Mongolia Adventure

The Real Deal: 13 nights' accommodations, sightseeing tours and train travel from $1,440 per person

When: Depart Apr. 17, May 8, Sept. 4, Sept. 18, Oct. 16, 2006; add $80 for departures on Jun. 12, Jul. 10, Jul. 31, Aug. 14, 2006; additional dates in 2007

Details: Hotel taxes, breakfast daily, entrance fees, and tours led by English-speaking local guides are included. Hotels are subject to change

Book By: No deadline; each tour is limited to 15 people, so book far in advance

Contact: Adventure Center, 800/228-8747, adventurecenter.com

The package includes 13 nights' accommodations and train travel. The itinerary begins with two nights at Izmailovo Delta-Gamma Hotel in Moscow and a sightseeing tour of St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, the Kremlin, and Armoury Chamber.

Next come five nights in a four-berth compartment aboard the Trans Mongolian Railway and a journey past the Ural Mountains, Lake Baikal, and a series of rivers on the way to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. Two nights are spent in Ulaanbaatar at the Misheel Hotel and one night in a traditional ger (felt tent). There's a sightseeing tour covering Zaisan Memorial, the National History Museum, Gandan Hiid Monastery, and Terelj National Park.

The last leg includes a one-night train ride to Beijing, two nights at the Rainbow Hotel, and a tour of Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall of China.

U.S. citizens are required to obtain visas for Russia ($100), Mongolia ($30) and China ($50). Keep in mind that this is a trip for hearty and healthy souls. The sightseeing tours involve long hours of walking, and travelers will be exposed to a rapid-fire mix of cultures, landscapes, sights, smells, and foods. A group leader will be on hand to assist with any difficulties as well as paperwork at border crossings, and the Adventure Center's website includes detailed lots of details on what to expect and what to pack (remember you'll be lugging bags up and down train platforms and storage space can be limited).

Airfare: Travelers must make their own plans for the airfare part of the trip, and it will be tricky given the open-jaw flights into Moscow and out of Beijing. Expect rates to vary wildly depending on your departure city and time of year (Apr. and Oct. will likely be cheapest). The Adventure Center does have contracted round-trip rates starting at $1,050 per person from New York City, $1,150 from Los Angeles or San Francisco, and $1,275 from Chicago. Additional airport taxes and fuel surcharges total $250-$325 per person.

More Budget Travel inspiration before you go:

Moscow Made Easier

The 'New' New China