Compare Trans-Siberian Rail Journey by National Geographic Expeditions vs Mongolia: Steppes, Deserts & Nomads - Naadam Festival by Exodus Travels
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| Trip |
3.5 | Average
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 17 days | 15 days |
| Price From | $ 18,695 | $ 5,550 |
| Price Per Day | $ 1,100 | $ 370 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Luxury | Standard |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | No |
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| Meals Included | N/A | Traditional Mongolian diets are very meat and dairy heavy. While there are opportunities to try some of these products, such as dry curd and fermented mare’s milk, the meals provided in the ger camps are generally Western meals, at times with an Asian influence. There is normally some form of soup and salad plus a main course and desert. Vegetarians are generally well catered for; if you are vegetarian or have other dietary requirements, please inform us in advance. Breakfasts can vary from place to place, some are buffets while others are set, normally cereal, bread and possibly a hot dish. On some days, a pack lunch is provided, this is often still a proper meal (though without the soup). Water is provided and is generally from large water containers, so make sure to bring a refillable water bottle. Tea, coffee, soft drinks, beer, vodka and (most of the time) wine are available to buy at the ger camps. There is the opportunity to buy snacks in Ulaanbaatar and on a couple of other occasions along the way when we drive through towns or villages. |
| Description |
Set out on an epic train journey across one-third of the world, traveling from Vladivostok to the heart of Moscow along the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway. From the Mongolian steppe to Lake Baikal’s remote shores to the snow-capped Ural Mountains, trace the history of tsars, exiles, and Mongols in the comfort of our luxury train, the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express. Encounter remote cultures and the unique architecture of Siberia’s wooden cottages and Moscow’s onion domes. |
The rolling steppe of Central Asia makes way to stark desert; across this vast landscape, nomadic ger camps are peppered, camels and goats are herded on horseback, fermented mare’s milk is the tipple of choice, dunes sing and the first intact dinosaur eggs were found. Genghis Khan went forth from here to conquer the biggest land empire in history and, to this day, Buddhist and Animist traditions mix. In July, all over the country, people unite to compete in wrestling, archery, horse racing and ankle-bone flicking during the Naadam Festival but traditions can be witnessed throughout the year. We travel through steppe, mountain and the Gobi Desert exploring the nature and culture of this fascinating, yet little known, country. This itinerary is for the departure starting in Ulaanbaatar on 30 June 2024. For a departure on 9 July 2024, please click here for an alternative itinerary.Discover the remote Mongolian steppe, the Gobi Desert and nomadic traditions, including the vibrant Naadam Festival |
Days 1 & 2: U.S./Vladivostok, Russia
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Hyundai
Depart the U.S. on an overnight flight to Vladivostok. Check into our hotel and gather for a welcome dinner tonight.
Day 3: Vladivostok
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
As a strategic naval outpost, Vladivostok was closed to most of the world from World War II until the end of the Cold War. Get acquainted with this now-thriving city on a tour that includes the brightly painted railway station and Our Lady Grieving Orthodox Church, the only one of its kind allowed to remain in the city during Stalin’s reign. See the Pacific Navy War Memorial and the Krasny Vympel steamboat, take in views of the city and its bay from the Eagle’s Nest observation platform, and stroll the historic Vladivostok Naval Cemetery. This evening, climb aboard our luxury train and set off on our journey across Russia.
Day 4: Khabarovsk
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore the lively squares of Khabarovsk and visit the Natural History Museum by the Amur River. Learn about the flora and fauna of the region, and see artifacts from the indigenous tribes of the Goldi and the Gilyak.
Days 5 & 6: On Train/Siberia
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
As the train slips through rolling hills and Siberian villages of log houses, relax with a book, attend a talk by our expert, or simply watch the wild and remote countryside pass by. On our second day on board, we enter the sweeping Mongolian steppe.
Day 7: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
During a morning in Mongolia’s capital city, visit the National Museum to trace the history of Genghis Khan and explore the culture of the steppe nomad. Then head for nearby Gorkhi-Terelj National Park to enjoy the alpine scenery, watch a demonstration of Mongolian horseback riding and visit a traditional ger (felt tent). This evening, enjoy dinner and a performance of Mongolian throat singing and traditional dance before we reboard our train and continue on our way back into Russia.
Day 8: Ulan Ude, Russia
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The train rolls through the valley of the Selenge River, which flows into Lake Baikal. Stop in Ulan Ude, the capital of the Buryat Republic and once a major trading post between China and Irkutsk. Pay a visit to a village of Old Believers, a group descended from 17th century religious exiles whose fascinating culture has changed little over the centuries. Watch a performance of their unique choral music.
Day 9: Lake Baikal
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Arrive at beautiful Lake Baikal, called the "sacred sea" by locals and named a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The lake basin holds about 20 percent of the world's unfrozen fresh water. Our train route hugs the rocky shores and passes through 33 tunnels. Take in spectacular views from the train, and stop for a barbecue on the shore. In the afternoon, explore the village of Listvyanka and join a family for tea in their home.
