire until Kublai Khan moved it
to Beijing. Visitors, such as Marco Polo, described its ornate
building, including a 2500 sq. meters Palace of Worldly Peace.
In 1792 the Monastery still had 62 temples and 10,000 lamas.
But in 1930 it became a victim of the Stalin's purges. All
but three of the Temples were destroyed and most of the monks
were either killed or sent to Siberia. Today the restoration
of the Monastery is the government's top priority. Free time.
Dinner and overnight in tourist base camp.
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Day 13
SAT, WED |
Erdene
zuu monastery-Ugii lake (B, L, D)
Breakfast. Visit "Erdene Zuu" monastery,
and the Turtle monument. The monastery grounds and
several chapels depicts excellent examples of Buddhist iconography
dating from the sixteenth century.Our journey continuing
further drive to the freshwater Lake
Ogii. This freshwater lake is located in the valley
of the Orkhon River. Ogii lake is a wonderful place for
birdlife (cranes and ducks, to name just a few species,
migrate to the area around late April). This a freshwater
lake located in the valley of the Orkhon River. Optional
activities: relaxing, fishing, boating, or kayak at the
Ugii lake. Overnight in tourist camp.
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Day 14
SUN, THU |
Amarbayagaslant
monastery (B, L, D)
Breakfast. Drive to "Amarbayasgalant"
monastery, situated in the northern central Mongolia.
After Erdene Zuu Khiid in Karakhorum, Amarbayasgalant Khiid
is considered the most important monastery in Mongolia. It's
also one of the most beautiful. Free time. Overnight in tourist
ger camp.
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Day 15
MON, FRI |
Ulaanbaatar
(B, L, D)
Breakfast. In the morning, visit Amarbayasgalant
monastery and attend the Buddhist ceremony-was originally
built in 1737 by the Manchurian king Kansu, who dedicated
it to the great Mongolian Buddhist and sculptor, Zanabazar.
In the 1930s and were destroyed 10 of the 37 temples and statues.
The monastery was restored between 1975 and 1990 with the
help of UNESCO. You're welcome to watch the 30 resident monks
conduct their daily ceremonies, compared to over 2000 in 1936.
Afterward, continuing further drive
back to Ulaanbaatar. Transfer to the hotel. Free time.
Some shopping. Farewell dinner. Overnight
at hotel .
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Day 16
TUE, SAT |
Departure
Mongolia (B)
Breakfast . Transfer
to the airport for your homeward flight
( *not included the International air) or continue
on with optional extension to Baikal lake or to Moscow,
Russia on train (online request)
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WHAT
IS INCLUDED:
-Train No. 23 ticket from
Beijing-Ulaan Bataar
( in 2-beds or in 4-beds berth compartment).
-1 night at Courtyard Marriott Hotel 4
or similar in twin share in Beijing with daily breakfast.
-2 nights at the Flower Japanese Top Hotel
3 or
similar in twin share room in Ulaanbaatar city.
-11 nights at the Tourist Ger Base Camps
in twin share, inside Mongolia.
-Legend:(B) Breakfast, (L)
Lunch, (D) Dinner as specified above.
-Excursions per program with entrance fees and local English
(other languages on request).
-One Mongolia barbecue welcome dinner at "Chinggis" Tourist
Camp.
-One Mongolian Folklore Performance in Ulaan Bataar.
-All transfers by private transport, included the patrol.
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WHAT'S
NOT INCLUDED:
-International air tickets.
-Meals in trains.
-Personal cost.
-Tips to the guides and the drivers.
-Visas.
-Airport taxes.
-Medical insurance.
-Drinks.
-Transfers to and from airports for participant making own
arrangements; optional excursions or deviations from the scheduled
tour; personal expenses such as excess or overweight baggage
charges, laundry, telephone/cable/fax/email charges, liquor
or soft drinks, room service; gratuities for personal services;
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SUMMER DEPARTURES-2009, STARTING
IN BEIJING:
| May |
22 |
29 |
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| June |
5,8 |
12,15 |
19,22 |
26,29 |
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| July |
*3,*6 |
*10,13 |
17,20 |
24,27 |
31 |
| August |
7,3 |
14,17 |
21,24 |
28,31 |
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| September |
4,7 |
11,14 |
18,21 |
25,28 |
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| October |
2,7 |
9,14 |
16 |
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TESTIMONIALS
From: "agnes myers"
To: "Samar Magic Tours"
Subject: Beijing-Ulaanbataar-Moscow by Transmongolian
Express (tour dates in Mongolia: August 16-August 25, 2006)
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2006 12:02:37 -0600
Hello Samar Magic Tours!,
It was so nice to hear from you. We speak of you often and
have fond memories of our visit with you. Thank you for the
help with the money planning for the train. We had no worries
about having enough money. Your counterpart in Moscow was
very good and informative and we enjoyed the city tour with
her. We ventured into the city on the Metro on our own the
next day. The train journey was very relaxing and we did alot
of reading, resting, sleeping and eating. The compartment
next to us was occupied by a nice Russian couple who shared
some food with us and we did our best to communicate with
them, even tho they spoke no English and we spoke no Russian.
A greeting and a smile seemed to be universal. One funny experience
we encountered were the traders on the train. They sold items
at every stop even from the windows. Prior to each stop we
were well advised to stay out of the aisles or we would be
run over by the traders running back and forth with their
merchandise. We held up considerably well on the 20+ hour
journey home from Moscow to the US. We were happy to arrive
safely and be reunited with our families.
Love, Elisa and Agnes, USA
Mrs. Elisabeth Bachmann Thigpen / Mrs. Agnes Anne Myers.
top
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*TRAVEL
IN EARLY JULY-There is a Special itinerary,
costs and departures for Naadam
Festival Tours. It is celebrated
on July 11, and 12 (this an annual festival of culture,
sports and trade occurs during this time). The Naadam Festival
is a Mongolia's celebration of the three manly games: horse
racing, archery, and wrestling. Please,
make your reservations at your earliest convenience, 180
days prior to Naadam Festival Tour!. Especially
hotels, entrance fees to Naadam Festival, buses and flights
in and out of Ulaan Bataar are fully booked at this time!.
Seats can be difficult to get in July during Naadam
Festival!.
Note: Tour
and Tour Information are subject to change.
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English |
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