Trans-Mongolian Express, Eastbound
| country: | China, Mongolia, Russia |
| departures: | Departs most Mondays from April - December, except November |
| price: | From £1420 (21 days) excluding flights. Local payment US $300. Price includes: hotels (7 nts), apartments (2 nts), homestay (1 nt), traditional country house (1 nt), Mongolian ger (1 nt), overnight trains (8 nts), 8 breakfasts and 2 dinners. |
the amazing things you'll be doing
While away the hours in the Hermitage Museum, buy a communist-era relic at Moscow's Izmailovo Market, unwind aboard the Trans-Siberian Railway, enjoy local hospitality at Lake Baikal, journey across the Mongolian steppes and stand atop the Great Wall of China.
Join us on an awe-inspiring journey traversing three great nations and a quarter of the globe. From the opulence of Moscow and St Petersburg to the grace of imperial Beijing, travel along the most famous railway in the world through the heartland of Siberia, the vast grassy steppes of Mongolia and the raw beauty of the Gobi Desert.
Join us on an awe-inspiring journey traversing three great nations and a quarter of the globe. From the opulence of Moscow and St Petersburg to the grace of imperial Beijing, travel along the most famous railway in the world through the heartland of Siberia, the vast grassy steppes of Mongolia and the raw beauty of the Gobi Desert.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-3: | St Petersburg. The shining star of early modern Russia is an excellent starting point for a rail odyssey. The Hermitage Museum within the illustrious Winter Palace is a must-see for its huge collection of artistic treasures, while the city's architecture and European atmosphere are sure to charm. |
| Day 4: | Suzdal. Part of Russia's famed Golden Ring of ancient capitals, the lovely town of Suzdal contains a millennium of Russian history. Walk through streets that time seems to have forgotten, sip on local mead by the riverside or marvel at the many charismatic crumbling churches. |
| Day 5-7: | Moscow. Russia's capital is a unique blend of orthodox churches, communist relics and brash capitalism. With their contrasting heritages, St Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin both lend a certain grandeur to this bustling city. |
| Day 8-10: | Trans-Siberian Railway. The first leg of the Trans-Siberian train journey travels deep into the forests of the Siberian taiga - a perfect opportunity to chill out, sip vodka with the locals and watch the scenery pass by. There are many stops along the way, providing an chance to stock up on dumplings at impromptu market stalls. |
| Day 11-12: | Irkutsk and Lake Baikal. Wander through the streets of Irkutsk and explore the city's mix of vibrant traditional Siberian buildings and stark communist-era architecture. Delve into the romantic local history with a visit to the Museum of Mariya Volkonskaya, Princess of Siberia, before heading to the largest freshwater lake in the world. A homestay on the banks of tranquil Lake Baikal offers a unique insight to traditional life. |
| Day 13-14: | Trans-Mongolian Railway. Depart the land of Lenin and venture into the grasslands of Ghengis Khan via the border town of Sukhbaatar. |
| Day 15-18: | Ulaanbaatar and Ger Camp. Learn about Mongolia's turbulent history by exploring some of Ulaanbaatar's fine museums. Spend the night in a simple ger camp in one of the country's magnificent National Parks. |
| Day 19-21: | Beijing. China's impressive capital offers up a wealth of historical sights. Admire the ancient Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Stand atop the Great Wall and marvel at the might of the Middle Kingdom - a fitting conclusion to this Trans-Mongolian journey. |
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) how this holiday makes a difference
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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. The gers sleep up to 4 people with comfy beds and plenty of blankets. In the colder months you might want to stoke up the wood heater in the centre of the ger and you'll be toasty warm in no time! Horseriding is also 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. |