Day 1
Sunday - Beijing
Arrival in China. Exploring Old Beijing (Hutong Area)
After your arrival in Beijing, our driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. Once settled in, it’s off to a hutong, a 13th century neighbourhood in the heart of the old city for a guided rickshaw ride through its narrow alleyways. Moving on to Shichahai Lake, we visit the interesting Drum Tower and have the option of a boat trip. There’s a lot of history in this part of the city, from the houses once the home of princes to atmospheric old courtyards.
Day 2
Monday - Beijing
Tiananmen Square. Forbidden City & Summer Palace
The Forbidden City houses the Imperial Palace, home of the emperor during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Undoubtedly, this will be a highlight of our sightseeing programme today with its myriad ancient wooden structures which led to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It stands at the edge of Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest city square, gaining notoriety in 1989 as the place where government troops dramatically ended a pro-democracy protest in front of the world’s cameras. Later in the day, we’ll make our way to the Summer Palace, in a beautiful lakeshore setting at the edge of the city.
Day 3
Tuesday - Beijing
Badaling Great Wall. Visit to the Olympic Green
Stretching for thousands of miles and over two thousand years old, the Great Wall of China may not be seen with the naked eye from space but it is a sight to behold. The stretch at Badaling is closest to Beijing and was also the first to be restored. As you walk on the wall, you can only imagine what life would have been like at the time of its construction. Moving rapidly through the centuries, we arrive at the Olympic Green to see the buildings erected for the 2008 Summer Games including the famous Bird’s Nest Stadium.
Day 4
Wednesday – Beijing
Departure to Mongolia
We board the fast train K3, popular with foreign travellers to get from China to Mongolia. You can choose from two-berth first class compartments or four-berth second class carriages. Hot boiled water is available in both parts of the train and carriage attendants provide thermos kettles if required. The train has a dining car and a bar where food and drink can be purchased for reasonable prices.
Day 5
Thursday - Ulan Bator – Terelj
Arrival in Mongolia. Enjoy Terelj National Park
Our guide will meet you at Ulan Bator railway station to transfer you to Terelj National Park. On the way, we make a scheduled stop at the enormous statue of Chinggis Khaan on horseback, featuring 36 columns representing the 36 khans from Genghis to Ligdan Khan. You can walk to the head of the horse to enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. Moving on to Terelj, we marvel at the dramatic Mongolian landscapes. A stop at Turtle Rock is a must before we pay a visit to a nomad family who will show us how to milk a cow and prepare dairy products. Depending on the season, we’ll either overnight in a traditional felt ger or a cosy wooden lodge.
Day 6
Friday - Terelj - Ulan Bator
Ulan Bator City Tour. National History Museum
Our driver will meet you at your accommodation to take you back to the city. A guided tour of Ulan Bator will follow, giving you to opportunity to explore Gandan Hiid Monastery, the country’s largest remaining monastery, Sukhebaatar Square and the Museum of Natural History, home to authentic dinosaur remains found in the Gobi desert.We’ll also go to the National Museum of Mongolian History, one of the leading museums in Mongolia displaying Mongolian cultural heritage.
Day 7
Saturday - Ulan Bator
Departure to Russia
We return to the railway station to begin our long-distance journey to Russia by comfortable train.
Day 8
Sunday - Irkutsk - Listvyanka
Lake Baikal
Our driver will be waiting at Irkutsk station to take you the 70km or so to Lake Baikal, where our base will be the pretty village of Listvyanka. There, you’ll have free time to enjoy the village amenities or perhaps take a boat trip on the lake.
Day 9
Monday - Listvyanka
At Leisure at Baikal
Today is another opportunity to savour free time in Listvyanka village. We suggest a visit to the St. Nicolas Russian Orthodox Church and the Baikal Lake Museum where you will learn Siberian traditions, history, flora and fauna of the deepest freshwater lake in the world.
Day 10
Tuesday - Listvyanka - Irkutsk
Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy. Exploring Irkutsk. Departure to Yekaterinburg
Our guide will meet you at your accommodation for your return transfer to Irkutsk. On the way, we will stop to visit the open air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy, located in a picturesque forest on the bank of the River Angara, the setting for a large collection of historic wooden houses, a 15th century watchtower and a Shaman yurt. Here, you’ll learn about the traditional way of life of the Buryat and Evenk people. Returning to the city, we will admire Irkutsk’s varied architecture including its quirky log houses.At the end of the day, we’ll transfer you to the railway station for your long-distance train to Yekaterinburg.
Day 11
Wednesday
Onboard
Onboard
Day 12
Thursday - Yekaterinburg
Arrival in Yekaterinburg. Transfer to the Hotel
Two days later, we’ll arrive at Yekaterinburg station where our driver will be waiting to meet you at the carriage. Transfer to the hotel.
