Trans-siberian trip from Moscow to Beijing - uVisitRussia
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Trans-siberian trip from Moscow to Beijing

Kremlin in Moscow, Bolshoi theatre, Trans-siberian train experience, Lake Baikal, visit of a Mongolian nomadic family, train ride through the Gobi desert and along the Great wall, Forbidden City in Beijing.

Itinerary: Moscow – Irkutsk – Listvyanka / Lake Baikal – Ulaanbaatar – Terelj national park – Beijing

Season: All year round, best time from May until October. Starting days (day 1) on Tuesdays and Saturdays to follow this itinerary.

Type: Small Group Tours
Duration: 16 days

Itinerary Hide all details

Day 1:

Arrive in Moscow and meet your guide at the airport. Transfer to the hotel. Take the rest of the day for yourself to explore Moscow and get a first taste of Russia. In the evening, see the famous Bolshoi ballet, a concert, an opera or the famous Moscow Circus. Tickets on request (not included). Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 2:

Guided city tour of Moscow’s most famous sights including the Red Square, the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, the GUM department store, the Pushkin Museum or Novodevichy Convent. Do some shopping in Moscow’s pedestrian Arbat Street in the afternoon. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 3:

Free time in the morning. Transfer to the train station and departure towards Irkutsk in the afternoon. Watch Vladimir, Nizhni Novgorod (formerly Gorky), Perm, Yekaterinburg, Tyumen, Omsk, Novosibirsk and endless forests fly by your window and soak up the Trans-Siberian Railway atmosphere. Get snacks from the local vendors at one of the many stops or enjoy a meal in the train’s dining car. Overnight on board of the train.

Day 4:

On board of the trans-siberian railway train. Overnight on board of the train.

Day 5:

On board of the trans-siberian railway train. Overnight on board of the train.

Day 6:

After 87 hours and 5191 km, arrival in Irkutsk. Transfer to the village of Listvyanka, a traditional Siberian fisher village on the shore of lake Baikal. Enjoy the rest of the day for some exploring around the shores of the lake, you may even want to take a dip in the icy water. You will sleep in a typical wooden Siberian Chalet and have the chance to enjoy a Russian banya (sauna, on request, not included).

Day 7:

After breakfast in wild nature, embark on a stroll around the village where you will visit the church of St. Nicolas, walk to Chersky viewing point where you can enjoy a fabulous view (if clear weather) of the lake and the Angara-River. A visit to the Limnological Institute will reveal many of the lakes mysteries. You will also visit a small traditional fisher-market where you can taste smoked fish. Accommodation at the wooden chalet. If you are traveling during winter, you might want to sleep in a cozy tent on frozen Lake Baikal.

Day 8:

Mid-day transfer to Irkutsk and a visit to the Museum of Wooden Architecture, an open-air museum that brings back Russian village life from the 16th – 19th centuries. In Irkutsk you will be taken to a City Tour to see the city’s main highlights, such as the Russian Orthodox Church, the Polish Church (the only Gothic building in Siberia), the Decembrist’s Memorial Complex or the Irkutsk Regional Museum. After the tour, take some time to shop or wander around the beautiful city of Irkutsk and its local market. Departure to Ulaanbaatar in the evening. Overnight on board of the train.

Day 9:

Enjoy the view as the train hugs the shore of Lake Baikal and crosses Ulan-Ude and the Republic of Buryatia to reach the Russian-Mongolian border. After the border, prepare yourself for a new country and a new culture. Overnight on board of the train.

Day 10:

After arrival in Ulaanbaatar early in the morning, direct transfer to Terelj National Park, home to goats and yaks that hungrily munch away on the edelweiss growing on the alpine pastures. Your local guide will introduce you to the Nomadic way of life of still many Mongolians today. On a jeep, you will travel to a Mountain Camp in a remote area at Terelj National Park, one of the most beautiful landscapes of the world, where you will sleep in gers (traditional but modern Mongolian yurt) and enjoy a hike in the hills. Visit of Turtle rock and Buddhist Hanging Temple.

