We took the Trans Siberian from Ulan Bator, which turns it into the Trans Mongolian. We booked it through RealRussia.com because we read that it was difficult to get tickets , but the truth is that it’s only difficult to get them in summer, when more tourists book in advance. In spring and low season in general, you should be fine booking a few days in advance in the same train station. Real Russia sent us the tickets directly to our hostel the day before the departure, which was very nice and convenient.

The trains depart from Ulan Bator only on Thursdays, but similar trains with the same facilities and even newer use the same tracks every day. We got a second class ticket, which meant that we got a private cabin with 4 berths. If you get 3rd class, you will get to share the space of the whole wagon with everyone, but not to worry, it’s not terrible! We were lucky enough not to get any companions in the whole trip, it was really nice to have the whole cabin for ourselves! We could watch movies, listen to music and eat our own food the 4 days of the trip (we didn’t get off at any stop). The first and second day of the trip were the best ones in terms of views : the Lake Baikal, the forests and the wooden houses villages were just stunning. And regarding hygiene, you will get your own freshly washed bed sheets, pillow covers and hand towel.

Things to consider and to remember before the trip:

When you cross the border on the first night, a lot (A LOT) of government employees will get into your cabin and check every corner of it and your belongings, for Mongolia customs and for Russia Immigration. They will take your passport twice and you won’t see it in an hour, but they will get back with it; they will make you go in and out of the room about 5 times; you will need to open your luggage and allow policemen to dismantle everything they feel like; and dogs will get in and sniff your stuff. All of this will happen between 11pm and 1:30am, so it’s quite uncomfortable (also the civil servants doing it will look really pissed, but it’s just how they are, be patient).

Regarding food: bring enough food and snacks for at least the first 2 days, because we didn’t get to see those famous stalls and sellers of food on the platforms until the 2nd day. The food of the restaurant wagon is good and it changes in every country to the typical cuisine in each country, but it’s very expensive and the owner of the wagon will try by all means to rip you off, so be ultra careful. They won’t speak English and insist that they don’t have change so you pay as much as you can. So if you don’t mind spending 15USD per person in each meal, go for it (the real value of the food will be way lower, though). We brought 2 cups of cup noodles, 2 bananas and 2 apples and plenty of peanuts and cookies per person; that, plus the sandwiches and warm food we got from the platforms was enough. There’s a hot water dispenser, so you will be able to drink your teas, have clean water and to cook your noodles!

The toilet is a small one to be shared with the other cabins (8 of them with max 4 people in each) and it has a sink with water you can use. Quite good for us considering that our toilet was the world and our sink were wet wipes in the Gobi Desert. It will only start stinking the second half of the trip, so it’s not bad at all!