Travel Dates
Departing 16th Aug 2020
Package Provider: Wendy Wu
Package Type: Package
Region: Asia
Duration: 25 Nights
The epic Trans-Siberian Railway spans some 9000 km, 2 continents, 3 countries, 8 time zones and offers fascinating people and cultures, historical monuments and is the pinnacle of iconic travel experiences. Journey from Beijing to St Petersburg via the mysterious Mongolia, Siberia and Lake Baikal the grand cities of Yekaterinburg, Kazan and Moscow.
Your Tour includes:
Tour itinerary
Day 1 BEIJING
Fly to Beijing, the capital of China, for a 2-night stay. On arrival in Beijing Capital International Airport you will be met in the arrival hall by your local guide and/or National Escort from Wendy Wu Tours. Together with all other group members who may be arriving at a similar time, you will transfer approximately 1 hour to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. A tour introduction will be held in the hotel either this evening or the next. Food and drinks will not be served at this meeting, it is simply an opportunity for your group to meet and learn more about travelling in China.
Day 2 BEIJING
ou will rise early this morning to avoid the crowds and drive approximately 2 hours northwest of the city to the Juyongguan Pass to take a walk on the Great Wall of China, appreciating the wall itself and the dramatic scenery. Your visit involves walking from the bus to the first section. Once your group has been given an introduction to the Great Wall’s unique history, you will have free time to explore at your own pace. Later, visit the Jade Museum. In the afternoon, stroll through Tiananmen Square and the Summer Palace. Tonight, enjoy a traditional Peking duck dinner.
DAY 3: TRANS MONGOLIAN RAILWAY OVERNIGHT SLEEPER TRAIN
Depart the hotel at 6am for the 30 minutes to the Beijing Railway Station for the 7.27am Trans Mongolian Railway Journey. This is the first leg of the trip departs Beijing early in the morning and reaches Ulaanbaatar at 3pm the next day. The train follows the Trans-Siberian Railway until Ulan-Ude in Russia, where it splits off and takes the Trans-Mongolian route. All up, the journey, if you were to travel directly from Moscow to St Petersburg takes seven nights, spanning 8,552kms.
DAY 4: ULAAN BAATOR
Wake bright and early and pull up your cabin blind to witness a dramatic change in scenery as you get your first look at Mongolia – rolling hills, wild horses dashing along with the train and nomad gers spread out along the open steppe and along the Gobi Desert. Arrive in Ulaanbaator in Mongolia at 3pm and transfer to your hotel. Later in the day visit Chinggis Khaan Square and the Zaisan Hill Memorial and the Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan. Tonight, experience a famous Mongolian BBQ and a rich artistic cultural performance of traditional throat and ‘long song’ singers, musicians, dancers and contortionists.
DAY 5: GORKHI TERELJ NATIONAL PARK
This morning, visit a ger district located in Northern outskirts of the city, where you’ll meet some of the residents, have a cup of traditional Mongolian tea and a chat about life in an urban ger community. Travel the 2 hours to the Gorkhi Terelj National Park Ger Camp. Travel to Turtle Rock for a hike and visit a Mongolian nomadic family for the taste of nomadic lifestyle, traditional food, culture and traditions and warm hospitality. There are options to do some horse riding, archery or hike to a Tibetan monastery to take in stunning views of the Mongolian steppe.
DAY 6: ULAAN BAATOR
On the way back to Ulaanbaator, stop and visit the huge Genghis Khan Monument. Few tourists come to Mongolia without visiting its most iconic landmark, a 40m-high glistening silver Chinggis Khaan statue. Atop, enjoy spectacular views of the steppe below. On your return, you will visit the Gandan Monastery.
DAY 7: ULAAN BAATOR
This morning, you will drive to rural village to learn about traditional Ger building. Take a short walk past beautiful granite rock formations to the Aglag Buteeliin Buddhist Temple. Return to Ulaan Baator in the late afternoon.
DAY 8: ULAAN BAATOR / TRANS-MONGOLIAN RAILWAY
This morning there is free time to do some shopping and stock up on supplies for today’s overnight train ride. You could also search out local handicrafts like cashmere and felt products. Later transfer to the train station for the Trans Mongolian Railway journey into Russia.
DAY 9: ULAN UDE
Tour the city on arrival visiting the Lenin Statue, the city centre, the Rinpoche Bagsha Datsan Tibetan temple and the Odigitrievsky Cathedral. Later, spend the afternoon at the Old Believers' village of Tarbagatay following the beautiful Selenge river valley. Upon arrival in Tarbagatay, you’ll be greeted by local ladies in full traditional dress who will show you around their traditional house. Visit a small Old Believers church, a fascinating museum put together by the local priest to learn about their way of life. Enjoy a village hall dinner with a veritable feast of sumptuous food, vodka and wine whilst being entertained with local dancing and folk singing.
DAY 10: LAKE BAIKAL
Travel via Irkutsk to the small Lake Baikal town of Listvyanka, 70km southeast arriving at your wooden Siberian forested guesthouse. Day 9 offers the best scenery of the entire trip when Lake Baikal, the largest freshwater lake in the world, comes into view on one side and mountains on the other. The train twists around some tight turns near the lake and skirts the edge just metres away, so you can take some great photos.
