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Independent Trans-Mongolian: Moscow - Yekaterinburg - Irkutsk - Baikal - Mongolia - Beijing (TS-12)
Independent Trans-Mongolian: Moscow - Yekaterinburg - Irkutsk - Baikal - Mongolia - Beijing (TS-12)
Group size
2-14 people
Season
All year
Duration
14 days
Departs
Sunday
Starts
Moscow
Ends
Beijing
Countries
China, Mongolia, Russia
Cities
Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Listvyanka, Beijing, Ulaanbaatar
Price
from $2,095
Reservation
View dates and prices
Our independent Trans-Mongolian package enables the intrepid traveler to discover Russia, Mongolia and China at their own pace. We can arrange your accommodation, train tickets, airport and railway transfers. From that, you can build your own program, selecting from a range of optional excursions as you please. It offers great value without skimping on comfort, making it the perfect choice for those on a limited budget.
Moscow
Moscow City Centre Walking TourA guided walking tour around major cultural and historical points in Moscow. We will visit Lubyanka Square – the world-famous KGB centre of the Soviet epoch, Teatralnaya Square next to Bolshoi Theatre. Then we will continue our walk through the small central streets and lanes where every building has its own unique and interesting story. Most of them currently represent Russian theatres, hotels, museums or state institutions. We will also visit Tverskaya Street – the main and the busiest street in Moscow – with lots of shops, restaurants and unique combination of old, Stalin and modern architecture. After the guided tour you will have some free time to take a stroll along the pedestraian zone, browse among the shops selling merchandise and enjoy various cafes or restaurants.
4 hours | $85 per person
Kremlin Grounds & the Armoury Guided TourYou will discover the interior of the Kremlin - the former residence of the Tsars and now the residence of the Russian president. You will also visit the Kremlin’s beautiful orthodox cathedrals. The Cathedral Square still retains the aura of early Tsarist Russia, where the spirits of Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov, and the early Romanovs loom large. We will also visit the Armoury to see a unique collection of ancient state regalia: the ceremonial vestments and coronation dress of the Tsars, gold and silverware by Russian craftsmen, and ceremonial weapons and arms (optional).
5 hours | $110 per person
Half Day Guided Tour to Sergiev Posad Monastery - the Heart of Russian Orthodox ReligionThe town located in the suburbs of Moscow grew up in the 15th century around one of the greatest Russian monasteries - the Holy Trinity – St. Sergius Lavra (Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra) established by St. Sergius of Radonezh. The town also claims to be the birthplace of the Russian nesting doll, or matryoshka. On our way to Sergiev Posad we will enjoy the charming Russian countryside as the highway runs through huge birch forests, hills, as well as past beautifully decorated country homes.
7 hours | $145 per person
Central Museum of the Armed Forces of Russia Guided TourGuided visit to the Central Museum of the Armed Forces of Russia which contains 24 exhibition halls. The strength of the Museum’s historical collection is in its collection of banners of Soviet and Third Reich Army and personal belongings of Soviet and Nazi leaders (including the General Zhukov and Adolf Hitler). The Museum has a wide range of weapons, military uniforms and decorations. The outside exposition of the Museum presents many armoured vehicles, artillery, antiaircraft systems and battle aircrafts.
4 hours | $100 per person
Moscow by Night City Tour by CarMoscow combines the best of old and modern architecture. It is a city of long avenues and majestic squares, leafy boulevards, parks and gardens, new luxury housing, bridges, the granite embankments of Moscow River, and the unique cultural and historical sites. Discover Moscow by night with a guided city tour by car.
3 hours | $95 per person
Tretiakov Gallery Guided TourA guided tour of the Tretiakov Gallery, the biggest collection of Russian fine art in the world. The core of the museum's collection was assembled in the middle of the nineteenth century by Pavel Tretiakov, a wealthy Moscow merchant whose passion for collecting included violins, birds, and milk cows as well as Russian art. The museum represents the whole history of Russian art from the ancient period until now. There are more than 130 000 unique examples of painting, sculpture and graphics, created throughout the centuries by talented Russian artists.
4 hours | $100 per person
Museum of the Cold War - Former Top Secret Command CenterWe invite you to visit the former top secret command centre of the Russian Armed Forces recently converted into museum of the Cold War period. It is the newest museum opened in Moscow. After entering a regular building in a quite central street of the city and a ride on a rapid elevator 65 meters under the ground you will see a real top secret military facility of the USSR. During a short guided tour you will pass through the secret tunnels, see samples of communication equipment and fire arms.
3 hours | $115 per person
Trip to Cosmonaut Training Centre - Star CityStar City is situated to the North-West of Moscow in a beautiful pine and birch forest. See the hall where real space vehicles are used to train astronauts, the hydro laboratory, in which future astronauts learn to live and work in conditions of weightlessness, and the largest centrifuge in the world. You will see unique equipment where cosmonauts train for flight, including the MIR simulator. All the crews on the Vostok and Voskhod missions and the various models of manned “Soyuz” spacecraft, as well as those who worked on the MIR orbiting station, were trained here.
6 hours | $235 per person
Day 1 – Sunday
Transfer from the airport to the hotel
Our driver will meet you in arrivals with a Go Russia sign board ready to transfer you to the hotel.
Day 2 – Monday
Free day
Transfer from the hotel to the railway station
Choose between a day on your own to sightsee as you please, or instead book one of our selection of optional excursions. In the afternoon our driver will meet you with a Go Russia sign board at the lobby of the hotel to deliver you to the railway station.
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Train: Moscow - Yekaterinburg
Day 2 – Monday
Night train: Moscow - Yekaterinburg
You will travel on a comfortable fast train to Yekaterinburg. Both 1st (2 berth) and 2nd (4 berth) class compartments are available. Clean linen, including sheets, towels, blankets and pillows are provided for each berth. The train also has a dining car that serves good meals. Arrival in Yekaterinburg late in the evening next day.
Yekaterinburg
Ganina Yama & Cathedral on the Blood guided tourWe will visit the majestic Memorial Cathedral on the Blood in the name of all Saints, which was built on the place of execution of the last Russian tsar Nikolay II and his family. Then continue to “Ganina Pit” the unique orthodox monastery built on the place of the initial burial place of imperial remains. We visit seven wooden churches in the heart of a centuries-old pine forest.
5 hours | $125 per person
Day 3 – Tuesday
Transfer from the railway station to the hotel
It will be evening when the train pulls in to Yekaterinburg station but rest assured, our driver will be waiting to meet you at the carriage with a sign board with your names. Together you'll transfer to the hotel.
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Yekaterinburg
Day 4 – Wednesday
Free time
Transfer from the hotel to the railway station
As with Moscow, you'll have a choice between free time on your own to discover the city for yourself and optional excursions available to book. At the end of the day, our driver will meet you at the hotel lobby with a sign board with your names for your transfer to the railway station. We board our train late in the evening. Our arrival in Irkutsk will be early in the morning three days later.
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Train: Yekaterinburg - Irkutsk
Day 4 – Wednesday
Night train: Yekaterinburg - Irkutsk
We board our train late in the evening. Arrival in Irkutsk early in the morning three days later.
Irkutsk - Listvyanka
Open-air Wooden Architecture Museum in TaltsyOpen air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy is located in a picturesque forest on the bank of the river Angara. This museum is an open-air museum that has a large collection of original wooden houses equipped with old-style furniture and domestic utensils, and “wooden tents” belonging to the various ethnic groups which inhabited this region. They were brought from several local villages. The museum conveys the lifestyle of 16th – 19th century Russia.
4 hours | $155 per person
Circum-Baikal Railway Walking TourEnjoy a walking tour along the Circum-Baikal railway – a truly historic line - starting from Port Baikal to the first or second tunnel. You’re bound to be impressed by the stunning views of Lake Baikal, its magnificent beauty and the surrounding hills. This is a circular route, which starts and ends in Listvyanka village.
6 hours | $85 per person
Listvyanka Tour & Visit to the Baikal MuseumEnjoy a guided walk in the village including a visit to the Baikal museum. Your guide will also show you the famous Shaman Rock and tell you the legend about the naughty Angara River. Take a cable lift to get to a nearby view point from where you’ll get a chance to take panoramic pictures of Baikal. Enjoy your visit to a local 19th century wooden St. Nicolas church and a local fish market where you’ll see a great variety of fish and different ways of cooking it. Price includes services of an English-speaking guide, entrance tickets to the Baikal museum, transport from the village centre to the Baikal museum and back, cable car (one way).