Day 11:

In the morning, you can explore the surroundings on a ride through the grasslands. You will also visit a Mongolian family living in gers at their Summer place, where you can taste local meals. In the afternoon, transfer to the hotel in the city centre. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore the various attractions of the city. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 12:

After breakfast, you’ll be taken on a sightseeing tour through the city, with stops at Sukhbaatar Square, the Bogdo Khan Palace, the former home of the first Mongolian Dalai Lama, the Zaisan Memorial with its panoramic views, the Buddhist Ganden and Choizhin Monasteries, and the Natural Science Museum with its famous dinosaur skeletons. In the evening, enjoy a stunning Mongolian theatre and performance. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 13:

In the morning catch the train to Beijing. Jaw-dropping landscapes in the Gobi desert will keep your eyes glued to the window. You will have to stop at the border station at Erlyan to change boogies to adapt to the narrower train tracks used in China. Before you reach Beijing you’ll see plenty of rice paddies and ride right by the Great Wall of China. Accommodation on board of the train.

Day 14:

Arrival in Beijing around midday. Beijing is the final destination of your railway journey that has led you across two continents. It is home to millions of small shops and street traders, the place to shop for souvenirs and bargains, and the last opportunity to taste the delicious Chinese food in all its variations. With your local guide, you will visit the Forbidden City, the Tiananmen Square and the Hutongs, the traditional old city in Beijing where you can hop an a Rick-shaw and visit a local family. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 15:

After breakfast, your guide will take you to one of the most powerful symbols of ancient Chinese civilization – the Great Wall of China, stretching 6,350 km. It took more than one million people and ten years to build the Great Wall of China, designed as a defensive structure. In 1987 it was added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. You will visit the less crowded Mutianyu section. A cable car takes you to a good section (avoiding a very steep climb), where you can walk along the wall, through the watch towers and enjoy superb views as it snakes across the hills and mountains. You can return by cable car, walk down or walk along the wall for about an hour to descend by chairlift. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather. The second part of the trip will take you to the Temple of Heaven. Built in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty, the Temple of Heaven is a complex of Taoist buildings where emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties visited for annual ceremonies of pray for good harvests. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 16:

Transfer at the Airport and flight back home.

What's included

  • Train tickets (1st or 2nd class)
  • All transfers
  • 6 overnights on board of the train
  • 6 overnights in 3-4-star hotels, double room with shower/bath, incl. breakfast
  • 2 nights in a traditional Siberian wooden chalet, double room with shower, incl. full board
  • 1 night in a traditional Mongolian yurt, double room, private (if available) or shared bathroom, incl. full board
  • Guided visits to sights and landmarks mentioned in the program with a local english-speaking guide including all entries and fees in each city
  • Included meals: Breakfast in all hotels, full board in Listvyanka and Terelj National Park, all lunches in Beijing
  • Visa invitations and documentation to get the visa for Russia, Mongolia and China
  • Travel documentation
  • Assistance of our partners in case of emergency in each city
Not included in the price
  • International flights: Depending your itinerary and departure city, we will be happy to assist you to find the best flight tickets to reach your destination and return
  • Visa consular fee: visit the website of your local consulates for details
  • Meals unless mentioned
  • Tips and personal expenses
Additional expenses
  • Train 1st. class (2-berth-Sleeper) sup.: 571$
  • Hotel Single sup.: 343$
  • Boat trip in Listvyanka: 58$
  • Kung Fu Show (theatre) in Beijing (including transfers): 52$
  • Beijing Duck Dinner in Beijing: 58$
Additional info

Season: All year round, best time from May until October. Starting days (day 1) on Tuesdays and Saturdays to follow this itinerary.

This itinerary is flexible and can be adapted to your needs. Please let us know if you need an individualized quote.

Preparation for your Trans-Siberian railway trip

To prepare your Trans-Siberian journey we are going to send you more details about all details latest 1 month prior to departure. We recommend taking a backpack or trolley bag with you as it is more comfortable than a suitcase and fits better into the storage space in the train. However, you will never need to walk longer than a few minutes with your luggage. Please check our list of what to take on your Trans-Siberian journey. No specific physical health and fitness is required, the most important part is to be prepared mentally and culturally for the many different people and cultures you are going to meet. For that reason, we suggest reading about Russia, Mongolia or China in advance. We have a collection of titles in our online bookstore that we can highly recommend. A must for all Trans-Siberian travellers is the Trans-Siberian Handbook by Bryn Thomas, Athol Yates and Tatyana Pozar-Burgar.

General information

Traveling in Russia, Mongolia and China requires patience and a sense for adventure. It is, however, safe to travel. We have encountered many anecdotal issues during the journeys in the past 20 years we have been organizing guided tours in Russia. Even though the situations were bizarre sometimes, these experiences have made our trips truly unforgettable and have given us a true approach to all those different ways of thinking. We have sent over 150 people on our tours each year so far, from 17 years old students to senior managing directors and even a retired 80 year-old lady made it safely. So, why don’t you join us for this life-enhancing experience?

About the trains

We book original authentic Trans-Siberian Railway trains (local Russian, Mongolian or Chinese trains). All trains are different depending on the route, which means comfort in 1st and 2nd class, cleanliness and friendliness of the train staff vary from train to train. We can’t be held responsible for any inconvenience on the train as we don’t have any influence on trains and employees of the Trans-Siberian Railway company.
For our travel program, we choose the trains with the best suitable arrival and departure time in each city. If you would like to book 1st class, please note the following:

1st class compartments are not always available, especially in high season, due to limited number of 1st class cabins and a high volume of travellers. Also, not all segments provide trains with 1st class wagons. We will do our best do secure a 1st class cabin for you. However, if there are not enough 1st class tickets available or a train doesn’t have 1st class, we will book an entire 2nd class cabin for you to ensure your privacy. Space and comfort of the cabins as well as comfort of bathrooms in 1st and 2nd class are basically the same.

A train ride with the Trans-Siberian is something special and mythical for the flexible and adventurous traveller who likes to enjoy the original and authentic Trans Siberian train ride. In the age of modernisation and high-speed trains, this authentic experience might not be available anymore in 10 years.

Information about your guide

You will be guided around by local guides in Moscow, Irkutsk / Lake Baikal, Ulaanbaatar and Beijing (natives from the respective cities), they will explain all details about culture, history, and the daily life of “their” cities. This is a unique opportunity to get to know Russia, Mongolia and China while traveling the Trans-Siberian railway.

