Beijing to Moscow by rail via Ekaterinburg, Irkutsk and Mongolia

Arrival transfer and check in for 1 night. Overnight: Hotel Dongfang (or similar)

After breakfast, check out and meet your guide at 09.30 hrs in hotel lobby for your transfer to the railway station for the first leg of your journey. Depart Beijing. Train #3 at 11:22 hrs Overnight: On train

Arrive in Ulan Bator 14.20 hrs. Ulaanbaatar (meaning red hero) is the capital of Mongolia, and the largest of its cities with a population of over 1 million. Located on the shore of the Tuul River, it is an interesting blend of Mongolian and Soviet-style architecture, with beautiful surrounding countryside. Your guide will be waiting for you at the station, and you will be taken to the Terelj National Park. Tonight, you will live and experience a nomadic lifestyle, when you spend a night in a traditional Yurt camp, staying in a traditional Nomad’s hut style accommodation. Dinner is included Overnight: Ger Camp.

Terelj National Park. Explore the area, visitors can experience the way typical locals live – the nomadic style. You will have the opportunity to explore Turtle Rock, and to visit a nomadic family to learn their amazing life style. You may want to go horse riding, a way of life for the locals. Lunch is included today. Early evening return to Ulaanbaatar. Check in at your hotel. Overnight: Hotel Platinum (or similar)

After breakfast, check out. At 10.30 hrs and depart with your local guide, who will introduce you to the sights of the city, including visits to the Gandan Monastery with its huge gold-plated Buddha, a symbol of Mongolian national pride and cultural revival. You will see the monks chanting, spinning prayer wheels and view the intricately embroidered “thanks”. Visit the National History Museum, where you will see the artefacts from Mongolia and Central Asia from the Stone Age to the present, Bogd Khan’s Winter Palace, which used to be a winter residence of the last Bogd Khaan of Mongolia, Javzandamba. The palace was built between 1893 and 1903, and is well known for its Gate of Peace, Temple and personal library of Bogd Khaan. The museum exhibits sculptures by Mongolia’s first Bogd Khaan Zanabazar, the famous Taras. The museum has about 21 valuable sculptures of Taras. Lunch is included today. See also Zaisan Hill Memorial and Sukhabaator Square, named after Damdin Sukhbaatar, the ‘hero of the revolution’ who declared Mongolia’s final independence from the Chinese. There will be time for you to have an evening meal (not included) before going on to the station for the next leg of your journey Depart Ulan Bator. Train #263* at 20:25 Overnight: On train

A full day on board to relax, reflect upon the sights already seen, catch up on travel diaries, sort through your images, review guidebooks and enjoy the new scenery that will pass before you. Overnight: On train

Arrive in Irkutsk 07.15 hrs. Your guide will meet you off the train and transfer you to a local restaurant for breakfast (included). After taking breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Irkutsk, then transfer to Listvyanka settlement, located by Lake Baikal, approx 60 km south-east of Irkutsk, stopping en route in Taltsy village for lunch (included) and a visit to the open air Ethnographic museum. A unique assemblage of the history and culture of the peoples of Eastern Siberia, located in a picturesque place on the banks of the Angara River. Comprising more than 40 historical and architectural monuments and 8000 exhibits of great historical value. The Museum attracts visitors for its rich natural landscapes, and for the chance to get acquainted with the spiritual culture of the peoples of the Baikal region – Russian, Buryat and Evenki. Arrive at hotel at around 16.00 hrs Entrances: Ethnographic museum Overnight: Baikal Lystvyanka Hotel (or similar)

After breakfast, meet in the lobby at 10.00 hrs for your walking tour of Listvyanka. You will see the Observation Point, St Nikolas Church, and Chersky View Point. From 13.00 hours at leisure or take Optional excursions on or around Lake Baikal. Depart at 15.30 hrs from the hotel to Irkutsk. You will have free time in Irkutsk to find a café or restaurant or relax before taking the train to Ekaterinburg. Board the train for a comfortable two-day journey through the beautiful Russian countryside. The scenery will differ depending on when you choose to travel, each season bringing its own unique charm to a superb landscape. Depart Irkutsk. Train #69 at 18:28 (daily) Overnight: On train

There are plenty photo opportunities, making new friends and fellow travellers and exchanging stories are part of the experience. On the train you can enjoy the local refreshments from the restaurant car and snacks, which are available at all time. During the journey there are short stops made at local stations, where you can very quickly purchase food or souvenirs from the platform vendors before departing for the next part of your journey. Overnight: On train

After a day of enjoying the ever changing scenery, arrive in Ekaterinburg at 22:07 hrs. You will be met at the train and transferred to your hotel to check in for 2 nights. Ekaterinburg, the gateway between European and Siberian Russia, is the official capital of the Urals region of Russia. It was founded by Peter I in the 1700s as a major industrial and administrative centre, and is infamous for being where the last Tsar of Russia and his family, were executed in 1918. Overnight: Hotel Marins Park (or similar)

Day 11 Ekaterinburg (Friday) After breakfast, meet in reception at 10:00 am for your panoramic City Tour of Ekaterinburg. Visit to the impressive collection of the Mineralogical Museum. It contains thousands of examples of minerals, stones, and crystals from the region. You will also visit the Europe-Asia Border Obelisk, representing the place where East officially meets West. Entrances: Mineralogical Museum. Overnight: Hotel Marins Park (or similar)

Breakfast at the hotel and check out by 12.00 hrs. Today you have free time to explore the city independently, or take an Optional tour to Ganina Yama. At 16.00 hrs transfer to the Ekaterinburg Railway Station, with your guide who will see you onto the train. Depart Ekaterinburg. Train #146 at 17:33 Overnight: On train

This morning is yours to relax on board and to check your Moscow guide book before the next and final exciting leg of your journey across the world’s greatest continent. The whole journey you have travelled 7,600 kilometres through three distinctly different cultures, five time zones and 80 degrees of longitude. On arrival in Moscow at 21.32 hrs, you will be met and transferred to your hotel to check in for 3 nights. Overnight: Izmailovo Hotel (or similar)

After breakfast, meet in reception at 10:00 hrs to begin your Moscow excursion by metro, visiting some of the very beautiful metro stations, called the ‘Palaces of the People; plus a visit to Red Square, the Kremlin and 1 cathedral, plus the Armoury museum. Return to your hotel by metro by around 15.00 hrs with your guide or stay in town to explore further and return at leisure (without guide) Entrances: Metro, Kremlin, 1 cathedral, Armoury museum Overnight: Izmailovo Hotel

After breakfast, leave at your leisure to take the Hop On – Hop Off bus tour of Moscow. Take the metro to your preferred bus stop. Overnight: Izmailovo Hotel

Breakfast and check out. Full day tour of St Petersburg

TOUR ENDS WITH FOND OF MEMORIES