25 Mar 2027
Twin share
£4,630pp
Escorted tour
China & Mongolia Railway Adventure: Shanghai to Ulaanbaatar – 18 Days
Shanghai, Xi'an, the Great Wall, Beijing, Inner Mongolia and the Gobi by train, with a ger camp stay, in a group of up to 16.
18 days
From £3,870
Tour overview
This 18-day small-group journey travels north from the skyscrapers of Shanghai to the steppes of Mongolia, mostly by bullet train and overnight sleeper, taking in China's great imperial sights and the wide-open landscapes of Inner Mongolia and the Gobi. Groups have up to 16 travellers aged 15 and over, with a leader throughout. You stay seventeen nights: thirteen in twin-share hotels, one in a family-run guesthouse near the Great Wall, two in a traditional ger camp in Khustain National Park and one on an overnight train. Breakfast is included on most days, with several lunches and dinners at camp.
Your adventure begins in Shanghai, with its colonial Bund and futuristic skyline, and your first bullet train to a nearby water town. Another fast train brings you to Xi'an, the ancient capital at the start of the Silk Road, where you visit the Terracotta Warriors, thousands of life-size clay soldiers buried with China's first emperor.
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After a night in a family-run guesthouse in a village near the Great Wall, you hike along a quieter section of the wall before heading into Beijing for Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the hutongs, with a free day to explore. A bullet train then takes you into Inner Mongolia, where you walk in the Huanggangliang National Forest Park, explore the dunes and lakes of the Hunshandake Sandy Land and stay in the grassland city of Xilinhot.
Crossing the border at Erlian, you reach Sainshand in Mongolia's Gobi Desert for a walking tour and a visit to the sacred Mountain of Wishes, before an overnight train carries you to Ulaanbaatar. Two nights in a ger camp in Khustain National Park bring a hike to look for the wild Przewalski's horses, once extinct in the wild, before a final tour of the Mongolian capital.
The physical rating is medium, with long travel days and simple ger camp facilities. This trip suits travellers who love trains and want to see China and Mongolia from the city to the steppe in one journey. Pack light, as you carry your bags on and off trains. Departures run from spring to autumn, when the steppe is green.
Trip highlights
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Bullet trains across China (Days 2–3)
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The Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an (Day 4)
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A night beside the Great Wall (Days 5–6)
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Beijing's Forbidden City (Day 7)
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The Hunshandake Sandy Land (Day 11)
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Przewalski's horses in Khustain (Day 16)
Your route
16 stops from Shanghai to Ulaanbaatar
- Shanghai Days 1–2
- Wuxi Day 2
- Xi'an Days 3–4
- Terracotta Warriors Day 4
- Great Wall (Jinshanling) Day 5
- Beijing Days 6–8
- Chifeng Day 9
- Reshui Days 9–10
- Dali Lake Day 11
- Xilinhot Day 11
- Erlian Day 12
- Sainshand Days 12–14
- Khamriin Monastery Day 13
- Chinggis Khaan Statue Day 15
- Khustain National Park Days 15–16
- Ulaanbaatar Days 17–18
Why choose this tour
China's great sights and Mongolia's steppe in one rail journey. A Great Wall village stay and two nights in a ger camp.
Best suited to
- Rail enthusiasts
- Travellers with time for a long trip
- Solo travellers looking for a group
- Curious, adventurous travellers
Day-by-day itinerary
18 days from Shanghai, China to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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Day 1 · Shanghai Arrive in Shanghai
A welcome meeting in Shanghai.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 2 · Shanghai Shanghai
A first bullet train and a water town.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 3 · Xi'an Xi'an
A bullet train to the ancient capital.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 4 · Terracotta Warriors Terracotta Warriors
Visit the emperor's clay army.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 5 · Great Wall Great Wall
Travel to a village by the wall.
- Hotel
- Family-run guesthouse
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Day 6 · Great Wall, Beijing Beijing
Hike the wall, then into Beijing.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 7 · Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City Beijing
The heart of imperial China.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 8 · Beijing Beijing
A free day and a group meeting.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 9 · Reshui Reshui
A bullet train into Inner Mongolia.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 10 · Huanggangliang National Forest Park Huanggangliang
Walk in the forest park.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 11 · Hunshandake Sandy Land, Xilinhot Xilinhot
Dunes and grasslands.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 12 · Erlian, Sainshand Sainshand
Cross the border into Mongolia.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 13 · Sainshand Sainshand
A walking tour in the Gobi.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 14 · Mountain of Wishes Mountain of Wishes
A sacred mountain, then a night train.
