MALAYSIA - FRANCE
BY TRAIN
Anissa began her return to France from Malaysia with a fixed deadline: she had been invited to the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, and she had twenty-nine days to get there while avoiding flying. The plan was simple but intense, move fast, no flights, and document what an express overland route actually looks like when timing is tight.
Malaysia → Thailand
Iconic route : “Jungle Train” across peninsular Malaysia toward the Thai border.
Kuala Lumpur → Hat Yai (just over the Thai border).
Approx. fare paid at the time: €14.
Thailand → Laos
Hat Yai → Bangkok — 10 hours, overnight train through southern provinces / €8.56
Bangkok → Vientiane (Laos) — 11 hours, overnight train to the Lao capital / €12.82
Note: Sleepers make a big difference on consecutive night runs.
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Laos → China
Vientiane → Kunming — 9 hours, cross-border train / €103.59
Optional detour (Anissa’s stop):
Kunming → Hong Kong — 7 hours by train to meet
the Hong Kong Shark Foundation / €103.15
Hong Kong → Beijing — 10 hours by train / €167.49
Tip: Prices can rise close to departure; earlier booking helps in China.
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China → Mongolia
Context: The classic Beijing–Ulaanbaatar direct train wasn’t running on the date she needed.
Workable combo instead:
Beijing → Jiningnan — 7 hours, overnight train.
Jiningnan → Erlian (Erenhot) — 7 hours by train to the Chinese border city.
Combined fare at the time: €13.47
Border hop (Erlian → Zamyn Uud):
Go to Dinosaur Square for shared taxis that cross the border.
Expect to negotiate 70–100 CNY per person.
On arrival, Zamyn Uud station is nearby.
Zamyn Uud → Ulaanbaatar — ~15 hours, overnight train / €14.51
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Mongolia → Russia
Visa: Anissa used a Russian e-visa (valid only at specific entry points).
Ulaanbaatar → Irkutsk — Train no. 305, 24 hours, crossing via Sükhbaatar or Naushki / €104.14
Irkutsk → Moscow (Trans-Siberian) — 4–5 days.
Buy on platforms like Russiantrain.com / €313.77
Cabins with berths; samovar for hot water; often a dining car.
Tip: Stock food, tea/coffee, instant meals, and snacks before boarding.
Russia → Latvia → France
Moscow → Riga (Latvia) — long-distance bus, 10+ hours / €78.00)
Border note: strict checks and possible long waits.
Riga → Paris (France) — bus, 36 hours / €183.44
Paris → Nice — 5 hours by fast train / €118.00
Final notes :
Anissa did this route from Malaysia to France very fast because she had a fixed deadline:
an invitation to the United Nations Ocean Conference in France.
She finished the trip in 29 days, almost without stopping, many night rides, no real break, because she could not be late. Normally, she would not travel this way.
The route is good, but she recommends doing it slowly:add extra days, split the long legs, and stop for a few daysin each place to enjoy the journey !
