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Classic Trans-Mongolian…
After exploring the Russian capital of Moscow you head off on an inter-continental train direct to Beijing via Siberia’s largest city, Irkutsk and the Mongolian Capital Ulan Bator.
Passing from Europe into Asia at the Ural mountains you continue onwards deep into Siberia, past some simply amazing scenery before stopping to explore the peculiar city of Irkutsk and savour the awesome Lake Baikal, down through Mongolia to the intriguing Central Asian capital of Ulan-Bator and onwards through the Gobi desert before arriving at Beijing!
Your journey starts here!
Classic Trans-Mongolian … a brief tour overview
Day 1 — Arrival
Arrival in Moscow and transfer to the four star “Cosmos” hotel, conveniently located in the city centre next to the ex Soviet Achievements Exhibition Park, the Russian Cosmonaut and Space Museum and within 5 minutes' easy walk of the nearest metro station.
Day 2 — Moscow: Full Day City Tour
Orientation meeting by our expert guide where the train tickets will be issued, an overview of the tour provided and any questions you may have answered, followed by…
Moscow city walking and metro tour including “Must see” metro stations, Alexander Gardens and the eternal flame, Red Square, Kremlin, St Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's mausoleum and the famous Old Arbat street. Lunch on Old Arbat (cost not included); a visit to the VDNKh Soviet exhibition centre and the memorial to Soviet cosmonauts before evening free time.
Day 3 — Depart Moscow
The majority of the day is totally given to explore Moscow and relax or take an optional tour. Pack and prepare to check out of the hotel by 21:00 (19.00 in August). Transfer to the railway station where our guide will advise and assist you to purchase provisions for the train if required, accompany you to the platform, settle everyone into their cabins and answer any last minute questions.
23:25 — Train #10, “The Baikal”, one of Russia's premium intercontinental trains, (or, in August, #2, The “Rossiya”, one of Russia's most famous long-distant trains) departs for Irkutsk!
Day 4 — European Russia and Crossing Geographical Border
All day on the train, heading past the cities of the Golden Ring, the great industrial city of Kirov and finally the ex-military city of Perm at the western most edge of European Russia before crossing through the Ural Mountains and into Asia.
Day 5 — Heading into Siberia
All day on the train, after passing through the previously forbidden Soviet city of Yekaterinburg, where the Tsar and his family met their end at the hands of the Bolsheviks, the train leaves the eastern foothills of the Ural mountains and heads for Novosibirsk — an oasis of civilization deep in Siberia and also its largest city.
Day 6 — Heading into Eurasia
All day on the train, through the seemingly limitless tracks and endless forests of Siberia, passing the mighty Altai region, crossing the River Yenisei at Krasnoyarsk and heading deep into Asia.
Day 7 — Arrive Irkutsk, City Tour and Transfer to Listvyanka Village
Following arrival in Irkutsk, and a hot breakfast, enjoy in a one and a half hour “Round up” city tour of Irkutsk by car, taking in the most interesting sights including beautiful Russian Orthodox churches, the Polish Cathedral (the only Siberian Gothic-style building), houses decorated with “wooden laces” (hand-made carvings) as well as modern constructions and the Decembrists' House.
Transferring to Listvyanka village on Lake Baikal via the famous “Eisenhower Road”, check in to a lakeside chalet and enjoy free time to relax and take in the unique nature and peace of the area before tucking into a traditional Russian barbeque.
Day 8 — Tour of Listvyanka on the Shore of Lake Baikal
Visit the fascinating Museum of Wooden Architecture containing unique and historic wooden structures donated from all over Russia, including buildings of the indigenous people saved from a valley flooded during the construction of a Soviet dam. Try local cuisine with lunch at a Siberian forest restaurant (Sibirskaya Zaimka), then back to Listvyanka village via the famous Shaman rock. Round off the day by indulging in an optional sauna in the village “Banya”.
Day 9 — Full Day Tour Around Lake Baikal OR Siberian Shaman Tour
Either a full day trip around Lake Baikal including a ferry ride and journey on the famous Circum Baikal Railroad, one of the most complicated stretches of railways in the world. The tour stops at some the most picturesque places en route to experience the nature of this unique area, and at the marble mining city of Sludyanka, before rejoining the Trans-Siberian to arrive at Irkutsk.
Or a visit to a Buryat (original people indigenous to Siberia related to the Mongols) settlement 70 km from Irkutsk on the remote Siberian plane, including visiting the local lore museum, experience the local greeting ceremony, local arts, crafts and music, meet the Shaman and be "cleansed";, and visit a Yurt to sample local teas and join in a traditional feast.
Day 10 — Depart Irkutsk
Early morning transfer from the hotel to the railway station with a guide on hand to accompany you to your carriage and answer any last minute questions before catching Train #4, a high quality Chinese intercontinental train heading for Ulan-Bator, capital of Mongolia and home of the famous Gengis-Khan!
Day 11 — Arrive Ulan-Bator and Gorkhi Terelj National Park
After a chance to freshen up and eat a hearty breakfast at a hotel, enjoy the beauty of the National Park; lunch at a local Ger camp is followed by walking in the hills, an excursion to Turtle rock and a meditation centre and finally, return to the Ger camp for an evening meal and overnight stay.
Day 12 — Mongolian Steppe: Visiting the Nomads
Breakfast is followed by free time to enjoy the local area; then, after lunch, take in a visit to a local herdsman’s family to experience the fascinating daily life of nomadic people before being transferred to Ulan-Bator and your hotel.
Day 13 — Ulan-Bator: Full day Tour
Full day city tour including Gandan Buddhist Monastery and incredible national history museum containing exceptional dinosaur remains. After lunch at a local restaurant (cost not included), browse at art, antique and cashmere shops before visiting Zaisan Hill to view the city panorama. End the day with a traditional meal and Mongolian folk music and dance entertainment.
Day 14 — Ulan-Bator: Free Day
A free day to explore the distinctive charm of Ulan-Bator on your own, relax or take an optional tour, and in the evening join a party at one of the many night clubs, bars and restaurants which seem to be never ending.
Day 15 — Depart Ulan-Bator and Cross the Gobi Desert
An early start to catch the regular weekly train (#24) to Beijing, soon leaving the Mongolian capital behind, travelling on through the arid wastes of the majestic Gobi desert and towards the Chinese border in the south. Later in the evening the train will reach the Chinese border where the impressive procedure of bogie-changing takes place before heading off for Beijing.
Day 16 — Arrive in Beijing
Throughout the morning and afternoon, passing through rural China and mountainous river valleys, past the amazing Great Wall of China to finally arrive in the Chinese capital Beijing at 14:30 where this part of the journey ends…
… and the next begins!
Classic Trans-Mongolian … the price you see is the price you pay
- Tour:
- TR003 — “Classic Trans-Mongolian”
- Itinerary:
- Moscow, Irkutsk, Listvyanka village, Ulan-Bator, Beijing
- Duration:
- 16 days
- Start dates:
-
Low season: April 8th, 22nd; May 6th, 20th; June 10th, 24th
High season: July 8th, 22nd; August: 5th, 19th; September 2nd, September 16th, September 30th
- Low Season:
-
Second Class First Class 1
person2
people3 to 5
people1
person2
people3 to 5
peopleGBP £2,210 £2,010 £1,885 £2,695 £2,495 £2,345 EUR €2,320 €2,110 €1,980 €2,830 €2,620 €2,465 USD $3,300 $3,000 $2,815 $4,020 $3,720 $3,500 - High Season:
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GBP £2,405 £2,175 £2,040 £2,915 £2,685 £2,525 EUR €2,520 €2,280 €2,140 €3,060 €2,820 €2,650 USD $3,580 $3,240 $3,040 $4,345 $4,005 $3,765 - Six or more:
- If your group size is six or more people then contact us for special group prices and options.
