Included:

​

​- Guided tours of Forbidden City and Tiananmen square (Beijing); Gandan Monastery, Bogd Khan Winter Palace and Zaisan Hill monument (Ulan Bator); Kremlin (Moscow)

- Guided tours of Ulan Bator, Irkutsk, Ekaterinburg and St Petersburg

- Transportation and entrance fees to the Great Wall​ (Beijing) and Terelj National Park (Ulan Bator)

- Hermitage entrance tickets

​- Visa support documentation for Chinese, Mongolian and Russian visas

- 11 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch and 2 Dinners

 

Transportation:
​

​ - Trains Beijing-UB, UB-Irkutsk, Irkutsk-Ekaterinburg, Ekaterinburg-Moscow, Moscow-St Petersburg (standard 2nd class soft sleepers with 4 people sharing a cabin)

- Private transfers to/from train stations

- Private buses to the Great Wall, for city tours in Ulan Bator, Irkutsk and Ekaterinburg

​

Accommodation (twin shared basis in all hotels and a guest house):
​

​- 3* hotels (Beijing, Ulan Bator, Ekaterinburg, Moscow, St Petersburg)

- Gers in a ger camp (Terelj National Park, Mongolia)

- Homestay style 2* guesthouse in Listvyanka (Lake Baikal)

- 2nd Class soft sleeper trains

- Day rooms in the hotels if the trains depart in the evening

 

Single supplement is not available on this trip. Single travellers will be paired in twin-shared accommodation with another group member of the same sex.

 

Trip is guided by an experienced English speaking tour leader.

​

​

ITINERARY

​

​Day 1: 1st February 2015. Beijing, China​

Arrival day. There are no activities planned - during the day group members are arriving to the hotel from all over the world. In the evening your tour leader will meet you in the hotel lobby for the Orientation Group Meeting. ​

 

​Day 2: 2nd February 2015. Beijing, China

​In the morning we will head to Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China (about 70 km from Beijing). First built in mid-6th century and rebuilt in 16th century, Mutianyu is one of the best preserved parts of the Great Wall. To get to the Watch towers you can either walk about 4,000 steps up, or take a chair lift. Getting down can be fun if you choose to ride a toboggan. There is a small souvenir market at the bottom of the Wall - perfect place to look for souvenirs, buy a "I climbed The Great Wall of China" T-shirt, or to try local pancakes with various fillings.

In the afternoon (around lunchtime) we will return back to Beijing. There are plenty activities to fill in the rest of the day: Kung Fu and Acrobatic shows, Peking Opera, museums, markets and tea-houses.

 

Day 3: 3rd February 2015. Beijing, China

We will start the day with a guided tour of Tiananmen square and Forbidden City. Tiananmen - located in the heart of Chinese capital - is the fourth largest square in the world. It has been the centre of many political and historical events. Northern part of the square is dominated by the Forbidden City gate tower. For over 500 years Forbidden City served as an Imperial Palace - home of Chinese emperors and their courts. It is listed by UNESCO as the world's largest collection of preserved wooden structures.

 

Day 4: 4th February 2015. Train to Mongolia. Border crossing

Early morning private transfer will take us to Beijing Zhan train station. We will board our first train on the Trans-Mongolian route. Spend the day watching scenery passing by, catching last glimps of the Great Wall deep into Inner Mongolia, having a beer or two in the dining car, and chatting with locals. Between 9 pm and 1 am we will cross border to Mongolia. Size of the train tracks in China and Mongolia is different, and you will have unique experience of watchin wheels of each train carriage being changed.

Overnight on the train.

​

Day 5: 5th February 2015. Ulan Bator, Mongolia

Train will arrive to the capital of Mongolia - Ulan Bator (Ulaanbaatar) - around lunchtime. UB is one of the fastest changing capitals of North Asia. City's suburbs are still largely consist of nomadic ger camps. But there are skyscrapers and high rise building being constructed in the city centre. One of the major attractions is the main square with the monument to Damdin Sukhbaatar - hero of socialistic revolution - facing Chinggis Khan statue on the steps of Mongolian Parliament and Government building.

