Way to Russia Talk Lounge

JP · Guest

Hello. I am trying to figure out the best way to travel from Moscow via Mongolia to Beijing and have discovered a couple of potential options.

Moscow to Irkutsk, Irkutsk to Ulan Bator, Ulan Bator to Beijing
OR
Moscow to Beijing

If I choose to go via Irkutsk do I need to purchase 3 separate tickets? Is the differential between 1st and 2nd class on these trains ("firmenny") make 2nd class the best option?

If I choose to go Moscow to Beijing do I need to buy the ticket and arrange for a stop in Mongolia (I would like to be there for about 12 days). Is this an option or do I need to purchase multiple tickets? Also, do I only have one option to get from Ulan Bator to Beijing (the 4th day, 4th hour, minute 17)?

Thanks for your help!

WayToRussia · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2003 1:00 pm Post subject: Trans-Siberian

Hi,

If you will be buying your tickets by yourself, through a railway station in Russia, you will need to buy 3 separate tickets: Moscow - Irkutsk, Irkutsk - Ulan-Bataar, Ulan-Bataar - Beijing. Some railway stations don't sell tickets for trains departing from another city, so there's a possibility you will have to buy a new ticket in every city you come to. Also, in summer it's better to buy tickets at least 1 week before, because there may be problems with availability.

If you buy a ticket through a good travel agent, they will make a special ticket Moscow - Beijing with an option of stopovers in Irkutsk and Ulan-Bataar. This is the best option, as you will not have to buy 3 separate train tickets, and there's a possibility to change dates also (if you need it -- tell the agency before hand). You can try http://waytorussia.net/Services/TrainTickets.html