4 hours | $145 per person
Horse Riding in TaigaEnjoy horse-riding along the largest lake on our planet or deep in Taiga forest. Before the horse riding session you will receive a short briefing and your instructor will show you how to get on a horse and how to control it. Please note, there will be no English – speaking guide with you, only an instructor who speaks basic English.
3 hours | $115 per person
Olkhon Island Extension - 4 daysWe invite you to visit the heart of the lake Baikal - the island of Olkhon, glorified in many legends. It is the largest of the lake's 30 islands and it contains 143 unique archaeological objects – graves, remains of ancient settlements, ruins, shaman worship monuments and many others. You will also be able to enjoy magnificent natural views, sandy beaches and even swim in the lake (average water temperature in July – August 18 degrees C).
$575 per person
Circum-Baikal Railway Guided Tour by TrainThe Circum-Baikal is not just a railway, but a unique museum of history and nature, combining architecture with zoology, mineralogy and geology. Go Russia invites you to join us on the breathtaking journey around Lake Baikal, on the Circum-Baikal Railway, which runs along the North shore of the Southern part of the lake, from the village of Slyudyanka to the Port Baikal settlement. This is a full-day guided tour, which may start from either Irkutsk or the village of Listvyanka.
11 hours | $295 per person
Trekking at Baikal with PicnicNote: you need to be fit to participate in this trek. This is a circular route hike which starts and ends in Listvyanka. First half of the walk goes through the Taiga forest, then the trail leads down to the shore of Lake Baikal. On the lake shore the guide will cook for you a delicious lunch on camp-fire. After sunbathing and swimming in the lake, we continue our walk on the hillside enjoying the panorama of Lake Baikal along the way. You will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide.
6 hours | $85 per person
Ride a Quad in ListvyankaRide a quad in Listvyanka village, enjoy stunning views of Lake Baikal and experience taiga forest. You will be riding a quad with another person (in total 2 persons per quad) accompanied by an English speaking guide. A picnic lunch will be served on the lake shore.
2 hours | $145 per person
Day 7 – Saturday
Transfer by car / minibus: Irkutsk - Listvyanka
At leisure at Baikal
Our guide will meet you with a sign board upon your arrival in Irkutsk ready to transfer you to Listvyanka village on the shores of Lake Baikal, about 70 km away. Enjoy your free time in this charming village. There's plenty to do, including boat trips out on the lake, a bustling market where you can try omul, the local smoked fish, take in a seal show or visit the Baikal Lake Museum to learn about the local culture and about Baikal, the deepest freshwater lake in the world.
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Listvyanka - Irkutsk
Open-air Wooden Architecture Museum in TaltsyOpen air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy is located in a picturesque forest on the bank of the river Angara. This museum is an open-air museum that has a large collection of original wooden houses equipped with old-style furniture and domestic utensils, and “wooden tents” belonging to the various ethnic groups which inhabited this region. They were brought from several local villages. The museum conveys the lifestyle of 16th – 19th century Russia.
4 hours | $155 per person
Olkhon Island Extension - 4 daysWe invite you to visit the heart of the lake Baikal - the island of Olkhon, glorified in many legends. It is the largest of the lake's 30 islands and it contains 143 unique archaeological objects – graves, remains of ancient settlements, ruins, shaman worship monuments and many others. You will also be able to enjoy magnificent natural views, sandy beaches and even swim in the lake (average water temperature in July – August 18 degrees C).
$575 per person
Day 8 – Sunday
Transfer by car / minibus: Listvyanka - Irkutsk
Our guide will meet you at your accommodation to take you back to Irkutsk.
Day 9 – Monday
Transfer from the hotel to the railway station
Our driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer you to the train station.
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Train: Irkutsk - Ulaanbaatar
Day 9 – Monday
Night train: Irkutsk - Ulaanbaatar
We leave the warm hospitality of the Siberian Russians and start our trip to Mongolia by comfortable train. Arrival in Ulaanbaatar next day early in the morning.
