One of the longest railway networks in the world, explore the Gobi Desert, Mongolian steppe, and endless Siberian landscapes on this epic train ride.
For an inexplicable reason, train journeys have always captivated me—perhaps a nod to my father’s tenure with the French train company. The rhythmic sounds of wheels on rails evoke a sense of adventure, prompting gratitude. Early memories of traversing France in a sleeping wagon, eyes closed, fueled my fascination with epic train travels. In my 20s, the dream turned reality with the Trans-Mongolian journey.
Stretching nearly 8,000 kilometers from Beijing to Moscow (or vice versa), the Trans-Mongolian stands among the world’s longest railway networks, attracting adventurous travelers. Departing from Beijing, the evening journey includes traversing China’s northern mountains, glimpsing the distant Great Wall, and a stop at Erlian for the Chinese-Mongolian border crossing. Here, unique customs checks and a bogie change accentuate the international rail adventure.
The next day unfolds over the vast Gobi Desert in Mongolia, offering a dramatic change in scenery. From mountains to steppe, plain to desert, and the stunning Lake Baikal, diverse landscapes unfold outside your window. Skirting Lake Baikal, the largest freshwater lake globally, becomes a mesmerizing highlight.
The Trans-Mongolian retraces the ancient Tea Caravan, the longest overland trade route in history, connecting Russia and Europe with tea for centuries.
Station stops every few hours, lasting 5-20 minutes, provide opportunities for a quick stretch or purchasing local goods. If your visa allows, consider disembarking to explore towns and cities along the way.
Two popular variations include the Trans-Siberian (Moscow to Vladivostok) and Trans-Manchurian (Moscow to Beijing, bypassing Mongolia). Each takes 6-7 days of non-stop travel, promising an unforgettable and epic train journey.
A train curving along a track through a rolling, grassy landscape with communication towers in the distance, evoking the vast expanses of Leh Ladakh.
A grassy plain leading up to a barren hill under a cloudy sky.
A serene lakeside landscape featuring a mown grassy area in the foreground, with a calm expanse of water stretching towards a hilly horizon under a clear blue sky.
Passengers sitting and standing inside a warmly lit train compartment, with some engaged in conversation and others looking away, while the wide-angle perspective accentuates the interior space.
A woman in a blue uniform hat and scarf holds a young child wearing a pink shirt; both are standing in front of a green train car.
A woman pushes a shopping cart full of goods along a train platform beside a stationary train with the carriage number 668385.
A herd of horses grazing in a vast green field with rolling hills in the background.
A man stands in the doorway of a weathered train car, holding a green object while looking out.
Expansive grassland under a partly cloudy sky with distant rolling hills on the horizon, reminiscent of the Transmongolian landscape.
A man in a blue uniform stands in front of a green train car with yellow and white trim.
A person is smiling and making a peace sign from a train window, which is also displaying an assortment of canned drinks and hanging laundry.
Vast, arid landscape under a blue sky with streaky clouds, viewed from a moving perspective with a blurred foreground.
A woman walks past a colorful building with yellow and green walls and arched windows, under a classic streetlamp.
A passenger sits by the window in a train compartment, with upper and lower bunks on either side, while the scenery blurs by outside.
A train journeying through a vast, green landscape under a dynamic sky with parting clouds.
A train conductor wearing a blue cap and a white shirt with a tie is sitting by a train carriage, partially squinting in bright sunlight.
Facade of a symmetrical building with an ornate design and multiple archways, under a clear sky.
A train conductor is standing by the window of a moving train on the Trans-Siberian Railway, looking out onto the passing scenery.
An opulent train carriage interior with ornate wooden paneling, plush seating, and decorative elements, illuminated by overhead lighting.
