Trans-Mongolian Express Railway - Westbound
| country: | China, Mongolia, Russia |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | Departs selected Sundays throughout the year |
| price: | From £1420 (21 days) excluding flights, local payment US $300. We can arrange flights from the UK |
read 3 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
21 days Beijing to St Petersburg
Beijing, Great Wall, Forbidden City, Ulaan Baatar, Trans-Mongolian Railway, Trans-Siberian Railway, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, Suzdal, Moscow's Kremlin, Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg
An epic journey traversing three great nations and a quarter of the globe. Cross continents and time zones on one of the world's greatest train journeys. Explore ancient Beijing before heading to the untamed wilderness of Mongolia to meet its nomadic people. Leave Asia behind on a rail journey into Europe across the wild, open plains of Siberia before ending your journey in glittering St Petersburg.
Beijing, Great Wall, Forbidden City, Ulaan Baatar, Trans-Mongolian Railway, Trans-Siberian Railway, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, Suzdal, Moscow's Kremlin, Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg
An epic journey traversing three great nations and a quarter of the globe. Cross continents and time zones on one of the world's greatest train journeys. Explore ancient Beijing before heading to the untamed wilderness of Mongolia to meet its nomadic people. Leave Asia behind on a rail journey into Europe across the wild, open plains of Siberia before ending your journey in glittering St Petersburg.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-4: | Beijing. The fascinating city of Beijing is the ideal place to start our journey. Explore the secrets of the Forbidden City, walk through the vast Tiananmen Square and enjoy a day at the Great Wall. |
| Day 5-7: | Ulaan Baatar. Cross the Gobi Desert to the land of Genghis Khan. In Ulaan Baatar explore the country's Soviet past. Stay in a traditional ger for a taste of nomadic life. |
| Day 8-9: | Trans-Mongolian Railway. Our train ride north through the vast steppes provides the perfect opportunity to get to know the locals. |
| Day 10-11: | Irkutsk/Listvyanka. Wander through the streets of Irkutsk and explore the city's mix of traditional Siberian and communist-era architecture. Our homestay in Listvyanka, by the banks of Lake Baikal, provides a unique insight into local life. |
| Day 12-14: | Trans-Siberian Railway. The route of the famed Trans-Siberian Railway covers vast terrain. We cross the taiga, passing small quaint villages, imposing mountain ranges, winding rivers and travelling through five time zones on our way from Asia to Europe. |
| Day 15: | Suzdal. Part of Russia's famed Golden Ring, the lovely town of Suzdal contains a millennium of Russian history. Wander streets that time seems to have forgotten, sip on local mead by the riverside or marvel at the many charistmatically crumbling churches. |
| Day 16-18: | Moscow. Wander the streets of this exciting city and take in the famous Red Square, St Basil's Cathedral and the magnificent Kremlin, a name that conjures up images of the glory of tsars and the power of the Soviets. |
| Day 19-21: | St Petersburg. Our final destination is the elegant city of St Petersburg. The opulent Baroque architecture makes this city a visual masterpiece. |
travellers' tales
Most memorable? staying at the Ger camp in Mongolia surrounded by beautiful scenery. And the banya by the side of the world's deepest lake, Lake Baikal. Most exciting- probably taking the luge down from the Great Wall of China. (more)
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
|
This trip is an epic journey traversing 3 national and through areas that area rarely visited by tourists. In particular this trip exposes the outer reaches of rural Mongolia and the vast taiga of Siberia, as well as the grandness of the huge cities of Beijing, Moscow and St Petersburg.
In Mongolia the itinerary takes in the beautiful Terelj National Park for 2 days in this grassland wilderness. The group stays in a traditional Ger camp where they can experience the lives of nomadic families. Horseriding is an option here, and is a great way of learning more about the local people's lives. In the heart of Siberia travellers head to Lystvyanka on the shores of Lake Baikal. Here accommodation is arranged in homestays - the group splits up as travellers are welcomed into the lives and homes of local Listvyanka villagers for two nights. This is a unique experience that allows immersion into the local way of life. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |