Highlights of Trans-Mongolian Railway: Irkutsk - Baikal - Mongolia - Beijing (TS-14)

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 | $120 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 | $145 per person

Kremlin Grounds & the Armoury Guided TourYou will discover the interior of the Kremlin - the former residence of the Tsars and now the residence of the Russian president. You will also visit the Kremlin’s beautiful orthodox cathedrals. The Cathedral Square still retains the aura of early Tsarist Russia, where the spirits of Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov, and the early Romanovs loom large. We will also visit the Armoury to see a unique collection of ancient state regalia: the ceremonial vestments and coronation dress of the Tsars, gold and silverware by Russian craftsmen, and ceremonial weapons and arms (optional).

5 hours | $110 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 | $100 per person

Day 1 – Thursday

This is a shorter version of our Trans-Mongolian trip and no tours are planned in the Russian capital. However, if you wish to explore Moscow, you can arrive a couple of days earlier and book optional excursions. We will be happy to arrange a guide and additional accommodation for you.

Today we'll check in for our domestic flight to the Siberian city of Irkutsk, an overnight flight of around six hours.

Domestic flight: Moscow - Irkutsk

Day 1 – Thursday

Flight to Irkutsk: Moscow - Irkutsk

We take an internal less than 6 hours overnight flight to Irkutsk.

Irkutsk - Listvyanka

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.

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).

$575 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 | $295 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 | $85 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 | $145 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 | $85 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 | $145 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 | $115 per person

Day 2 – Friday

Transfer by car / minibus: Irkutsk - Listvyanka

At leisure at Baikal

Our guide will meet you with a sign board upon your arrival in Irkutsk to take you to pretty Listvyanka village, approximately 70 km away. There you'll have time to fully appreciate the beautiful lake setting, take a boat trip onto Lake Baikal, the world's deepest freshwater lake, or perhaps explore the village's church and museum.

Day 3 – Saturday

At leisure at Baikal

Today you'll have more time to soak up the atmosphere in this charming lakeshore village. Why not have a wander in the village market or visit the Nerpinariun to take in a seal show.

Listvyanka - Irkutsk

Hotel Angara 3*,
IrkutskThe Angara Hotel was named after the great Siberian River and is situated right in the heart of business and financial life of Irkutsk - on the Kirov Square. There are 285 comfortable standard rooms, semi-deluxe and deluxe rooms equipped with a private bathroom, safe, color TV, mini-bar, hairdryer, air-conditioner and Internet access. The hotel has two restaurants, post office, currency exchange office, massage room, sauna with a pool, gym, casino and billiards.

$575 per person

Day 4 – Sunday

Transfer by car / minibus: Listvyanka - Irkutsk

Open-air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy

Irkutsk City Tour

Our guide will meet you at your accommodation for your transfer to Irkutsk. En route, stop off at the open Air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy. It's a fascinating insight into 16th to 19th century life in these parts. You can take a look inside a Russian fort and 15th century watchtower, find out more about the Buryat and Evenk people and take a closer look at a shaman's yurt. Back in Irkutsk, you will take a guided tour of the city known as the Paris of Siberia and admire its unusual cottages with their wooden lacework embellishments.

Irkutsk

Day 5 – Monday

Transfer from the hotel to the railway station

Our driver will deliver you to the railway station for your onward train to Mongolia.

Train: Irkutsk - Ulaanbaatar

Day 5 – Monday

Night train: Irkutsk - Ulaanbaatar

We leave the warm hospitality of the Siberian Russians and start our trip to Mongolia by comfortable train. Arrival in Ulaanbaatar next day early in the morning.

Ulan Bator - Terelj

Lodge Ger Camp,
TereljGer camps we use on our tours are slightly modified for Western travelers, 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.

World Energy Point by TrainDornogobi (Eastern Gobi) province located in the south-east of the country and bordering on China, is part of the Gobi desert belt. Sand dunes Burden Gashuun, Tsagaan Els and Tavan Tolgoi stretch along the borders of the aimag (province). The main attraction of the region is Khamriin Khiid Monastery, founded by the famous monk and poet of the 19th century Danzan Ravjaa, however, ruined in the 1930s. Today, the new monastery with two temples is re-opened. Near the caves, where Danzan Ravjaa and his disciples meditated there are 9 stupas built to commemorate him. Dinosaur bones and fossils have also been found in the area.

