Arrival Transfer to the Hotel

Our driver will meet you in the arrival sector at Moscow’s airport with a sign board. From there you’ll transfer to the hotel.

Exploring Moscow. Red Square, St. Basil’s, Lenin Mausoleum

We begin our exploration of the Russian capital with a walking tour that takes in the most important sights of central Moscow. These include Lubyanka Square, once the nerve centre of the KGB in Soviet times, the Bolshoi Theatre and busy Tverskaya Street where shops, restaurants and people congregate. From there we make our way to Red Square. Arguably one of the most famous squares in the world, the name translates as beautiful, and it’s as aptly named today as when it got its moniker. We’ll absorb world famous sights like St Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin’s Mausoleum, Kazan Cathedral and the Kremlin towers, as well as paying a visit to the GUM department store.

Kremlin & Armoury

The Armoury Museum and Tsar Treasures, the first stop today, are one of the country’s unmissable sights. After a stroll in Cathedral Square, we’ll see what was once the storehouse for the Kremlin weaponry and later home to the Imperial Court’s most valuable possessions. The huge collection includes over fifty Faberge eggs, golden and silver works of applied art by Russian, European and Oriental masters, invaluable weapons and other works made of precious metals and stones. Finally today we’ll have a ride on the Moscow Underground. No ordinary transit system, this working metro features stations adorned with marble, mosaics, stained glass panels and bronze sculptures that would look at home in any art museum.

Free Day. Departure to Siberia

Today you have a free day on your own to discover the city for yourself. Optional excursions are available to book should you wish. Later, our driver will collect you from the hotel to transfer you to the train station for a comfortable rail journey to Irkutsk.

On-board the Train to Siberia

Lake Baikal

Our guide will meet you with a sign board upon your arrival in Irkutsk and you’ll transfer to Listvyanka village, a journey of about 70km. Listvyanka sits on the shore of Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest freshwater lake, on which you can take a boat ride. There’s also an interesting museum, market and Nerpinarium offering seal shows to visit should you choose.

Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy. Exploring Irkutsk

On the way, we’ll make a stop at the open-air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy, situated on the river Angara’s banks in a forest. Its extensive collection of wooden houses and tents offer a glimpse into the traditional lifestyles of the Buryat and Evenk people in this region. You can also see the interiors of a Russian fort and a 15th century watchtower, as well as glimpse at a Shaman yurt and other interesting objects. Back in the city, we’ll admire Irkutsk’s impressive architecture and pretty log houses.

Departure to Mongolia

Transferring to the railway station, we leave the warm hospitality of the Siberian Russians and start our trip to Mongolia by comfortable train.

Arrival in Mongolia. Chinggis Khaan Monument. Enjoy Terelj National Park

Our guide will meet you at the railway station for your included transfer to Terelj National Park. We pause at the Chinggis Khaan monument which is located at Conjinboldog area on the bank of the Tuul River, a short drive from the Mongolian capital. This statue, the largest equestrian statue in the world, affords panoramic views to all those who climb it. In Terelj National park, we have a guided tour through this breathtaking landscape. We will explore Turtle Rock and after lunch at the campthere will be an opportunity to hike tonearby Aryabal monastery. Towards the end of the day we will visit a nomad family and get involved with country life, learning how to milk a cow and prepare dairy products. In summer, we will spend the night in a traditional felt tent known as a ger, whereas in winter, temperatures dictate it will be more comfortable in a wooden lodge.

Ulan Bator City Tour. National History Museum

Our driver will meet you at your accommodation for your return transportation to Ulan Bator, where we will have a city tour taking in Gandan Hiid Monastery, the country’s largest remaining monastery, Sukhebaatar Square and the Museum of Natural History, where you will see real dinosaur remains. We also have an included guided Visit to the National History Museum, one of the leading museums for Mongolian cultural heritage.

Departure to China

Look for our driver who will meet you with a sign board at the lobby of the hotel for your railway station transfer. We’ll take the Thursday-only Train 24, a fast train popular with foreign tourists. Choose from first class compartments (two berths, semi-private facilities including a shower) or second class (four berths, toilet and hot water only). The train has a dining car where meals can be purchased and also boiling water can be obtained from train attendants.

Arrival in China. Exploring Old Beijing (Hutong Area)

On arrival in Beijing, our driver will meet you with a sign board at the station and take you to the hotel. We’ll explore the ancient hutongs by rickshaw, neighbourhoods with narrow alleys dating from the Yuan Dynasty of the 13th century. From there, we take in the pretty views at Shichahai Lake where we can visit the Drum Tower, one of the city’s more famous sights. It will be possible to take a boat trip out onto the lake should you wish. Afterwards, you’ll have a free evening to explore the city by yourself.

Tiananmen Square. Forbidden City & Summer Palace

Tiananmen Square in the heart of Beijing is the largest city square in the world and also the site of several key events in the Chinese history, including government troops stopping pro-democracy protesters there in 1989. On the edge of the square sits the Forbidden City, location of the Imperial Palace at the time of the Ming and Qing dynasties and famed for its collection of ancient wooden structures. Later, we move on to the Summer Palace which features elegant landscaped gardens in a lake setting.

Badaling Great Wall. Visit to the Olympic Green

It’s surely impossible to say you’ve truly visited China if you haven’t set foot on the Great Wall, so we drive about 70km from Beijing to Badaling, the location of the most accessible and best preserved of the sections of the wall. On our return to the city, we stop off at the Olympic Green, built for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games. You’ll tick off some of the most recognisable venues including the Beijing National Stadium, Aquatics Centre, Green Hockey Field and many others specially constructed for this world sporting event.

Departure for the Airport

This is the end of your tour. Our driver will collect you from your hotel and take you to the airport for your flight home.