Classic Outer & Inner Mongolia - Moscow to Beijing - uVisitRussia
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Classic Outer & Inner Mongolia - Moscow to Beijing

Everyone’s heard of Outer Mongolia, even if they know little about it, but Inner Mongolia? This is China’s strategic frontier and home to its Mongolian ethnic minority.

The descendants of Genghis Khan who, on horseback eight centuries ago, swept across much of Asia, creating one of the world’s greatest empires. Outer Mongolia is now an independent country – and one of the world’s least visited – while Inner Mongolia remains a part of China but was once the richest corner of the vast Mongol reach. This is a trip is for the inquisitive and adventurous.

Type: Small Group Tours
Duration: 21 days

Itinerary Hide all details

Day 1: Arrival in Moscow

“S Priezdom” Welcome to Moscow. Our driver will be there to meet you from whichever flight, train or boat you arrive. You’ll then be transferred to the Panorama 3★ Hotel. (We can obtain rates for superior hotels, ask a member of the reservations team for details.) Your complimentary InfoPack is full of ideas for getting the most out of your free time.

Day 2: Around Moscow

After breakfast one of our local experts will meet you at the hotel lobby for a three-hour walking and familiarisation tour to introduce the city (and its public transport system) and to get your sightseeing off to a flying start. The rest of the day’s yours.

Day 3: Departing Moscow

Transfer to Yaroslavsky Station where you will board the Irkutsk bound train.

Day 4: DAY 04-06: On board The Trans-Siberian

The dining car is the heart of social life on the train. It functions as a bar, lounge, and take-out snack store, as well as a café serving reasonably-priced meals. It is a great place to meet fellow travellers and locals alike, to share experiences of your journey and a few drinks, which no doubt will include some Vodka – and maybe smoked salmon and caviar too!

Day 7: Arrival in Irkutsk

Arrival in Irkutsk, transfer to U Ozera 3★ Hotel situated in Listvyanka Village (70km) travelling by road through the forest. The Hotel is just 50 metres away from the shores of Lake Baikal.

Day 8: Choose one activity from the list

Choose one activity from the list, it’s all included in the trip price! You’ll need to inform us of your choice before commencing your journey so that we can have the appropriate staff on hand when you arrive.

(A) Siberian trek

(B) Circum Baikal picnic

(C) Taltsy wooden museum

(D) Port Baikal excursion

Day 9: Return to Irkutsk

After breakfast transfer back to Irkutsk city. Check-into The Angara 3★ Hotel. The Angara Hotel is located on the Kirov Square, in the heart of Irkutsk city. Our local staff will provide a map and some recommendations regarding interesting places to visit. Some of our top suggestions (please check opening times/days before setting off) Decembrist Museum, Volkonsky House and The Epiphany Cathedral.

Day 10: Departing Irkutsk

Early morning transfer to the station where you will board the Ulaanbaatar bound train.

Day 11: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar – Khustai National Park

Our driver and guide holding a meeting- board with your name on it will meet you at the platform. Transfer from the station to Zaya Hostel with a chance to freshen up and have breakfast before departing to the enormous monument to Genghis Khan (aka Chinghiiskhan.) It may be not quite traditional in style (since it’s made of stainless steel) but it’s an astounding edifice and a testament to Genghis’s role in Mongolian culture (astonishingly the Communists tried to write him out of official history text-books). Taking the elevator to top of this 10 metre high monument you visit the exhibition hall from where you will have an excellent panoramic view over the complex area and the scenery beyond. Then set off for Khustai National Park. (Around 155km West of Genghis Khan Statue). This is the perfect location to see and to feel the beauty of Mongolia with its unique landscape, mountains, steppe, sand dunes and river wetlands. The national park is home to the “Takhis”, the famous wild horse, and 46 other species of mammals including deer, wild boar, white-tailed gazelle, grey wolf, Eurasian lynx, to name but a few. Also if you are an ornithologist, you will be glad to get to know that there are over 161 species of birds including Eagles and Cranes. Supper and overnight at the tourist Camp.

Day 12: Ugii Lake

Travel from Khustai National Park to Ugii Lake directly on country roads. Enjoy lunch at the ger camp before exploring the fabulous Lake environs at your leisure. Overnight at a tourist Ger camp.

