On arrival in Beijing you make your own way to the hotel – any taxi driver will quickly find the address. The convenient location of the hotel positions you to get the most of this legendary Imperial city. The hotel is in the heart of the golden area of the capital, surrounded by major business centres, tourist attractions and only minutes away from the Wangfujing Street, Tiannamen Square and the Forbidden City.

Own transport to Beijing Central Station, where you will you will board the Ulaanbaatar bound train.

Our driver will meet you at the end of the platform and will be holding a meeting-board with your name on. Then set off for Khustai National Park. (Around 100km West of Ulaanbaatar) . This is the perfect location to see the and also feel the beauty of Mongolia with its unique landscape of mountains , steppe, sand dunes and river wetlands. The national park is home to the “Takhis” the famous wild horse and 46 other species of mammals including deer, wild boar, white-tailed gazelle, grey wolf, Eurasian lynx to name but a few. Also if you are an ornithologist there are over 161 species of birds including Eagles and Cranes. Supper and overnight at the tourist Camp.

After breakfast head for Tsenkher Hot Springs. (around 2 hour drive) If you are feeling a little bruised or achy from your travels, bouncing over Mongolian roads, then an hour or two in the springs is just the ticket for you. Time to relax and enjoy your surroundings.

This morning an early start and drive to the lost capital of Genghis Khan at Karakorum (approximately 2 hours) and visit the magnificent Erdene Zuu Monastery, where you will see a distinct mixing of the styles of Mongolian and Tibetan Buddhism. Karakorum was once the heart of the Mongol Empire and today, you’ll still see remnants of the long standing walls that encircle the city. Also in the afternoon, visit the newly established Karakorum Museum. Overnight in Hotel.

Depart for Elsen Tasarkhai (which will include a break in your journey at the picturesque “Khugnu Khan Mountain” also known as Bayan Gobi) Camel riding is on offer here, Elsen Tasarhai literally means “an isolated torn-off piece of sand” and it is a small sequence of real desert in the midst of green steppes.

A SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT NOMAD STAYS: When we say “nomad stay” it means exactly that – you are sharing the lives of herdsmen who live on the Mongolian Steppe. There’s often no electricity, they don’t speak English, and there isn’t any plumbing!

Around 2pm you make the return trip to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival to Ulaanbaatar your city tour will include; Sukhbaatar Square and the National History Museum. Check into Hotel Nine 3★ Hotel. This evening why not visit Peace Avenue or pick-up some snack food for the train in one of the many supermarkets? (We suggest you take this opportunity today to purchase picnic provisions for the next leg of your journey, as often this train as no dining car.) There is a wide range of traditional and new style Mongolian eateries as well as European restaurants. Or maybe go to see a Folklore concert this evening?

Check out of the hotel at 9am,and your driver will take you to the enormous monument to Genghis Khan (aka Chinghiskhan.) It may not be quite traditional in style (since it’s made of stainless steel) but it’s an astounding edifice and a testament to Genghis’s place in Mongolian culture (astonishingly the Communists tried to write him out of official history text-books). Taking the elevator to top of this 10 metre high monument you visit the exhibition hall from where you will have an excellent panoramic view over the complex area and the scenery beyond. This afternoon we will transfer you to the station where you will board the Irkutsk bound train. When you make the border crossing there will be the usual halt for formalities.

Arrival in Irkutsk, transfer to U Ozera 3★ Hotel situated in Listvyanka Village (70km) travelling by road through the forest. The Hotel is set just 50 metres from the shores of Lake Baikal.

Today there is a walking tour around Listvyanka Village. This will include a visit to the Limnological Museum (this is an exhibition about the Lake, its formation, wildlife etc. – it includes multimedia presentations, information about the creatures which live in the darkest depths, and also an aquarium with living aquatic species, including the unique freshwater Baikal seals) and also a small wooden village Russian Orthodox Church dating back to the C18th. You return to your hotel at the end of the walk, maybe experience real Siberian “banya”?

It’s all included in the trip price! You’ll need to inform us of your choice before commencing your journey, so that we can have the right staff on hand for when you arrive.

(A) Siberian trek

(B) Circum Baikal picnic

(C) Taltsy wooden museum

(D) Port Baikal excursion

After breakfast transfer back to Irkutsk city. Our local staff will provide a map and some recommendations of interesting places to visit. Some of our top suggestions (please check opening times/days before setting off) Decembrist Museum, Volkonsky House and The Epiphany Cathedral. Early evening transfer to the station, where you will board the Ekaterinburg bound train.

After breakfast transfer back to Irkutsk city. Our local staff will provide a map and some recommendations of interesting places to visit. Some of our top suggestions (please check opening times/days before setting off) Decembrist Museum, Volkonsky House and The Epiphany Cathedral. Early evening transfer to the station, where you will board the Ekaterinburg bound train.

Evening arrive in Ekaterinburg where our driver will meet you at the end of the platform, and will be holding a meeting-board with your name on. Transfer to the Chekhov 3★ Hotel, which is centrally located.

After breakfast there’s a walking tour around the well known and less obvious attractions of Ekaterinburg, with a local expert guide. You’ll visit the historical centre of the city, including the scene of the assassination of the Romanov Royal Family, on which a Cathedral now stands to mark the event. You’ll also see something of Ekaterinburg’s involvement in Russia’s military history. The last half-hour will be spent at The Museum of Gems. The tour ends in the downtown area (we make sure you know the way back!), where you are poised for multiple lunch choices and a free afternoon to explore independently.

Please make a choice of one of the day trip options, it is all include in the price.

(A) Romanov Graves & Europe Asia Border

(B) Siberian countryside and historic village

(C) Hiking in the Urals

(D) Walk in the Urals Forest

Early morning transfer to the station where you will board the Moscow bound train.

Arrival in Moscow. Your driver will meet you at the end of the platform and you will travel by private car to the Panorama 3★ Hotel. (We can obtain rates for superior hotels ask a member of the reservations team for details.) One of our local expert staff will meet you at the hotel around noon to take you on a three hour walking tour round the highlights – you’ll use public transport around the centre to avoid the traffic jams and get the hang of the system for when you come to use it independently. Our staffers are full of ideas for this walk but are flexible about other ideas if you have your own. Your walk ends in the city centre mid afternoon. The rest of the day’s your own.Your complimentary InfoPack is full of ideas for getting the most out of your free time.

This morning you can continue sightseeing the Lenin Mausoleum is only open in the mornings, and getting there early (it’s in Red Square) helps beat the queues. If you haven’t pre-booked any of our range of city excursions the rest of the day is your own to explore further. Some of our top suggestions (please check opening times/days before setting off) would include visiting the Moscow Kremlin, the Tretyakov Gallery, the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum, or a boat trip along the Mosvka River?

You will need to check out of your room by 12 noon. Own transport to the airport or station on departure.