Ulan Bator
World Energy Point by TrainDornogobi (Eastern Gobi) province located in the south-east of the country and bordering on China, is part of the Gobi desert belt. Sand dunes Burden Gashuun, Tsagaan Els and Tavan Tolgoi stretch along the borders of the aimag (province). The main attraction of the region is Khamriin Khiid Monastery, founded by the famous monk and poet of the 19th century Danzan Ravjaa, however, ruined in the 1930s. Today, the new monastery with two temples is re-opened. Near the caves, where Danzan Ravjaa and his disciples meditated there are 9 stupas built to commemorate him. Dinosaur bones and fossils have also been found in the area.
$575 per person
South Gobi by PlaneDiscover Gobi in 3 days. The desert covers one third of Mongolia’s land area, and is fascinating for its geography, history and pre-history, plants, animals and human society. Mongolians list 33 types of gobi, depending on soil colour and composition. There is a lot of variety within the Gobi Desert, from wildlife parks and mountains to canyons with dramatic rockfaces.
$1395 per person
Gobi Classic TourGobi Desert is one of the world’s legendary places, feared as uninhabitable yet attracting travelers because it is so forbidding. Hit the road with this remarkable 7 days long journey deep into the forbidding Gobi Desert. We will lead you on an unforgettable journey where no two days are alike and where you will learn the complex nature of this famous desert. This is a road trip like no other!
$1745 per person
Ulan Bator City TourThe city is situated on the bank of the river Tuur, surrounded by four mountains that local people believe to be sacred. We will visit Gandan Hiid Monastery, the country’s largest remaining monastery, Sukhebaatar square and the Museum of Natural History, where you will see real dinosaur remains as well as other archeological findings from the Mesozoic Era found in the Gobi desert.
$135 per person
Day 10 – Tuesday
Free time
Transfer from the railway station to the hotel
After your arrival in the Mongolian capital city, you'll be met by our driver who will take you to your hotel. Once check in formalities have been completed, the time's yours to explore.
Day 11 – Wednesday
Free time
Another day to enjoy some sightseeing in and around Ulan Bator.
Day 12 – Thursday
Transfer from the hotel to the railway station
Our driver will meet you with a sign board at the lobby of the hotel and drive you to the station to connect with fast Train 24.
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Train: Ulaanbaatar - Beijing
Day 12 – Thursday
Night train: Ulaanbaatar - Beijing
Travelling by train 24 is probably the most popular way of getting from Mongolia into China and you will find more foreigners than local people on this train. This is a good chance to meet people from all over the world and practice your French, German or maybe Italian. There are 1st class (2 berth compartment with one lower and one upper berth) and 2nd class (4 berth compartment with two lower and two upper berths) carriages on this train. First class compartments also feature an arm chair, a small table and a toilet with a shower shared between two neighbouring compartments. Second class compartments do not have private facilities, there are two toilets (one at the beginning and one at the back of each carriage) and no shower in the second class carriage. Hot boiled water is available in carriages and train attendants provide thermos kettles. The train has a dining car and a bar with reasonable prices.
Beijing
Extension Trip to Xian from BeijingWe invite you for an optional extension trip from Beijing to Xian - one of the four ancient capitals of China and an important cultural centre of the country. You will travel by an overnight train to Xian where upon arrival you will enjoy full day guided excursions with an English-speaking guide, including Terracotta army, Big Wild Gooze Pagoda, City Wall, etc. You will also have some free time to visit the old markets in Drum Tower and Great Mosque area before transfer back to the railway station. Lunch included.
$475 per person
Summer Palace Guided TourWe will visit the magnificent Summer Palace located 15 kilometres (9.4 miles) away from central Beijing. The Palace represents an outstanding expression of the creative art of Chinese landscape garden design and is included on UNESCO World Heritage List.
3 hours | $180 per person
Guided Tour of the Badaling Great WallGuided tour of the Great Wall of China – a symbol of Chinese civilisation, one of the wonders of the world included on UNESCO World Heritage List. We will visit the Badaling Great Wall situated in Yanqing County, approximately 70 kilometres (44 miles) north of Beijing, which is the most well-preserved section of the Wall.
