11 nights from UK £ 2,465 / US $ 3,450 per person*
*Price based on 2 people travelling in a 2 berth first class cabin. These prices are based on 2021 rates and are here to give guidance. Final quotes vary by date, exchange rates and are subject to availability.
PRIVATE TOUR - NOT A GROUP TOUR - CAN BE TAILORED
SEASON - YEAR ROUND WITH WEEKLY DEPARTURES
TOUR CODE : TS-M-02
MAP & DESTINATIONS
THE STOPS VISITED ON THIS TOUR
?? MOSCOW - 2 nights
Russia’s vast and iconic capital and the start of this railway adventure.
?? BEIJING - 2 nights
China’s Capital is an eclectic mix of Imperial splendour and 21st Century Asia.
ON THE TRAINS - total 7 nights
We use the most comfortable and reliable trains possible for each leg.
OUR EXCLUSIVE TRIP GUIDEBOOK
This trip includes our exclusive 200+ page guidebook personalised to your trip with sections about the trains, destinations, timetables and emergency contacts and allowing you to be fully prepared for your trip of a lifetime - an invaluable resource!
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
DAILY DESCRIPTIONS OF ACTIVITIES, MEALS & OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION
ST PETERSBURG ?
ASK US TO ADD ON TO THIS TRIP
DAY 1 - MOSCOW
YOUR TRANS-SIBERIAN ADVENTURE STARTS IN RUSSIA’S CAPITAL OF MOSCOW
Welcome to Moscow, Russia’s capital and its largest city with more than 12 million people. It is the political and economic centre of this vast country and has many of Russia’s most famous sights, not least Red Square and St Basil’s Cathedral. With over 800 years of history there is also a wealth of architecture, museums and monuments to a colourful past. Transfer by private car with an English speaking driver to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to start exploring this stunning city.
A FASCINATING 3 HOUR WALKING TOUR OF CENTRAL MOSCOW WITH A FREE AFTERNOON
The perfect introductory walking tour of central Moscow designed to orientate and open up its hidden treasures. Your guide will take you along the main streets and less visited back roads to see the diversity of architectural styles from the austere and restrained Russian style to richly decorated Moscow Baroque, elegant Empire, fascinating Art Nouveau and even Pseudo-Chinese and Moorish. Hear stories and legends not found in the guidebooks as well as passing the most important sites in the city including the Bolshoi Theatre, Tverskaya street, GUM Department store, Red Square and St Basil’s Cathedral.
The rest of the day is free to further explore Moscow. The exclusive Trip Guidebook we send you before your trip is full of ideas and useful information to ensure you get the most out of your time in this iconic city.
FREE DAY IN MOSCOW BEFORE EVENING DEPARTURE ON THE TRANS-MANCHURIAN
Free time to explore Moscow before your departure on the Trans-Siberian train. The city has much to offer whatever the weather from the famous museums such as Pushkin Fine Arts and Tretyakov Art Gallery to more outdoor areas including the Park of the Fallen Idols and Novodevitchy Convent. Of course, if the weather is not so good Moscow is one of the few cities where a day spent on the metro is a tourist attraction with many beautiful stations to visit and all for the price of a single ticket! For relaxing we recommend the bars, galleries and cafes of the Red October district or the fabulous Gorky Park.
Evening transfer to Moscow’s iconic Yaroslavsky station on the Russian run “Trans-Manchurian” running all the way to Beijing. Settle into your cabin which will become your home for the coming days.
A LANDSCAPE OF FARMS & VILLAGES ACROSS EUROPEAN RUSSIA
Your first full day on the train through a populated region of farms, small towns and villages which already feel a long way from Moscow. There are a few large cities to stop at to get your first taste of life on the platforms which focuses on stretching the legs, taking some photos and stocking up on food and drink from the small kiosks and independent sellers. By the end of the day you should feel quite settled to life on the rails.
MEALS: None today - however the train does have a dining car.
YOUR FIRST DAY IN SIBERIA & ALSO ON THE ASIAN CONTINENT
During the early hours you crossed the Europe Asia border and stopped at Ekaterinburg, capital of the mineral rich Ural region. This is also the point you can say you have entered Siberia proper. The scenery today is flat, often swampy or forested with few major settlements. This is a day for relaxing and socializing!
MEALS: None today - however the train does have a dining car.
