Expert: Victoria Hamilton - 4/3/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Victoria, I have two young men that have traveled on their own many places including India. They would like to travel independently to China and Mongolia for most of the month of June. Can you help by letting me know what they can do example: are youth hostels available? applying for a visa for both countries? travel by train in China and between China and Mongolia. Please respond at your earliest convenience. Thanks Barb Dill

ANSWER: Hello Barb,

I am going to be away from my computer over the weekend so I hope you don't mind but I will get back to you next Tuesday. Out of interest, where in China would they like to travel? Would they be going to Inner Mongolia or Outer Mongolia? This will help with my advice. If they're going to Inner Mongolia, the China visa will be adequate, if Outer Mongolia, I believe an additional visa will be required. Travelling through China by train is actually a really fun way to go...km of railtracks and lots to see out the window...plus its cheaper than flying! And yes, there are youth hostels/cheap hotels along the way!

Send me a bit more info on where they have thought of visiting and I can send you a more detailed answer!

Thanks a lot!

Victoria.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Victoria, I would probably want to send them to Mongolia 1st Ulaanbaatar then train from there to Bejing. I'm not sure how long the train ride is from Outer Mongolia to Bejing or the routing. They would like to make stops in varioous cities along the way to visit a chinese friend that is in the southern part of China. [I'm not sure if its Ganzhou or Guangzhou] How do they find out about the Hostels/cheap hotels along the way??

Many Thanks,

Barb

Answer
Hi Barb,

Here are some websites I have found regarding train tickets to Ulaanbatar from Beijing...they should be of help to give you ideas. I am still waiting to hear from friends who have done this trip, so will get back to you when I get that info.

Basic info on the trip:
http://www.mongolia.co.uk/train.htm

Great info on timetables for trains:
http://www.bolodtours.com/useful_sched.php

Ideas for typical tours on Mongolia:
http://www.samarmagictours.com/en_ecotours.htm

Really useful info Beijing-Mongolia trip:
http://www.transsiberiantrain.com/trains_between_mongolia_and_china.htm

WIKIPEDIA info on train timetable:
http://www.chinatravelguide.com/ctgwiki/International_train_schedule

Visa for Outer Mongolia:
http://www.welcome2mongolia.com/travel-and-tourism-of-mongolia/mongolia-travel-g

http://www.monkeyshrine.com/visas/mongolia.php

As for hostels...word of mouth will help a lot..people they meet on the way etc,...but to start them off on the first night at each new place, www.virtualtourist.com, www.tripadvisor.com etc are great places to see reviews written by other travellers. Having never been myself I do not have first hand experience on where to stay.

My suggestion to you would be not to book anything online as its bound to be more expensive..the above websites I've given you are just for reference. You can get your flights/train tickets in Beijing and visa too it seems although you may want to do that from their own country to save time.

To get down to Guangzhou would be a 3 hour flight or an overnight train from Beijing...again all this can be done from within China by booking online or going to travel agencies here. www.yoee.com (top right hand corner has the button for English) is one of my fav. sites for booking flights. If they are in Beijing they can have them delivered for free and pay in cash upon receiving them, saves using credit cards etc. Travel agencies tend to have same prices as this website.

I hope this helps for now...!

Victoria