DAY 11: LAKE BAIKAL
Enjoy your surroundings today and explore the beautiful Lake Baikal nature by going on a hike along the lakeshore. Hop aboard a boat that will take you along the shore to some impressive viewpoints. Back in town you can admire the sculptures made of Soviet car parts at Retro Park or get up close and personal with Baikal’s aquatic life at the Baikal Museum aquarium. Enjoy a dinner of smoked omul (Baikal whitefish) and shashlyk (grilled meat skewers) at the waterside market and picnic on the pebble beach with weekending Russians. Enjoy some local Siberian lager, vodka and plenty of laughs!
DAY 12: IRKUTSK / TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY
This morning travel the 2 hours back to Irkutsk for a tour of the city. The de facto capital of Eastern Siberia, pleasantly historic Irkutsk is by far the most popular stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway between Moscow and all points east. View 19th-century wooden architecture, impressive churches, Central Market and Trans-Siberian Railway Angara Icebreaker Museum. Enjoy lunch at the blockbuster 130 Kvartal project - an entire neighbourhood given over to typical Siberian timber buildings housing new restaurants, classy bars, cafes and the odd museum and board the train and depart Irkutsk bound for Yekaterinburg. Depart on the train later for Yekaterinburg.
DAY 13: TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY
Continue your epic Trans-Siberian Railway adventure.
DAY 14: YEKATERINBURG
Arrive at Yekaterinburg this afternoon and transfer to your hotel. Learn more about the devastating history of the Romanov family, and visit the moving monuments at the Church of All Saints on Spilled Blood. Take the lift up 52 floors to the Vysotskiy Viewing Platform for one of Russia's best urban panoramas, visit the Black Tulip Monument, opened in 1995.
DAY 15: YEKATERINBURG / TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY
Tour the Romanov Death Site and take part in a Mafia Gangster Tour to learn about the history of Yekaterinburg of the 1990s. Board the Trans-Siberian Railway later tonight for your journey to Kazan.
DAY 16: KAZAN
Arrive in Kazan around midday and transfer to your hotel. Later walk along Baumanm Street. Walking along the pedestrian Bauman street is an indispensable thing that any traveller must do in Kazan. Continue on and visit Kazan Kremlin, Chak-Chak Museum, Kul Sharif Mosque, an old Tatar Settlement and the Soviet Lifestyle Museum.
DAY 17: KAZAN / TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY
Visit the Temple of All Religions, the Virgin Monastery of Raifa, take part in a boat trip along the scenic Volga River to visit the Sviyazhsk Island Fortress. Return to the city centre at 6.30pm for dinner at a Tatar Restaurant and board the Trans-Siberian Railway at 10.15pm tonight for your 12-hour journey to Moscow.
DAY 18: MOSCOW
Take part in a walking tour seeing the city’s main sights: St Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square, The Kremlin plus the Armoury and Diamond Fund, the GUM Department Store and the Bolshoi Theatre. Later walk along the trendy Tverskaya Street, which houses the famous Four Seasons Hotel is the best-known street in Moscow and one of most expensive shopping streets in the world. Continue along the classy Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street and visit the Bolshoi Theatre (best known theatre in the world and home of the famous ballet and opera companies).
DAY 19: MOSCOW
In the morning continue touring this grand city visiting the Moscow State University, Novodevichy Convent, Stalin’s Seven Sisters, Eliseyevskiy Delicatessen, Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and the Red October Arts District. Enjoy dinner at a Georgian Restaurant and enjoy some sundowner drinks at a local bar for magnificent views over the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and the Moskva (Moscow River).
DAY 20: MOSCOW
Today you will take a cruise on the Moscow river seeing some of Moscow’s famous sights, go underground and take part in a metro tour, shop at the colourful Izmailovo Markets, tour at the Palaces for the Workers and relax in Gorky Park.
DAY 21: ST PETERSBURG
Catch the morning 4-hour fast train from Moscow to St Petersburg and transfer to your hotel. Visit the stunning pink pastel-coloured State Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace. Later visit Kazan Cathedral – This neoclassical cathedral, partly modelled on St Peter’s in Rome, was commissioned by Tsar Paul shortly before he was murdered in a coup.
DAY 22: ST PETERSBURG
This morning tour the ‘Russian Versailles’ at Peterhof, have a traditional Russian lunch in Siberian forested lodge, visit Catherine’s Palace to swoon at its lavish Rococo interiors like the replica of the incredible Amber Room and enjoy a boat trip along the Neva River seeing some of St Petersburg main sights.
DAY 23: ST PETERSBURG
Start the day by visiting the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral, the Mariinsky Theatre from the outside and Smolny Cathedral. Later, visit the Monument to Heroic Defenders of Leningrad on Victory Square, stroll through the Summer Gardens and the Field of Mars, visit St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Bronze Horseman, the General Staff Building and Palace Square. Visit St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Bronze Horseman, the General Staff Building and Palace Square. In the late afternoon, return to your hotel where you can freshen up, enjoy a farewell dinner. Transfer to the St Petersburg airport for your evening flight to Australia.
DAY 24: FLIGHT
Spend the day in the air.
Conditions apply. Subject to availability and change without notice. Full supplier conditions apply. Valid for new bookings only. Prices valid at the time of publication. Prices are per person based on twin share occupancy unless otherwise stated and displayed in AU$. Member savings are calculated using the original advertised price.