Classical Trans-Mongolian: Moscow - Irkutsk - Baikal - Mongolia - Beijing (TS-01)

Hotel Ibis Centre Bakhrushina 3*,
MoscowPart of the Ibis collection, the Moscow Centre Bakhrushina Hotel is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a value hotel with facilities you can trust. Situated within the meander of the Moskva River, it’s centrally located a half hour stroll from Red Square or the Kremlin and within easy reach of the Paveletskaya metro station.

Moscow by Night City Tour by CarMoscow combines the best of old and modern architecture. It is a city of long avenues and majestic squares, leafy boulevards, parks and gardens, new luxury housing, bridges, the granite embankments of Moscow River, and the unique cultural and historical sites. Discover Moscow by night with a guided city tour by car.

3 hours | £75 per person

Tretiakov Gallery Guided TourA guided tour of the Tretiakov Gallery, the biggest collection of Russian fine art in the world. The core of the museum's collection was assembled in the middle of the nineteenth century by Pavel Tretiakov, a wealthy Moscow merchant whose passion for collecting included violins, birds, and milk cows as well as Russian art. The museum represents the whole history of Russian art from the ancient period until now. There are more than 130 000 unique examples of painting, sculpture and graphics, created throughout the centuries by talented Russian artists.

4 hours | £80 per person

Museum of the Cold War - Former Top Secret Command CentreWe invite you to visit the former top secret command centre of the Russian Armed Forces recently converted into museum of the Cold War period. It is the newest museum opened in Moscow. After entering a regular building in a quite central street of the city and a ride on a rapid elevator 65 meters under the ground you will see a real top secret military facility of the USSR. During a short guided tour you will pass through the secret tunnels, see samples of communication equipment and fire arms.

3 hours | £95 per person

Diamond Fund Guided TourThe Diamond Fund is located in the Kremlin Armoury containing the most valuable gems of Russia - a collection of masterpieces of jewellery of the 18th-20th centuries, rare precious stones, gold and platinum nuggets of great artistic, historic and scientific importance. It is one of the few treasuries in the world that house unique crown jewels. The exhibition features such treasures as diamond encrusted Coronation Crown of Catherine the Great, the world-famous 190-carat Orlov Diamond among other stunning examples.

2 hours | £100 per person

Izmailovo Kremlin - Wooden Architecture Complex, Arts & Crafts CentreKremlin in Izmailovo was created on the basis of the world famous “Vernisage in Izmailovo” souvenir market. Here you will have a unique opportunity to broaden your perception of Russian national traditions and artistic crafts and see unique examples of wooden architecture. You can visit Museum of Bells, Russian Toys, Russian Costume and Way of Life, Museum of Russian Fairytales and Vodka History Museum (entrance fees are not included). You can also take part in various master-classes on Russian dolls painting, pottery, toy making, cooking and much more.

4 hours | £80 per person

Day 1 – Saturday

Transfer from the airport to the hotel

Our driver will meet you in the arrival sector at Moscow’s airport with a Go Russia sign board. From there you’ll transfer to the hotel.

Day 2 – Sunday

Moscow City Tour by Car

Red Square, St. Basil`s & Lenin Mausoleum Guided Tour

We begin our exploration of the Russian capital with a walking tour that takes in the most important sights of central Moscow. These include Lubyanka Square, once the nerve centre of the KGB in Soviet times, the Bolshoi Theatre and busy Tverskaya Street where shops, restaurants and people congregate. From there we make our way to Red Square. Arguably one of the most famous squares in the world, the name translates as beautiful, and it’s as aptly named today as when it got its moniker. We’ll absorb world famous sights like St Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin’s Mausoleum, Kazan Cathedral and the Kremlin towers, as well as paying a visit to the GUM department store.

Day 3 – Monday

Kremlin Grounds & the Armoury Guided Tour

Moscow Metro Guided Tour

The Armoury Museum and Tsar Treasures, the first stop today, are one of the country’s unmissable sights. After a stroll in Cathedral Square, we’ll see what was once the storehouse for the Kremlin weaponry and later home to the Imperial Court’s most valuable possessions. The huge collection includes over fifty Faberge eggs, golden and silver works of applied art by Russian, European and Oriental masters, invaluable weapons and other works made of precious metals and stones. Finally today we’ll have a ride on the Moscow Underground. No ordinary transit system, this working metro features stations adorned with marble, mosaics, stained glass panels and bronze sculptures that would look at home in any art museum.

