Trans Mongolian - Moscow to Beijing Tour

The Trans Mongolian is one of the great train journeys of the world and enables you to traverse the vast Eurasian land mass from the west of Russia to the east of China, including the immense wilderness of Siberia.
Note: There are different combinations and routes of this tour including The Trans Siberian Railway. Please contact us for more info

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Maximum Group Size: 18
Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader
Transport: Trans-Mongolian train, bus, metro & taxi
Activities: Optional hiking and horse riding
Accommodation: 7 nights on board the train, 3-4 nights simple hotels (shared facilities in some cases), 1-2 nights homestay, 2 nights Mongolian ger
Meals: As per itinerary. B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner. Where meals are not included allow US$10-15 per day (US$15-20 in Moscow)
Arrival Transfer: Not included
Entrance Fees: Not included. Allow US$30
Local Payment: Must be paid in cash on day 1 of your tour

ITINERARY NOTE: The exact itinerary for days 6-10 will depend on the train schedule. This is notoriously prone to change so please be flexible.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride on the Trans-Mongolian railway
• Excursion to the Mongolian Grasslands
• Homestay on the shore of Lake Baikal
• Marvel at St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow
• St Petersburg, the jewel in Russia's crown

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 2, MOSCOW: Free day to visit the highlights of Moscow such as the Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s tomb. (B)

Days 3-4, MOSCOW – TRAIN: After a free morning in Moscow we board our train to Ekaterinburg and start our epic journey on the Trans-Mongolian. We cross the Ural Mountains, passing from Europe into Asia. We arrive in Ekaterinburg in the evening of day 4 and transfer to our hotel. (Day 3 - B)

Day 5, EKATERINBURG: A full day to discover the sites of this pleasant town dating back to the 18th century. Ekaterinburg is perhaps most famous as the place where the last Tsar and his family were murdered by communists. (B)

Day 6, EKATERINBURG – TRAIN: Another chance to explore or sit back and relax at one of the town’s many street cafés. In the evening we board the train for an epic voyage from Ekaterinburg to Lake Baikal. (B)

Days 7-8, TRAIN: We spend 2 days travelling through the vast expanse of Siberia.

Day 9, IRKUTSK - LAKE BAIKAL (HOMESTAY): Arriving in Irkutsk we transfer to Listvyanka, a traditional wooden Siberian village near Lake Baikal, where we stay with local families. (LD)

Day 10, LAKE BAIKAL (HOMESTAY): A full day to enjoy the scenery around the lake, hike along its shores or through the nearby forest. (BLD)

Day 11, IRKUTSK: We return to Irkutsk where we spend the night. (B)

Day 12, IRKUTSK – TRAIN: A full day to explore this pleasant, laid back Siberian town before we board our train bound for Mongolia. (B)

Day 13, TRAIN: Another relaxing day on the train following the route of the Selenge River and crossing into Mongolia at the border town of Naushki.

Day 14, ULAAN BAATAR: Arrive in Ulaan Baatar where there’s time to head out and explore this intriguing capital city.

Day 15, KHOGNO KHAN: Head out into the Mongolian wilderness in 4-wheel drive vans. We drive to the beautiful Khogno Khan mountains where we camp for 2 nights.

Day 16, KHOGNO KHAN: A day to walk in the mountains for magnificent views over the plains, visit an ancient monastery or relax around the campsite and maybe sample some traditional mare’s milk vodka.

Day 17, KARAKORUM – WATERFALL NATIONAL PARK: We drive to Karakorum, the ancient capital built by Genghis Khan and visit Erdene Zuu monastery. We continue our journey stopping at hot springs and finishing the day in the beautiful Waterfall National Park.

Day 18, SAND DUNES: There’s the chance of a morning swim in the crystal clear river before continuing our journey to our campsite near small sand dunes.

Day 19, ULAAN BAATAR: The final leg of our Mongolian journey takes us back to Ulaan Baatar.

Day 20, TRAIN: Free time before we board the train to Beijing.

Day 21, BEIJING: Arrive in the bustling city of Beijing - China’s capital. Here our voyage ends, but if you have time you can stay on and discover more of this fascinating country.

Day 22, BEIJING: Tour ends.

DEPARTURE DATES

TRAVEL STYLE

You love the sometimes tough but ultimately rewarding nature of adventure travel and you want to spend more time enjoying every experience rather than wasting time on travel arrangements.

Maximum Group Size - 18: You love the whole concept of travel. Getting there is as much fun as being there and you love using public transport, local restaurants and small family run hotels where you get the best chance to really get under the skin of a destination. You love the sometimes tough but ultimately rewarding nature of adventure travel and you love spending more time enjoying every experience rather than wasting time on travel arrangements.
Included: All accommodation (usually twin share but occasionally multi share), transportation
Not included: Most meals, entrance fees
Single Supplement: Not available. [Read more about Imaginative Traveller travel styles]