Best of Trans-Mongolian: Moscow - Yekaterinburg - Irkutsk - Baikal - Mongolia - Beijing - 17 days

INTRODUCTION

 

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Moscow
Arrival in Moscow. Transfer to the Hotel
Our driver will meet you at the airport in Moscow and transfer you to your hotel. There’ll be time for you to explore on your own this afternoon and evening if you wish.

Meals: NA
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 2 - Moscow
Moscow City Tour. Novodevichiy Convent. Red Square, St. Basil's, Lenin Mausoleum. Arbat Street
Moscow’s a vast city with a compact core. To give you an overview of the Russian capital we’ve arranged a bus tour to orientate you with its major sights, including the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Tverskaya Street, Bulvarnoye Koltso (Boulevard Ring) and several other attractions. One of the highlights of this tour is to be taken up to the Sparrow Hills observation platform from which there’s a superb panoramic view across the city. A visit to the Novodevichiy Convent with its legendary cemetery follows.

No visit to Moscow could be complete without a look at Red Square. We’ll admire the colourful St. Basil’s Cathedral and peer at Lenin’s body in the Mausoleum. After lunch there’ll be time to explore Arbat Street. This is one of Moscow’s premier shopping areas, and a great place to pick up souvenirs and gifts for those back home. If you like, you could buy a typical Russian fur hat known as a shapka.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 3 - Moscow
Kremlin & Armoury. Moscow Metro Tour. Departure to Yekaterinburg
Having ticked off some of the major sights, we delve a little into Moscow’s history today. Our focus is the Kremlin, once the former residence of the Tsars and the centre for the Russian Orthodox Church. These days, it is home to the President. One of the highlights of a visit to the Kremlin is the chance to see its magnificent cathedrals with their glittering domes. There’ll also be the opportunity to take a look at the Tsar Cannon. Though it is one of the largest cannons ever to be made, it has never seen warfare. The Tsar Bell has no equal anywhere on the planet; if you thought Big Ben was impressive, this one is a massive fifteen times its weight.

Even the public transport systems in the Russian capital are impressive, particularly the famous Moscow Metro and so we’ve included a guided tour this afternoon. Plans date back to the time of the Russian Empire but construction didn’t begin until the 20th century and the first station opened in 1935. It’s now the second busiest metro system in the world. This is Soviet Era architecture at its very best: colourful frescoes, ornate mouldings, intricate mosaics and of course plenty of bling make this a jaw-dropping visit.

You will travel on a comfortable fast train to Yekaterinburg. Both 1st (2 berth) and 2nd (4 berth) class compartments are available. Clean linen, including sheets, towels, blankets and pillows are provided for each berth. The train also has a dining car that serves good meals. Arrival in Yekaterinburg late in the evening next day.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach, train

Day 4 - Yekaterinburg
Arrival in Yekaterinburg. Transfer from the railway station to the hotel
After your late evening arrival in Yekaterinburg, our driver will meet you at the train with a sign bearing your names and transfer you to the hotel.

Transport: minibus / coach

Day 5 - Yekaterinburg
Ganina Yama & Cathedral on the Blood Guided Tour.  Visit to the Europe - Asia Border. Departure to Irkutsk
Our guided sightseeing programme in Yekaterinburg includes a moving visit to the Memorial Cathedral on the Blood in the name of all Saints, which was built on the site of the execution of the last Russian Tsar Nikolay II and his family. From there, we'll take you to Ganina Pit, an orthodox monastery where the imperial remains were initially interred and to seven wooden churches in the heart of a centuries-old pine forest. Finally we make an excursion to an obelisk marking the boundary between Europe and Asia where traditionally tourists drink champagne. En route, we pause at the memorial honouring the victims of Stalin’s repressions of the 1930s to 1950s. Our driver will meet you at the hotel lobby to take you to the station for your late evening train. Three days later we will arrive at Irkutsk, the jumping off point for Lake Baikal.

We board our train late in the evening. The train to Irkutsk takes three days, but it’s a good opportunity to experience the Trans-Siberian as it should be enjoyed. Rest in your comfortable compartment as you travel sedately through the Russian steppe. Converse with your companions and others taking this popular long distance service.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach, train 

Day 8 - Irkutsk - Listvyanka
Arrival in Irkutsk. Transfer by minibus: Irkutsk - Listvyanka. At leisure at Baikal
Following our early morning arrival in Irkutsk our guide will meet you at the train for your transfer to Listvyanka village on the shores of Lake Baikal (appr. 70 km). There you will have free time, during which you can visit the Baikal Lake Museum, see the St Nicolas Russian Orthodox Church, visit the market or take a boat trip on the lake itself.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 9 - Listvyanka - Irkutsk
Open-air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy. Irkutsk City Tour
Our guide will meet you at your accommodation for your transfer to Irkutsk. On the way, we make a stop at Taltsy to see the open air Wooden Architecture Museum located in the heart of the forest on the banks of the Angara River. There you'll learn about village life, see the interiors of a Russian fort, a Shaman yurt and a 15th century watchtower, as well as glimpse at the lifestyle of the Buryat and Evenk people. Back in Irkutsk, known as the Paris of Siberia, we enjoy a guided city tour which will reveal the rustic but beautiful timber cottages with their wooden fretwork.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 10 - Ulaanbaatar
Departure to Ulaanbaatar
Our driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer you to the train station.

