Best of Trans-Mongolian: Moscow - Yekaterinburg - Irkutsk - Baikal - Mongolia - Beijing (TS-11)

A once-in-a-lifetime tour, on our Best of Trans-Mongolian you will visit the key cities of the longest railway in the world, travelling from west to east through Russia, Mongolia and China. Each has distinct cultures and landscapes. Our expert English-speaking guides will make sure you get the most out of each stop.


Day 1. Moscow
Our driver will meet you in the arrival sector and transfer to the hotel.
Day 2. Moscow
We will go on a short walk around central Moscow visiting the Red Square, Lenin's Tomb and St. Basil`s Cathedral.
Day 3. Moscow
We will discover the interior of the Kremlin and the Armoury. We will also explore the Moscow metro - one of the masterpieces of the Soviet era. In the evening we will board the train to Yekaterinburg.
Day 4. Yekaterinburg
Our driver will meet you at the carriage. Transfer to the hotel.
Day 5. Yekaterinburg
We will visit the majestic Memorial Cathedral built on the place of execution of the last Russian tsar Nikolay II, and the obelisk "Border of Europe and Asia". In the evening we will board our train to Siberia.
Days 6-7. Onboard through Siberia
Days 6-7 are spent onboard the train.
Day 8. Irkutsk - Listvyanka
Our guide will meet you with a sign board upon your arrival in Irkutsk and transfer to Listvyanka village where you will enjoy your free time.
Day 9. Listvyanka - Taltsy - Irkutsk
We will visit the open air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy - a large collection of original wooden houses. After a guided city tour around Irkutsk we start our trip to Mongolia by train.
Day 11. Ulan Bator - Terelj
We drive to the stunning Terelj National Park stopping at the Chinggis Khaan monument. We will explore Turtle Rock and enjoy hiking to Aryabal monastery. We will visit a real Nomad family. Overnight in a ger.
Day 12. Terelj - Ulan Bator
We drive back to Ulan Bator and enjoy a full day city tour including visit to the National History Museum.
Day 13. Ulan Bator
Transfer to the railway station and board the train to China.
Day 14. Beijing
Our guide will meet you at the station. We will visit an old part of Beijing – hutong neighbourhood and enjoy a guided ride by rickshaw.
Day 15. Beijing
We will tour Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Summer Palace.
Day 16. Beijing
We will visit the Badaling Great Wall and the Olympic park constructed in Beijing for 2008 summer Olympics.
Day 17. Beijing
Transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
Click here to view detailed day-by-day itinerary of this tour

Quick Facts
  • Season: Four Seasons
  • Days: 17
  • Group Size: 2-12
  • Tour Grade:   Gentle

Day 1 - Saturday - Moscow
Arrival in Moscow. Our driver will meet you in the arrival sector with a sign board. Transfer to the hotel.
Day 2 - Sunday - Moscow
Today we explore the highlights of Moscow, one of the world’s greatest cities. Key sights include Lubyanka Square (the world-famous KGB centre), Lenin’s Tomb standing at the foot of the Kremlin wall, the Red Square with St. Basil's cathedral (our guided tour here will explain why this is a symbol of Russia), Teatralnaya Square next to the majestic Bolshoi Theatre. Then we will continue our walk through the small central streets and lanes taking in Stalinist and modern architecture. (B)
Day 3 - Monday – Moscow
A deeper look at Moscow with visits to the Kremlin Grounds and orthodox cathedrals, including the Cathedral Square with its links to Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov and the early Romanovs. A visit to the Armoury Museum and its Tsar Treasures to look at the fabulous Faberge eggs and artworks by Russian, European and Oriental masters. Lastly, a tour of the Moscow Underground with its marble, mosaics and stained-glass panels.

In the late afternoon our driver will bring you to the railway station where you will board the fast, comfortable train to Yekaterinburg. Arrival in Yekaterinburg late in the evening the next day. (B)
Day 4 - Tuesday - Yekaterinburg
Our driver will meet you at the carriage with a board showing your names. Transfer to the hotel.
Day 5 - Wednesday - Yekaterinburg
Today, in the fourth largest city in Russia, we will visit the Memorial Cathedral on the Blood in the name of all Saints, built where the last Russian tsar Nikolay II and his family, were slain. Then we will travel on to “Ganina Pit”, a unique orthodox monastery. We will also visit the obelisk which marks the "Border of Europe and Asia". It’s traditional here to drink a glass of champagne at the spot.

We board our train late in the evening. Arrival in Irkutsk early in the morning three days later. (B)
Day 8 - Saturday - Irkutsk - Listvyanka
You’ll be met by our guide who will meet you with a signboard on your arrival in Irkutsk. Transfer to Listvyanka village (appr. 70 km). A relaxing free day, taking in Listvyanka village, enjoy the lake, St. Nicolas Russian Orthodox Church and the Baikal Lake Museum where you can learn all about the deepest freshwater lake in the world. (B)
Day 9 - Sunday - Listvyanka - Irkutsk
An exciting stop today, en-route to Irkutsk. The open air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy has a large collection of original wooden houses, giving you a unique insight into life in local villages and the lifestyle of 16th – 19th century Russia. Also today, a guided city tour around Irkutsk, it’s easy to see why it is known as the Paris of Siberia.

