16 Days Trans-Siberian, Tsar's Gold (Eastbound) | Train Journey
16 Days Trans-Siberian, Tsar's Gold (Eastbound) | Train Journey
A journey on the legendary Transsiberian Rail Journey from Moscow to Beijing (via Lake Baikal and Mongolia)
“A journey on the legendary Transsiberian Railroad is one of the last great travel adventures in our world. Set this dream of a lifetime on the tracks with our Private Train and experience Russia, Mongolia and China in the safest, most comfortable and fascinating manner.
The historic route between Moscow, Lake Baikal and Beijing is the heart of all travel variants: The exciting days of your journey are delivering three of the world’s largest countries directly to your compartment. Lean back to enjoy the dramatic changes of scenery and savour a choice of Europe’s and Asia’s most superb and splendid landscapes!
”
TRAIN ITINERARY
Day 9: From Lake Baikal to Ulan Ude on to Mongolia
(B/L/D)
- Visit the other side of the shore of the mystical Lake Baikal, and then onwards through the magnificent valley of Selenga passing by wild and lonely mountain steppes of Eastern Siberia
- City tour of Ulan Ude
- Return to train for overnight
Day 10: Ulan Bator
(B/L/D)
- City tour, visit the impressive Gandan Buddhist Monastery and the odd Choijin Lama Temple
- Watch a performance of traditional Mongolian folk arts, including throat singing, horse-headed fiddle playing, national costumes, and dances (tickets are € 12, to be paid on site)
- Overnight in a 4 star hotel in Ulaanbaatar
Day 11: Ulan Bator and the Mongolian Alps
(B/L/D)
- Visit the Terelj National Park, east of Ulaanbaatar, to see the nomadic herdsmen’s exotic settlements of tradition tents, horse herds, and scraggly yaks, a type of wild Tibetan cattle
- Mongolian horse-riding demonstration
- Enjoy a picnic lunch served in these splendid surroundings.
- Return to train for overnight
Day 12: Crossing the Gobi desert
(B/L/D)
In the early morning your train halts in the middle of the Gobi Desert, some time ago one of the favourite settlements of dinosaurs. Towards noontime, you reach the Chinese border, where due to the different Chinese track gauge your Chinese train is ready for departure. The Chinese train has no Nostalgic Comfort and Bolshoi cars, only two bed or 4 bed cabins. You will reach China’s capital Beijing in about 16 hours.
Day 13: Welcome to Beijing
(B/L/-)
After observing impressive scenes of Chinese rural life from your compartment window, you arrive in Beijing in the morning, where you will spend three nights in a first class hotel.
Day 14: Beijing––Temple of Heaven and the Tiananmen Square
(B/L/-)
- A tour lasting several hours takes you to Beijing’s most beautiful and important sights
- Visit: Temple of Heaven with its park, the huge Tiananmen Square, and some of the city’s contemporary architectural achievements, such as the new “Bird’s Nest” Olympic stadium and several futuristic sky scrapers
- Enter the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace, and view its numerous temples and halls. Overnight in Beijing hotel
Day 15: The Great Wall and Peking Duck
(B/L/D)
- Enjoy a day trip to the Great Wall
- Tour of Tombs and the avenue of the spirits
- For dinner, enjoy a meal featuring the world-famous Chinese dish, Peking Duck
Day 16: Beijing (Departure)
(B)
Today a wonderful trip filled with unique and unforgettable experiences comes to its end and you start your return home.
Day 1: Arrival in Moscow
(D)
- Catch “Moscow by Night” city lights tour
- Overnight in hotel
Day 2: Moscow
(B/L/D)
City tour of Moscow: Visit Kremlin, including one of the magnificent cathedrals still left from the time of the Tsars.
Toward evening, you are greeted aboard your private train prior to departure. A relaxed get-together in the dining car offers the chance to meet your fellow travellers and learn more details about your private train.
Day 3: Kazan
(B/L/D)
- Tour of the Kazan Kremlin (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage) with its wonderful panoramic view over the Volga
- Learn about the turbulent history of the relationship between the Tartars, the Cossacks, and the Russians
- Return to train for overnight
Day 4: Yekaterinburg
(B/L/D)
The historic city of Yekaterinburg is remembered as the place where the Russian tsar Nicholas II and his family were murdered in 1918.
- Visit the Cathedral of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood
- Tour of around the city centre
- Return to train for overnight
Day 5: Novosibirsk
(B/L/D)
You arrive in Novosibirsk, the heart of Siberia, where you are welcomed in the traditional Russian fashion with bread and salt.
- Go on a short city tour to experience the most Soviet of all cities
- Visit the enormous Trans-Siberian Monument and the mighty Ob River
- Return to train for overnight
Day 6: Across Siberia
(B/L/D)
Travel through the Yenisei River through Siberia. It takes you through the landscapes of Eastern Siberia with its mountains, crystal-clear rivers and verdant slopes.
On board of the train you enjoy entertaining lectures about Siberia. The on-board restaurant chefs once again demonstrate their skills with the speciality meal "Tsar’s Feast". Enjoy Russian hospitality during the vodka and caviar tasting while passing by impressive landscapes.
Day 7: Irkutsk
(B/L/D)
Today the train reaches Irkutsk, capital of Eastern Siberia.
- Go on a city tour you will see beautiful Siberian wooden cottages, the new statue of Alexander III and the lively market hall
- After lunch, you undertake an excursion to the open-air museum "Life and Work in the Time of the Tsars”
- Spend the night in a centrally located hotel in Irkutsk
Day 8: Lake Baikal
(B/L/D)
- Visit to Listvyanka, a Siberian village on the shores of Lake Baikal
- Dinner in typical Baikai-style as a picnic on the shores of the lake (weather permitting)
TRAIN CABINS
SERVICE INCLUDED:
- Meals included during the tour according to itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
- More than 20 excursions and performances included as well as all entrance fees
- Professional threefold tour guide-system: Knowledgeable and dedicated tour director, a competent group train guide
- Alternating overnights in your train compartment and in first class and standard hotels
- From Erlian to Beijing (about 16 hours) accommodation in comfortable sleeping quarters
- Extensive trip on the ancient rail lines of the Transsiberian Railway directly on the banks of Lake Baikal with photo stop
- Three overnights in Beijing and one night in Moscow in first class hotels (4 star levels)
- One overnight each at centrally located standard hotels (3 star level) in Ulan Bator and Irkutsk
- Hotel property selection is subject to change; exact name of final hotel property will be announced prior to departure with final train pre-departure information.
- Airport transfer on first and final day of the itinerary
- Luggage service at all train stations
- Detailed travel documents, travel guides and personal log book
- Sophisticated on-board programmes: Entertaining lectures on local culture, history and everyday life
- Shared shower facilities on board
- Traditional Russian welcoming ceremony with bread and salt
- Special Peking Duck dinner at one of Beijing’s leading theme restaurants
RATES NOT INCLUDED:
- International Flights and taxes
- Guides and assistants when not specified
- Camera or Video fees
- Lunch and dinner not mentioned in itinerary
- Tipping for local guide and driver
- Services other than mentioned Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature
- Travel Insurance
- Everything not mentioned in "Rates Included"