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.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach, train

Day 11 - Ulaanbaatar - Terelj
Arrival in  Ulaanbaatar. Transfer by minibus: Ulaanbaatar - Terelj. Chinggis Khaan Monument Guided Tour. Terelj National Park Guided Trip
Our guide will meet you at the railway station for your transfer to Terelj National Park. Soon after leaving the Mongolian capital we find ourselves at the gleaming 40 metre tall statue of Chinggis Khaan (Genghis Khan) on horseback, currently the largest equestrian statue in the world. Visitors climbing to the horse's head are rewarded with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Upon reaching Terelj National Park, famous for its granite rock formations and pristine alpine scenery, we will visit the famous Turtle Rock and also hike to Aryabal Monastery. We will have an opportunity to visit a nomad family and explore their traditional way of life by learning how to milk a cow and prepare dairy products. In summer we stay overnight in a traditional Mongolian ger - a traditional sturdy wood and felt type tent. In winter we stay in a wooden lodge.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 12 - Terelj - Ulaanbaatar
Transfer by minibus: Terelj - Ulaanbaatar. Ulan Bator City Tour. Guided Visit to the National History Museum
Our driver will collect you from your accommodation and transfer you to Ulan Bator where you'll enjoy a city tour. We will visit Gandan Hiid Monastery, the country’s largest remaining monastery, Sukhebaatar Square and the Museum of Natural History, where you will see dinosaur remains as well as other archaeological finds from the Mesozoic Era excavated from the Gobi desert. We will also pay a visit to the National History Museum where your guide will teach you about Mongolia's rich cultural heritage.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 13 - Ulaanbaatar - Beijing
Departure to Beijing
Our driver will meet you with a sign board at the lobby of the hotel to transfer you to the railway station for your overnight train to 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.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach, train

Day 14 - Beijing
Arrival in Beijing. Hutong Neighbourhood by Rickshaw Guided Tour. Enjoy Shichahai Lake
On arrival in Beijing, our driver will be waiting for you with a sign board at the station to transfer you to the hotel. Beijing is a modern city, but we will begin by visiting one of its oldest neighbourhoods, a hutong by Shichahai Lake. Hutong, a description dating back to the 13th century Yuan dynasty, means a city area with narrow streets or alleys. Few of these fascinating areas remain, a casualty of China's rapid economic development. Leaving the hutong, we will continue by rickshaw to Shichahai Lake and the Drum Tower in the heart of old Beijing. Enjoy fantastic views of the lake, and the former princes' houses and well preserved courtyards which surround it. You can also take an optional boat trip on the lake. Your evening is free to continue to explore China's vibrant capital city at your own pace.

Meals: lunch, dinner
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 15 - Beijing
Guided Tour of Tiananmen Square. Guided Tour of the Forbidden City and Imperial Palace. Summer Palace Guided Tour
Located in the centre of Beijing, at 440 000 square metres, Tiananmen is the largest city square in the world. It is culturally significant and also the site of several key events in Chinese history, most recently in 1989 when government troops stopped pro-democracy protesters there. To the north of the square lies the Forbidden City, the Imperial Palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties, which we shall explore on a guided tour. Later we will make our way to the magnificent Summer Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 16 - Beijing
Guided Tour of the Badaling Great Wall. Visit to the Olympic Green
Today we make our way 44 miles north of Beijing to Badaling, the most accessible stretch of the Great Wall of China and also the best preserved, where we take a guided tour. Following our visit, we will see the Olympic Green, site of some of the best known venues built for the 2008 Games: the Beijing National Stadium, Aquatics Centre, Green Hockey Field and many more.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 17 - Beijing
Departure to the Airport
All good things must come to an end. Our driver will meet you with a sign board at the hotel lobby and deliver you to the airport for your flight home.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach
 

PRICES

Prices
Tour start date	10 pax 1 free	15 pax 1 free	20 pax 1 free	single supplement	1st class train upgrade
01/01 - 31/12	€2495	€2295	€1995	€295	€545

Note on pricing:

• All prices are in EURO per person based on the number of participants in the group
• 1 free - one free of charge participant
• Single supplement goes towards single room accommodation at hotels

INCLUDED

• Accommodation
• Excursions according to the programme
• Entrance fees
• Airport & railway transfers
• Overnight train 2nd class (4 berth compartments)
• Meals according to the programme
• Visa support letter

NOT INCLUDED

• Flights
• Optional excursions & services
• Travel insurance
• Tips
• Visa fees. We can assist with visas in the UK, USA, Germany, France, Spain