HIGHLIGHTS
Why choose this trip?
This Epic overland adventure by the world famous Trans Mongolian and Trans Siberian Railway combines the legendary train journey from Beijing to Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia with the massive landscapes of the Gobi, the Mongolian Steppes and the sparkling lakes and forests of Khovsgol. Add in the camel men and reindeer people, the felt homes of the nomad and the cry of an eagle, Buddhist temples, mysterious ruins, abundant wildlife and legendary hospitality and that is Just Mongolia. Continue by train stopping to explore Irkutsk and the village of Listvyanka at Lake Baikal, then across the vastness of Siberia to the great cities of Moscow and St Petersburg. This is truly one of the world’s greatest railway journeys combined with a 4WD Mongolian safari.
What’s the Activity level?
This is an active sightseeing trip, designed for anyone who is of moderate fitness. There are some walks in the cities, and short walks in Mongolia. Long travel days can be challenging at times but they are part of the experience on this trip. As this is a small group tour, be prepared to be more active than on a regular coach tour. You’ll be responsible for moving your own luggage from your room to taxis and transport, though many Ger camps will take your luggage to the waiting vehicles.
What’s the transport and accommodation like?
Your will be travelling via train, 4WD vehicle and flights during this journey. Trains have no showers and have two bathrooms per carriage. They also have a boiler for hot water, so we suggest you bring a travel mug and some tea or coffee. Accommodation while in hotels is 3 and 4 star with ensuites, however Ger camps all have shared bathrooms, and hot water can sometimes be sporadic. The beds can be quite hard in the Gers so a light thermarest may be handy for those who prefer a softer sleep.
*All our tours are non-smoking
TRIP SUMMARY
Duration: 28 Days from Beijing to St Petersburg
Trip focus: Epic train journey and the Mongolian wilderness.
Accommodation: 3 and 4 star accommodation, Mongolian Ger camps in great locations.
Transport: Train, 4WD vehicles, flight
Group size: Maximum 12 + SET tour leader. Minimum 6
Single Supplement: US$1114
WHATS INCLUDED
- Local English speaking guides for Shanghai to Beijing extension
- SET tour leader from Beijing to St Petersburg
- Local English speaking guides in each area (no guides on trains)
- 3 and 4 star hotels and tourist Ger accommodation
- Meals as specified in the itinerary
- All train travel (Deluxe Soft sleeper – Beijing to Ulaanbaatar, 2nd class 2 berth Ulaanbaatar to Irkutsk, 1st class Irkutsk to Moscow)
- Air conditioned vehicles for all excursions
- Transfers to and from train stations and airports
- Local flight from Murun to Ulaan Bataar
- Arrival and departure transfers
- All entrance fees as per itinerary
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
- International airfares
- Travel Insurance – compulsory
- Chinese, Russian and Mongolian Visa’s
- Meals and services not listed above
- Early or late check in check out
- Guides on trains
- All items of a person nature, laundry, drinks, souvenirs etc
- Tips for local guides and tour leader
PAYING LOCALLY
Most of our adventure tours involve a local payment. Paying locally allows us to keep the overall cost of our tours competitive and pass the savings on to you. These funds are put towards local expenses. In some developing countries the transferring of funds is at times problematic so this is a way to help us serve you, whilst saving you money. Payment is to be made to your leader upon arrival in cash.
All prices are approximate and subject to currency fluctuations until final payment has been made.
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL DAY
You will be met at the airport by your guide and enjoy an afternoon guided Hutong Tour in Xicheng District. Hutong is a maze of historic alleyways with old single storey traditional courtyard houses, which are now fast disappearing. In this one hour tour, you can hop on a rickshaw to ride through the narrow alleys as well as visit a local family then walk on the Silver Ingot Bridge (Yinding Bridge) and find out about the different thresholds of the courtyards
Meals Included: None
DAY 2 – TIANANMEN SQUARE, FORBIDDEN CITY AND SUMMER PALACE
Today includes a visit to Tian’anmen Square, The Forbidden City as well as the Summer Palace. Enjoy lunch at Da Wan Ju Restaurant which is a popular choice for local people. Beijing Roast Duck is renowned as the most delicious dish of Beijing and the Quanjuede restaurants have developed their own technique and are famous for outstanding quality where you will get to experience it for yourself.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 3 – THE MUTIANYU GREAT WALL (WITH CABLE CAR), TEMPLE OF HEAVEN
The Mutianyu Great Wall is the less-crowded section of the great wall about 2.5 hours’ drive from downtown Beijing. A cable-car takes you to where you can walk along the wall, through the watchtowers and enjoy superb views as it snakes across the hills and mountains. Lunch will be at Xiao Long Pu restaurant located near the Mutianyu Great Wall.. It serves a great variety of Chinese delicacies and provides wonderful views of mountains.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
DAY 4 – BEIJING TO ULAAN BAATAR TRAIN
Overnight train from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar. The K3 departs Beijing in the morning, travelling through Jining South, Erlian, Dzamyn Ude, and arriving into Ulaanbaatar the following afternoon.
