Trans Siberian Adventure Naadam Festival
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A spectacular train journey from Beijing to experience the wonders of Mongolia, Siberia, Moscow & St Petersburg
The Trans Siberian train journey has captured the imagination of travellers for many decades. This superb itinerary combines the classic train route with stopovers at many of the unique and exciting destinations en-route. Beginning in the Chinese capital Beijing there is ample time to witness the iconic attractions of this great city. Continuing to Ulaanbaatar, we experience the colourful Naadam Festival before heading to the Mongolian Steppe for a taste of nomadic life, staying in comfortable ger camps and experiencing the vast grasslands and the warm hospitality of the people with some 'Airag', the fermented mares milk which is a favourite of the Mongolians. The next stage of our train journey takes us to Irkutsk in the heart of Siberia. Lake Baikal is a highlight of this region, and we take time to explore the natural beauty of the surrounds by boat and on foot. The final stage of our journey takes us to the cities of Moscow and St Petersburg where we soak up the immense history through visits to Red Square and the Kremlin in Moscow and the Hermitage in St Petersburg, as well as a multitude of lesser known sites which our Russian hosts will uncover.
Highlights
- An epic train journey, traversing China, Mongolia & Russia
- Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Summer Palace visits in Beijing
- Day trip on The Great Wall
- Naadam Festival in Mongolia
- Overnight with local nomadic family in Ger camps in Mongolia
- National Park visits in Mongolia
- Lake Baikal in Siberia
- Red Square, St Basil's Cathedral & Kremlin visits in Moscow
- Visit The Hermitage & Nevsky Prospect
Itinerary
Day 1 Join Beijing
On arrival in Beijing you will need to make your own way to the group hotel. At the hotel you will meet the rest of your group. A welcome dinner will be enjoyed by all group members who will have come from different parts of the world to join this tour, a time to get acquainted and to hear from your guide about the following day's schedule. Overnight Beijing.
Day 2 Forbidden City and Summer Palace
This morning we visit 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. In the afternoon we will also visit the Summer Palace and in the evening there is an option to see an acrobatic show. For dinner there will be a chance to sample the delicious Beijing dumplings and other local specialties.
Day 3 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 for a traditional Peking Duck dinner.
Day 4 Train to Ulaanbaatar
This morning we transfer to the train station for our overnight journey to Ulaanbaatar. The train journey takes around 30 hours - two days and one night. This is an ideal way to see a changing countryside from the frenetic pace of Beijing through the great expanse of the Gobi Desert and into downtown Ulaanbaatar. The border crossing from China to Mongolia takes place late evening and 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. For purchases made on both the train and platforms in China, you should keep some Yuan with you. There is no need to obtain Mongolian Togrog prior to arrival in Mongolia as purchases made on the Mongolian train can only be paid in USD.
Day 5 Arrive Ulaanbaatar
The train is expected into Mongolia's capital city Ulaanbaatar by mid afternoon. On arrival we are met by our Mongolian guide, who will be with us for the next 7 days. After freshening up at the group hotel we will have a tour of the city. Our first stop is Sukhbaatar square, the central square named after the revolutionary hero of 1921 Damdiny Sukhbaatar who declared independence from China. We then visit the National History Museum before heading out for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 6 In Ulaanbaatar
Today we have the full day to explore this city. The morning will be spent visiting Gandan Monastery. In the afternoon we will have time for shopping at the cashmere factory and department store. Our evening program will be a concert featuring Mongolian music and dancing followed by dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight hotel.
Day 7 Nomadic Family visit
After breakfast at the hotel we start our journey to visit a local Nomadic family. Our route takes us through the wide open steppe that Mongolia is most renowned for, past grazing herds of sheep, horses and nomadic gers. We will be staying with our host family, which will allow you to experience the daily life of nomadic people. During the day, we can go horse riding or hike in the surrounding mountains and meadows. There will be ample opportunity to taste “Airag” (fermented mares milk), which is a favorite drink of Mongolians - and an acquired taste! Overnight will be in the ger which will be set up for you next to our host family.
Day 8 Naadam Festival, Tov Province
This morning we farewell our nomadic hosts and head to the town of Zuunmod in the Tuv province where we will witness the fascinating Naadam festival. First we will head to our ger camp near Zuunmod to leave our luggage before driving to the festival. The rest of the day we spend viewing the colourful display of horseracing, wrestling and archery in the local stadium.
Day 9 To Terelj National Park
Today we continue our journey as we drive to Terelj National Park. You will be able to enjoy the stunning scenery along the way before we arrive in our Ger camp for our overnight accommodation and dinner.
Day 10 In Terelj National Park
We will have a full day in Terelj National Park. There will be opportunities for hiking in the surrounding mountains and the opportunity to visit the Buddhist Meditation Center nestled in nearby hills . Meals and overnight at the ger camp.
Day 11 Train to Irkutsk
This morning we depart early for the drive back to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival you will have some time to check emails, go to the post office and make some last minute purchases before lunch. After lunch we transfer to the train station where we farewell our Mongolian friends and board the train for the 24 hour journey Irkutsk. The border crossing from Mongolia to Russia commences around 9pm and takes approximately 7 hours. Like in China, 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, however again we should expect some interruptions to our night's sleep! You should keep a small amount of Togrog for small purchases on the platforms prior to crossing the border as USD are not accepted by locals. The dining car is not usually added to the train until we cross into Russia so you should buy something for dinner in Ulaanbaatar before we depart. Breakfast is available in the dining car if you wish.
Day 12 Arrive Irkutsk, Lake Baikal
We arrive into Irkutsk at around 3pm where we will be met by our Russian guide for the next few days. We will change some money in Irkutsk before driving an hour to 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. We will check in to our hotel where we will base ourselves for the next two nights.
Day 13 In Listyvanka
We commence our sightseeing by foot this morning with a visit to the colorful fish bazaar where you can try local specialties including fish (salted, baked or smoked). From here we have a short walk to visit the old wooden St. Nikolai Church. We continue on to the Limnological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which has an interesting Limnology Museum, where there is a good exhibition on the flora and flora of the lake, including an aquarium.
Day 14 In Irkustk, board train to Moscow
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. Irkutsk was 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 morning we will undertake at sightseeing tour in the city known as the ‘Paris of Siberia’. visiting the main sites of interest include the Decembrist Houses and the historic churches and buildings. We will also have time to go shopping for the supplies we will need on the train. We expect to board the train around 4pm and begin our journey to Moscow.
Days 15-16 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 17 Arrive Moscow
This evening we arrive in Moscow. We are met at the railway station and taken to our hotel which we will use as a base to explore Moscow.
Day 18 In Moscow
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. 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 19 In Moscow, train to St Petersburg
Today we begin our sightseeing with a morning sightseeing tour on our bus taking in many of the sights of Moscow including a visit to Sparrow Hills were we can get a panoramic view of the city. We will leave the bus and visit the Assumption Cathedral, near the Kremlin, before walking to Old Arabat where we can have lunch and free time to 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, of which we’ll select 3 or 4 of the most interesting stations en-route to our hotel. Following the Metro ride, the rest of the day is free to enjoy Moscow before returning to our hotel for the transfer to the station for the train journey to St Petersburg just before midnight.
Day 20 Arrive St Petersburg, commence sightseeing
On arrival in St Petersburg we will be met by our guide who will take us for breakfast before we commence a short orientation tour. We will 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. We then head to our hotel for check in around midday. We will have this afternoon at leisure to relax and 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. Late this afternoon we take a walk along Nevsky Prospect, Russia’s most famous street, before returning to the hotel.
Days 21-22 In St Petersburg
During our days in St Petersburg we have organised a sightseeing tour of 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. You can spend the whole day here or have free time in St Petersburg this afternoon.
Day 23 Trip concludes
The trip concludes at the hotel after breakfast.
Additional Information
Inclusions
- 15 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 12 dinners
- Twin share 3 star hotel in Beijing, Ulaanbaatar, Listvyanka, Moscow & St Petersburg
- Ger accommodation on a multi-share basis in Mongolia
- 2nd class sleeper train travel in 4 berth cabin
- Fully escorted from Beijing to St Petersburg and local guides in each region.
- Private transport and tours in Beijing, Mongolia, Siberia, Moscow & St Petersburg
- entrance fees to museums and sites as detailed
- boat journey on Lake Baikal
Summary
- 12 nights hotel, 4 nights ger camp, 6 nights train
Trip Main Activities
- Day Walking
- 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.
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$6,160
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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