- Includes:
- Train tickets, accommodation at 3-4 star tourist hotels, Lake Baikal chalet and Mongolian Ger Camp, arrival and all in-tour transfers, nine city and short tours with English-speaking guides in five cities, excursion transport, entry fees, guides meeting at and departing from train stations, visa support for Russia and Mongolia, meals; breakfast in hotel in Moscow, breakfast on arrival in Irkutsk, breakfast, lunch and an evening Barbeque at Listvyanka, Lunch at Zaimka, lunch on circum-Baikal rail tour or traditional Buratian feast on Shaman tour, breakfast on arrival in Ulan-Bator and meals at the Ger camp in Mongolia.
- Excludes:
- Flights, visa processing costs, meals at hotels, spending money.
- In-tour cash:
- Not required as all included services are pre-paid.
- Options:
- Early check-in and extra nights in Moscow, extensions in St Petersburg and Beijing, selected short tours en route.
- Group size:
- Maximum group size is 12, though this may be extended to 16 if operating conditions allow.
- Pricing:
-
Price is per person based on two persons sharing.
For individual travellers a single person supplement applies, though you may choose (and we can help you) to pair up and share with another single passenger.
Prices are valid from 1st November 2009 and subject to our standard terms and conditions.
Extensions … enhance your journey with our popular extensions
£219.00
$325.00
€230.00
Window to the West, the St Petersburg extension
Spend a few days exploring the stunning city of St Petersburg built on the shores of the Baltic as his window to the west by one of Russia's greatest Tsars, Peter I.
Within a few days you will discover some of the many delights of this “Venice of the North” including one of the greatest treasures in the world, the Hermitage, the Peter and Paul Fortress on the banks of the Neva, the golden coated St Isaac's Cathedral and a trip through its many canals before setting off for Moscow on the Communist Politburo's midnight express train “The Red Arrow”.
A great way to get your Trans-Siberian adventure off to a flying start.
£190.00
$282.00
€200.00
Dragon City, the Beijing extension
Surely your journey does not end when you arrive in Beijing!
You will be collected from the international railway terminal in Beijing and transferred to a city centre 4 star hotel where you can freshen up before starting to discover this vibrant Asian city.
Over the next three days and two nights take in the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Mao's crystal coffin, the Forbidden City, the Silk Market, Peking Duck and Dim Sum.
All of this and more awaits you with our popular Beijing round up.
Extras … increase your experiences with extra nights or activities
Extra night in Moscow
| One person | Two people | |
|---|---|---|
| Low season | £68.50 $101.50 €72.00 | £35.00 $53.00 €37.50 |
| High season | £102.00 $151.00 €107.00 | £57.00 $85.00 €60.00 |
Extra night in St. Petersburg
| One person | Two people | |
|---|---|---|
| Low season | £47.00 $70.50 €50.00 | £28.50 $42.00 €30.00 |
| High season | £76.00 $113.00 €80.00 | £43.00 $63.50 €45.00 |
Extra night in Beijing
| One person | Two people | |
|---|---|---|
| Low season | £38.00 $56.50 €40.00 | £19.00 $28.20 €20.00 |
| High season | £57.00 $85.00 €60.00 | £28.50 $42.00 €30.00 |
A range of unique excursions and short tours …
  
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All of our tours include activities and excursions to allow you to get the best out of your trip; however, we have a unique range of extras you can add to enhance your experience, including:
Please feel free to speak with our travel team about options, prices and requirements. |
Ready to book your tour…
Firstly, please ensure that you have read the tour terms and conditions as this booking will be subject to them.
If after reading the information provided you have any questions or need something clarifying, then please get in touch, we are happy to answer any questions and help you to get the most out of your Trans-Siberian adventure!
Finally, when you are ready to start the first step of your journey, complete the form below and click the “Request Tour!” button. If you prefer, you may download the booking form by clicking here, complete it and send it to us by fax or post.
As you have indicated your group size is six or more travellers then we will contact you to discuss the special options and prices available.
Please complete the form below and click the “Request Tour!” button or, if you prefer contact us and we will be happy to get your journey started.
Firstly, please ensure that you have read the tour terms and conditions as this booking will be subject to them.