PASS KRASNOYARSK AND ENJOY A DAY OF BEAUTIFUL SCENERY
In the morning you pass prosperous Krasnoyarsk and the scenery gets better from this point consisting of gently rolling hills and dense forests of larch, pine and birch trees. There are many rivers and ponds and if it hasn’t happened before now you will start to comprehend just how vast and untouched Russia is as the sun sets on the endless taiga of Siberia.
MEALS: None today - however the train does have a dining car.
Today is usually the scenic highlight of the journey - a day of lake, forest and mountain views. After Irkutsk, which you reach early in the morning, the train rumbles around the Southern shore of the stunning Lake Baikal often passing within a matter of meters of the lake and providing endlessly changing vistas. You will also notice a change in the people with many more Asian faces as you enter Buryatia which has strong cultural ties to Mongolia. This is a remote and pretty section of the trip with a hint of an old Asian culture ever present. At Ulan Ude the line branches with this train following the Trans-Manchurian route eastwards.
MEALS: None today - however the train does have a dining car.
A STRETCH OF REMOTE AND WILD SCENERY & REACH THE CHINA BORDER
Continue through an increasingly remote landscape before reaching the Russia-China border at Zabaikalsk late in the day. The stops on each side are long but particularly so on the Russian side as the trains bogies need to be changed to fit China’s narrower gauge. It is about a 10 minute ride on to the Chinese border post at Manzhouli where immigration and customs for China are completed with the train eventually departing in the evening for your first night on the move in China.
MEALS: None today - however the train does have a dining car.
The first thing you will notice about China is a significant increase in population. Gone are the wilds of the Russian far east replaced by the farms, fields and villages of north east China - an area known as Manchuria. Pass Harbin, the largest city in this part of China with 4 million people and famous for its Ice and Snow Festival. Continue past the big industrial cities of Changchun and Shenyang for your final night on the train before tomorrow’s arrival in China’s capital of Beijing.
MEALS: None today - however the train does have a dining car.
TEMPLE OF HEAVEN, TIANANMEN SQUARE, FORBIDDEN CITY & SUMMER PALACE
Very early morning arrival in China’s capital. Beijing has it all - history, imperial majesty, modern masterpieces, delicious cuisine, and a vibrant local culture. Transfer to your hotel by private car and English speaking guide. Breakfast and early check-in from 6am has been pre-booked for you so you will have the opportunity to eat and freshen up before starting to explore the city.
Today you will see the main highlights of Beijing. We start with the Temple of Heaven considered by many to be the most beautiful building in China. Onto the vast Tiananmen Square, home to the Mao Mausoleum (it may be possible to visit if open) and Monument to the People’s Heroes before walking to the huge palace complex of the Forbidden City. We’ll walk up the middle axis from South to North taking in the splendour of the most important central buildings before finishing in a small and ancient garden by the north gate.
The last stop today is at the Summer Palace to the west of Beijing. It is dominated by Kunming lake and is as popular escape from the city for today’s Beijingers as it was for the Imperial court over the centuries. Return to your hotel with the rest of the day free.
THE GREAT WALL AT STUNNING MUTIANYU & VISIT ONE OF BEIJING’s MARKETS
Today we will be showing you one of China’s most famous sights - the Great Wall. We visit the dramatic and less crowded Mutianyu section 70km from Beijing set amongst spectacular mountain scenery. Dating back to the 6th Century and largely rebuilt in the 16th century during the Ming Dynasty it is one of the best preserved sections of the wall largely due to the high standard of construction. The tour includes cable car tickets cable up and down the Wall.
Also today, if you wish, we can take you to one of Beijing’s many markets. Favourites are the Silk Market, Pearl Market and Panjiayuan antique market. If souvenir shopping isn’t for you other options are the Hutong street of Nanluoguxiang, the 798 Dashanzhi contemporary art area or a quick look at the impressive 2008 Olympic Stadium. You can discuss which is right for you with us in advance or your guide on the day.
Return to your hotel for a free evening to enjoy Beijing further or ask us about cultural activities.
DEPART CHINA WITH A WEALTH OF MEMORIES OF YOUR TRIP
Free time for any final sightseeing or last minute shopping for souvenirs if time. Your local guide will have arranged a time to meet you in the hotel lobby for a transfer to the airport in good time for your flight out of China. We sincerely hope that you have had a fantastic Trans-Siberian experience!
We hold ATOL license 10287 so booking with us gives you 100% financial protection. We are also members of the Association of British Travel Agents. ABTA has strict membership requirements and we are required to adhere to the associations high standards. Our ABTA number is Y1699.