Trans Mongolia Express - 21D/20N

Beijing, Great Wall, Ulaan Baatar, Terelj National Park, Lake Baikal, Irkutsk, Ekaterinburg, Moscow, and St Petersburg.

photo of St. Basil’s Cathedral, courtesy of Tourism Board of RussiaTake an epic journey traversing a quarter of the globe and across three incredible nations. From the charm of imperial Beijing to the opulence of Moscow and St Petersburg, we journey through the vast grassy steppes of Mongolia, the seemingly impenetrable taiga forests of Siberia and the rolling Ural Mountains.

G.A.P. Adventures Tours
To emphasize our eco-friendly approach even more, we have elected to operate many programs with G.A.P. Adventures, a leader in eco tourism operation, committed to offering low-impact tours that benefit traveler and host alike, working with local communities, businesses and individuals to develop sustainable tourism opportunities that help local economies while minimizing negative environmental and cultural impacts. These adventures offer travelers a grassroots, small group adventure vacation, with a focus on culture, nature and active travel.

Comfort Tour
By day, dart around markets, explore the heritage sites and hike through the jungle to discover rare flora and fauna; by night, cozy up in a comfy bed or have a nice dinner with new found friends. Authentic experience doesn’t have to mean sacrificing a good night’s sleep. Comfort is ideal for travellers looking for a little extra cushiness from their adventure, while maintaining the grassroots travel experience. Comfort adventures make use of upgraded hotels with continental breakfast, travel by private and first class transportation, and include your arrival transfer.

Local Payment - Helping to keep the cost to you down…
Most of our adventure tours involve a Local Payment that is paid to the Leader/Representative in cash on day 1 of your tour. This Local Payment is put towards local expenses, such as arranging internal flights as well as entrance and guide fees. Local Payments also reduce the need to wire or transfer funds which can become very expensive. This lowers our operational costs so we can pass the savings on to you. The local payment is in addition to, and is not included in, the base tour price.

Included: Hotels (11 nights), homestay (1 night), overnight trains (7 nights), Mongolian ger (1 night), Guided tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in Beijing, Excursion to the Great Wall, Ulaan Baatar’s Winter Palace and Gandan Monastery, Terelj National Park excursion with local guide, Guided tour of Moscow’s Kremlin and Armoury, St Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum, Guided walking tour in St Petersburg, Guided tour of Ekaterinburg.

Not Included: International Airfares - Local payment - Passport and visa expenses - Government arrival and departure taxes - Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is compulsory) - All items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar and beverage charges and telecommunication charges.

Departure Dates: May 11, 2008 ; Jul 27, 2008 ; Sep 21, 2008 ; Oct 12, 2008 ; Nov 09, 2008 ; Dec 07, 2008 ; Apr 05, 2009 ; May 10, 2009 ; Jun 07, 2009 ; Jun 28, 2009 ; Jul 26, 2009 ; Aug 23, 2009 ; Sep 20, 2009 ; Oct 11, 2009 ; Nov 08, 2009 ; Dec 06, 2009.

Tour rates from: $ 2,525.00 + Local Payment 300 USD.

photo of Mongolia, courtesy of Tourism Board of MongoliaDay by day Itinerary:

  • Day 1 Arrive Beijing - Arrive in Beijing at any time.
  • Day 2-3 Beijing - Vibrant Beijing offers the grandeur of the Forbidden City and impressive Tiananmen Square. Wander the mighty Great Wall and feast on tasty Beijing Duck.
  • Day 4 Beijing Moscow Railway - Begin our rail journey on the weekly Beijing Moscow train full of lively traders stocked up with goods to sell all over Russia.
  • Day 5-7 Ulaan Baatar & Terelj National Park (B, L, D) - Journey across the Gobi Desert in the lands once home to Genghis Khan and his marauding armies. Discover the charms of the Mongolian capital and the magic of staying in a ger in the peaceful forests of Terelj National Park.
  • Day 8 Trans Mongolian Railway - The vast grassy steppes seemingly roll on forever as our train heads north to the Russian border. We bid farewell to Mongolia as we approach Irkutsk, the ‘Pearl of Siberia’.
  • Day 9-10 Irkutsk and Lake Baikal (B, L, D) - The charismatic city of Irkutsk has an interesting mix of traditional, Communist and classic Siberian architecture. We’ll also spend a night at the quaint fishing village of Listvyanka on the shores of Lake Baikal.
  • Day 11-12 Trans Siberian Railway - Travelling towards Europe, we cross the great Ob River at Novosibirsk and continue through Omsk to Ekaterinburg.
  • Day 12-15 Ekaterinburg - A historic city filled with intrigue surrounding the murder of the Romanov family in 1918 is now lined with cafes and shops.
  • Days 16-18 Moscow - Cross the Urals and travel over Siberia’s bridges as forests and suburbs flicker past before arriving in the heart of Moscow. Explore Russia’s bygone era of the Tsars with a visit to the magnificent Kremlin and Armoury. Wander the streets of this evocative city taking in the famous Red Square and the extraordinary St Basil’s Cathedral.
  • Days 19-20 St Petersburg - The opulent baroque architecture makes this city a visual masterpiece. Explore the treasures of the Hermitage, the summer palaces of Peterhof and Pushkin and witness the beauty of St Isaac Cathedral.
  • Day 21 St Petersburg - Depart.

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Also tagged with: Escorted Journeys, Europe, Asia, Russia, Mongolia, Educational, Cultural, Art / Architecture, Special Train, Join-In Tour, Classic Visit, Hosted Tours, GAP