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 5 – ARRIVAL IN ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIAN FOLK ART CONCERT
On arrival, you will be collected from the train station and transferred to your hotel. This evening we enjoy a cultural extravaganza of song and dance including the traditional throat singing, then onto the restaurant for a traditional Mongolian BBQ dinner.
Meals Included: Dinner
DAY 6 – TERELJ AND KHUSTAI NATIONAL PARKS
Drive to Terelj National park. On the way we visit Chingis Khaan Equestrian statue. We will hike to a small temple, Aryabal. Then we continue onto Khustai National Park. The park lies in the foothills of southern Khentii mountain range where you can see wild horses called Takhi also known as Przewalski. (Drive approx 250 kms / 6 hours)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 7 – KHARKHORUM AND ERDENEZUU MONASTERY
Today we drive to the ancient capital city of Kharakhorum. In 1229, Ghengis Khan declared it as the capital city of his vast Empire. Today there are many interesting sites left to visit; the legendary turtle rock sculptures, Buddhist stupas and the ruins of this once great city to name a few. Erdenezuu – the 1st Buddhist monastery in Mongolia was established in 1586. Today Erdenzuu monastery still shows its glory with collection of many priceless religious object and incredibly beautiful Mongolian Arts. It has a massive square wall, 420 metres in length, each side, 108 Stupas and 17 temples. On the way we will do came riding for 30 minutes at the semi sand dunes (Elsen Tasarkhai). (Drive approx 300kms / 6 hours)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 8 – KHORGO TSAGAAN NATIONAL PARK
Travel beside the Chuluut River which has carved a deep canyon into the basalt rocks. Arrive at Khorgo Volcano, which is an extinct volcano, covered with basalt and lays to the east of Lake Terkhiin. An astonishingly beautiful lake formed by a dam of lava flowing from a volcanic eruption many millennia ago. (Drive approx 300kms / 6 hours)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 9 – SHINE IDER, ZUUN SALT LAKE
Travel to Shine-Ider province across rolling steppes which are covered with wild flowers in spring and early summer. Zuun Nuur a small, beautiful salt water lake which is a haven for birds. After the lake, we will continue to drive about 10kms and reach at the camp. Stay in Ulziit Khishig. (Drive approx 280kms / 7 hours)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 10 – KHUVSGUL LAKE
Today we will drive to Khuvsgul Lake, close to the Siberian border. Here you have the opportunity to truly understand the Mongolian way of life. Lake Khuvsgul is the second largest freshwater lake in the world, after Lake Baikal, so be prepared to be impressed. (Drive approx 220kms / 5-6 hours)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 11 – KHUVSGAL LAKE – FREE DAY
Free day to explore the area. We have a one hour horse ride along the lake here. It is included, but you if you prefer not to ride, you can walk or spend time at your leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 12 – FLIGHT TO ULAANBAATAR AND FREE AFTERNOON
We will drive to Murun and take flight to Ulaanbaatar. After landing in Ulaanbaatar, transfer you to the hotel. Free late afternoon to explore or just relax. (Drive approx 130kms / 3 hours)
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
DAY 13 – NARANTUUL MARKET AND FREE AFTERNOON
We will pick you up from the hotel and take you to the Narantuul market. Also known as the Black Market (Khar Zakh), but it’s not the sort of place where you go to change money illegally. A covered area has a decent selection of clothes and accessories, such as bags, jeans and fake North Face jackets.
The rest of the day is free to explore Ulaanbaatar, we suggest checking out the State department store. 100% cashmere products, leather products, fur, jewellery, cosmetics, men’s, women’s and kids fashions, there is a souvenir centre, bookshop, international food court. There is a supermarket where you can buy nibbles for your train journey.
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 14 – MORNING CITY TOUR, TRAIN TRIP TO IRKUTSK SIBERIA
Today you’ll be picked up at the hotel for a visit to the National History museum and Gandan monastery. After lunch, depart for the railway station and your train to Irkutsk in Siberia. This train has only second class 4 berth cabins, however we buy out the two upper berths, so there are only ever two of you sharing a cabin.
Overnight on train.
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 15 – ARRIVAL IN IRKUTSK, TRAVEL TO LISTVYANKA
The train stops at the Mongolia border, you may wake to find it is just one or two carriages in the middle of nowhere. Eventually the engine will return with more carriages and hitch up to cross no mans land to Russia. You will undergo customs and immigration on the train.