 

Day 6: 6th February 2015. Ulan Bator, Mongolia

Learn about ancient Mongolian culture and religion on a guided tour of Ulan Bator. It includes Gandan Monastery, Bogd Khan Winter Palace and Zaisan hill - three sights that represent different aspects of Mongolian history. During years of socialism Gandan was the only acting monastery in the country. Nowadays it's the biggest centre of Buddhist worship and studies in Mongolia. Bogd Khan was the last Khan of Mongolia. In addition to his political role he also was a spiritual leader of the country. In the Buddhist hierarchy he was the third most important person after Dalai and Panchen Lamas. His winter palace houses a vast collection of objects that belong to the last ruler of Mongolia. City tour will finish at Zaisan Hill - a memorial to commemorate Mongolian soldiers who died in the WWII.

Meals included: Breakfast

​​

Day 7: 7th February 2015. Ger camp, Mongolia

In the morning we will travel to Terelj National Park (about 60 km from Ulan Bator). Overnight we will stay in traditional nomadic gers (some also call them tents or yurts). Each ger has 4 beds, couple of small tables and chairs, and a stove. Walls and roof are covered with wool and felt, to keep ger warm even in the coldest Mongolian winters. The day is free to explore surroundings, spot eagles and yaks, practise archery and horse riding.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

​​​

​Day 8: 8th February 2015. Mongolia - on the train

After relaxed morning in the ger camp (and maybe more archery, horses and beautiful scenery) we will return back to Ulan Bator. Afternoon is free to buy souvenirs, food for the train or wander along streets of Mongolian capital taking photos and watching people. In the evening we will board our second train of the epic Trans-Mongolian journey.

​Overnight on the train.

Meals included: Breakfast

 

Day 9: 9th February 2015. Mongolia-Russia border crossing. On the train

Early in the morning our train will stop in Sukhbaatar - small town on Mongolian side of the border. After all immigration formalities the train will cross No-Mans land and we will finally reach Russia. Immigration and customs check takes about 3 hours. It is enough time to walk around sleepy town of Naushki, buy our first Russian ice-cream (Russians eat it even at -30 C), sample on local bread and sausages. When visas are checked and migration cards are stamped, the train will continue its journey.

​Overnight on the train.

 

Day 10: 10th February 2015. Lake Baikal, Russia

Train will arrive to Irkutsk early in the morning, and we will head to Listvyanka - small village on the Lake Baikal (about 1.5 hrs drive). At this time of the year Baikal is still not fully covered in ice. Water masses are so big - the lake contains 20% of all world's fresh water supply - that it needs several months to freeze completely. We will spend this day exploring local market, eating homemade food in our guesthouse, and resting from two days on the train. Those who want to learn more about the oldest lake in the world (Lake Baikal is thought to be about 25 million years old) can visit Baikal museum.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

​​

Day 11: 11th February 2015. On the train to Ekaterinburg, Russia

After breakfast in the guesthouse, we will return back to Irkutsk. Before boarding our third leg of Trans-Mongolian route (from Irkutsk onwards we will be travelling along Trans-Siberian railroad), we will have a guided tour of Irkutsk. In 18th - 19th centuries the town was a major cultural and political centre of the region. One of the most famous Russian writers - Chekhov - once called Irkutsk "a pearl of Siberia". This name was rightfully earned: even after years of Soviet rule, Irkutsk still has many beautiful wooden houses and churches.

Overnight on the trian.

Meals included: Breakfast

​

Day 12: 12th February 2015. On the train to Ekaterinburg, Russia

Trans-Siberian railway is the longest rail road in the world. 48 hours train ride to Ekaterinburg will give us opportunity to see  Siberia as people often imagine it - vast land covered in snow. What seems to be a long train journey usually becomes a quick two days period of meeting new people, mastering Russian language during train stops, having train parties and playing games.

Overnight on the train

​

Day 13: 13th February 2015. Ekaterinburg, Russia

In the morning we will arrive to Ekaterinburg (Yekaterinburg) - a city located in the middle of Eurasian continent, on the border between Asia and Europe. Today is a perfect day to relax after the long train ride. Ekaterinburg is an industrial and cultural centre of Urals region, with lots of bars, cafes, theatres and concert halls. City's philharmonic orchestra is considered to be one of the best in the country.