Day 13: Tsenkher Hot Springs

Head for Tsenkher Hot Springs. If you are feeling a little bruised or achy from your travels, bouncing over Mongolian roads, then an hour or two in the springs is just the ticket for you. Time to relax and enjoy your surroundings.

Day 14: Kharkhorum

This morning starts with an early drive to the lost capital of Genghis Khan at Karkhorum (approximately 2 hours) and a visit to the magnificent Erdene Zuu Monastery, where you will see a mixture of the styles of Mongolian and Tibetan Buddhism. Karkhorum was once the heart of the Mongol Empire and today, you’ll still see remnants of the long-standing walls that encircle the city. Also in the afternoon, visit the newly established Karkhorum Museum. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 15: Elsen Tasarhai

After breakfast head for Elsen Tasarkhai (which will include a break in your journey at the picturesque “Khugnu Khan Mountain” also known as Bayan Gobi) Camel riding is on offer here, Elsen Tasarhai literally means “an isolated torn-off piece of sand” and it is a small sequence of real desert in the midst of green steppes.

Day 16: Return to Ulaanbaatar

Around 2pm you return to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival to Ulaanbaatar your city tour will include Sukhbaatar Square and the National History Museum. Check into Hotel Nine 3★ Hotel. Why not visit Peace Avenue or buy some snack food for the train in one of the many supermarkets? There is a wide range of traditional and new style Mongolian eateries as well as European restaurants. Or maybe go to see a Folklore concert this evening?

Day 17: Departing Ulaanbaatar

Your day is free and it will be easy to keep yourself amused as there is still so much to see and do. We recommend you take this opportunity to purchase provisions for the next leg of your journey, as often this service has no dining car. Be back at the hotel at 8 pm where your driver will meet you at the reception. You will then be transferred to Ulaanbaatar station where we will assist your boarding of the Huhehot bound train.

Day 18: Arrival in Huhehot

Spectacular scenery that’s worth waking up early this morning as your road passes through the Southern Gobi. There’s a layover at the border while they change the train bogeys to Chinese gauge – there is no rush, so it’s worth getting out to wander around to enjoy the surroundings. Late evening arrival in Huhehot, the capital of Inner Mongolia. Transfer to the Chunxue Siji 3★ Hotel, which is located in the city’s shopping and business district.

Day 19: Full day guided city tour of Huhehot

After breakfast your guide will meet you at the reception, where you will depart for a full day city of Huhehot, which will include Zhaojun Tomb, Dazhao Temple and The Five Pagoda Temple. Expect to return to the hotel late afternoon. Our recommendation for this evening: treat yourself to a slap up Chinese meal – Huhehot has a super selection featuring both local Mongolian (you can even eat in a Mongolian cart-drawn war-ger) and traditional Beijing-style cuisine.

Day 20: Departing Huhehot

Your day is free to participate in extra shopping or sightseeing. Own transfer to the station for the Beijing bound train.

Day 21: Arrival in Beijing

Arriving into Beijing West Station at the end of your Trans-Siberian journey.

What's included

Full On

Train

  • 4-berth rail for complete journey (pre-assigned berths)
  • with option to upgrade to 2-berth

Moscow

  • transfer on arrival to your hotel
  • 2 nights 3* hotel, breakfast
  • 3 hour personalised walking tour with local expert
  • transfer to the station on departure

Irkutsk

  • All transportation
  • 2 nights 3* hotel, Listvyanka Village, breakfast
  • 1 night 3* hotel, Irkutsk City, breakfast
  • Excursion option

Ulaanbaatar & Inner/Outer Mongolia

  • all transportation (4WD), driver, English speaking guide
  • Entrance fees Erdene Zuu Monastery, Kharkhorum Museum
  • Khustai National Park entrance fees
  • 3 nights tourist ger camp (Ugii Lake, all meals, Khustai, all meals Tsenkher Hot Springs, all meals)
  • 1 night Hotel (Kharkhorum, all meals)
  • 1 night in Nomadic Family’s guest ger (Elsen Tasarkhai) all meals
  • 1 night 3* hotel, (Ulaanbaatar) breakfast
  • City tour of Ulaanbaatar

