Trans Mongolian Discovery

Follow smoky, spicy aromas off Beijing-€™s neon strips and get acquainted with the capital through its food and the people who gather to cook and eat it. After tasting contemporary culture, perhaps people watch in Tiananmen Square or slip back in time with a visit to the ancient Forbidden City. Join your Tour Leader and fellow travellers this evening as final preparations are made for your departure.  Please meet your Tour Leader at 5:00pm for your Welcome Meeting as detailed on your Joining Instructions.

Beyond the city we take an unforgettable walk on the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu.

Board an early morning train departing on the Trans Mongolian Railway and observe the villages and fields of northern China slip away as we head north. As the sun sets we-€™ll cross the Gobi Desert bound for the Mongolian border and its quirky yet friendly capital of Ulaanbaatar.

The scenery as we approach Ulaanbaatar is impressive. The train winds around tight bends to provide excellent photo opportunities. Finally the capital appears, set amid endless grassy steppes.

After breakfast, we visit the Zaisan Memorial from which the entire city is visible, as well as the country-€™s largest remaining monastery, Gandan Khiid, where you can mingle with Buddhist monks.
Later in the day we travel out across the grasslands, through the countryside that was once the home to Genghis Khan and his Golden Horde, to the pristine Terelj National Park for a two night stay in a ger -€“ the traditional home of the Mongolian people. 

This morning we awake in a Mongolian nomad ger (felt tent), amongst spectacular rock formations and wild rolling hills. Living among nomadic families and their grazing livestock we can explore nearby valleys or just relax and enjoy the area.

We return to Ulaanbaatar and this afternoon we board our overnight train to Siberia.

You find Irkutsk after your train trip north. It-€™s a charming city with a history dating from the fur and tea trading days when it began as an isolated Cossack outpost. Aristocratic exiles from the west brought a touch of elegance with their ornately decorated wooden houses, while Asian traders from Mongolia and China introduced a touch of the Orient.
Your train rolls into Irkutsk station late afternoon. From here you will drive to the nearby lakeside village of Listvyanka, where you will spend the next two nights. This is a perfect spot to pause and relax.

Today we will enjoy our time in Listvyanka on the shores of the world-€™s deepest freshwater lake, Baikal. Here we have time to explore the village with its traditional houses, Limnological Museum and spectacular landscapes.

Upon our return from Lake Baikal we will embark on a walking tour where you will discover the city-€™s wonderful historic sights -€“ 18th century churches, bright painted shutters and log houses decorated with intricate wooden lacework. 
Late this evening we join the Trans Siberian Railway! We head west pausing briefly at stations - Novosibirsk, Omsk and Yekaterinburg among them -€“ riding the rails of the world-famous Trans Siberian Railway en route for Kazan.

Life on board is a destination in itself! Mingle, learn some new phrases, or practice those you have learned on the locals over the mandatory vodka. 

When your train pulls into the many stations along the way hop off, stretch your limbs and restock on supplies from the platform kiosks for the next leg of your journey.

This afternoon we arrive in one of Russia-€™s most progressive cities -€“ the capital of the Tatarstan Republic within Russia, where orthodox and Islamic cultures meet.

Built on the intersection of two rivers, Kazan has endured a tumultuous history. In 1553 Ivan the Terrible took it from the Golden Horde and the city under went a process of Russification. Today Tatars, the descendants of the Golden Horde, make up about 43% of the population, maintain their own language as well as culture, and are very proud of their history. Today you can soak in the history and culture of this wonderful city on a full day tour with a local guide including a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Kazan Kremlin before we board our overnight train to Moscow.

Welcome to Moscow! This city will amaze you, its palaces and public buildings restored to their former glory. The echoing vastness of Red Square, the splendid twirled cupolas of St. Basil-€™s across the cobblestones. 

Today we can explore the Kremlin itself, where we go behind its walls to visit the Armoury Chamber with its vast array of treasures.

Enjoy the day in Moscow exploring the city. Head underground to see the palatial, chandelier-draped metro, people watch on Arbat Street or wander the recently opened Zaryadye Park and take in the breathtaking views of the Kremlin. Returning to the station late in the evening, we board our train to Velikiy Novgorod.

Welcome to Veliky Novgorod, one of Russia's most important historical cities. Novgorod lies along the Volkhov River which once featured as the main waterway for medieval trade between the Varangians and the Greeks.
As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city boasts a number of great sights to visit and unique architecture. Visit the stone Cathedral of St. Sophia which was built by Vladimir of Novgorod in the 11th century and view its impressive 5 domes at 38 metres high. See Russia's oldest palace, bell tower and clock tower which are located within the Novgorod Kremlin. The entire city acts as a museum, offering plenty of opportunity to delve into Russia's history.

This morning we depart on the final leg of our epic journey to St Petersburg. It is the city on the water, the -€˜Venice of the North-€™, standing resplendent on the delta of the Neva River. Our city tour will reveal the city-€™s other great secrets including St. Isaac-€™s Cathedral and the enormous Palace Square. 

Further explore this luxurious city with richly filled palaces and museums, wide boulevards and Venice-like canals, and the greatest art collection of all, at the Hermitage.

Our adventure has drawn to a close. Say farewell to your travelling companions and tour leader before departing your hotel this morning. 

Please note that departures on these 3 dates will run with 1 night less in Mongolia (ger stay) and 1 additional night in Kazan (hotel stay).