Naadam Trans-Mongolian East-West: Beijing - Ulan Bator - Baikal - Yekaterinburg - Moscow (TS-19)

Summer Palace Guided TourWe will visit the magnificent Summer Palace located 15 kilometres (9.4 miles) away from central Beijing. The Palace represents an outstanding expression of the creative art of Chinese landscape garden design and is included on UNESCO World Heritage List.

£150 per person

Day 1

Transfer from the airport to the hotel

Hutong Neighbourhood by Rickshaw Guided Tour

Enjoy Shichahai Lake

After you arrive in Beijing, look for our driver who will be waiting to transfer you to the hotel. Once refreshed, we'll visit one of the city's ancient hutongs by rickshaw. These 13th Century districts are a maze of narrow alleyways and those that remain are now preserved. We'll move on by rickshaw to Shichahai Lake. You'll find former princes' houses in the area around this lake as well as the famous Drum Tower.

Day 2

Guided Tour of Tiananmen Square

Guided Tour of the Forbidden City and Imperial Palace

Summer Palace Guided Tour

Notorious after events in 1989 when government troops stopped pro-democracy protesters, Tiananmen Square is our first stop today. It's the largest city square in the world but you'll have to stand in it to appreciate it. At the far end, the Forbidden City's, ringed by a most, is a UNESCO Heritage Site. Once home to 24 of China's emperors, it now houses the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures anywhere on the planet. Lastly today we'll leave the city centre and head to the outskirts to admire the beautiful Summer Palace in its tranquil lakeshore setting.

Day 3

Guided Tour of the Badaling Great Wall

Visit to the Olympic Green

China's most famous monument, the Great Wall stretches for thousands of miles. We'll visit the most easily accessible section of the wall from Beijing which is also the best preserved, at Badaling. Afterwards, it's off to the Olympic Green to see for ourselves the iconic Bird's Nest stadium built for the 2008 Olympic Games as well as some of the other venues in the park.

Beijing

Day 4

Transfer from the hotel to the railway station

Our driver will collect you from the hotel and transfer you to the railway station for your trip to Mongolia.

Train: Beijing - Ulaanbaatar

Day 4

Night train: Beijing - Ulaanbaatar

Travelling by train K23 is probably the most popular way of getting from China into Mongolia and you will find more foreigners than local people on this train. This is a good chance to meet people from all over the world and practice your French, German or maybe Italian. There are 1st class (2 berth compartment with one lower and one upper berth) and 2nd class (4 berth compartment with two lower and two upper berths) carriages on this train. First class compartments also feature an arm chair, a small table and a toilet with a shower shared between two neighbouring compartments. Second class compartments do not have private facilities, there are two toilets (one at the beginning and one at the back of each carriage) and no shower in the second class carriage. Hot boiled water is available in carriages and train attendants provide thermos kettles. The train has a dining car and a bar with reasonable prices.

Ulan Bator / Terelj

Lodge Ger Camp,
TereljGer camps we use on our tours are slightly modified for Western travellers, however they do offer a genuinely authentic experience and most of them are situated in picturesque areas. The gers are made of a wooden frame that is covered with felt. Inside they are generally brightly painted and feature two or four single beds, a small table, chairs, a lamp, electricity sockets and a stove for heating.

Day 5

Transfer by car / minibus: Ulaanbaatar - Terelj

Terelj National Park Guided Trip

Chinggis Khaan Monument Guided Tour

Reaching Mongolia this morning, our guide will meet you at the railway station. Transfer to Terelj National Park. En route, stop at the imposing Chinggis Khaan monument. Constructed in 2008 from gleaming metal, it's the largest equestrian statue in the world. The statue is symbolically pointed east towards his birthplace, with 36 columns representing the 36 khans from Genghis to Ligdan Khan. You can walk to the head of the horse where you can have a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. We move on to explore the Terelj National Park, famous for its unique granite rock formations, pristine alpine scenery and diverse flora and fauna. Tonight you'll sleep in a ger or a cosy wooden lodge.

Terelj / Ulan Bator

Hotel Platinum 4*,
Ulan-Bator Located in the Sukhbaatar district of central Ulan Bator, the Platinum Hotel is a comfortable 4* hotel which has proved popular with guests. Its proximity to Sukhbaatar Square ensures guests are based at the very heart of the Mongolian capital, and premier attraction such as the National Museum of Mongolian History, the Mongolian Theatre Museum, Presidential Palace and the Chinggis Khan Gardens are just a short stroll away.

Day 6

Transfer by car / minibus: Terelj - Ulaanbaatar

Our driver will collect you from your accommodation and transfer you to Ulan Bator where you'll enjoy a city tour. We will visit Gandan Hiid Monastery, the country’s largest remaining monastery, Sukhebaatar Square and the Museum of Natural History, where you will see dinosaur remains as well as other archaeological finds from the Mesozoic Era excavated from the Gobi desert. We will also pay a visit to the National History Museum where your guide will teach you about Mongolia's rich cultural heritage.