Huhehot

  • transfer on arrival
  • 2 nights 3* hotel, breakfast included
  • excursion
Additional expenses

1 person

2 people

3+ people

Full On

Extra Day: 22 Days Full On: $4693 $3569 $3392
Extra night from Moscow midweek $79 $53 $53
Extra night from Moscow weekend $60 $47 $47
2-berth upgrades Moscow-Beijing $756 $756 $756
Additional info

Extras

The journey you have chosen has some “extras” that are necessary and then “extras” that will enhance your trip. We cannot re-iterate too much that we pride ourselves on making the trip you have chosen the best it can be – so if we don’t mention something you want, ask us and we’ll try our best to make it happen! In return, we try to inform you about any great “extras” along the way, so that you have the chance to try them if you want! Visas are a necessary extra and needed for all the countries you travel through and the current costs and what is needed can be found under Visas.

Upgrading to 2- berth compartment

Upgrading to 2- berth compartment on the train is also an option, you will see under Prices. This service is becoming more popular every year and not helped by the train operators only confirming this request 30 days or less prior to your departure. We have however devised a workaround for this that’s proving very reliable. We request a 2-berth at the time of booking but if this comes back not possible we block out a 4-berth compartment for 2 person occupancy. The standard of these cabins remains the same, and you get the extra space and privacy one way or the other.

Price

Price packagePrice per person
1 person (full on)

Price per person

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2 people (full on)

Price per person

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3+ people (full on)

Price per person

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Visa

Russian visa support (Russian visa invitation letter) is included.

Sights included in program

Moscow : The Kremlin
The Moscow Kremlin, the beautiful and ancient ensemble stands high on the hill towering over the left bank of the Moskva river. The Kremlin has always been perceived as a symbol of power and might of the Russian state, the national idea expressed in stone. It is the oldest part of the city, its political, historic and cultural centre, and the seat of the country's highest bodies of power. The Kremlin contains unique specimens of Russian metal cas... Read more
Moscow : Red Square
The famous Red Square is located in the heart of Moscow. Of course, no trip to Russia would be complete without a visit to Red Square, perhaps Russia's most well known place, and possibly the most famous city square in the world. It is Russia’s most recognizable landmark and is usually tourists first stop in Moscow. It is surrounded by Saint Basil’s Cathedral, the State History Museum, Lenin’s Mausoleum and the Kremlin. Visitors... Read more
The State Tretyakov Gallery is the national treasury of Russian fine art and one of the greatest museums in the world. It possesses a unique collection of Russian art which includes masterpieces which span a period of a thousand years. The Gallery's collection consists entirely of Russian art and artists who have made а contribution to the history of Russian art or been closely connected with it. Nowadays it contains more than 170,000 works by Ru... Read more
One of the richest world collections of fine arts from the time immemorial to nowadays is treasured in the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts that is favorably situated in the very center of Moscow, close to the Kremlin and Red Square. Nowadays it is the second, after the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, largest museum of foreign art in Russia. The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts  Museum originates from the Cabinet of Fine Arts and Antiquities, es... Read more
A true adornment of Irkutsk is the Epiphany Cathedral. This church looks quite unusually. It is colorful and ornate and does not resemble classic orthodox churches. The matter concerns its decoration: the church’s façade and its tholobate are decorated with pictures of the saints in whole-length. Besides, the church is fancy decorated with ornamented tiles, and brightly painted like Russian popular prints. The influence of old-Russia... Read more
Irkutsk is recognized as the Decembrists' center of Russia. Museums were opened (in 1970 and 1985, respectively) in houses where the families of Sergei Trubetskoy and Sergey Volkonsky had lived. You'll find here genuine things that belonged to the Decembrists and replicas of lost things such as pieces of furniture, tableware, stoves, musical instruments, ancient chandeliers, embroidery, books, sheet music, and pictures and photographs. On certain... Read more
The Volkonsky House Museum first opened in 1985 after an extensive restoration. The collection contains many items that belonged to the Volkonsky family and to other Decembrists. The museum is an excellent resource for learning about the Decembrist exile. Read more
Baikal : Irkutsk
An unique old city, Irkutsk was known as «Paris of Siberia» in the middle of the 19th century. It plays a remarkable role in the Russian history and it's not accidentally called the city-museum. Irkutsk saves many ancient monuments, romantic look, church cupola's lighting upon the blue current of Angara River. This incredible city is called the midst of the Earth, since it's equidistant from the three world's oceans: the Arctic, the P... Read more
Listvyanka is perhaps one of the oldest Russian settlements on the shore of the great Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world. It is a charming village dotted with traditional Siberian wooden houses, with a main road that runs right along the shore of fantastic lake, making it the perfect base to explore this picturesque region. This old-style Siberian village is one of the most visited places in Siberia. Everything about it impresses our imag... Read more
Baikal Limnological museum is located at the beginning of Listvyanka, beautiful old-style Siberian village, on the shore of fabulous Lake Baikal. The museum is engaged in collecting and storage the materials and analysis of the information bound with the lake.The unique exhibits tell about the origin and the history of the lake, its fantastic flora and fauna, geological structure, climate and tectonics of Pribaikalye. All scientific activities of... Read more
Taltsy Museum of Wooden Architecture is an unique storage of history and culture of the peoples of Eastern Siberia. This incredible open-air museum consists of several fabulous exhibit areas which hold interesting ethnographical collections and show life of the Siberians. The variety of amazing Siberian wooden izbas, churches, living houses and Buryat wooden yurts were brought together from different parts of Siberia. The museum is conveniently l... Read more
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church is one of the few preserved architectural monuments in Listvyanka. The building dates from the middle of the century before last. Such buildings in Russia were called the "octagon on the quadrangle". A wooden two-tiered church with belfries is very beautiful and majestic. St. Nicholas Church has its own interesting story. Read more
In truth the Circum-Baikal Railroad is an amazing creature of the human's labour and thought, worthy of your attention. The section of the Trans – Siberian Railroad on the southern shore of fabulous Baikal from Port Baikal to Kultuk is called the Circum-Baikal Railway and was built more than 100 years ago. There are a lot of beautifully constructed tunnels and amazing bridges along the way, making the Circum-Baikal a fantastic monument in i... Read more
Baikal : Port Baikal
Port Baikal is located on the left bank of the Angara source, at the foot of the Baranchik Cape. The settlement is the end of the Circum-Baikal Railway. Port Baikal is the original settlement, it is located on the shore of Lake Baikal, and on the bank of the Angara river. All buildings fit in a narrow strip along the coast railway, which, in fact, is the main street of the village. Read more
1/7th of the World : Baikal
Lake Baikal in Siberia is listed as a Unesco World Heritage site and was also voted as one of Russia's Seven Wonders. It's not hard to see why. Baikal is one of those rare spots on the earth where nature has still remained genuine and untouched. The magnificent landscapes – the lake is surrounded by high mountain chains - and the unique clarity of the crystal-clear water, which runs into a darkness teeming with fish. Siberians believe that ... Read more