Most of the day is spent travelling through Siberia. On arrival at the station in Irkutsk, you will be met by your guide and transferred to Listvyanka, 60km away. This village is on the shores of one of the biggest and most ancient lakes of world, Lake Baikal.
Meals Included: Dinner
DAY 16 – LISTVYANKA VILLAGE AND LAKE BAIKAL
In Listvyanka you’ll visit a local biological museum that also has a set of aquariums. There is one with the only mammal representative, the Baikal Seal, in it. Your guide will show you the famous Shaman Rock and tell you the legend about the naughty Angara River. Lunch at the local restaurant. Take a chairlift to a nearby view point. There you’ll get a chance to take panoramic pictures of Baikal from above. Visit the 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. Enjoy a 1 hour boat trip, then free time.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
DAY 17 – TRAVEL BACK TO IRKUTSK
Transfer back to Irkutsk. On the way visit a nearby local village – Bolshaya Rechka. Have a short walk around. Continue your trip with a visit to an open-air wooden architecture museum “Taltsy”. In the museum you’ll see the settlements of indigenous Siberian people of 17th-20th centuries. Some buildings presented in the museum were brought there from the villages that were flooded after building a dam.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 18 – IRKUTSK
Enjoy a 3 hour city tour by car. It starts at the historic part of the city: Epiphany Cathedral, the oldest stone-structure Church of our Saviour and the only Catholic Cathedral in Irkutsk, Polish Roman Catholic Church. The tour leads you through the Kirov Square and circus. You’ll have a ride along the main street of Irkutsk, Karl Marx Street. You’ll make a stop on the way to have a walk along the street of old wooden houses. After that you’ll ride along to the Angara River embankment, where you’ll see a monument to Alexander III. Complete the tour with a visit to the district of historic wooden building. Free time in the historic wooden district.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
DAY 19 – FREE TIME, THEN TRAIN TO MOSCOW
Free time until your afternoon transfer to the railway station to catch the Trans Siberian Train.
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAYS 20 & 21 – TRAIN TO MOSCOW
Journey from Irkutsk to Moscow. We travel in the first class compartment which has 2 lower berths.
Meals Included: None
DAY 22 – ARRIVAL MOSCOW – RED SQUARE, ST BASIL’S CATHERDRAL
Early afternoon arrival in Moscow, transfer to the hotel, then depart on a Moscow City Tour. St. Basil’s Cathedral rises from Red Square in an irresistible profusion of colours and shapes. (there may be admission restrictions to The Red Square due to the Spasskaya Tower Festival held on these dates) A brief stop will be made to introduce you to the world-famous GUM department store.
Meals Included: None
DAY 23 – THE KREMLIN, ARMORY, METRO TOUR AND ARBAT STREET
Meet with your guide and depart for a tour of the Kremlin. The Moscow Kremlin is the largest medieval fortress in the world, taking up more than 27 hectares. A tour of the Kremlin Armory is its own separate pleasure. Underground Art tour: For nearly half a century the artists of the Moscow avant-garde lived on the fringe of society. Denied studio space, prohibited from showing their work in public and even from buying canvas, paints and brushes. Continue onto Arbat Street, one of Moscow’s oldest districts outside the Kremlin, it was established in the 14th and 15th centuries. Today, however, it has become one of the most fashionable and expensive areas in the capital. You will finish the tour in the centre of time with time for you to do exploring of your own.
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 24 – TRAIN TO ST PETERSBURG
Free time in Moscow. Transfer to the railway station for the fast train to St Petersburg, where you will be met by your guide and transferred to the hotel.
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 25 – ST PETERSBURG CITY TOUR
A fascinating 4 hour city tour will show you the highlights of this city. St Petersburg combines its fascinating Russian heritage with a distinctly European outlook, now considered the cultural heart of modern day Russia, while the Peter and Paul Fortress (Petropavlovskaya Krepost) is the historical core of St Petersburg.
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 26 – STATE HERMITAGE TOUR
The State Hermitage occupies six magnificent buildings situated along the embankment of the River Neva, right in the heart of St Petersburg. Orientation tour and option to stay on for rest of day if desired to explore the Hermitage. Return to the hotel.
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 27 – FREE DAY ST PETERSBURG
Free day to explore the city further or, take the opportunity for an optional day trip to the Peterhof. This evening we’ll celebrate the end of this epic journey with a dinner at a typical restaurant.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner
DAY 28 – DEPARTURE DAY
Transfer to the airport with your guide.
Meals Included: Breakfast
HIGHLIGHTS
DATES
Departure Dates | Cost |
---|---|
August 2021, departure date TBC | TBC |