Day 10: Irkutsk
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spend today in Irkutsk, an important Siberian outpost established by the Cossacks in 1652. In the early 19th century, many Russian artists, officers, and nobles were exiled here for their involvement in the Decembrist revolt. Visit the city’s historic sights, and wander through a delightful collection of classic Russian and Siberian cottages at the Museum of Wooden Architecture. Stop for a private bell-ringing performance atop a bell tower, and then enjoy a private concert and champagne reception at the Decembrist House Museum.
Days 11 & 12: On Train/Novosibirsk
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy a day to relax on board, taking in stunning scenery as the vast Siberian taiga unfurls. The following day, stop in Novosibirsk, Siberia’s largest city, to see the opera house and Lenin Square.
Day 13: Yekaterinburg
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Arrive in Yekaterinburg, where Russia's last tsar, Nicholas II, and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918. Visit the Romanov execution site—now a church dedicated to their memory, and view the city's ornately decorated wooden houses.
Day 14: Kazan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, explore Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, perched on the banks of the Volga River. Tour the city’s Kremlin, the turquoise-topped Qol Sharif Mosque, and the Peter and Paul Cathedral. Pay a visit to the Kazan Conservatory and enjoy a concert performed by the students. Then set off on a private cruise around the walls of the city’s Kremlin before returning to our train to depart on the final leg of our journey.
Days 15 & 16: Moscow
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Moscow Marriott Royal Aurora
Disembark in Moscow, and check into our hotel before an afternoon city tour. After dinner at a local restaurant, take a guided stroll through Red Square at night. The following morning, explore the legendary Kremlin. Visit St. Basil’s Cathedral, and view court regalia from the Romanov dynasty at the Armory Museum. After lunch, visit the monument to the Conquerors of Space, which sweeps some 360 feet into the sky. Delve into the history of space exploration at the recently updated Memorial Museum of Astronautics, and enjoy a specially arranged talk by a Russian cosmonaut.
Day 17: Moscow/U.S.
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Day 1 Arrive Ulaanbaatar
The adventure begins in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. There are no activities planned for today to allow for different arrival times and to rest after the flight. However, if you arrive into Ulaanbaatar early, you could explore some of the city sites, including: Sukhbaatar Square (the main square), the National Museum and the landmark State Department Store Accommodation: Corporate Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 Visit Terelj National Park, including Aryabal Temple; first night in a ger camp
As we head out of Ulaanbaatar city, we visit the giant Genghis Khan statue at Tsonjin Boldog. Standing 130ft (40m) tall, the statue depicts the Mongolian ruler astride his horse and sits atop the visitor centre (itself 33ft/10m tall). It is possible to climb onto the horse’s head to get a closer look at Genghis Khan’s face. After, we continue to Terelj National Park, a large, protected area of green mountain meadows filled with edelweiss and other wildflowers. The contrast to the Gobi Desert is striking and it feels like being in a different country. We visit the Tibetan-style Aryabal Temple, a mountainside meditation centre with sweeping views over the national park. As we follow the walk up to the temple, we can read the inspirational sayings on placards every few steps. The climb to the temple is not difficult but does involve many steps and can be tiring. Tonight, we have our first night sleeping in a ger. Accommodation: Ger camp
Day 3 To Khustain Nuruu National Park; trek to see Przewalski's horses
We drive towards Kharkhorin, making a detour to Khustain Nuruu National Park, two hours’ west of Ulaanbaatar. Khustain Nuruu is famous for the re-introduction of Przewalski’s horses (also known as takhi horses), which were once native to Mongolia and almost became extinct earlier in the 20th century. Through the efforts of several Mongolian and international organisations, these magnificent wild horses now roam in the steppes of the national park once again. We visit the Project Information Centre and take a guided hike to see the wild horses. Accommodation: Ger camp
Day 4 To Karakorum; visit Erdene Zuu Monastery
We continue our drive to Karakorum, the 13th-century capital of the Mongol Empire, making a brief stop to see the dunes of the Little Gobi along the way. Karakorum was established by Ogedei Khan and remained the Mongol powerbase until Khublai Khan established Beijing as the capital. Erdene Zuu (Hundred Treasures) Monastery was the largest monastery in Mongolia, built in 1586 under the direction of Abtai Khan on the ruins of the ancient capital. Much of the monastery was destroyed during Stalin’s purges of the 1930s, but an impressive wall with 108 stupas and several temples remain. After lunch, we visit the monastery, the modern Karakorum Museum and the surrounding area. Accommodation: Ger camp
Day 5 Along northern edge of Gobi Desert to Arvaikheer via Shankh Monastery