Day 7

Naadam Festival Opening Ceremony

Today, you'll attend the opening ceremony of the Naadam Festival. At the Central Stadium for Sports and Cultural Performances, we will have a unique chance to witness wrestling and archery contests. Watch the Naadam performances in the evening and you'll see why this is the highlight of the Mongolian calendar and then enjoy a sumptuous Gala dinner.

Ulan Bator / Hui Doloon Hudag / Ulan Bator

Day 8

Transfer by car / minibus: Ulaanbaatar - Hui Doloon Hudag

Visit Hui Doloon Hudag for Horse Racing

Transfer by car / minibus: Hui Doloon Hudag - Ulaanbaatar

Our driver will meet you at your accommodation and drive you to Hui Doloon Hudag to watch some horse racing and to soak up the local atmosphere. Return to Ulan Bator in the evening.

Day 9

Ulan Bator City Tour

Guided Visit to the National History Museum

Day 10

Free time

Free time in Ulan Bator..

Ulan Bator

Day 11

Transfer from the hotel to the railway station

Our driver will meet you with a sign board at the lobby of the hotel to transfer you to the railway station for your overnight train to Irkutsk.

Mayak Hotel 4*,
ListvyankaThe Hotel Mayak in Listvyanka occupies an enviable waterfront position giving its guests panoramic views over Lake Baikal. Many of the rooms have large windows from which you can watch boats come and go at the boat dock. The hotel itself is well equipped with the facilities you would expect from a property of its class, with a pool, sauna and Russian banya for guests. There’s free WiFi throughout the hotel, room service and assistance with document registration.

Train: Ulaanbaatar - Irkutsk

Day 11

Night train: Ulaanbaatar - Irkutsk

We leave Mongolia and start our trip to Russia by comfortable train. Departure from Ulan Bator in the afternoon, arrival in Irkutsk next day around 3 pm.

Irkutsk / Listvyanka

Itinerary Accommodation Optional Dates and prices

Olkhon Island Extension - 4 daysWe invite you to visit the heart of the lake Baikal - the island of Olkhon, glorified in many legends. It is the largest of the lake's 30 islands and it contains 143 unique archaeological objects – graves, remains of ancient settlements, ruins, shaman worship monuments and many others. You will also be able to enjoy magnificent natural views, sandy beaches and even swim in the lake (average water temperature in July – August 18 degrees C).

£475 per person

Circum-Baikal Railway Guided Tour by TrainThe Circum-Baikal is not just a railway, but a unique museum of history and nature, combining architecture with zoology, mineralogy and geology. Go Russia invites you to join us on the breathtaking journey around Lake Baikal, on the Circum-Baikal Railway, which runs along the North shore of the Southern part of the lake, from the village of Slyudyanka to the Port Baikal settlement. This is a full-day guided tour, which may start from either Irkutsk or the village of Listvyanka.

11 hours | £225 per person

Trekking at Baikal with PicnicNote: you need to be fit to participate in this trek. This is a circular route hike which starts and ends in Listvyanka. First half of the walk goes through the Taiga forest, then the trail leads down to the shore of Lake Baikal. On the lake shore the guide will cook for you a delicious lunch on camp-fire. After sunbathing and swimming in the lake, we continue our walk on the hillside enjoying the panorama of Lake Baikal along the way. You will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide.

6 hours | £65 per person

Ride a Quad in ListvyankaRide a quad in Listvyanka village, enjoy stunning views of Lake Baikal and experience taiga forest. You will be riding a quad with another person (in total 2 persons per quad) accompanied by an English speaking guide. A picnic lunch will be served on the lake shore.

2 hours | £125 per person

Circum-Baikal Railway Walking TourEnjoy a walking tour along the Circum-Baikal railway – a truly historic line - starting from Port Baikal to the first or second tunnel. You’re bound to be impressed by the stunning views of Lake Baikal, its magnificent beauty and the surrounding hills. This is a circular route, which starts and ends in Listvyanka village.

6 hours | £65 per person

Listvyanka Tour & Visit to the Baikal MuseumEnjoy a guided walk in the village including a visit to the Baikal museum. Your guide will also show you the famous Shaman Rock and tell you the legend about the naughty Angara River. Take a cable lift to get to a nearby view point from where you’ll get a chance to take panoramic pictures of Baikal. Enjoy your visit to a local 19th century wooden St. Nicolas church and a local fish market where you’ll see a great variety of fish and different ways of cooking it. Price includes services of an English-speaking guide, entrance tickets to the Baikal museum, transport from the village centre to the Baikal museum and back, cable car (one way).