Moscow

Day 4 – Tuesday

Free day

Transfer from the hotel to the railway station

Today you have a free day on your own to discover the city for yourself. Optional excursions are available to book should you wish. Later, our driver will collect you from the hotel to transfer you to the train station for a comfortable rail journey to Irkutsk.

Train: Moscow - Irkutsk

Day 4 – Tuesday

Night train: Moscow - Irkutsk

We travel to Irkutsk onboard a comfortable fast train. The train ride takes four days.

Irkutsk - Listvyanka

Mayak Hotel 4*,
ListvyankaThe Hotel Mayak in Listvyanka occupies an enviable waterfront position giving its guests panoramic views over Lake Baikal. Many of the rooms have large windows from which you can watch boats come and go at the boat dock. The hotel itself is well equipped with the facilities you would expect from a property of its class, with a pool, sauna and Russian banya for guests. There’s free WiFi throughout the hotel, room service and assistance with document registration.

Olkhon Island Extension - 4 daysWe invite you to visit the heart of the lake Baikal - the island of Olkhon, glorified in many legends. It is the largest of the lake's 30 islands and it contains 143 unique archaeological objects – graves, remains of ancient settlements, ruins, shaman worship monuments and many others. You will also be able to enjoy magnificent natural views, sandy beaches and even swim in the lake (average water temperature in July – August 18 degrees C).

£475 per person

Circum-Baikal Railway Guided Tour by TrainThe Circum-Baikal is not just a railway, but a unique museum of history and nature, combining architecture with zoology, mineralogy and geology. Go Russia invites you to join us on the breathtaking journey around Lake Baikal, on the Circum-Baikal Railway, which runs along the North shore of the Southern part of the lake, from the village of Slyudyanka to the Port Baikal settlement. This is a full-day guided tour, which may start from either Irkutsk or the village of Listvyanka.

11 hours | £225 per person

Trekking at Baikal with PicnicNote: you need to be fit to participate in this trek. This is a circular route hike which starts and ends in Listvyanka. First half of the walk goes through the Taiga forest, then the trail leads down to the shore of Lake Baikal. On the lake shore the guide will cook for you a delicious lunch on camp-fire. After sunbathing and swimming in the lake, we continue our walk on the hillside enjoying the panorama of Lake Baikal along the way. You will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide.

6 hours | £65 per person

Ride a Quad in ListvyankaRide a quad in Listvyanka village, enjoy stunning views of Lake Baikal and experience taiga forest. You will be riding a quad with another person (in total 2 persons per quad) accompanied by an English speaking guide. A picnic lunch will be served on the lake shore.

2 hours | £125 per person

Circum-Baikal Railway Walking TourEnjoy a walking tour along the Circum-Baikal railway – a truly historic line - starting from Port Baikal to the first or second tunnel. You’re bound to be impressed by the stunning views of Lake Baikal, its magnificent beauty and the surrounding hills. This is a circular route, which starts and ends in Listvyanka village.

6 hours | £65 per person

Listvyanka Tour & Visit to the Baikal MuseumEnjoy a guided walk in the village including a visit to the Baikal museum. Your guide will also show you the famous Shaman Rock and tell you the legend about the naughty Angara River. Take a cable lift to get to a nearby view point from where you’ll get a chance to take panoramic pictures of Baikal. Enjoy your visit to a local 19th century wooden St. Nicolas church and a local fish market where you’ll see a great variety of fish and different ways of cooking it. Price includes services of an English-speaking guide, entrance tickets to the Baikal museum, transport from the village centre to the Baikal museum and back, cable car (one way).

4 hours | £125 per person

Horse Riding in TaigaEnjoy horse-riding along the largest lake on our planet or deep in Taiga forest. Before the horse riding session you will receive a short briefing and your instructor will show you how to get on a horse and how to control it. Please note, there will be no English – speaking guide with you, only an instructor who speaks basic English.