​

Day 14: 14th February 2015. Ekaterinburg, Russia

Founded in early 18th century, Ekaterinburg quickly became political, industrial and cultural centre of the region. Located on Ural mountains, it was a perfect base for Russian Empire's exspantion in Siberia. First president of independent Russian Federation - infamous Boris Yieltsin - was born in Ekaterinburg. During 1991 coup the city was celected to be a reserve capital of Russia, in case Moscow falls. Ekaterinburg is part of one of the darkest moments of Russian history - assassination of last Russian Tsar Nikolas II and his family. After the remains of Tsar's family were moved to St Petersburg, a monastery was founded on the sight of their grave. Monastery is located a bit outside of town. Building where the royal family was killed had been demolished in 1990-s, and a Cathedral on the Blood was built on the spot.

Meals included: Breakfast

​

Day 15: 15th February 2015. On the train to Moscow, Russia

In the morning we will take a 24 hours train to Moscow. Russia is the biggest country in the world, and crossing it from Irkutsk to Moscow we will pass 5 time zones. To avoid confusion all trains in the country run on Moscow time.

Overnight on the train

Meals included: Breakfast

​

Day 16: 16th February 2015. Moscow, Russia

Train arrives to Moscow in the morning. 867 years old capital of Russia has a lot to offer: museums, cathedrals, parks and one of the most beautiful metro (underground) system in the world. Find time to visit famous Gorki park. In winter part of it is turned into a giant skating rink. Another famous skating rink is usually set up on the Red square. Since 12th century the Red square has always been the centre of Russian political life. All major events were proclaimed there - wars, victories, birth and death of Russian tsars. Every year on 9th May Russian military has a massive Victory Parade on the Red square, to commemorate victory in the WWII. Mausoleum with the preserved body of Vladimir Lenin - the leader of Soviet Revolution 1917 that completely changed life the Russia for over 70 years - is situated on the Red square, right by the Kremlin wall. Mausoleum is opened for public.

 

​Day 17: 17th February 2015. Moscow, Russia.

Guided tour of Moscow Kremlin and Armoury museums will take us back to the centuries when Russia was ruled by tsars. In old Russian the word "kremlin" means fortress. Part of the complexi is closed for visitiors, because it's still occupide by Russian government. In the afternoon you can spend more time exploring Moscow sights.

Meals included: Breakfast​​ ​

 

​Day 18: 18th February 2015. Overnight train to St Petersburg, Russia.

Today is a free day. There are plenty of tourist attractions in Moscow. Try to find time to travel in Moscow metro: each station is richly decorated. Or visit Christ the Savior cathedral - main cathedral of Russian Orthodox church. In the evening we will board our last overnight train on this unique Winter Trans-Mongolian journey

Meals included: Breakfast

​

Day 19: 19th February 2015. St Petersburg, Russia.

Early in the morning our train will arrive to St Petersburg.There is plenty of time to unpack and have showers before a guided walking tour. St Petersburg is called Cultural capital of Russia. The city is one of the major arts and music centres in Europe. Walking tour will take us through both: most famous city sights (Nevski prospekt, Kazan cathedral, Palace square, St Isaak's cathedral), and less known - but as well important - 19th century courtyards.

​​

​​Day 20: 20th February 2015. St Petersburg, Russia.​

Today your tour leader will take you to the Hermitage. There is no guided tour planned: the museum holds one of the largest art collections in the world. You are free to spend as long there as you want.  Afternoon is free, and in the evening all members of the group can meet together for final night dinner.

Meals included: Breakfast

​​

Day 21: 21st February 2015. St Petersburg, Russia

Departure day. There are no activities planned on this day. Group members can continue their travels at any time, or spend extra days in St Petersburg.

Meals included: Breakfast

 

 

 

 

 

​

Check out "Essentials" tab for information about booking, visas, safety and other details.​

Arrival and departure transfers, pre and post trip accommodation are available.​

If you wish to book the trip and find out more about additional services, please, contact us directly.

.