Maps of the route:


The Trans-Mongolian Route described in detail:

The Trans-Mongolian route starts in Moscow and follows the renown Trans-Siberian route (which terminates in Vladivostok) until shortly after Ulan-Ude (Eastern Siberia, after 5609 km of railway), where the Trans-Mongolian route continues to the South through Ulan-Bataar in Mongolia to Beijing in China. Though not an official part of the Trans-Siberian railway, St. Petersburg is the obvious place to start, making it a cross-continental journey. However, in the following, the running distance is counted from Moscow, as is custom. Station: Distance: Time: Comments: The duration of the trip is given approximately. Route: ST. PETERSBURG - MOSCOW (length: 700 km, duration: 8h 30m) St. Petersburg -700 km -8h 30m The beautiful, complex, and imperious city ordered build by Peter the Great. Moscow 0 km 0h 0m The capital of Russia, and a very vibrant historical center. Route: MOSCOW - NIZHNY NOVGOROD (length: 461 km, duration: 6h 30m) Moscow 0 km 0h 0m A few years ago all trains would go from Moscow through Yaroslavl and Kostroma and then join the Trans-Siberian route a few kilometers before Kirov. Now only train #43/44 (Moscow - Khabarovsk) and a few other trains go through Yaroslavl. Most of the Trans-Siberian trains follow the route outlined below. Vladimir 209 km 2h 30m A small ancient city along the Golden Ring. Nizhny Novgorod (Gorky) 461 km 6h 30m A big vibrant industrial center of Volga region (Povolzhie). Route: NIZHNY NOVGOROD- EKATERINBURG (length: 1317 km, duration: 19h 30m) Nizhny Novgorod  461 km 6h 20m The end of Nizhegorodskaya region, start of Kirov region (790 km). Time changes to Moscow +1 [GMT+4] Kotelnich 830 km  11h 20m Here Trans-Siberian meets with the old track that was going through Yaroslavl. Crossing Vyatka river (on 831 km) Kirov 917 km 12h 50m A small industrial northern city. Center of Kirov region. Crossing Kosa river (on 1041 km) The end of Kirov region, start of Udmurtiya republic (1062 km) Glazov 1125 km 15h 50m   Belezino 1154 km 16h 20m   Crossing Cheptsa river (on 1185 km) The end of Udmurtiya republic, start of Perm region (1230 km). Start of Urals region. Time changes from Moscow +1 to Moscow +2 [GMT+5] Crossing Kama river (on 1396 km) Perm 1397 km 20h 10m A big industrial town in the beginning of Ural mountains. The main attractions are a few museums in the city, and old prehistorical caves. The end of Perm region, start of Sverdlovsk region (1570 km) Crossing Chusovaya river (on 1730 km) Official boundary between Europe and Asia, marked by a white obelisk (1,777 km). Ekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk) 1778 km 1d 2h 20m Ekaterinburg was founded in 1797, and is the unofficial capital of Ural region, which is known as the mountains that divide Europe and Asia. Ekaterinburg itself is a nice and real (unvarnished) industrial city of modern Russia with many interesting buildings and sights. Route: EKATERINBURG - NOVOSIBIRSK (length: 1525 km, duration: 19h 10m) Ekaterinburg 1778 km 1d 2h 20m   The end of Sverdlovsk region, start of Tyumen region (2070 km). The end of Ural, start of Western Siberia. Tyumen 2104 km 1d 6h 30m The center of Tyumen region — the oil & gas center of Russia. Ishim 2393 km 1d 10h 10m    Crossing Ishim river (on 2395 km) The end of Tyumen region, start of Omsk region (2485 km). Time changes from Moscow +2 to Moscow +3 [GMT +6] Nazyvaemskaya 2520 km 1d 12h 30m The closest place to Kazakhstan of the route: about 100 km. Crossing Irtysh river (on 2674 km) Omsk 2676 km 1d 13h 50m   The end of Omsk region, start of Novosibirsk region (2800 km). Barabinsk 3000 km 1d 17h 38m It is a great place to buy nice homemade food sold outside the trains: Baked potatoes, fresh vegetables, fish, meat, desserts. Be careful: the train stays 15 minutes only. Crossing Chulym river (on 3168 km) Crossing Ob river (on 3300 km) Novosibirsk 3303 km 1d 21h 30m The biggest city in Siberia region with 1.400.000 inhabitants, it was founded in 1893. Novosibirsk is the third main cultural and scientific center in Russia, and the university of Novosibirsk is quite famous too. The area around Novosibirsk is very good for camping and trekking, with Altai mountains close by. Route: NOVOSIBIRSK - KRASNOYARSK (length: 760 km, duration: 12h 0m) Novosibirsk 3303 km 1d 21h 30m The end of Novosibirsk region, start of Kemerovo region (3440 km). Time changes from Moscow +3 to Moscow +4 [GMT+7] Taiga 3532 km 2d 1h 0m In the night Babushkas (old women) sell nice homemade cakes waffles with three layers and sweet milk spread in between Mariinsk 3680 km 2d 3h 0m   The end of Kemerovo region, start of Krasnoyarsk region (3745 km). Bogotol 3813 km 2d 5h 20m   Crossing Chulym river (on 3880 km) Achinsk 3881 km 2d 6h 20m   Krasnoyarsk 4065 km 2d 9h 20m The center of vast Krasnoyarsk region, known for the national park "Stolby" just outside of the city. Route: KRASNOYARSK - IRKUTSK (length: 1090 km, duration: 18h 0m) Krasnoyarsk 4065 km 2d 9h 20m   Crossing Enisey river (on 4067 km) Ilanskaya 4344 km 2d 14h 0m There's a nice market at the station - eggs, potatoes, fish, sausages, tomatoes, ice cream, salted cucumbers, fresh stuff. Train stays 20 mins usually. The end of Krasnoyarsk region, start of Irkutsk region (4430 km). Time changes from Moscow +4 to Moscow +5 [GMT+8] Taishet 4483 km 2d 16h 30m Here you can change to BAM train line. Check beforehand if there's a train. Nizhneudinsk 4647 km 2d 19h 20m Shops with beer, babushkas sell food in big bags. The air is warm and there are many mosquitoes. Crossing Uda river (on 4650 km) Zima 4902 km 2d 23h 10m A weird place with very hot climate in summer. Crossing Oka river (on 4904 km) Angarsk 5113 km 3d 2h 20m All the chemical and machinery productions are concentrated in this city. It was built by prisoners, so the landscapes are not very welcoming. Irkutsk Sort 5145 km 3d 2h 55m Don't come out here - it's Irkutsk "sorting" station. Irkutsk 5153 km 3d 3h 20m Irkutsk is a nice city with unusual atmosphere and interesting architecture. Baikal lake is just 60 kilometers away. A good starting point for exploring the western side of the lake. Route: IRKUTSK - ULAN-UDE (length: 456 km, duration: 9h 0m) Irkutsk 5153 km 3d 3h 20m Here you start seeing Baikal lake (from 5266 km) Slyudyanka 5279 km 3d 5h 50m A village/port on the shore of Baikal, and a good starting point for exploration of Circum Baikal railway (which starts there), or going south to Arshan (3 hours) just next to Sayan mountains — a great place for camping, walks, and various activities. In Slyudyanka you can buy great smoked fish from Baikal lake - Omul - there. Highly recommended. Baikalsk 5360 km 3d 6h 40m A major ski and snowboard resort at Baikal. Hop off the train, walk 5 minutes and you'll have 6 slopes with runs up to 2 km, ski & snowboard hire, heliskiing. A nice and refreshing stop if you're traveling between December and April. The end of Irkutsk region, start of Buryatia republic (5345 km). Ulan-Ude 5640 km 3d 12h 20m The capital of Buryatia republic. Here you will feel like you're in Asia finally: A quiet and nice mix of Russianess and Easterness. A good starting point for exploration of the Eastern shore of Baikal lake, or visiting the main Buddhist Datsan in Russia - Ivolginsky. Shortly after (15 km) Ulan-Ude the Trans-Siberian splits into two directions: Trans-Mongolian to the south through Gusinoye Ozero, Djida, Naushki (Russia) to Ulan-Bataar (Mongolia) to Beijing (China), and Trans-Siberian to the east through Chita to Vladivostok. Below the Southern route to Ulan Bator and Beijing is shown. Route: ULAN-UDE - ULAN BATOR (length: 766 km, duration: 11h 35m) + Russia-Mongolia border formalities (estimated 6h) Ulan-Ude 5609 km 3d 12h 20m Branch off from the Trans-Siberian line (5,655 km). Crossing Selenga river (around 5695 km) Naushki 5895 km 3d 17h 05m Russian border town Russian Mongolian border (5,900 km). Sukhbaatar 5921 km 3d 23h 05m Mongolian border town Crossing Yeroo river (around ? km) Crossing Sharyn river (around ? km) Crossing Tuul river (around ? km - in Ulan Bator) Ulan Bator 6304 km 4d 05h 55m The Mongolian capital Route: ULAN BATOR - BEIJING (length: 1561 km, duration: 1d 00h 35m) + Mongolia-China border formalities (estimated 5h) Ulan Bator 6304 km 4d 05h 55m The Mongolian capital Zamyn-Uud 7013 km 4d 17h 15m Mongolian border town Erenhot 7023 km 4d 22h 15m Chinese border town, where the train changes bogies, because of the break-of-gauge from the broad gauge (1,520 mm) used in Russia and Mongolia to the standard gauge (1,435 mm) used in China. Datong 7494 km 5d 04h 20m Large Chinese city, reknown for its Buddhist statues and temples as well as coal mining. Crossing Sanggan river (around ? km) Beijing 7865 km 5d 11h 30m The ubiquitous Chinese capital. The Trans-Mongolian railway ends in Beijing, which however is the main gateway into the Chinese railway system. The following is a continued description of the train travel through Xian to Shanghai. Route: BEIJING - XIAN (length: 1200 km, duration: 11h 0m) Beijing 7865 km 5d 11h 30m Xian 9065 km 5d 22h 30m Silk Road city and home of the famous TerraCotta Army. Route: XIAN - SHANGHAI (length: 1509 km, duration: 13h 45m) Xian 9065 km 5d 22h 30m Shanghai 10574 km 6d 12h 15m Reknown world city by the Chinese Sea, and end station for our journey.