Trans-Mongolian - Beijing to Moscow(Trip #59876)

Tour Overview

The Trans-Mongolian is one of the great train journeys of the world. Leaving from Beijing, the Trans-Mongolian crosses northern China and the steppes of Mongolia, then over the border into Russia. Crossing the vast landmass of Siberia you join the route of the Trans-Siberian, all the way to Moscow.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1, BEIJING
Arrive and transfer to hotel.

Day 2, TRAIN
Board the Trans- Mongolian train and head north through China and over the border into Mongolia. We will see a part of the Great Wall on the way.

Day 3, ULAAN BAATAR
Arrive in the Mongolian capital in the early afternoon and head out into the rolling grasslands that start right on the edge of the city. We spend the night in a traditional ger (yurt). (D)

Day 4, GER CAMP
A full day in the Mongolian grasslands with options for hiking or horse riding. There may also be the chance to visit a local nomadic family. (BLD)

Day 5, ULAAN BAATAR
Head back to Ulaan Baatar to board the evening train to Irkutsk. (B)

Day 6, TRAIN
Our train heads through northern Mongolia, following the Selenge River through mile after mile of grasslands and over the border into Siberia.

Days 7-10, IRKUTSK - LAKE BAIKAL - EKATERINBURG
Arrive in the early morning of day 7 in Irkutsk, capital of Siberia and a pleasant laid back town. We then head straight out to the stunningly beautiful Lake Baikal which defies all statistics - approximately 25 million years old and at least 1.5km deep. We stay with local families in Listvyanka, a traditional wooden Siberian village on the shores of the lake. Later we head back to Irkutsk and board the train bound for Ekaterinburg. During this stretch of our journey we cross the vast wilderness of Siberia. (BLD - at Lake Baikal only; no meals in other places)

Days 11-12, EKATERINBURG
Arrive in Ekaterinburg and transfer to our hotel. We have plenty of free time to explore the city that is famous for being the place where the last Tsar and his family were murdered by communists. It is a pleasant town that dates back to the 18th century.

Day 13, EKATERINBURG - TRAIN
We board the morning train, continuing over the Volga, Danilov and Vytka rivers as well as the Ural Mountains. (B)

Day 14, MOSCOW
Arrive in Moscow and transfer to our hotel.

Day 15, MOSCOW
A full free day in Moscow. Explore Russia’s vibrant capital with its huge communist buildings, the onion-domed St Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s Tomb, or perhaps make a trip out to the monasteries of Sergiev Posad, the heart of Russian Orthodox Christianity. (B)

Day 16, MOSCOW
Tour ends. (B)

Notes
ITINERARY NOTE: The exact itinerary for days 7-12 will depend on the train schedule. This is notoriously prone to change so please be flexible.