Welcome to Moscow. Transfer to the Baltchug Kempinski or Marriott Tverskaya Grand for an overnight stay.

Depart on a sightseeing tour of Moscow, passing some of the most famous streets in the capital including Peace Avenue and New Arbat Avenue. Visit the banks of the River Moskva, Sparrow Hills and the White House and in the afternoon, head to one of Moscow's most iconic attractions, the Kremlin, to discover its cathedrals. Take a stroll along Arbat Street in the historic centre of Moscow before transferring to the railway station to board the private chartered Imperial Train to Beijing. (B,L,D)

Arrive in Kazan, capital of the Tatarstan Autonomous Republic. Enjoy a city tour including the impressive Kremlin with its sparkling onion domes and tall minarets. At lunch learn about the secrets of Tartar cuisine. (B,L,D)

Awake in the wonderful capital of the Urals. The city was founded in 1723 by Peter the Great as the metallurgical centre of Russia. Travel to the west of the city, to the obelisk that marks the geographical border between Europe and Asia. Visit the Cathedral on the Blood, built on the site where Tsar Nicholas II and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918, and travel to the spot that marks the boundary of Asia and Europe. (B,L,D)

In the afternoon the train journeys to Novosibirsk, Russia's third largest city, located in the southwestern part of Siberia on the banks of the Ob River. Enjoy a city tour and join an excursion to the open air Museum of Railway Machinery. (B,L,D)

Pass through the Siberian landscape en route to Irkutsk. (B,L,D)

Arrive in Irkutsk, one of the oldest Siberian cities on the banks of the mighty Angara River. During the city tour visit the Decembrist House, the “wooden lace” house, also called the “House of Europe” and the most amazing streets of the city. In the afternoon, visit the Ethnographical museum Taltsy. (B,L,D)

Arrive in Port Baikal and take the ferry to the lakeside village of Listvyanka. Enjoy a picnic by the lake before visiting the Baikal Museum. Enjoy a leisurely stroll around the village of Listvyanka before returning to the private train. (B,L,D)

In the morning, the train will arrive in Ulan Ude. Formerly a closed city for foreigners, it is now the capital of the Buryat Autonomous Republic and home to the largest statue of Lenin's head! Buryatia is also the centre of Buddhism in Russia. Whilst here visit a Buryat family, to learn how to erect a yurt and cook traditional food. Later in the afternoon, transfer back to the train and head for the Russia-Mongolia border at Naushki. (B,L,D)

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to Terelj National Park. Terelj is famous for its beautiful natural scenery, meadows of wild flowers, pine-covered mountains and interesting rock formations. After lunch, discover the famous turtle rock and take a short hiking tour to the top of the overlooking hill. Take part in some horse riding and setting up of a Mongolian ger tent and spend the night in a ger camp. (B,L,D)

In the morning, transfer back to Ulaanbaatar for a city tour including Gandan Monastery, Museum of Natural History, Bogd Khan Winter Palace, Zaisan Hill and Sukhbaatar Square. In the afternoon, enjoy a traditional Mongolian music and dance performance before boarding the train for the journey to China. (B,L,D)

Arrive at the Mongolian/Chinese border and connect with the private Chinese train for the final leg to Beijing. (B,L,D)

Arrive in China's capital and discover Beijing's highlights on a city tour. Visit Tiananmen Square, the biggest public square in the world, and the Forbidden City - imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Continue to the beautiful Summer Palace. Check into Hotel Beijing Jianguo for two nights and in the evening enjoy a traditional Beijing Duck Banquet. (B,L,D)

Take an excursion to the Great Wall and the Summer Palace before a delicious farewell dinner in one of Beijing's restaurants. (B,L,D)

Transfer to the airport for onward travel. (B)