We continue along the paved road to Arvaikheer, the capital of Ovorkhangai Aimag, on the northern edge of the Gobi Desert. On the way, we visit the Shankh Monastery, once the home of the great Mongolian theologist Zanabazar. We should arrive at Arvaikheer mid-afternoon. In the afternoon, we have time to visit the local museum, which contains nature collections, stone figures and Turkic scripts, and possibly go to a local market. Accommodation: Standard hotel
Day 6 To Bayan Gobi via Ikh Bogd mountain
Today is a long day as we head properly off the tourist route into some of the wilder parts of the Gobi Desert. After an early breakfast, we start our journey and rapidly leave the paved road behind. The landscape changes as we head deeper into the Gobi and the majestic Ikh Bogd should be visible in the distance, the highest mountain in the Gobi Altai mountain range. Eventually, after about nine hours of travelling (with stops), we arrive at our ger camp in the wilderness. This is the longest day’s driving but is also a trip highlight as we pass through some of the most spectacular scenery in Mongolia. Accommodation: Ger camp
Day 7 Cross the Gobi via White Cave
After going over a desert pass and visiting the quartz-rich White Cave, our journey continues through classic Gobi Desert scenery of flat stony plains mixed with small rocky outcrops and patches of sand across the Khatan Suudal Steppe. We stop for a picnic lunch on the way, with views of Arts Bogd mountain to the north. We head off to the Kongoriin Els dunes, arriving in the late afternoon. Accommodation: Ger camp
Day 8 Visit Singing Dunes, the largest dunes in Mongolia
We have a full day to explore the dunes and surrounding area. The Khongoriin Els stretch for 125mi (200km) and are as high as 985ft (300m) in places. They are known as the Singing Dunes because of the beautiful sound that resonates through them on a windy day. The South Gobi has 100,000 camels, typically used by herders for transportation of their gers. We have the opportunity today to visit a camel-breeding family and glimpse the way of life of the nomadic herders of these parts. Accommodation: Ger camp
Day 9 Travel through rocky plains of Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park
This morning, we drive through Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. Gobi Gurvansaikhan means Three Beauties of the Gobi and this range marks the eastern end of the Gobi Altai range. The park landscape is extremely varied, with rocky and sandy desert plains, precipitous cliffs and ravines, salt pans and oases. We visit a spectacular natural sight of this region, Yolyn Am. The name means Vulture’s Mouth and it is a canyon so deep and narrow that winter ice can remain on the valley floor even in the height of summer. This region is also renowned for the diversity of its wildlife and many endangered species live here, including khulan, ibex, argali and elusive snow leopards. We visit a museum and explore the canyon before transferring to a nearby ger camp for dinner and overnight. Accommodation: Ger camp
Day 10 Hike around the Flaming Cliffs of Bayanzag
Today we have time to relax in our luxury ger camp. Either in the morning or afternoon, we drive 45mi (70km) to Bayanzag. Known as the Flaming Cliffs, their red/ochre colour can be striking and we have the opportunity for a short hike among sands of red, yellow and orange. Bayanzag is a world-renowned dinosaur fossil exploration site, discovered in the 1920s by Mongolian and American palaeontologists. We are free to explore the region and may even be lucky enough to spot dinosaur fossils. We later return to our ger camp. Accommodation: Ger camp
Day 11 Fly to Ulaanbaatar
We leave the Gobi Desert and fly back to Ulaanbaatar. Our flight time determines when we get back to Ulaanbaatar. Accommodation: Corporate Hotel (or similar)
Day 12 Ulaanbaatar and Khui Doloon Khudag horse racing
We visit the Gandan Monastery, the largest functioning lamasery in Mongolia and the seat of Buddhist studies in the country. Here we may see monks praying and the 65ft (20m) gold-and-bronze statue of Migjid Janraisig. You also attend the horse racing in Khui Doloon Khudag and witness cultural events in Sukbaatar Square ahead of the Naadam Festival opening. Accommodation: Corporate Hotel (or similar)
Day 13 - 14 Naadam Festival
The Naadam Festival celebrates the ‘three games of men’ (or Erin Gurvan Naadam): wrestling, horse racing and archery. More recently, a fourth game, knuckle-bone flicking, was added to the competitions. The festival is celebrated throughout the country but the biggest is in Ulaanbaatar. Over the next two days, we attend the grand opening ceremony before we watch Mongolians compete in all four sports. We also mingle with hordes of Mongolian spectators as the grounds around the stadium (where wrestling, archery and bone-flicking take place) and the horse races are filled with stands selling food, games, flags and various other things. The atmosphere is a big part of the experience and many Mongolians dress in their best traditional clothes for the occasion. In 2010, the festival was entered into the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage list and is a great celebration of the Central Asian nation’s culture. Accommodation: Corporate Hotel (or similar)
Day 15 End in Ulaanbaatar
The tour ends after breakfast and we begin our return journeys home, full of tales and magnificent photos to share.
