Classic Trans Siberian
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Travel on the famous Trans Siberian train from St Petersburg to Beijing. Explore St. Petersburg and Moscow before embarking on the world famous Trans Mongolian route across Asia, completing your journey in Beijing.
There are few train journeys on earth that conjure up such variety as the Trans Siberian. This superb itinerary traces the classic route St Petersburg, home to the magnificent Hermitage, to Beijing where iconic attractions abound. Enroute we will discover a fascinating and varied landscape unfolding before us. We board the comfortable but basic train that takes us on an epic 5000km journey through history across the vast Russian Steppe through Siberia to Irkutsk. Bring a good book, a chess board and a bottle of vodka and you're sure to form some memorable friendships while watching the world go by. After 4 days we arrive in Ulaanbaatar and experience wild Mongolia from our comfortable ger camp in Terelj National Park before we continue our journey to Beijing. Here our local expert guides showcase this great city and we explore the spectacular Mutianyu section of the Great Wall
Highlights
- An epic train journey traversing Russia, Mongolia & China
- Visit the spectacular Hermitage in St Petersburg
- Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral & Kremlin visits in Moscow
- Experience the wilds of Mongolia from our comfortable ger camp
- Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Summer Palace visits in Beijing
- Day trip to The Great Wall
Itinerary
Day 1 Join St Petersburg
On arrival in St Petersburg you will be met and transferred to the group hotel. Today you are free to get acquainted with this beautiful city. This city was founded by Peter the Great as a gateway to Europe, and you will immediately feel that you have arrived in Europe with well planned avenues and elegant buildings lining the Neva River and nearby canals.
Day 2 Visit Hertimage
This morning we visit The Hermitage one of the world’s greatest museums. During our tour of the winter palace and the Hermitage buildings we will be absorbed by the rich art work on display including porcelain and tapestry, the amazing Peacock Clock and a collection of paintings from throughout Europe. After our guided tour concludes, you may wish to spend extra time exploring further the vast rooms of this magnificent gallery. Afternoon and evening at leisure.
Day 3 In St Petersburg, overnight train to Moscow
Today you are free to explore St Petersburg before transferring to the train station for your overnight journey to Moscow. You may want to include a visit to Peter & Paul Fortress, which is the oldest building in the city and was built in 1703 to protect the city against the invading Swedes. It is however most famous for being a political prison until 1917 and inmates such as Gorky and Trotsky spent time here. A walk along Nevsky Prospect, Russia's most famous street, is also a must.
Day 4 Arrive Moscow, city tour
The city of Moscow needs little introduction. It has catapulted into post communism bringing with it a wealth of improvements and problems. Whilst the essence of this great city is still evident, the shopping and nightlife have brought an entirely new layer of complexity to the city. Today has been set aside for a visit to Red Square and the Kremlin and its cathedrals. We start with a walk through Red Square where we will be overwhelmed by the view of St. Basil’s Cathedral. For those wishing to visit the Mausoleum of Lenin at the foot of the Kremlin wall, expect approximately a two hour queue (entrance fee to be paid on entry). Those wanting to go inside St Basil’s will also have the opportunity (a small fee is applicable). During our sightseeing of the Kremlin, we’ll also view the Armoury, where there is an opulent collection of state treasures.
Day 5 In Moscow, board train to Irkutsk
A free day to take in the many sights of Moscow. A visit to Sparrow Hills provides a panoramic view of the city, or you may wish to walk through Old Arabat where you can have lunch and stroll through the market stalls which line the pedestrian street. A visit to Moscow would not be complete without going underground to the elaborate Metro with its walls adorned with imagery depicting Russia’s historic and political rhetoric. This evening we transfer to the train station to start our journey to Irkutsk.
Days 6-8 On train
During these few days spent on one of the greatest train journeys in the world, you will watch the changing landscapes. Your travelling companions could be foreign tourists or locals alike and you should make the most of your journey by absorbing the scenery, or relaxing and talking to your fellow travellers. This section of the trip is all about the journey with the anticipation of our approach to Moscow growing by the day. During these days we will have many stops, some from a short 5 minutes others up to 30 minutes where we will have the opportunity to stretch our legs and replenish supplies with purchases made on the platforms.
Day 9 Arrive Irkutsk, transfer to Lake Baikal
We arrive into Irkutsk at around 6am where you will be met and transferred to Lake Baikal and the small town of Listvyanka located 60 km’s south-east of Irkutsk. Listvyanka sits right at the edge of Lake Baikal, where the Angara River reaches the shores of the Lake at Port Baikal. Located in the southern part of Siberia, UNESCO heritage listed Lake Baikal is the oldest, largest and deepest lake on earth, reaching a depth of more than one kilometer and holding one-fifth of all the fresh water on the planet. Since times long past, the indigenous people living on its shores have revered this beautiful body of water. The Buryat-Mongols tell of Baikal's creation in stories and legends, of the spirits and gods who inhabit its waters and of the mighty conqueror, Genghis Khan who roamed the area. Russian writers, who came to the area more recently, celebrate the lake in poetry, fiction, and song. National parks and nature reserves line the east and west shores of this sparsely populated region, encompassing a landscape of dense forests, snow capped mountains, grassy steppes, lush wetlands, harsh deserts, rocky islands and rugged cliffs. Upon arrival in Listvyanka you will check into the hotel, the rest of the day is at your leisure.
Day 10 Transfer to Irkutsk, overnight train to Ulaanbaatar
This morning we leave the shores of Baikal and return to Irkutsk, visiting the museum of wood carving in Taltsy village en-route. Irkutsk is located on the banks of the Angara River, which has its source 80 km upstream at Lake Baikal. Irkutsk is easily one of the most attractive cities in Siberia. Founded in 1651 as a Cossack garrison to keep the local Buryat's in line. The Cossacks were a rough lot sent as official representatives of the Tsar's to establish remote outposts and they included trappers, traders, criminals and vagabonds. Later, in the 19th century, Irkutsk was used as an exile post and received some illustrious aristocratic exiles, giving the city a rich cultural heritage. The city's location, near Mongolia and China means that strong Asiatic influences abound. The architecture of Irkutsk includes some of the classic wooden Siberian cottages with beautifully painted and carved shutters. Other features are the onion-domed shaped churches. During the Soviet-era planning Irkutsk suffered the same fate as many other Siberian cities with the building of rows upon rows of ugly white, apartment blocks - still prevalent in the city today. This evening you will board the train to Ulaanbaatar.
Day 11 On train
The border crossing from Russia to Mongolia takes approximately 7 hours, officials will board the train at both sides of the crossing and we will be able to catch some rest in our cabins as this is completed. We recommend you buy some snacks for the journey, there is also a dining car should you wish to purchase food on the train.
Day 12 Arrive Ulaanbaatar, transfer to Terelj National Park
We will arrive at approximately 6.30am in Ulaanbaatar where we will be meet by our driver and guide and transferred to Terelj National Park, where we will spend the next two nights. The afternoon is free to explore the camp and walk in the surrounding hills, for those interested there is a Buddhist Meditation Center nestled in hills that we can visit. Meals and overnight at the ger camp.
Day 13 Day in Terelj
Today we will spend a full day in Terelj National Park. Today you will have the opportunity to visit a local nomadic family and experience their way of life. If you are feeling game you may wish to try your hand at horse riding, your guide will be able to assist you to hire a horse from a local family. Meals and overnight at the ger camp.
Day 14 Transfer to Ulaan Baatar
After breakfast at the ger camp, we will drive back to Ulaanbaatar. In the afternoon you are free to explore the city, it is also an opportunity to purchase any snacks you may want to take with you on the train the following day. We will overnight at our hotel in the city.
Day 15 Train to Beijing
This morning we transfer to the train station for our overnight journey to Beijing. The train journey takes around 30 hours. This is an ideal way to see a changing countryside from downtown Ulaanbaatar through the great expanse of the Gobi Desert and into the frenetic pace of Beijing. The border crossing from Mongolia to China takes takes around 4 hours, due to the changing of the train’s bogies and the border formalities. Chinese and Mongolian border officials will board the train so expect a couple of interruptions to your night’s sleep! This is all part of the adventure.
Day 16 Arrive Beijing
On arrival in Beijing you will be met and transferred to the group hotel. The rest of the day is at your own leisure. A visit to the the Temple of Heaven,is well worth the visit. Set in a walled 267-hectare park with a gate at each compass point, the temple originally served as a vast stage for solemn rites performed by the Son of Heaven who prayed here for good harvests, and sought divine clearance and atonement for the sins of the people. You may also wish to take a cyclo ride to through the rapidly diminishing Hutong (traditional houses) area of Beijing. These charming traditional houses are quickly becoming a thing of the past as China’s rapid development takes hold.
Day 17 In Beijing
Today we take time to explore some of Chinas most valued national treasures. We start our full day tour with a visit to Tiananmen Square and the beautiful Forbidden City, which is a masterpiece of 5000 years of Chinese civilisation and still vividly displays the power and prestige of the former dynasties. Sprawling over acres, the City is a magnificent group of palaces, pavilions, courtyards and deep terracotta walls. Ornately furnished palace rooms, priceless artworks and treasures are all now open to the public after 500 years of seclusion. This afternoon we have the opportunity to explore the Summer Palace and walk amongst its imperial temples, pagodas, glittering lakes and gardens to gain insight into how royalty lived during the steaming hot summer months. For dinner there will be a chance to sample the delicious Beijing dumplings and other local specialties.
Day 18 Visit the Great Wall
We will make an early morning start today to explore the Great Wall at the Mutianyu section. This is approximately a 1.5 hour drive outside of Beijing, slightly further than the popular and very busy Badaling Gate section. On arrival we will have the option to complete a 2 -3 hour walk along this beautiful section of the wall. Mutianyu is renowned for its Ming Dynasty guard towers and superb views. The scene here is as one would expect of one of the world’s great man made wonders, with huge steep ramparts criss crossing this mountainous area. Those deciding not to undertake the walk will be able to enjoy this section of the wall by cable car. The Great Wall of China is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is one of the world’s most unusual and awesome sites. Commenced 2000 years ago, it was built as a defence line to keep out invaders, along the course of several thousand kilometres. The Emperor Qin Shihuang unified the various northern walls into the Great Wall we see today. We return to Beijing in the evening. Tonight you have the option to try one of Beijing's restaurants or perhaps you may wish to have a traditional Peking Duck dinner.
Day 19 In Beijing, trip concludes
The trip concludes this morning. After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport.
Additional Information
Inclusions
- 10 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
- Twinshare 3 star hotels
- 2nd class sleeper train travel in 4 berth cabin - NB it is possible to upgrade to first class for an additional cost - price on application. You are unescorted on the train.
- Entrance fees to museums and sites as detailed
- Private transfers and tours as detailed
- Airport transfers
Summary
- 8 nights hotel
- 8 nights train
- 2 nights ger camp
Trip Main Activities
- Adventure Touring
Group Size Min
Group Size Max
Accommodation Summary
Equipment Required
Whilst there is no specific equipment for this journey a good pair of walking shoes is essential along with a day pack to carry your water bottle, camera and other personal items when sightseeing. A full gear list will be provided on booking.
What You Carry
Your own luggage to and from all train stations and platforms. On sightseeing days you carry your day pack with all personal items required for the day, including your water bottle, camera and wet weather gear.
Check dates and prices
Book this trip with World Expeditions on their site
from
USD$3,490
Why we recommend World Expeditions
- Pioneers in responsible travel.
- No local payments.
- True adventures in every sense.
- Expert guides and support.
- Quality facilities and transport.
Customer care
World Expeditions is a global company with offices in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada, all staffed with experienced adventure travellers.
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