3 hours | £95 per person

Day 8 – Saturday

Transfer by car / minibus: Irkutsk - Listvyanka

At leisure at Baikal

Our guide will meet you with a sign board upon your arrival in Irkutsk and you’ll transfer to Listvyanka village, a journey of about 70km. Listvyanka sits on the shore of Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest freshwater lake, on which you can take a boat ride. There’s also an interesting museum, market and Nerpinarium offering seal shows to visit should you choose.

Listvyanka - Irkutsk

Hotel Angara 3*,
IrkutskThe Angara Hotel was named after the great Siberian River and is situated right in the heart of business and financial life of Irkutsk - on the Kirov Square. There are 285 comfortable standard rooms, semi-deluxe and deluxe rooms equipped with a private bathroom, safe, colour TV, mini-bar, hairdryer, air-conditioner and Internet access. The hotel has two restaurants, post office, currency exchange office, massage room, sauna with a pool, gym, casino and billiards.

£475 per person

Day 9 – Sunday

Transfer by car / minibus: Listvyanka - Irkutsk

Open-air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy

Irkutsk City Tour

On the way, we’ll make a stop at the open-air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy, situated on the river Angara’s banks in a forest. Its extensive collection of wooden houses and tents offer a glimpse into the traditional lifestyles of the Buryat and Evenk people in this region. You can also see the interiors of a Russian fort and a 15th century watchtower, as well as glimpse at a Shaman yurt and other interesting objects. Back in the city, we’ll admire Irkutsk’s impressive architecture and pretty log houses.

Irkutsk

Day 10 – Monday

Transfer from the hotel to the railway station

Our driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer you to the train station.

Lodge Ger Camp,
TereljGer camps we use on our tours are slightly modified for Western travellers, however they do offer a genuinely authentic experience and most of them are situated in picturesque areas. The gers are made of a wooden frame that is covered with felt. Inside they are generally brightly painted and feature two or four single beds, a small table, chairs, a lamp, electricity sockets and a stove for heating.

Train: Irkutsk - Ulaanbaatar

Day 10 – Monday

Night train: Irkutsk - Ulaanbaatar

We leave the warm hospitality of the Siberian Russians and start our trip to Mongolia by comfortable train. Arrival in Ulaanbaatar next day early in the morning.

Ulan Bator - Terelj

Itinerary Accommodation Dates and prices

Day 11 – Tuesday

Transfer by car / minibus: Ulaanbaatar - Terelj

Chinggis Khaan Monument Guided Tour

Terelj National Park Guided Trip

Our guide will meet you at the railway station for your included transfer to Terelj National Park. We pause at the Chinggis Khaan monument which is located at Conjinboldog area on the bank of the Tuul River, a short drive from the Mongolian capital. This statue, the largest equestrian statue in the world, affords panoramic views to all those who climb it. In Terelj National park, we have a guided tour through this breathtaking landscape. We will explore Turtle Rock and after lunch at the campthere will be an opportunity to hike tonearby Aryabal monastery. Towards the end of the day we will visit a nomad family and get involved with country life, learning how to milk a cow and prepare dairy products. In summer, we will spend the night in a traditional felt tent known as a ger, whereas in winter, temperatures dictate it will be more comfortable in a wooden lodge.

Hotel Platinum 4*,
Ulan-Bator Located in the Sukhbaatar district of central Ulan Bator, the Platinum Hotel is a comfortable 4* hotel which has proved popular with guests. Its proximity to Sukhbaatar Square ensures guests are based at the very heart of the Mongolian capital, and premier attraction such as the National Museum of Mongolian History, the Mongolian Theatre Museum, Presidential Palace and the Chinggis Khan Gardens are just a short stroll away.

Terelj - Ulan Bator

Itinerary Accommodation Dates and prices

Day 12 – Wednesday

Transfer by car / minibus: Terelj - Ulaanbaatar

Ulan Bator City Tour

Guided Visit to the National History Museum

Our driver will meet you at your accommodation for your return transportation to Ulan Bator, where we will have a city tour taking in Gandan Hiid Monastery, the country’s largest remaining monastery, Sukhebaatar Square and the Museum of Natural History, where you will see real dinosaur remains. We also have an included guided Visit to the National History Museum, one of the leading museums for Mongolian cultural heritage.

Day 13 – Thursday

Transfer from the hotel to the railway station

Look for our driver who will meet you with a sign board at the lobby of the hotel for your railway station transfer.

