Itinerary
With all tours originating in the majestic city of Moscow, you are guaranteed a memorable journey through European Russia, Siberia, and Asia, passing breathtaking landscapes such as the Ural Mountains and the awe-inspiring Lake Baikal. For a detailed breakdown of this tour, please download our free Trans-Mongolian tour brochure, which includes a day to day account of what you will see and do, along with tour prices and information regarding your accommodation.
Day 1 - Arrival in Moscow
Arrival in Moscow, with a transfer to the centrally located 3* Maxima Panorama Hotel.
Day 2 - Free Day in Moscow
Today your adventure begins – you have a free day to explore, discover and experience everything the Russian capital has to offer.
Day 3 - Free Day in Moscow
You will have a free day to explore, discover and experience everything the Russian capital has to offer.
Day 4 - Depart Moscow
Late check-out has been arranged at the hotel for you on Day 4. The majority of the day is free, allowing you to relax and explore Moscow, or take an optional tour, before packing, and preparing, to meet your late evening transfer to the railway station just before midnight. You will be provided with a transfer to the railway station, where our guide will advise, and assist, in purchasing provisions for the train if desired, accompany you to the platform, ensure that everyone is settled into their cabins and answer any last minute questions.
Day 5 - Travelling Through European Russia
You will spend the day on the train, heading past the cities of the Golden Ring, the great industrial city of Kirov and finally the ex-military city of Perm, at the eastern most edge of European Russia, before crossing through the Ural Mountains and into Asia.
Day 6 - Venturing into Siberia
Passing through the previously forbidden Soviet city of Yekaterinburg, you will spend the day on the train while it leaves the eastern foothills of the Ural mountains and heads for Novosibirsk; the largest city in Siberia, and the third largest in Russia, behind only Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
Day 7 - Heading into Asia
Enjoy your day on the train, travelling along the seemingly limitless tracks, and through the incredible forests of Siberia, you will pass the mighty Altai region, crossing the River Yenisei at Krasnoyarsk, before heading deep into Asia.
Day 8 - Arrive in Irkutsk
Following your early arrival in Irkutsk, you will be taken to your accommodation at a Angara Hotel.
Day 9 - Free Day in Irkutsk
Today is left free to relax, explore, experience, shop or book one of our many optional excursions.
Day 10 - Free Day in Irkutsk
Today is left free to relax, explore, experience, shop or book one of our many optional excursions.
Day 11 - Depart Irkutsk
Following an early morning transfer to the railway station, you will catch the train to Ulan Bator. Once through Ulan-Ude, the home of Russian Buddhism and capital of the local Buryat Republic, the train will head toward the Mongolian border.
Day 12 - Arrival in Ulan Bator
After your early morning arrival at the station, you will be provided with a transfer which will take you to the 3* Great Empire Hotel. You will have some free time in the morning to get your bearings, before checking into your hotel later in the day.
Day 13 - Free Day in Ulan Bator
Breakfast is followed by free time to investigate the distinctive charm of Ulan-Bator and the surrounding region, or relax. Why not take a look at a few of the excursions you could arrange while there?
Day 14 - Free Day in Ulan Bator
Breakfast is followed by free time to investigate the distinctive charm of Ulan-Bator and the surrounding region, or relax. Why not take a look at a few of the excursions you could arrange while there?
Day 15 - Free Day in Ulan Bator
Breakfast is followed by free time to investigate the distinctive charm of Ulan-Bator and the surrounding region, or relax. Why not take a look at a few of the excursions you could arrange while there?
Day 16 - Depart Ulan Bator and Cross the Gobi Desert
Catch your early morning transfer for your train to Beijing before travelling on through the majestic Gobi Desert and towards the Chinese border. Later in the evening, the train will reach the Chinese border where the impressive procedure of bogie-changing takes place, before heading off for Beijing.
Day 17 - Arrive in Beijing
Throughout the morning and afternoon, you will pass through rural China as well as mountainous river valleys, before continuing on past the amazing Great Wall of China, finally arriving in the Chinese capital, Beijing, where your transfer will take you to your hotel.
Explore, Discover, Experience
Real Russia has drawn on years of experience in the region to create three ranges of our tours and a wide selection of options to give you maximum choice and flexibility in choosing your Trans-Siberian adventure.
As an ‘Explore Range’ tour, this tour has been designed for independent-minded travellers, who like to plan their adventures themselves, with some of the heavy lifting done for them by experts. Real Russia will book trains, transfers and selected 2* and 3* hotels or home stays.
To view this tour in the other ranges, then please select from the options shown below, or, if you are ready to start your adventure with Real Russia, then simply press “Request Tour” and we will get started!