15 days and 14 nights
Moscow - Kazan - Yekaterinburg - Novosibirsk - Irkutsk - Ulan-Ude - Ulan Bator - Beijing
The journey itself is reason enough to take this trip through the vast forests of Russia and the open steppe and desert of Mongolia before finishing in China. Take the longest rail journey in the world on the Trans-Siberian Railway through Russia, Mongolia and China. Visit Moscow, Ulan Bator and Beijing as well as historically important cities along the way as you watch the varied Siberian landscape pass by.
Arrive in Moscow, where you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. You can choose to enjoy your down time in your room or explore the area near your hotel. In the evening, you will enjoy dinner on your own.
After breakfast, take a panoramic tour of Moscow which will give you an idea of the capital’s dimensions. Explore Red Square, the very heart of Moscow, with picturesque St. Basil’s Cathedral or enjoy a ride on the Moscow metro, visiting stations that are more like underground palaces than subway stops. You will be impressed by the spectacular Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the stunning view of Moscow from Lenin Hills (Sparrow Hills) very near to Moscow University and other historical sites. After lunch in the city, continue to the Kremlin, one of the best-known monuments in Russia. The guided tour takes you inside the former residence of the Russian Tsars. Enjoy some time downtown strolling along the ancient Arbat Street with its numerous cafes and souvenir shops. Later in the evening, you’ll board the Imperial Russia Train. Enjoy your dinner onboard and get to know your travel companions.
Upon arrival in Kazan, once the capital of the Tatar Khanate you will depart for a city tour to explore Old Kazan. Today, in the White Kremlin of Kazan, a new mosque rises in the immediate vicinity of a Christian cathedral. Enjoy a spectacular folklore program that will give you insights into Tatar culture. We invite you to taste the local cuisine at lunch and follow along with a cooking demonstration that reveals the secrets of Tatar cuisine. Later in the afternoon you will board your train and continue your trip. Tonight, enjoy dinner onboard!
Arrive in Yekaterinburg and start your discovery of this city that is closely connected with the family of the last Russian Emperor. During the tour, you will visit the memorial Church on the Blood to commemorate the tragic events that took place in this city. After lunch in downtown, continue your visit to amonument marking the borderline between Europe and Asia. You will have an opportunity to be on both continents at the same time! Take some photos to preserve this memory. In the evening, we board the Imperial Russia Train. Enjoy your dinner onboard!
Arrival in Novosibirsk, the very heart of Siberia. Takea city tour in the vicinity of the railway station including a visit to the local railway museum dedicated to the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway. After lunch, visit the embankment of the Ob river, the city’s main squares and streets. The local Opera House stands out among local sites and will impress you with its monumental architecture, and is known as the largest theater building in Russia. Board your train and enjoy your dinner onboard!
This day will be spent onboard the Imperial Russia Train as you continue your travel through Siberia. Reflect on the cities you have already visited. You may want to spend your time having a drink in the bar with your fellow travelers, or you might stay in your cabin and look at the changing scenery. The onboard staff will invite you for a talk on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Enjoy this relaxing day in anticipation of your next stop!
Our train arrives today in Irkutsk, one of the largest cities in Siberia. This city has preserved many historical buildings and monuments. During the city tour, you will see picturesque wooden houses, visit the Decembrists’ House and learn aboutthe failed uprising that sent these Russian aristocratsinto exile in this city. After lunch we’ll visit an open-air museum located in a very beautifullocationalong the riverbank of the Angara. This unique museum will tell you about the daily life of the people in this region in the past. Spend some free time strolling through Irkutskaya Sloboda before you board your train in the evening.
Standing on the shores of Lake Baikal, you can’t help being awestruck with admiration by this natural wonder. Baikal is the deepest Lake in the world and contains one fifth of the earth’s fresh water. After breakfast, board a motor ship to sail on the waters of Baikal to the village of Listvyanka. Here you will visit a unique museum dedicated to the flora and fauna of the lake. Not to be missed is the observation point at the Cherssky Stone with a stunning view of the lake and the Angara River. After a visit to a local market, the journey continues along the original route of the Trans-Siberian Railway for several hours directly along the shore of Lake Baikal. Your train will stop for you to enjoy the majestic lake and have a barbeque dinner.
Arrival in Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia. City tour with a visit to an active Buddhist Datsan (Monastery) where a special spiritual experience awaits. You will also visit a local family at their traditional yurt. On this visit, you will learn how to cook “pozy”, play dice, try on atraditional costume, and help assemble a yurt. You will also take in a colorful and spectacular folklore program that will help you understand more about Buryat culture. Later in the evening board the Imperial Russia Train to continue your journey.
After arrival in Ulaanbaatar, you will leave for the Terelj National Park. Here you will be introduced to the nomadic way of life that many Mongolians still follow today. As we head to the Ger Camp in a remote area of Terelj National Park, we will explore its beautiful landscapes. Tonight, you will sleep in gers (traditional Mongolian yurts) and enjoy a delicious Mongolian dinner.
Today, you head back to the Mongolian capital to explore this historic city. You will visit the Gandan Abbey, and the National Museum of Mongolia. Enjoy a stunning Mongolian cultural performance including famous throat singing. Tonight, we welcome you back onboard the Imperial Russia Train.
Your train travels towards the Chinese border through the Gobi Desert. Jaw-dropping landscapes will keep you glued to the window. Erlian, the border town, is nothing more than a military post. Due to the different railroad gauges, The Imperial Russian Train cannot go to Beijing. Your Chinese charter reaches the capital of China in about 16 hours.
Beijing is the final destination of your magnificent railway journey that has taken you across two continents. It is home to thousands of small shops and street traders, a great place to shop for souvenirs and bargains, and the last opportunity to taste delicious Chinese food in all of its variations. During the city tour you will visit the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Hutongs. The Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors between 1368 and 1911. Tiananmen Square is the world’s largest city square in the center of Beijing, named after the Tiananmen (literally, Gate of Heavenly Peace) which sits to its north, separating it from the Forbidden City. The square has great cultural significance, as it was the site of several key events in Chinese history. As the world’s largest city square and an enduring symbol of China’s national pride, it is surrounded by many imposing buildings including the Heavenly Gate (entry to the Forbidden City), museums, government buildings and Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum. Tonight, you will lodge at one of the hotels in the city.
After breakfast, head to one of the most powerful symbols of ancient Chinese civilization – the Great Wall of China, stretching 9000 km. It took more than one million people and ten years to build the Great Wall of China, designed as a defensive structure. You can walk along the wall, through the watchtowers and enjoy superb views as it snakes across the hills and mountains. At noon we head back to Beijing to visit the Summer Palace.
After breakfast you will transfer to the airport. Memories of your journey along the Trans-Siberian Railway on the Imperial Russia Train will last a lifetime.
Services included:
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Services not included:
Payment policy:
Cancellation policy:
65-35 days before departure - a fee equal to 50% of the entire package will be charged.
34 days or less before departure or no-show - a fee equal to 100% of the package will be charged.
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