TRANS-MANCHURIAN EXPRESS

ST PETERSBURG ● MOSCOW ● BEIJING

TOUR OVERVIEW

DURATION, PRICE, TOUR TYPE & DEPARTURES

14 nights from UK £ 3,080 / US $ 4,320 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-SP-02

MAP & DESTINATIONS

THE STOPS VISITED ON THIS TOUR

?? ST PETERSBURG - 3 nights

This beautiful and cultural city is a completely different experience to Moscow.

?? 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.

TSSP02 map

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

DAY 1 - ST PETERSBURG

YOUR TRANS-SIBERIAN HOLIDAY STARTS IN BEAUTIFUL ST PETERSBURG

Welcome to St Petersburg, Russia’s cultural centre and arguably one of the world’s most beautiful cities - an architectural wonder often referred to as the “Venice of the North.” An English speaking driver will meet you for a transfer by private car to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to start exploring this stunning city.

MEALS: None Today.

OVERNIGHT: Rossi Hotel ★ ★ ★ ★ click to view hotel.

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DAY 2 - ST PETERSBURG

AN IDEAL 3 HOUR INTRODUCTORY WALKING TOUR OF THE CITY BEFORE A FREE AFTERNOON

Begin your time in St Petersburg with this superb introduction to this beautiful city with your private guide, learning about the history and architecture as well as life in today’s St Petersburg. The tour focuses on Nevsky Prospect including the Palace Square, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Winter Palace and the Admiralty amongst many other points of interest. The tour will usually finish on arrival at the Peter and Paul Fortress where you can visit the burial place of all the Russian Tzars from Peter the Great to Nicholas II.

Free time for the rest of the day, perhaps to explore the Peter & Paul Fortress or some of the many other sights. Alternatively, St Petersburg is an excellent place to walk and admire the architecture stopping at the occasional cafe!

MEALS: Hotel Breakfast.

OVERNIGHT: Rossi Hotel ★ ★ ★ ★ click to view hotel.

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DAY 3 - ST PETERSBURG

A FREE DAY TO EXPLORE THIS MAGNIFICENT CITY

A free day to explore St Petersburg. This city has so much to offer so it is a good idea to plan a little in advance if there are specific places you want to visit. However, this is also a fantastic city to aimlessly wander, exploring side streets, canals and the beautiful parks that feature across the city. Don’t forget there are also excellent sights outside the city including the opulent palaces of Peterhof and Pushkin.

MEALS: Hotel Breakfast.

OVERNIGHT: Rossi Hotel ★ ★ ★ ★ click to view hotel.

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DAY 4 - MOSCOW 

HIGH SPEED “SAPSAN” TRAIN TO MOSCOW IN JUST 4 HOURS

Free time before a late morning transfer by private car with an English speaking driver to the “Sapsan” train to Moscow. The journey takes just 4 hours with an early evening arrival in Moscow, the political and economic centre of this vast country. Moscow has many of Russia’s most famous sights, not least Red Square and St Basil’s Cathedral and with over 800 years of history there is also a wealth of architecture, museums and monuments to its colourful past. Transfer from the station by private car with an English speaking driver to your hotel. Free time for the rest of the day.

MEALS: Hotel Breakfast.

OVERNIGHT: Metropol Hotel  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ click to view hotel.

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DAY 5 - MOSCOW 

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.

MEALS: Hotel Breakfast.

OVERNIGHT: Metropol Hotel ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ click to view hotel.

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DAY 6 - on the train 

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.

MEALS: Hotel Breakfast.

OVERNIGHT: On the train - click to learn more.

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DAY 7 - on the train 

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.

OVERNIGHT: On the train - click to learn more.

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DAY 8 - on the train 

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.

OVERNIGHT: On the train - click to learn more.

DAY 9 - on the train 

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.

OVERNIGHT: On the train - click to learn more.

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DAY 10 - on the train 

JOURNEY ALONG THE SHORE LAKE BAIKAL INTO BURYATIA

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.

OVERNIGHT: On the train - click to learn more.

DAY 11 - on the train 

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.

OVERNIGHT: On the train - click to learn more.

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DAY 12 - on the train 

YOUR FIRST DAY IN CHINA PASSING THROUGH MANCHURIA

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.

OVERNIGHT: On the train - click to learn more.

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DAY 13 - BEIJING 

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.

MEALS: Hotel Breakfast & Restaurant Lunch.

OVERNIGHT: Kapok Hotel ★ ★ ★ ★ click to view hotel.

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DAY 14 - BEIJING 

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.

MEALS: Hotel Breakfast & Restaurant Lunch.

OVERNIGHT: Kapok Hotel ★ ★ ★ ★ click to view hotel.

DAY 15 - end of tour 

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!

MEALS: Hotel Breakfast.

Thank you so very much. We had the best time!
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INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSIONS

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Train tickets in first class.
All accommodation as specified above.
All private transfers and transport as described.
All meals as specified in the itinerary.
All tours as specified including entrance fees.
24 hour emergency assistance
Visa Paperwork you need in order to obtain the visas.
Financial Peace of Mind as your trip is protected.
Our exclusive 200+ page trip guidebook.
International Airfare to / from the start / finish of your trip – we can book these flights on request.
The Russian & Chinese visas – we can advise and partner with VisaCentral.
Travel insurance to cover any medical treatment – we canadvise on options.
Discretionary gratuities to drivers and guides.

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