Getting to Mongolia on the Cheapest Way

Mongolia is located in East Asia between China and Russia, with no direct flights coming from the Philippines. It was my dream a long time ago to travel to this country. I got a chance when Cebu Pacific had their famous Piso fare promotion. I immediately booked a flight with my friend to Beijing. 

Mongolia is a Visa-free country for Philippine Passport holders and can stay up to 30 days. There are few countries to transit either via Hongkong, Incheon, or Beijing to the countries capital Ulaanbaatar, but be in mind that flights for a one-way ticket are approximately 200USD. 

I will be sharing only via Beijing since we took that route to Ulaanbaatar in the cheapest way possible. The original plan was to take the 14 hours train from Beijing to Erlian and an overnight train from Zamid udd to Ulaanbaatar. 

A month before our flight to Beijing, we decided to change the plan. Instead, we book a flight to Erlian and a 12 hours bus ride passing by the Gobi desert to save time. 

Our flight arrival to Beijing from Manila is around 11:45PM, and our connecting flights to Erenhot are 7:45PM via Capital Airlines the next day. We stayed for a night in Stay House Business Hotel with a free shuttle since we arrived in Beijing late at night.

Erenhot airport is approximately 30KM to the center, where you can take the bus to Ulaanbaatar. There's nothing to worry about since Erenhot airport had a free shuttle bus going to the center. Erenhot is just a transit place, and there's nothing special. We stayed in Lianda Hotel for a night before we continued our journey to Ulaanbaatar the next day.

The bus left Erlian at exactly 10AM and approximately arrived in Ulanbaatar at 10PM. The fare is 150CNY with free lunch.

When we arrived in Ulaanbaatar, luckily, there were a couple help us to reach our hostel since the Terminal is located approximately 5KM from the center, and we paid 5000Togrog. 

Expenses Breakdown

Per Person

Manila to Beijing with 20kilos baggage - Php 1862.00+400 Getgo points

Travel tax - Php 1, 620.00

Sky House Business Hotel - Php757.00

Beijing to Erenhot with 10kilos Baggage - Php 2,849.00

Erenhot to Ulanbaatar (Bus)with lunch - Php 1,125.00

Ulaanbaatar Terminal to Hostel (Cab) - Php 50.00

Incidentals  - Php 500.00

TOTAL - PHP 8, 763.00

* The one-way airfare from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar is approximately 200USD.

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