Train: Ulaanbaatar - Beijing

Day 13 – Thursday

Night train: Ulaanbaatar - Beijing

Travelling by train 24 is probably the most popular way of getting from Mongolia into China and you will find more foreigners than local people on this train. This is a good chance to meet people from all over the world and practice your French, German or maybe Italian. There are 1st class (2 berth compartment with one lower and one upper berth) and 2nd class (4 berth compartment with two lower and two upper berths) carriages on this train. First class compartments also feature an arm chair, a small table and a toilet with a shower shared between two neighbouring compartments. Second class compartments do not have private facilities, there are two toilets (one at the beginning and one at the back of each carriage) and no shower in the second class carriage. Hot boiled water is available in carriages and train attendants provide thermos kettles. The train has a dining car and a bar with reasonable prices.

Beijing

Hotel Qianmen’s Jianguo 4*,
BeijingQianmen’s Jianguo Hotel is a popular four star choice located in the heart of central Beijing, a short drive from major sights such as Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven. Boasting over 400 rooms, accommodation at this well-equipped hotel features flat screen television, air conditioning, a kettle and a minibar. Each room is en suite, providing a hairdryer and complimentary toiletries.

Extension Trip to Xian from BeijingWe invite you for an optional extension trip from Beijing to Xian - one of the four ancient capitals of China and an important cultural centre of the country. You will travel by an overnight train to Xian where upon arrival you will enjoy full day guided excursions with an English-speaking guide, including Terracotta army, Big Wild Gooze Pagoda, City Wall, etc. You will also have some free time to visit the old markets in Drum Tower and Great Mosque area before transfer back to the railway station. Lunch included.

£395 per person

Hong Kong Extension - 4 daysHong Kong has enjoyed special status since being returned to China by the British in 1997. This prosperous and vibrant territory is a world-class destination beloved by many for its curious and unique mix of eastern and western cultures. The towering skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island and the sheltered harbour that divides it from bustling Kowloon are perhaps its most iconic sight. But there’s much more to explore: outlying islands boast secluded beaches and charming fishing villages that are surprisingly rural yet easy to reach from the city.

£695 per person

Summer Palace Guided TourWe will visit the magnificent Summer Palace located 15 kilometres (9.4 miles) away from central Beijing. The Palace represents an outstanding expression of the creative art of Chinese landscape garden design and is included on UNESCO World Heritage List.

£150 per person

Day 14 – Friday

Transfer from the railway station to the hotel

Hutong Neighbourhood by Rickshaw Guided Tour

Enjoy Shichahai Lake

On arrival in Beijing, our driver will meet you with a sign board at the station and take you to the hotel. We’ll explore the ancient hutongs by rickshaw, neighbourhoods with narrow alleys dating from the Yuan Dynasty of the 13th century. From there, we take in the pretty views at Shichahai Lake where we can visit the Drum Tower, one of the city’s more famous sights. It will be possible to take a boat trip out onto the lake should you wish. Afterwards, you’ll have a free evening to explore the city by yourself.

Day 15 – Saturday

Guided Tour of Tiananmen Square

Guided Tour of the Forbidden City and Imperial Palace

Summer Palace Guided Tour

Tiananmen Square in the heart of Beijing is the largest city square in the world and also the site of several key events in the Chinese history, including government troops stopping pro-democracy protesters there in 1989. On the edge of the square sits the Forbidden City, location of the Imperial Palace at the time of the Ming and Qing dynasties and famed for its collection of ancient wooden structures. Later, we move on to the Summer Palace which features elegant landscaped gardens in a lake setting.

Day 16 – Sunday

Guided Tour of the Badaling Great Wall

Visit to the Olympic Green

It’s surely impossible to say you’ve truly visited China if you haven’t set foot on the Great Wall, so we drive about 70km from Beijing to Badaling, the location of the most accessible and best preserved of the sections of the wall. On our return to the city, we stop off at the Olympic Green, built for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games. You’ll tick off some of the most recognisable venues including the Beijing National Stadium, Aquatics Centre, Green Hockey Field and many others specially constructed for this world sporting event.

Day 17 – Monday

Transfer from the hotel to the airport

This is the end of your tour. Our driver will collect you from your hotel and take you to the airport for your flight home.