Trans-Mongolian Express - China
From bustling Beijing to the Hermitage in St Petersburg, travel halfway around the world in three incredible weeks. Board one of the world’s great trains and ride the rails on this once-in-a-lifetime trip across the grassy steppes of Mongolia and through the taiga forests of Siberia. Share train carriages with locals and spend nights in a Mongolian ger and a cozy Russian guesthouse. Not only does this trip provide the perfect blend of comfortable accommodations and plenty of activities, but also free time to explore this fascinating region at your own pace.
Day 1 Beijing
Arrive at any time. Want to experience more time in Beijing? Book the Beijing Express, a three-day pre-tour package. Speak to your Global Connection Officer or travel agent to book.
Day 2 Beijing/Ulaanbaatar
Ride the rails through China and into Mongolia. Watch as the landscape changes and make friends with neighbours.
Day 3 Ulaanbaatar
Awake to the stunning landscapes of the south Gobi. The classic image of Mongolian horses and gers (yurts) dot the scenery from horizon to horizon. The occasional nomad encampment appears mirage-like through the carriage window. Arrive to Ulaanbaatar, get your bearings on an orientation walk. Afterwards, stop for a visit to No Limits Cafe and enjoy coffee, tea, and snacks prepared and served by local youth with Down Syndrome, and their mothers. Then start exploring, choose to take in a local cultural show or enjoy some Mongolian barbecue.
Day 4 Ulaanbaatar/Gorkhi Terelj National Park
Enjoy an included city tour with a local guide to learn more about the rich history and culture of Mongolia. Later, leave the metropolis and travel into Mongolia's Terelj National Park. Enjoy a night in a traditional ger camp.
Day 5 Gorkhi Terelj National Park
Spend the night in a ger camp learning about traditional life.
Day 6 Gorkhi Terelj National Park/Irkutsk
Head back to Ulaanbaatar for a few hours before boarding the train to Siberia.
Day 7 Irkutsk/Listvyanka
Travel to Listvyanka on the shores of Lake Baikal. Opt to visit Baikal Limnological Museum, enjoy a 'banya' (Russian sauna) or take a boat ride on the lake.
Day 8 Listvyanka
Spend a full day exploring the surrounding countryside of Lake Baikal.
Day 9 Listvyanka/Irkutsk
Head back to Irkutsk for an included city tour of one of the most beautiful cities in Siberia. Take some time to shop like the locals at the Central Market to stay well-fed on the voyage.
Day 10 Irkutsk/Yekaterinburg
Continue on from Irkutsk to Yekaterinburg. Drink with locals in the dining car, buy homemade food on the platform from "babushkas" (Russian grandmothers), read, relax, play cards, meet your fellow passengers, watch the taiga forests go by — this is what the experience is all about!
Day 11 Irkutsk/Yekaterinburg
Continue on and arrive to the soviet-style city in the Ural Mountain region.
Day 12 Yekaterinburg
Enjoy a guided tour of Yekaterinburg, including the Church of All Saints on Spilled Blood and the Black Tulip monument.
Day 13 Yekaterinburg/Moscow
Cross from Asia to Europe on this 24hr train from Yekaterinburg to Moscow.
Day 14 Yekaterinburg/Moscow
Arrive to Moscow and start exploring. Take an orientation walk of the metro then opt for a Moskva River boat trip or a visit to Lenin's Mausoleum, the Tretiakov Gallery or St Basil's Cathedral.
Day 15 Moscow
Enjoy a guided Kremlin and Armoury tour before free time to explore.
Day 16 Moscow
Enjoy one last day with free time to explore the many museums, art galleries, or theatres that Moscow has to offer.
Day 17 Moscow/Saint-Petersburg
Take an early morning transfer to the train station and board a high speed train to St. Petersburg. Get oriented with the city before enjoying some free time to explore.
Day 18 Saint-Petersburg
Visit the Hermitage Museum with free time to continue exploring the "Venice of Russia."
Day 19 Saint-Petersburg
Depart at any time.
Reference : GAH
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