Price

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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 Novodevichy Convent, one of Moscow's most beautiful cloisters, is nestled in the southwest of Moscow where the Moskva River bends to form what looks like a peninsula. It is an amazing architectural monument, and also the greatest of city's attractions, second only to the Kremlin. It is a peaceful retreat from the bustling Moscow. The Novodevichy Convent, built in the 16th and 17th centuries in the so-called Moscow Baroque style, was part of a... Read more
The Bolshoi Theatre is a symbol of Russia for all time. It is one of the leading ballet and opera companies in the world. It was awarded this honor due to the major contribution it made to the history of the Russian performing arts. This history is on-going and today Bolshoi Theatre artists continue to contribute to it many bright pages. The Bolshoi building, which for many years now has been regarded as one of Moscow's main sights, was opened on... Read more
The St. Basil’s Cathedral Moscow just that this fascinating church at the heart of Moscow, is an exemplary work of art, which touchingly and glamorously traces back the history of Russia in an encompassing and solemn manner, that no other tourist attraction can ever surpass. It is an interesting milestone and a great leaping step towards world tourism and the interesting pieces of history in its courageous, attractive and worth reading whol... Read more
Moscow : Arbat Street
In every city steeped in history there is always a street which attracts tourists like a magnet. This is a place filled with spirit of its own, while buildings bordering it and side-streets stemming from it each have a story to tell. In Moscow it is Old Arbat or simply Arbat – one of oldest and most popular walking streets. Today Arbat is as important landmark as Red Square, the Bolshoi Theatre and St. Basil Cathedral. Read more
Moscow : GUM
The GUM shopping mall is a landmark in Moscow's Red Square. It occupies the majority of the historic square's east side with a facade stretching the length of two and a half football fields. The Gum (pronounced as 'goom') department store was built over a hundred years ago and is a testament to the expertise of late nineteenth century Russian architecture. With the looks of a royal palace this mall is a fitting addition to the numerous gems surro... 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
Irkutsk regional Museum is one of the oldest museums in Russia, was founded in December 1782 on the initiative of the Governor of Irkutsk F. Klichka, who urged the city fathers to donate funds for the construction of the Museum and the first KNIGHTRIDERS. Responded local merchants - Melnikova, Tudorovskii, Medvednikova, Trapeznikova basnin worked, the sibiryakovs and butyny. A significant sum was made and the Governor F. Nickname. The main organi... 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 Polish Roman Catholic Church of Irkutsk is enrolled on the Polish Cultural Heritage List, as its construction was carried out with the support of Irkutsk Poles. Today the church building houses the Organ Hall of the Philharmonic, where services are conducted after the concerts.  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
Baikal : Cherskiy peak
Cherskiy peak (peak mosquito) is named in honor of Ivan Dementevich Cherskogo, known researcher of Lake Baikal, geologist and geographer, who was exiled to Siberia for their participation in the Polish revolution in 1863 the peak height Cherskogo - 2090 m above sea level. 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
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 : Beijing
Beijing, formerly romanized as Peking, is the capital of the People's Republic of China, the world's second most populous city proper, and most populous capital city. The city, located in northern China, is governed as a direct-controlled municipality under the national government with 16 urban, suburban, and rural districts. Beijing Municipality is surrounded by Hebei Province with the exception of neighboring Tianjin Municipality to the southea... 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
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
Forbidden City, Chinese (Pinyin) Zijincheng or (Wade-Giles romanization) Tzu-chin-ch’eng, imperial palace complex at the heart of Beijing (Peking), China. Commissioned in 1406 by the Yongle emperor of the Ming dynasty, it was first officially occupied by the court in 1420. It was so named because access to the area was barred to most of the subjects of the realm. Government functionaries and even the imperial family were permitted only limi... Read more
Beijing : Great Wall
A Chinese saying goes that He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man. If we laid the bricks and rocks used in the Great Wall of Ming to form a wall one meter (1.1 yard) wide and five meters (16.4 feet) high, it could circle the earth at the equator with great ease. It is such a spectacular and formidable architectural feat that anyone who comes to China should not miss it under any circumstances. Read more
The Temple of Heaven is an imperial complex of religious buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing. The complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. It has been regarded as a Taoist temple, although Chinese heaven worship, especially by the reigning monarch of the day, predates Taoism. Read more
Tiananmen Square, Chinese (Pinyin) Tiananmen Guangchang or (Wade-Giles romanization) T’ien-an Men Kuang-ch’ang, open square in the centre of Beijing, China, one of the largest public squares in the world. Read more
The  Winter Palace of Bogd Khaan - one of the first museums in Mongolia - was built in 1924. It used to be a winter residence of the last Bogd Khaan of Mongolia, Javzandamba. The palace compound was built between 1893 and 1903, and is well known for it's Gate of Peace, Temple and personal library of Bogd Khaan. Among the museum's exhibits are sculptures by Mongolia's first Bogd Khaan Zanabazar, the famous Taras. The museum has 21 invaluable ... Read more
The Choijin Lama Temple Museum is an architectural masterpiece of the 19th and 20th century. The monastery was erected by Mongolian architects. The Choijin Lama Temple Museum is an architectural masterpiece of the 19th and 20th century. The monastery was erected by Mongolian architects. Read more
The Gandantegchinlen Monastery is a Mongolian Buddhist monastery in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar that has been restored and revitalized since 1990. The Tibetan name translates to the "Great Place of Complete Joy". It currently has over 150 monks in residence. It features a 26.5-meter-high statue of Avalokiteśvara. It came under state protection in 1994. Read more
The Natural History Museum was created in 1924 and was called “National Museum”. In 1956, it becomes the “Central State Museum” and, later, in 1997, expands and becomes “Natural History Museum”. The Natural History Museum recounts 4,7 billion years of evolution and shows 800 objects dating back from the palaeolithic period. 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 : Terelj National Park
Terelj National Park is the most popular destination and the third biggest protected area in Mongolia . Visitors can take leisurely strolls on meadows carpeted with edelweiss and a dazzling variety of other wild flowers, view fascinating rock formations against a backdrop of pine covered mountains and wander along the wooded banks of a mountain stream. The park is located 80 km away from Ulaanbaatar and is one of the most beautiful places in Mong... Read more
Ulaanbaatar : Turtle Rock
Turtle Rock, ”Melkhii Khad”, is a surprising granitic formation, 24 metres (79 feet) high, whose form reminds of a turtle. Its old name was Mungut Khad. Read more
Ulaanbaatar : Zaisan Memorial
A huge communist-era propaganda monument and mural that offers stunning views of the Mongolian capital. Read more
US$ 2241
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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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Speak to an expert
Call us now

+1 (888) 845-8877

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