- Hotel
- Overnight train
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 15 · Ulaanbaatar, Khustain National Park Khustain
Arrive in the capital and head to camp.
- Hotel
- Tourist ger camp
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
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Day 16 · Khustain National Park Khustain
A hike to look for wild horses.
- Hotel
- Tourist ger camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 17 · Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar
A final tour of the capital.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 18 · Ulaanbaatar Trip ends
The trip ends this morning.
Where you stay
- Shanghai (2 nights) Hotel
- Xi'an (2 nights) Hotel
- Great Wall (1 night) Family-run guesthouse
- Beijing (3 nights) Hotel
- Reshui (2 nights) Hotel
- Xilinhot (1 night) Hotel
- Sainshand (2 nights) Hotel
- Sainshand to Ulaanbaatar (1 night) Overnight train
- Khustain National Park (2 nights) Tourist ger camp
- Ulaanbaatar (1 night) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 13 nights in hotels, 1 in a guesthouse, 2 in a ger camp and 1 on a train
- Meals 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 2 dinners
- Bullet trains, an overnight train and private transport
- Terracotta Warriors visit
- Great Wall hike
- Huanggangliang Forest Park and Hunshandake Sandy Land
- Khustain National Park hike
- Leader throughout
Not included
- Flights
- Visas for China and Mongolia where needed
- Meals not included 7 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 15 dinners
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You dislike long travel days
- You want comfort — ger camp facilities are shared
- You want many meals included
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–3, 6, 10–14 and 16–17 · Lunch: Days 11 and 13–16 · Dinner: Days 15–16
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £3,870 per person, twin share, tour only. 49 upcoming departures.
29 Mar 2027
Twin share
£4,090pp
09 Apr 2027
Twin share
£4,425pp
12 Apr 2027
Twin share
£4,290pp
06 May 2027
Twin share
£4,260pp
14 May 2027
Twin share
£4,180pp
24 May 2027
Twin share
£4,180pp
31 May 2027
Twin share
£4,100pp
07 Jun 2027
Twin share
£4,230pp
11 Jun 2027
Twin share
£3,930pp
14 Jun 2027
Twin share
£3,895pp
21 Jun 2027
Twin share
£3,895pp
05 Jul 2027
Twin share
£3,870pp
19 Jul 2027
Twin share
£3,870pp
26 Jul 2027
Twin share
£3,870pp
02 Aug 2027
Twin share
£3,985pp
09 Aug 2027
Twin share
£3,985pp
16 Aug 2027
Twin share
£3,985pp
27 Aug 2027
Twin share
£4,100pp
30 Aug 2027
Twin share
£4,100pp
03 Sept 2027
Twin share
£4,180pp
06 Sept 2027
Twin share
£4,180pp
10 Sept 2027
Twin share
£4,195pp
13 Sept 2027
Twin share
£4,260pp
23 Mar 2028
Twin share
£4,185pp
27 Mar 2028
Twin share
£4,185pp
07 Apr 2028
Twin share
£4,305pp
10 Apr 2028
Twin share
£4,390pp
04 May 2028
Twin share
£4,390pp
12 May 2028
Twin share
£4,390pp
22 May 2028
Twin share
£4,390pp
29 May 2028
Twin share
£4,305pp
05 Jun 2028
Twin share
£4,065pp
09 Jun 2028
Twin share
£4,065pp
12 Jun 2028
Twin share
£4,065pp
19 Jun 2028
Twin share
£4,065pp
03 Jul 2028
Twin share
£4,065pp
17 Jul 2028
Twin share
£4,065pp
24 Jul 2028
Twin share
£4,065pp
31 Jul 2028
Twin share
£4,065pp
07 Aug 2028
Twin share
£4,185pp
14 Aug 2028
Twin share
£4,185pp
25 Aug 2028
Twin share
£4,185pp
28 Aug 2028
Twin share
£4,305pp
01 Sept 2028
Twin share
£4,390pp
04 Sept 2028
Twin share
£4,390pp
08 Sept 2028
Twin share
£4,390pp
11 Sept 2028
Twin share
£4,390pp
06 Oct 2028
Twin share
£4,305pp
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
What is a ger camp like?
Traditional felt tents with beds and stoves, with shared bathroom facilities.
What is the overnight train like?
Shared sleeper compartments between Sainshand and Ulaanbaatar.
Do I need visas?
UK visitors may need a visa for China depending on current rules, and do not usually need one for Mongolia. Check before you travel.
Will I see Przewalski's horses?
Khustain is one of the best places to see them, but sightings cannot be guaranteed.
What is the minimum age?
The minimum age is 15.
How many people travel together?
Up to 16 travellers, with a leader.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary