Trans-Siberian Railway: Beijing to Moscow

Trans-Siberian Railway: Beijing to Moscow

Day 1 (Wednesday): Beijing

Having been picked up from the airport in Beijing, you'll be taken to your hotel to drop off your luggage and relax after your journey. Afterwards, we'll begin exploring the Chinese capital, visiting its most emblematic monuments. Discover the legendary Tiananmen Square, one of the largest squares in the world, the National Museum of China and the famous Forbidden City. We'll then have dinner at a local restaurant before heading back to the hotel to rest ready for the adventure ahead.

Day 2 (Thursday): Beijing

After a delicious breakfast at your hotel, we'll head to one of the most visited sections of the Great Wall of China, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. We'll explore this incredible ancient defensive monument, before eating lunch at a local restaurant and visiting the Summer Palace, a vast complex of beautiful lakes, gardens and palaces in Beijing. For the finishing touch on our full day exploring the city, we'll get to eat traditional Peking duck for dinner!

Day 3 (Friday): Beijing

We'll have breakfast at the hotel on our final day in Beijing, before heading to the train station, where the luxurious Imperial Russia train will be waiting to take us on our exciting journey to Russia. After settling in, we'll enjoy lunch and dinner on board as we make our way along the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Day 4 (Saturday): Erlian

During the day, we'll arrive in Erlian, located in the middle of the Gobi Desert. This is the last Chinese city on the border with Mongolia, and we'll take advantage of this location to change trains for the next part of our Trans-Siberian adventure.

Day 5 (Sunday): Ulaanbaatar

The fifth day of our journey will see us arriving in the capital of Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar. After breakfast on board the train, we'll set off to explore the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, where we'll delve deep into the Mongolian steppe on a hiking trail. We'll enjoy lunch and dinner in a traditional ger camp, where a nomadic family will tell us all about Mongolian culture, and give us the opportunity to taste typical dairy products.

Day 6 (Monday): Ulaanbaatar

We'll have breakfast in the ger camp and spend our second day in Ulaanbaatar visiting Sukhabaatar Square and Gandan Monastery, home to an enormous statue of Buddha. For the finishing touch on our immersion into Mongolian culture, we'll enjoy a traditional roast for lunch and watch a folkloric show, before returning to the Trans-Siberian for dinner.

Day 7 (Tuesday): Ulan-Ude

On the seventh day of our trip, we'll arrive in the Russian city of Ulan-Ude, where we'll get to experience the traditions of the local Buryat culture. We'll visit the Ivolginsky Datsan Buddhist temple, learn how to put up a typical yurt, try on traditional clothing and attend a folkloric performance. After learning to cook a favourite local dish called "pozy", we'll return to the train for the next part of our journey.

Day 8 (Wednesday): Lake Baikal

After breakfast on board the train, we'll set off to explore one of the most spectacular natural locations in Siberia. We'll enjoy a cruise on Lake Baikal to the lakeside village of Listvyanka, famous for the views it offers of the Chersky Stone. Then, having learned about the wildlife and plants that survive in the extremes of Russia, we'll eat a picnic lunch on the lake shore. Delicious!

Day 9 (Thursday): Irkutsk

On the ninth day of the Trans-Siberian Railway, we'll arrive in Irkutsk, a city known as the "Paris of Siberia". We'll delve into the history of Irkutsk, visiting the Decemberist House Museum, the House of Europe and Karl Marx Avenue. After a typical lunch in a local restaurant, we'll explore the picturesque Irkutskaya Sloboda district.

Day 10 (Friday): Imperial Russia Train

Enjoy a well-earned rest on the tenth day of your tour, entertaining yourself with the activities on board the luxurious Imperial Russia train as we travel through Siberia.

Day 11 (Saturday): Novosibirsk

Arriving in the third largest city in Russia, we'll embark on a complete panoramic tour of Novosibirsk. You'll see the Opera House, the railway museum, the Ob River and much more, finishing your day with dinner at a local restaurant before heading back on board the train.

Day 12 (Sunday): Yekaterinburg

Immerse yourself in the legendary events of Russian history on the second Sunday of your trip, visiting the city where the Romanov family spent their final days. Following in the footsteps of Tsar Nicholas II, we'll stop at the Church on Blood, built at the site where the family was executed. After lunch, we'll pay a visit to the geographical border between Europe and Asia before we return to the Trans-Siberian.

Day 13 (Monday): Kazan

The penultimate Russian city on our tour will be Kazan, capital of the republic of Tatarstan. You're sure to be captivated by the charms of this city, which is located on the banks of the Volga River, as we visit its historic Kremlin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch, we'll attend a traditional dance performance and attend a cooking class, immersing us in Tatar culture and cuisine.

Day 14 (Tuesday): Moscow

Finally, our Trans-Siberian adventure brings us to the Russian capital. We'll begin a guided tour of Moscow's most important places of interest, including the Kremlin, one of the world's most famous architectural complexes. We'll enjoy a stroll along Arbat Street, visit the Cathedral of Christ the Redeemer and explore the underground museum that is the Moscow Metro. After dinner in a local restaurant, we'll head to the hotel, where you can relax.

Day 15 (Wednesday): Moscow

On the last day of the tour, we'll have breakfast at the hotel, before saying our final goodbyes and making our way to Moscow Airport for the journey home.

Options

When making your reservation for the Imperial Russia Trans-Siberian Railway, you'll be able to choose the type of cabin according to your preferences:

• VIP Cabin: this 7 metre squared cabin has two large bunk beds (one upper, one lower), a table, an armchair and a wardrobe. It also has television, air conditioning and its own bathroom with shower and washbasin.
• Business Cabin: this 5.5 metre squared compartment has two large bunk beds (one upper, one lower), a table, an armchair and a wardrobe. It also has television, air conditioning and its own bathroom with shower and washbasin.
• Plus Cabin: these cabins are 3.3 metres squared and have two bunk beds (one upper, one lower), a table, an armchair and a wardrobe. There is air conditioning throughout the carriage and your luggage will go in a different compartment. You'll share the washbasin with another cabin and there are two bathrooms with a shower at the ends of the carriage.
• First Class Cabin: these compartments are 3.3 metres squared and have two lower-level beds, a table, television and a space to store clothes. There is a shower, washbasin and air conditioning for the use of the entire carriage, and there are two bathrooms at either end of the carriage.

Accommodation in Moscow & Beijing

This tour in two nights' hotel accommodation in Moscow and Beijing. The planned hotels are the following:

• Moscow: Petr I Hotel, Baltschug Kempinski or similar.
• Beijing: Regent Beijing Hotel or similar.

Next available dates

• 27th June - 11th July 2022
• 22nd August - 7th September 2022