$575 per person

Day 6 – Tuesday

Transfer by car / minibus: Ulaanbaatar - Terelj

Chinggis Khaan Monument guided tour

Terelj National Park guided trip

Following our overnight train, the guide will meet you at the railway station. You'll transfer to Terelj National Park. We make a brief stop to admire the world's largest equestrian statue in the form of Chinggis Khaan on horseback, the statue oriented to point at his birthplace. There are incredible views from the top over the surrounding countryside. On reaching Terelj National Park, we'll explore the unique granite rock formations including Turtle Rock. After lunch at the camp we will enjoy hiking to Aryabal monastery and visit a nomad family to help milk the cows. Tonight we overnight in either a traditional felt tent known as a ger, or, when the weather is colder, a cozy 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.

$575 per person

Day 7 – Wednesday

Transfer by car / minibus: Terelj - Ulaanbaatar

Ulan Bator City Tour

Guided Visit to the National History Museum

Our driver will meet you at your accommodation. You'll transfer to Ulan Bator where you'll visit the Gandan Hiid Monastery, the country’s largest remaining monastery, Sukhebaatar Square and the Museum of Natural History. There you will see real dinosaur remains as well as other archeological findings from the Mesozoic Era dug up from the Gobi desert. Finally, we will stop at the National History Museum for a guided tour where you can find out about the country's cultural heritage and political history.

Day 8 – Thursday

Transfer from the hotel to the railway station

Today our driver will collect you from your hotel and see you onto Train 24, a comfortable weekly train to China.

Train: Ulaanbaatar - Beijing

Day 8 – Thursday

Night train: Ulaanbaatar - Beijing

Travelling by train 24 is probably the most popular way of getting from Mongolia into China 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.

Beijing

Hotel Qianmen’s Jianguo 4*,
BeijingQianmen’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.

Extension Trip to Xian from BeijingWe invite you for an optional extension trip from Beijing to Xian - one of the four ancient capitals of China and an important cultural centre of the country. You will travel by an overnight train to Xian where upon arrival you will enjoy full day guided excursions with an English-speaking guide, including Terracotta army, Big Wild Gooze Pagoda, City Wall, etc. You will also have some free time to visit the old markets in Drum Tower and Great Mosque area before transfer back to the railway station. Lunch included.

$475 per person

Hong Kong Extension - 4 daysHong Kong has enjoyed special status since being returned to China by the British in 1997. This prosperous and vibrant territory is a world-class destination beloved by many for its curious and unique mix of eastern and western cultures. The towering skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island and the sheltered harbour that divides it from bustling Kowloon are perhaps its most iconic sight. But there’s much more to explore: outlying islands boast secluded beaches and charming fishing villages that are surprisingly rural yet easy to reach from the city. A short boat ride away is the neighbouring territory of Macao, returned by the Portuguese in 1999, and a fascinating contrast to Hong Kong.

$845 per person

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.

$180 per person

Day 9 – Friday

Transfer from the railway station to the hotel

Hutong Neighbourhood by Rickshaw Guided Tour

Enjoy Shichahai Lake

After our arrival in the Chinese capital and included hotel transfer, we will take a guided rickshaw tour to one of Beijing's surviving hutongs. These are old neighborhoods characterised by narrow alleyways dating from the 13th century and are very atmospheric. The rickshaw driver will then carry you to Shichahai Lake. Home of the Drum Tower, this part of central Beijing has princes' houses to admire and well preserved courtyards. Your evening will be free for you to explore this part of Beijing further or, if you prefer, return to the hotel with our driver.

Day 10 – Saturday

Guided tour of Tiananmen Square

Guided tour of the Forbidden City and Imperial Palace

Summer Palace Guided Tour

No visit to Beijing would be complete without a trip to the Forbidden City. Located to the north of Tiananmen Square, infamous as the place where government troops stopped pro-democracy protesters in 1989, the Forbidden City houses the Imperial Palace. This UNESCO World Heritage Site contains the largest collection of ancient wooden structures in the world and was the base for the Imperial court during the Ming and Qing dynasties. To round off the day we'll tour the Summer Palace, set on a lake and surrounded by elegant landscaped gardens.

Day 11 – Sunday

Guided Tour of the Badaling Great Wall

Visit to the Olympic Green

We're saving the best until last, as today we take a trip out to Badaling, the most accessible and well preserved section of the Great Wall of China. Another of China's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it's unmissable on any China itinerary. Lastly, on our way back to the city, we will stop at the Olympic Green and view the venues built for the 2008 Olympic Games, including the Beijing National Stadium, Aquatics Centre and Green Hockey Field

Day 12 – Monday

Transfer from the hotel to the airport

Our driver will meet you with a sign board at the hotel lobby for your airport transfer.