Riding the Trans-Siberian & Trans-Mongolian from Moscow east to Beijing; crossing Siberia the train pulls into Irkutsk, gateway to Lake Baikal and Ulaan Baatar in the heart of Mongolia.
Days 1 - 2: Moscow
Moscow. Arrival transfer from Moscow airport. Enjoy free time in Russia’s lively capital.On day 2 there is an optional guided walk around Red Square. Overnight - Moscow (B:1)
Days 3 - 6: Train to Siberia
Moscow - Irkutsk. Another day at leisure to explore the capital on day 3 and an evening transfer to the rail station to start your Trans-Siberian journey. Settle into life aboard the train as it plies its way across the Urals and large tracts of Siberia. Overnight - Train (B:1)
Highway to China - 15 days Go Guide : :Check out the go guide for details of the tour, info on visas, climate, money, what to bring and more!
Days 7 - 9: Irkutsk & optional Lake Baikal
Irkutsk. Morning arrival into Irkutsk, a town with the Asiatic influences of nearby Mongolia and China and curious architecture - a legacy of Siberia’s aristocratic exiles. Spend the next three days at leisure exploring the town. Or choose from the following optional excursions:
Listvyanka & Lake Baikal: Spend two relaxing days in the village of Listvyanka by beautiful Lake Baikal and perhaps choose one of the optional activities.
Irkutsk Summer Trek & Camp:
Enjoy an overnight trekking excursion through the scenic taiga of the Primorsky Mountain to Lake Baikal, camping overnight in a picturesque bay.
Overnight - Irkutsk (B:2, D:3)
Day 10: Train to Mongolia
Irkutsk - Ulaan Baatar. Very early morning transfer to the rail station to continue your momentous journey into the heart of Mongolia, a land of endless steppe, towering mountains, pristine lakes, rivers and desert. Overnight - Train
Days 11 - 13: Mongolia
Ulaan Baatar (Mongolia). Morning arrival into Ulaan Baatar after crossing the Mongolian border during the very early hours of day 11. The pine-covered mountains, wide boulevards, vast public squares and park give the city a feeling of spaciousness, while the ger communities, Buddhist temples and bustling market places give it a rustic charm. Transfer to your hotel and spend three days at leisure exploring the city. Or book an optional two night excursion to Terelj National Park:
Terelj National Park & ger camp bolt-on: Spend two nights camping out in a Mongolian ger on the steppe in Terelj National Park. Overnight - Listvyanka homestay (B:2)
Days 14 - 15: Train to Beijing
Ulaan Baatar - Beijing. Morning transfer to rail station on day 14 for the final leg of your journey. Enjoy panoramic views of uninterrupted steppe, with the occasional nomad, camel and ger dotting the landscape. Continuing south the train enters the flat, dry and sparsely populated landscape of the Gobi desert before crossing the border into China on day 14. The train pulls into Beijing, China’s bustling capital, in the afternoon on day 15. Irkutsk homestay (B:1)
Choose your own Adventure
Make the most of your time in Irkutsk and Lake Baikal, by choosing one of our optional excursions that most appeals to you. Please specify your preference at time of booking.
FROM USD $2,999
Prices & Departure Dates
Prices shown are per person travelling. 'Twin/Double' prices per person apply when there are 2 people travelling sharing a twin room/2nd class 4 berth train cabin. The 'single supplement' applies for single travellers who will be accommodated in a single room/2 class 4 berth train cabin and needs to be added to the 'Twin/Double' price.
The train upgrade supplement below is the per person cost of upgrading to a 1st class 2 berth train cabin when there are two people travelling together. Please note that 1st class carriages are not available on all trains and can only be confirmed 45 days prior to departure. If a 1st class 2 berth cabin is not available, you will given the option to have private use of a 2nd class 4 berth cabin, however an additional supplement will apply. Please contact us for further information.
If you are a solo traveller and wish to upgrade to a 2 berth exclusively (or wanting to share with another member of the public) or party of 3 wishing to exclusively occupy a 4 berth cabin, please contact us for availability and rates.
Please note that train schedules are subject to change, which can alter the itinerary. These timetable changes are beyond our control. Check with us at time of booking.
