Trans-Mongolian Express Discovery Holiday

Essential Information

Trip Profile

Travel by train, bus, and boat with several long train journeys, including sleeper trains.

Accommodation

9 nights standard hotel with en suite rooms. 8 nights sleeper train, 2 nights guesthouse, 1 night ger camp, all basic accommodation with shared facilities.

Food

11 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners included.

Reality Check

This tour is operated in partnership with our sister company Intrepid Travel, as such the group may be a mixture of Exodus and Intrepid clients. This trip is booked through Exodus and you will receive the same award winning customer service that you are used to. Intrepid Travel operate with the same core principles used by Exodus and champion the benefits of small group travel.

With a mix of included activities and free time, they offer plenty of opportunities to explore at your own pace and take part in activities that really get beneath the skin of a destination. While the occasional meal may be included, you'll have the freedom to seek out your own culinary adventures.

Accommodation is generally budget or tourist class (2-3 star), but you're as likely to find yourself as a guest of a local family as staying in a hotel or camping. Transport will vary as well. Depending on the destination and the itinerary you could find yourself traveling on anything from a camel to a train or a private safari vehicle. It's all part of the adventure!

Expect some culture shock. You'll be exposed to signs of poverty and access to services may be sporadic. The food will be quite different to home and English speakers harder to find. Respecting the local culture will make it easier to fit in and really experience the location.

This is an epic train journey that covers almost half of the world. You will be traveling through countries that speak little or no English, where transport often runs only when it is full (and often overflowing), where hotels and restaurants have very different ideas of service and amenities, where the plumbing can sometimes be temperamental and the power will often just vanish. Many of the places we visit are not used to people traveling outside of large coach tours so they will be uncertain of how to deal with us.

Bureaucracy is rife and border crossings sometimes seem never-ending. This is a very challenging trip covering a wide range of peoples, cultures, religious and political beliefs and is a trip that involves a lot of long travel days and nights.

Some passengers will experience increased fatigue due to these challenges. If you are able to bring with you a lot of patience and a huge sense of humour, then your experience will be greatly enhanced. Some easy physical activities included in your trip.

No physical preparation is required to make the most of the journey.

Normal group size and age

Normally 4 to 12 plus leader. Minimum age 12.

Icons explained

The vast majority of Exodus adventures are adult group holidays. Groups are always small in size. We strongly believe that this adherence to small groups means a better experience for all; more time with your guide, less waiting around and a reduced impact on the communities and environments visited.
Each group is generally made up of like-minded travellers - with singles, couples and friends all joining in together. All these trips are suitable for single travellers, but if you prefer to travel with clients booking individually, please see our Solo Departures page.

Requires a spirit of adventure and some fitness, as the trip may involve more activities or longer journeys.

Exodus is always looking to improve our current itineraries and to offer something different. With many new trips this year, there is something unique and different to try every year.

Mixed Activities: Activities may range from the ordinary (for example walking, cycling or whitewater rafting) to the damn right extraordinary (including caving, camel riding or canyoning).

Culture: Let Exodus show you a different side to many of the world's greatest cultural attractions.