4 hours | £125 per person

Horse Riding in TaigaEnjoy horse-riding along the largest lake on our planet or deep in Taiga forest. Before the horse riding session you will receive a short briefing and your instructor will show you how to get on a horse and how to control it. Please note, there will be no English – speaking guide with you, only an instructor who speaks basic English.

3 hours | £95 per person

Day 12

Transfer by car / minibus: Irkutsk - Listvyanka

At leisure at Baikal

Our guide will meet you with a sign board upon your arrival in Irkutsk ready for your transfer to Listvyanka village. You will have the chance to enjoy this charming village which occupies a prime lakeside setting. Perhaps you'll decide to visit the St. Nicolas Russian Orthodox Church or the Baikal Lake Museum where you will learn Siberian traditions, history, flora and fauna of the deepest freshwater lake in the world?

Day 13

At leisure at Baikal

One day isn't sufficient at Listvyanka so we shall have more free time here today. There's lots to do, including the chance to take a boat trip out on Lake Baikal, browse in the village market and take in a seal show at the Nerpinarium.

Listvyanka / Irkutsk

Itinerary Optional Dates and prices

£475 per person

Day 14

Transfer by car / minibus: Listvyanka - Irkutsk

Open-air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy

Irkutsk City Tour

Transfer from the hotel to the railway station

Our guide will meet you at your accommodation to drive you to the open-air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy. It's located in a beautiful forest setting on the bank of the Angara River and comprises an impressive collection of traditional wooden houses and tents. You'll be able to explore all aspects of old village life in this region and better understand the lifestyles of the local Buryat and Evenk people. In addition, step inside a shaman's yurt or a Russian fort and watchtower. Later we reach Irkutsk, nicknamed the Paris of Siberia as it shares those wide boulevards. It also has a clutch of wooden cottages featuring the fretwork designs common to this area. After we've finished our sightseeing programme in Irkutsk, it'll be time once more to head for the railway station. This time, our train will be taking us to Yekaterinburg on a journey that will last two days.

Train: Irkutsk - Yekaterinburg

Day 14

Night train: Irkutsk - Yekaterinburg

Comfortable train to Yekaterinburg. Arrival in Yekaterinburg in the evening two days later.

Yekaterinburg

Hotel Novotel Center 4*,
YekaterinburgThe Novotel Yekaterinburg Centre is one of the best hotels in the city. It is conveniently located right in the heart of the capital of the Urals, within walking distance of the city's main attractions and the business and shopping centres of Yekaterinburg. All rooms feature climate control and free WIFI, combining modern decor, ergonomics and high-tech equipment. The hotel is fully equipped with new-generation Novotel rooms meaning MediaHub panel allowing to charge Mac, iPhone and plug laptop to TV, watch movies and make video-calls. Standard rooms have air conditioning, rain shower, satellite TV, tea/coffee amenities, laptop safe, minibar.

Day 16

Transfer from the railway station to the hotel

Our driver will meet you at the carriage with a sign board and you'll transfer to the hotel.

Day 17

Ganina Yama & Cathedral on the Blood Guided Tour

Guided Visit to the Europe - Asia Border

Our sightseeing begins in earnest today with a visit to the majestic Memorial Cathedral on the Blood in the name of all Saints, built on the site of the execution of the last Russian tsar Nikolay II and his family. Next, we'll pay our respects at Ganina Pit, an orthodox monastery built where the Imperial remains were initially buried. We visit seven wooden churches in the heart of a centuries-old pine forest. Given Yekaterinburg's proximity, we can't miss the opportunity to see the obelisk marking the border between Europe and Asia.

Day 18

Transfer from the hotel to the railway station

It's time to board our train for Moscow, so we'll arrange for our driver to deliver you to the train station in good time to catch the overnight fast train.

Hotel Ibis Centre Bakhrushina 3*,
MoscowPart of the Ibis collection, the Moscow Centre Bakhrushina Hotel is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a value hotel with facilities you can trust. Situated within the meander of the Moskva River, it’s centrally located a half hour stroll from Red Square or the Kremlin and within easy reach of the Paveletskaya metro station.

Train: Yekaterinburg - Moscow

Day 18

Night train: Yekaterinburg - Moscow

Fast train 015. Departs Yekaterinburg at 09:19, arrives in Moscow at 09:23 next day (all times are local).

Moscow

Itinerary Accommodation Optional Dates and prices

Moscow by Night City Tour by CarMoscow combines the best of old and modern architecture. It is a city of long avenues and majestic squares, leafy boulevards, parks and gardens, new luxury housing, bridges, the granite embankments of Moscow River, and the unique cultural and historical sites. Discover Moscow by night with a guided city tour by car.

