Independent Trans-Mongolian: Moscow - Yekaterinburg - Irkutsk - Baikal - Mongolia - Beijing (TS-12)

Hotel Ibis Centre Bakhrushina 3*,
MoscowPart of the Ibis collection, the Moscow Centre Bakhrushina Hotel is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a value hotel with facilities you can trust. Situated within the meander of the Moskva River, it’s centrally located a half hour stroll from Red Square or the Kremlin and within easy reach of the Paveletskaya metro station.

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.

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

Hotel Novotel Center 4*,
YekaterinburgThe Novotel Yekaterinburg Centre is one of the best hotels in the city. It is conveniently located right in the heart of the capital of the Urals, within walking distance of the city's main attractions and the business and shopping centers of Yekaterinburg. All rooms feature climate control and free WIFI, combining modern decor, ergonomics and high-tech equipment. The hotel is fully equipped with new-generation Novotel rooms meaning MediaHub panel allowing to charge Mac, iPhone and plug laptop to TV, watch movies and make video-calls. Standard rooms have air conditioning, rain shower, satellite TV, tea/coffee amenities, laptop safe, minibar.

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.

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.

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

Mayak Hotel 4*,
ListvyankaThe Hotel Mayak in Listvyanka occupies an enviable waterfront position giving its guests panoramic views over Lake Baikal. Many of the rooms have large windows from which you can watch boats come and go at the boat dock. The hotel itself is well equipped with the facilities you would expect from a property of its class, with a pool, sauna and Russian banya for guests. There’s free WiFi throughout the hotel, room service and assistance with document registration.

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.

Listvyanka - Irkutsk

Hotel Angara 3*,
IrkutskThe Angara Hotel was named after the great Siberian River and is situated right in the heart of business and financial life of Irkutsk - on the Kirov Square. There are 285 comfortable standard rooms, semi-deluxe and deluxe rooms equipped with a private bathroom, safe, color TV, mini-bar, hairdryer, air-conditioner and Internet access. The hotel has two restaurants, post office, currency exchange office, massage room, sauna with a pool, gym, casino and billiards.

4 hours | $155 per person

$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.

Hotel Platinum 4*,
Ulan-Bator Located in the Sukhbaatar district of central Ulan Bator, the Platinum Hotel is a comfortable 4* hotel which has proved popular with guests. Its proximity to Sukhbaatar Square ensures guests are based at the very heart of the Mongolian capital, and premier attraction such as the National Museum of Mongolian History, the Mongolian Theatre Museum, Presidential Palace and the Chinggis Khan Gardens are just a short stroll away.

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

Itinerary Accommodation Dates and prices

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.

Hotel Qianmen’s Jianguo 4*,
BeijingQianmen’s Jianguo Hotel is a popular four star choice located in the heart of central Beijing, a short drive from major sights such as Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven. Boasting over 400 rooms, accommodation at this well-equipped hotel features flat screen television, air conditioning, a kettle and a minibar. Each room is en suite, providing a hairdryer and complimentary toiletries.

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

Itinerary Accommodation Dates and prices

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.