7 hours | $180 per person
Guided tour of the Forbidden City and Imperial PalaceWe will visit the famous Imperial palace and the Forbidden City which is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. Forbidden City is located to the north of Tiananmen Square and it was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
3 hours | $180 per person
Hutong Neighbourhood by Rickshaw Guided TourWe will visit an old part of Beijing – hutong neighbourhood by Shichahai Lake. Hutongs generally mean a city area with narrow streets or alleys and the word dates back to the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century. Due to rapid development of the Chinese capital many hutongs were demolished to make way for new modern roads and buildings. However, some hutong areas have been designated protected status to preserve Beijing’s cultural heritage. We will enjoy a guided ride by rickshaw through narrow and curved alleys of this unique old part of Beijing.
3 hours | $130 per person
Hong Kong Extension - 4 daysHong Kong has enjoyed special status since being returned to China by the British in 1997. This prosperous and vibrant territory is a world-class destination beloved by many for its curious and unique mix of eastern and western cultures. The towering skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island and the sheltered harbour that divides it from bustling Kowloon are perhaps its most iconic sight. But there’s much more to explore: outlying islands boast secluded beaches and charming fishing villages that are surprisingly rural yet easy to reach from the city. A short boat ride away is the neighbouring territory of Macao, returned by the Portuguese in 1999, and a fascinating contrast to Hong Kong.
$845 per person
Day 13 – Friday
Transfer from the railway station to the hotel
On arrival in Beijing, our driver will be waiting for you with a sign board at the station to transfer you to the hotel. Free time in Beijing.
Day 14 – Saturday
Transfer from the hotel to the airport
End of Services.
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Dates and prices
Please read notes at the bottom of the table to learn more about the meaning of each pricing section
Travel package
Comfort
Year of travel
2022
| Travel dates | Excluding flights | Single / Solo supplement | Train upgrade | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/03/2022 - 07/16/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | request |
| 07/10/2022 - 07/23/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 07/17/2022 - 07/30/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 07/24/2022 - 08/06/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 07/31/2022 - 08/13/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 08/07/2022 - 08/20/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 08/14/2022 - 08/27/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 08/21/2022 - 09/03/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 08/28/2022 - 09/10/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 09/04/2022 - 09/17/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 09/11/2022 - 09/24/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 09/18/2022 - 10/01/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 09/25/2022 - 10/08/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 10/02/2022 - 10/15/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 10/09/2022 - 10/22/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 10/16/2022 - 10/29/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 10/23/2022 - 11/05/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 10/30/2022 - 11/12/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 11/06/2022 - 11/19/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 11/13/2022 - 11/26/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 11/20/2022 - 12/03/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 11/27/2022 - 12/10/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 12/04/2022 - 12/17/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 12/11/2022 - 12/24/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 12/18/2022 - 12/31/2022 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
| 12/25/2022 - 01/07/2023 | $2,095 | $195 / $275 | $645 | book now |
Note on pricing:
- All prices are per person, in US dollars. All included services are listed in the tour dossier and the section "Included" in the tour description.
- Price "Excluding flight" does not cover airfare, you are free to book your own flights. Alternatively we can quote for flights from any international airport.
- Single supplement goes towards single room (cabin for cruises) accommodation.
- Solo supplement is payable in the unlikely event when you are the only person on the tour. It will be refunded if other people join the same tour.
- "Train upgrade" supplement means an upgrade for a compartment for 2 people and refers to overnight trains only. Advisable to book if you prefer more privacy and comfort during your overnight train journeys. Read more about train upgrade.
- Discouns for children.
See what our clients say about this tour
We are very happy to have served thousands of happy customers who travelled with us.
Transfers were all on time and available which was important after a long train journey.
What was good was that all the transfers worked well and we did not have to worry. The hotels were excellent.
having Go Russia book hotels and train, oversea visa application and provide transfers was invaluable.
As we had children with us, we needed to be able to rely on the transfers working- if it was just me it is easy to jump into a taxi, but with children you need to be able to know things will run smoothly
I just wanted to thank you for your help in organizing the Transsiberian trip that I took in August. It was perfectly organized and really enjoyable. I was the only person using the ”independent” formula, but I really appreciated that Justgorussia put me and another passenger who was on the tour, in the same train compartment. As far as solo travel in these places, I enjoyed having the connection to your company and the others in the train. I also appreciated that your offers are kept within the budgets of average tourists, as many tour operators offer something which is not accessible to a lot of people.
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