3 hours | £75 per person

Tretiakov Gallery Guided TourA guided tour of the Tretiakov Gallery, the biggest collection of Russian fine art in the world. The core of the museum's collection was assembled in the middle of the nineteenth century by Pavel Tretiakov, a wealthy Moscow merchant whose passion for collecting included violins, birds, and milk cows as well as Russian art. The museum represents the whole history of Russian art from the ancient period until now. There are more than 130 000 unique examples of painting, sculpture and graphics, created throughout the centuries by talented Russian artists.

4 hours | £80 per person

Izmailovo Kremlin - Wooden Architecture Complex, Arts & Crafts CentreKremlin in Izmailovo was created on the basis of the world famous “Vernisage in Izmailovo” souvenir market. Here you will have a unique opportunity to broaden your perception of Russian national traditions and artistic crafts and see unique examples of wooden architecture. You can visit Museum of Bells, Russian Toys, Russian Costume and Way of Life, Museum of Russian Fairytales and Vodka History Museum (entrance fees are not included). You can also take part in various master-classes on Russian dolls painting, pottery, toy making, cooking and much more.

4 hours | £80 per person

Half Day Guided Tour to Sergiev Posad Monastery - the Heart of Russian Orthodox ReligionThe town located in the suburbs of Moscow grew up in the 15th century around one of the greatest Russian monasteries - the Holy Trinity – St. Sergius Lavra (Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra) established by St. Sergius of Radonezh. The town also claims to be the birthplace of the Russian nesting doll, or matryoshka. On our way to Sergiev Posad we will enjoy the charming Russian countryside as the highway runs through huge birch forests, hills, as well as past beautifully decorated country homes.

7 hours | £125 per person

Diamond Fund Guided TourThe Diamond Fund is located in the Kremlin Armoury containing the most valuable gems of Russia - a collection of masterpieces of jewellery of the 18th-20th centuries, rare precious stones, gold and platinum nuggets of great artistic, historic and scientific importance. It is one of the few treasuries in the world that house unique crown jewels. The exhibition features such treasures as diamond encrusted Coronation Crown of Catherine the Great, the world-famous 190-carat Orlov Diamond among other stunning examples.

2 hours | £100 per person

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour Guided TourThis temple was originally constructed on a vow given when banners and keys from conquered cities were brought to the temple. The height of the temple was 103 meters. In December 1931, the temple was blown up. Subsequently, the foundation ditch was used for the construction of a swimming pool. In 1994, the pool was closed and in January 1995 the reconstruction of the temple took place. Today the construction is completed and features both a working church and a museum, where excursions are regularly held.

3 hours | £65 per person

Kolomenskoye Estate - UNESCO Heritage Site and Former Tsar Residence Guided TourKolomenskoye is a former royal estate and one of the most picturesque and enjoyable of Moscow’s out-of-town attractions. This 15-17th century Tsarist estate is preserved in its original layout and comprises of unique architectural monuments, including the Church of the Ascension (1532). Kolomenskoye Estate’s large parkland is open to the public for you to enjoy. Kolomenskoye also hosts traditional festivals during all major holidays.

4 hours | £80 per person

Day 19

Transfer from the railway station to the hotel

Moscow City Tour by Car

Red Square, St. Basil`s & Lenin Mausoleum Guided Tour

On arrival in Moscow, our driver will meet you with a Go Russia sign board at the platform. Once we've dropped our bags into the hotel, it's time to stretch our legs on a walking tour of central Moscow. We shall stroll at a leisurely pace, taking in sights such as Lubyanka Square, the world-famous KGB centre of the Soviet epoch, Teatralnaya Square next to Bolshoi Theatre and Tverskaya Street, the main drag, busiest street in Moscow. Last, saving the best of course, it's Red Square. Each building here is a legend: you will see brightly-domed St. Basil's cathedral, the world-renowned Lenin Mausoleum, the expansive facade of the GUM department store, Kazan Cathedral and the Kremlin towers.

Day 20

Kremlin Grounds & the Armoury Guided Tour

Moscow Metro Guided Tour

On this, our last day, we will concentrate on the splendours hidden inside the Kremlin. Now the residence of the Russian president, it was once the home of the Tsars. Its Armoury Museum functioned as a storehouse for weaponry before being transformed into the museum you see today. A plethora of exhibits includes such exhibits as the armour of Boris Godunov, the chalice of Yuri Dolgorukiy, Faberge eggs and other works made of precious metals and stones. Modern day treasures are on display in the very fabric of the Moscow Underground. We'll explore this working transit system with its many decorative mosaics, stained glass panels and bronze sculptures which some say give it the appearance of an art museum.

Day 21

Transfer from the hotel to the airport

Transfer to the airport. Our driver will meet you with a Go Russia sign board at the hotel lobby.