Late in the evening we leave the warm hospitality of the Siberian Russia to begin our trip to Mongolia by comfortable train. (B)
Day 11 - Tuesday - Ulan Bator - Terelj
Our guide will meet you at the railway station. Two Mongolian highlights today – the Chinggis Khaan monument, located 33 miles east of Ulan Bator. It is the biggest equestrian statue in the world and is a warm-up to the fantastic Terelj National Park which we will visit next, home of fierce horsemen, it also has unique granite rock formations, and clean alpine scenery. We will also explore Turtle Rock, have a picnic, hike to the Aryabal monastery and visit a real Nomad family. (L, D)
Day 12 - Wednesday - Terelj - Ulan Bator
Our driver will meet you at your accommodation. Transfer to Ulan Bator for your city tour. Based on the banks of the river Tuur, the city is home to Gandan Hiid Monastery, the country’s largest remaining monastery and the Museum of Natural History, both of which we will visit. At the National Museum of Mongolian History we will have a special tour to learn about Mongolian cultural heritage. (B, L, D)
Day 13 - Thursday - Ulan Bator
Our driver will meet you with a signboard at the lobby of the hotel. Travelling by ‘train K24’ is the best way to travel from Mongolia into China and it is popular with other tourists. There are first class (2 berth compartments with one lower and one upper berth) and second class (4 berth compartments with two lower and two upper berths) carriages on this train. First class has an armchair, a small table and a toilet with a shower shared between two neighbouring compartments. Second class compartments do not have private facilities. Hot boiled water is available in thermos kettles. The train has a dining car and bar. (B)
Day 14 - Friday - Beijing
Arrival to Beijing. Our driver will meet you with a sign board at the station. Transfer to the hotel. An exciting day of Beijing activities awaits, we will start with a tour of an old Hutong neighbourhood by rickshaw, before moving on to Shichahai Lake, also by rickshaw, to visit both the famous Shichahai Lake and the Drum Tower right in the centre of old Beijing. In the evening you are free to enjoy the historical old part of Beijing or to return to the hotel with your guide. (D)
Day 15 - Saturday - Beijing
Today is about Beijing’s best sights. Starting with a guided tour of Tiananmen Square – covering 440 thousand square metres – the tour moves on to a guided tour of the Forbidden City and Imperial Palace - the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. The Forbidden City is located to the north of Tiananmen Square. Then, it’s time for the Summer Palace, which highlights the art of Chinese landscape garden design. (B, L, D)
Day 16 - Sunday - Beijing
We start with a guided tour of the Badaling section of the mighty Great Wall of China, the country’s enduring icon before moving onto a great example of modern China – the Olympic Green, constructed in Beijing for the 2008 summer Olympics. (B, L, D)
Day 17 - Monday - Beijing
Transfer to the airport. Our driver will meet you with a sign board at the hotel lobby. (B)


Want to travel on different dates?
Please see below for our group tour dates, if you would like to travel on a different day, please let us know and we will come back to you with an offer. There might be additional surcharges for a private tour but all depends on the number of people in your party and your travel preferences.

 

Peninsula Palace *****

Category: De Luxe 5* hotel
Address: China, Beijing, Wangfujing, Goldfish Lane, 8

Peninsula Palace The Peninsula Palace Hotel Beijing is located within main shopping areas of Wangfujing and Dongdan in the heart of Beijing. It only takes a few minutes to walk to the popular scenic spots such as Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and The Museum of Chinese History.

Opened in 1989, the hotel has an imposing, traditional Chinese architectural-style exterior, integrated with the ultimate in luxurious, modern hotel amenities and facilities.

There are 525 guest rooms, which have been refurbished to the most luxurious standard based on the Peninsula's tradition of comfort, interwoven with subtle Chinese influences. The newly designed guest rooms and suites feature hardwood floors covered with carpet, a 42” plasma television, high-speed broadband Internet access, silent fax machine and The Peninsula signature technology - a bedside electronic panel that controls all lighting and audio-visual equipment in the room, as well as a special control panel by the door displaying outside temperature and humidity levels.

The hotel has a lounge, restaurants, fitness centre, sauna, spa, indoor pool, prestigious shopping Arcade with 50 exclusive designer boutiques.

Peninsula Palace Peninsula Palace Peninsula Palace Peninsula Palace



Howard Johnson Paragon ****

Category: Business 4* hotel
Address: China, Beijing, Jianguomen Avenue, 18

Howard Johnson Paragon The hotel is located in the city centre, next to the famous shopping mall - Henderson Centre, a 10-minute walk to the famous Tian Namen Square, Summer Palace and just across the street to the Beijing Railway Station.

There are 280 rooms equipped with a private bathroom, hairdryer, cable/satellite TV, coffee/tea maker, Internet access, iron and ironing board.

The hotel has a restaurant, bar/lounge, room service, baby sitting on request, beauty salon, fitness centre, free parking, game room, ironing/laundry services, business centre, meeting /conference rooms, non-smoking rooms and rooms for the disabled.

Howard Johnson Paragon Howard Johnson Paragon Howard Johnson Paragon Howard Johnson Paragon



Red Wall ***

Category: Tourist 3* hotel
Address: China, Beijing, Sha Tan North Street, 31

Red Wall The hotel is located in the centre of Beijing and within 5 minutes walk to its major attractions: Forbidden City, traditional Chinese folk house (Hutong and Siheyuan), Wangfujing shopping street, Red Building of Beijing University, including relics of the city wall of Beijing.

The hotel has a total of 200 rooms including standard rooms, deluxe standard rooms, executive suite rooms equipped with a private bathroom, hairdryer, air conditioning, cable/satellite TV, high-speed Internet access, telephone, safety box, iron and ironing board and mini-bar.

There is a gym, sauna, massage, beauty salon, restaurant, coffee bar and meeting room. The restaurant offers Chinese and Western cuisines including Chinese imperial cuisine, Sichuan cuisine and Guangdong cuisine.

Red Wall Red Wall Red Wall Red Wall



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