Day 13
Friday - Yekaterinburg
Ganina Yama & Cathedral on the Blood. Europe-Asia Border
Yekaterinburg was the place of execution of the last Russian tsar Nikolay II and his family and we will visit the Memorial Cathedral on the Blood in the name of all Saints, which was built on the site to commemorate events. We’llcontinue to Ganina Pi,a unique orthodox monastery and visit seven wooden churches in the heart of a centuries-old pine forest. Later we’ll make an excursion to the obelisk marking the boundary between Europe and Asia. According to an old tradition, tourists drink a glass of champagne on this place and take it home. On the way to the borderline, we can stop for a visit to the Memorial honouring the victims of Stalin’s repressions of the 1930-1950s.
Day 14
Saturday – Yekaterinburg
Departure to Moscow
Our driver will meet you at the hotel lobby with a sign board and transfer you to the railway station.
Day 15
Sunday - Moscow
Exploring Moscow. Red Square, St. Basil’s, Lenin Mausoleum
On arrival in Moscow, our driver will meet you with a Go Russia sign boardon the platform. After your transfer to the hotel, take a walking tour through the centre of Moscow, taking in important sights like Lubyanka Square where the KGB was based in Soviet times, the Bolshoi Theatre and Tverskaya Street, Moscow’s equivalent of London’s Oxford Street. We’ll find ourselves in Red Square, where we’re sure you’ll be wowed by the colourful domes of St Basil’s Cathedral. In the square, we can visit GUM department store, Lenin’s Mausoleum and Kazan Cathedral.
Day 16
Monday - Moscow
Kremlin & Armoury
Today we focus on the Kremlin. Beginning in Cathedral Square, we move on to the Armoury Museum. Its fabulous array of treasures includes such exhibits as the chalice of Yuri Dolgorukiy, the helm and armour of Boris Godunov, a collection of over fifty Faberge eggs, as well as golden and silver works of applied art by Russian, European and Oriental masters, invaluable weapons and other works made of precious metals and stones. Lastly, we’ll dip underground to see the glitz and glamour of Moscow’s famous metro. Unlike other city transit systems, this one features adornments of marble, mosaics, stained glass panels and bronze sculptures and has to be seen to be believed.
Day 17
Tueday - Moscow
Departure for the Airport
Our driver will meet you with a Go Russia sign board at the hotel lobby to take you to the airport for your return flight.
Tour Dates & Prices
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All our hotels and traditional accommodation at lake Baikal (a guest – house) and in Mongolia (a ger) have been carefully selected and personally tested by Go Russia product development team. They have been chosen for their central location, available facilities, tastefully designed interiors, and friendly service and customers’ feedbacks. Most of the hotels on your tour will have a 4* rating. Please note all our hotels are recommended on Tripadvisor and have above average reviews. Please view hotels details below.
Hotel Qianmen’s Jianguo Beijing 4*
Qianmen’s Jianguo Hotel is a popular four star choice located in the heart of central Beijing, a short drive from major sights such as Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven. Boasting over 400 rooms, accommodation at this well-equipped hotel features flat screen television, air conditioning, a kettle and a minibar. Each room is en suite, providing a hairdryer and complimentary toiletries.
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Hotel Platinum Ulan-Bator 4*
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.
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Terelj Lodge Ger Camp
Ger 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. Learn more
"U Nikolaya" Listvyanka B&B
A traditional Russian guest-house “U Nikolaya” (meaning in Russian “At Nikolay’s Place” where Nikolay is the chalet owner) consists of two buildings – a two storey charming "log cabin" style chalet and a brick three storey house, providing a warm and inviting atmosphere and rustic ambiance. It is located on the shore of the world famous Lake Baikal and in the middle of the valley surrounded by houses of local people. A spectacular view to the Lake Baikal's blue mirror opens up from windows of the lodge. Lovely heels with bush forest start beyond the garden of chalet. It's a great place to admire the outstanding nature of the lake feeling real Russian countryside atmosphere.Learn more
Hotel Novotel Yekaterinburg Center 4*
The 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.Learn more
Hotel Katerina City Moscow 4*
Katerina City is located in the picturesque district of the Russian capital, on the bank of the Moscow River, just two metro stations to the Red Square. A wide range of facilities makes the guests' stay comfortable and pleasant and modern European architecture and fresh interiors in a Scandinavian style combined with the home-like atmosphere make this hotel a perfect holiday retreat. The hotel rooms feature elegant and modern design, comfortable furniture and superb amenities. Your accommodation also includes free drinking water and tea / coffee making facilities. Sauna and fitness centre are free of charge: 07:00 – 23:00.Learn more