Highway to China - 15 days Go Guide : :Check out the go guide for details of the tour, info on visas, climate, money, what to bring and more!
Optional Activities
Make the most of your time away! Listed below are the optional activities that are available on this trip. Please note that you will need to book these prior to travel as we cannot always guarantee availability of these activities once you are on holiday.
2 nights camping in Mongolia in the awe inspiring Terelj National Park. With pine covered cliffs, giant granite rock formations and a visit to a nomadic Mongolian family.
A guided walking tour through Moscow’s city centre, taking in the sights of Red Square - the brightly coloured St Basil’s Cathedral, the ritzy GUM department store and Lenin’s Mausoleum.
1 night camping in the great outdoors with a leisurely trek to the shores of beautiful Lake Baikal making the most of your stay in Irkutsk and Listvyanka.
We offer a range of opportunities for you to get to know the locals and learn about their culture and lifestyle whilst travelling. The best way to learn about any culture is to live in the homes of the people, and participate in day to day activities. Whether its through community visits, accompanying Berbers in Morocco on their bi-annual migration or using homestay accommodation where you can experience real local warmth and hospitality.
Transportation isn't simply a practicality, it can be an experience in itself. Enjoy the world's greatest train ride, traversing a third of the globe on the legendary Trans-Siberian or combine six scenic colourful and cultural train journeys through India.
One of Russia’s most iconic images is undoubtedly St Basil’s Cathedral, with its riotously colourful tent roofs and twisting onion shaped domes, each with their own distinctive pattern and colour scheme. Located on Red Square in Moscow, opposite the Kremlin, St Basil’s Cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in 1552 to mark the 1552 capture of Kazan from Mongol forces. It was designed by architect Postnik Yakovlev and completed in 1561. According to legend, Ivan was so ‘blown away’ at the beauty and intricacy of Postnik’s work; he had him blinded so that he would never be able to design anything as fantastical again!
Highlights & Inclusions
Below is a list of key highlights and what is included on this tour. Further, where appropriate, we have listed the items that are not included in the tour price.
Trip Highlights
Moscow, Russia’s lively capital
Irkutsk - former Cossack garrison & trading centre
Ulaan Baatar - set on banks of the Tuul River
Trans-Siberian, Mongolian & Manchurian route
Views of Siberian forest, Gobi Desert and Lake Baikal en route
Beijing - extend your stay to visit the sights
What's Included
8 breakfasts, 3 dinners
3 nights Irkutsk homestay (upgrade to Irkutsk hotel available)
Return rail station transfers in Irkutsk and Ulaan Baatar
2 nights 3 star hotel in Moscow
3 nights 3 star hotel in Ulaan Baatar
Train journey: Moscow - Beijing
Transfer to Moscow train station (not platform) on day 3
What's Not Included
Flights and visas
Laundry, drinks and items of a personal nature
No meals aboard the train
Postcards
Here's what some of our past travellers have written in to us and said about their experiences on this trip.
Highway to China - 15 days
Hi Sarah,
Just thought that I'd let you know that we've had a great trip - I've just made it down to Shanghai, ready to fly back on Monday.
The stop-overs in Moscow, in Irkutz for the Baikal trek and Ulaan Bataar were superb - I have to highlight the ger camp which was superb and in such a wonderful setting.
Your representatives in both places were excellent - as was Constantin in Moscow.
Thanks again.
Regards
Jon Burgess,
Highway to China - 15 days
We really enjoyed our Trans-Siberian experience especially our stays in Lake Baikal, Terelj NP and Beijing. The family we stayed with were very hospitable, friendly and excellent food.
Christine Hood,,
Highway to China - 15 days
Hi Jane
Just to let you know have done the trip and it went without a hitch. All the guides turned up on time at the right place and were very helpful to me.... couldn't have asked for much more.... the accommodation was situated in the right area of town at all stops, and the service offered by them was good to excellent.... the meals that were included were all of a good standard....
Overall I would recommend this tour to others... keep up the good work... Lastly but not least, thank you for organising and making the trip booking as smooth as possible, i'm glad i took your advice to do the classic it was definitely the right thing to do for me.