1/7th of the World : Hohhot
Hohhot, abbreviated in Chinese as Hushi, formerly known as Kweisui, is the capital of Inner Mongolia in the north of the People's Republic of China, serving as the region's administrative, economic and cultural center. Its population was 2,866,615 inhabitants at the 2010 census, of whom 1,980,774 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made up of 4 urban districts. The name of the city in Mong... Read more
1/7th of the World : Ulaanbaatar
If Mongolia's yin is its pristine countryside, then Ulaanbaatar conforms nicely to its yang. Located in north central Mongolia, fabulous Ulaanbaatar is the cultural, industrial, and financial heart of the country. The city was founded in 1639 as a movable (nomadic) Buddhist monastic centre, and in the twentieth century, Ulaanbaatar grew into a major manufacturing centre. Mostly described, as sunny, peaceful and open, Ulaanbaatar is a city of cont... Read more
1/7th of the World : Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg is a beautiful and well developed city with many fabulous historical buildings in classicism style, with one of the world's biggest collection of constructivist architecture buildings and with several modern high-techs skyscrapers. It is situated in the central part of Russia, on the eastern slopes of the amazing Ural mountains and almost on the border between Europe and Asia. Yekaterinburg was founded in 1723 and named i... Read more
Explore : Moscow
Moscow can be an overwhelming experience for visitors - there's just so much to see in this vast and vibrant city, from the truly sublime to the ever-so-slightly ridiculous. Moscow has been one of the world's ballet capitals for almost two centuries. It is home to the Bolshoi Ballet, founded in the late 18th century and based at the Bolshoi Theatre. It is called the "world capital of museums". It's no surprise, considering that there are over a ... Read more
Hohhot : Dazhao Temple
Dazhao Temple, 'Wuliang Si (Infinite Temple)' in Chinese, is the oldest building and the largest temple in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. Locally, people usually refer to it as the Silver Buddha Temple (Yinfo Si) for it is here that there is a rare silver statue of Sakyamuni that measures 2.5-meter-high (8.2-foot-high). Read more
The Five Pagoda Temple is a Buddhist temple in the city of Hohhot in Inner Mongolia in north-west China. It is located in the older part of the city in the vicinity of Qingcheng Park. The construction of the pagoda by the Mongol monk Yangcarci began in 1727 and was completed in 1732. The stupa, which is situated at the northern most part of the temple complex, ... Read more
Hohhot : Zhaojun Tomb
Zhaojun Tomb, also called Green Mound or Green Grave, is located south of the city of Hohhot in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is the tomb of Wang Zhaojun, a commoner who married a Xiongnu chief in order to preserve the nation’s unity, and is mentioned in historical documents and folklore as far back as the Tang dynasty. The tomb of Zhaojun was built in the Western Han period. It has two thousand years of history and is... Read more
Ulaanbaatar : Khustai National Park
The Mongolian Government declared Hustai National Park as a Specially Protected Area in 1993, one year after the initiation of the reintroduction project of the Takhi (Przewalski's horse) to the Hustain Nuruu. The HNP extends through the Khentii Mountains and includes the western edge of the Mongolian steppe at the boundaries of Altanbulag, Argalant and Bayankhangai Soums of T&... Read more
Mongolia’s wonderful National Museum sweeps visitors from the Neolithic era right to the present day. It’s UB's only genuine blockbuster sight, offering an unparalleled overview of Mongolian culture, ranging from stone-age petroglyphs and exquisite gold ornamentation to, arguably the highlight, the full gamut of traditional ceremonial costume – which unmistakably inspired the look of characters from the Star Wars prequels. Read more
In 2008, a gigantic statue of Genghis Khan riding on horseback was erected on the bank of the Tuul River at Tsonjin Boldog, 54 km east of the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, where according to legend, he found a golden whip. The statue is 40 meters tall and wrapped in 250 tons of gleaming stainless steel. It stands on top of the Genghis Khan Statue Complex, a visitor center that itself is 10 meters tall, with 36 columns representing the 36 khans f... Read more
Ulaanbaatar : Suchebaatar Square
In July 1921 in the centre of Ulaanbaatar, Damdin Sükhbaatar (the ‘hero of the revolution’) declared Mongolia’s final independence from China. A square later built on the spot now bears his name and features at its centre a bronze statue of the revolutionary astride his horse. In 2013 the city authorities changed the name of the plaza to Chinggis Khaan Sq, but in 2016 Sükhbaatar's descendants won a court battle to rest... Read more
Ulaanbaatar : Zaisan Memorial
A huge communist-era propaganda monument and mural that offers stunning views of the Mongolian capital. Read more
US$ 3352
per person, based on 2-people group
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Price for persons:

Our flexible payment options allow you to pay 20% of a deposit first and the remaining 80% in 14 days prior to your tour date - payment can be done both online or over the phone. This gives you the peace of mind knowing your spaces are booked on the tours and that you do not miss out on making the most of your time in Russia.

Also you get the best, top-rated and most experienced and knowledgeable hand-picked tour guide appointed on a priority basis.
In our experience, exceptional travel experiences are almost always delivered by exceptional people. With that in mind, we utilize a comprehensive approach to select and employ the best tour guides only. Multilingual and well travelled, each possesses deep insight into the diverse attractions and cultural patterns throughout the region. With us guides undergo a rigorous selection process, achieving outstanding knowledge of local culture and language. Rest assured that the best tour guides only will be working on the tours to give you excellent opportunity to explore the best of the sights during both short and long-term stay in Russia.

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+1 (888) 845-8877

Speak to an expert
Call us now

+1 (888) 845-8877

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