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
The majority of the day is free, allowing you to relax and explore Moscow, or take an optional tour, before packing, and preparing, to check out of the hotel. 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 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 a 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 arrival at the station, you will be provided with a transfer which will take you to the 2* Décor Hotel where you will have a chance to freshen up and eat a hearty breakfast.
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 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!
Includes
All our tours include:
- All relevant Trans-Siberian, Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Manchurian rail tickets
- Transfers for all departures and arrivals at each city
- A transfer with a personal guide to accompany you to the train on the start of your journey
- Russian letter of invitation
- Breakfast at all hotels, homestays and other accommodation
This tour includes:
- Total Duration: 17 Days
- Nights on the train: 6 Days
- Key Destinations: Moscow (3), Irkutsk (3), Ulan Bator (3), Beijing
- Excursions: Options available
- Accommodation: Quality budget 2* and 3* hotels and homestay accommodation
- Meals: Breakfast at all Hotels
This tour does not include:
- In tour spending money (all accommodation, excursions, transfers and other tour elements are fully paid prior to departure)
- Flights or other travel arrangements to tour joining point
- Meals, unless specified in the itinerary
- Visa processing and service costs – further information about Trans-Siberian visas can be found here
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!
Overview
Your tour starts in Moscow with the opportunity to discover the majestic city. On route to Beijing enjoy the ever changing scenery as you are whisked through European Russia, passing the Ural Mountains into Siberia and Eurasia. You will explore one of the largest cities in Siberia, Irkutsk, before viewing the immense beauty of Lake Baikal. Heading south to see the Mongolian capital of Ulan-Bator you experience daily life of the nomadic people in a Ger camp. The Gobi Desert provides breathtaking sights before you finally arrive in Beijing. With our trusted 2* or home-stay accommodation and arranged transfers to and from train stations, you are free to explore as you wish.
Tour dates 2018
| Jan |
Feb |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| 10 |
7 |
7 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
10 |
7 |
5 |
| 24 |
21 |
21 |
18 |
16 |
13 |
11 |
8 |
12 |
24 |
21 |
19 |
| |
|
|
|
30 |
20 |
18 |
15 |
19 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
27 |
25 |
22 |
26 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
29 |
|
|
|
|
Prices
| |
Second Class |
|
First Class |
| No. of people |
£ |
€ |
$ |
|
£ |
€ |
$ |
| 1 |
£2,460.00 |
€2,795.00 |
$3,290.00 |
|
£2,835.00 |
€3,220.00 |
$3,790.00 |
| 2 |
£1,675.00 |
€1,900.00 |
$1,235.00 |
|
£2,045.00 |
€2,325.00 |
$2,735.00 |
| 3 |
£1,800.00 |
€2,040.00 |
$2,405.00 |
|
£2,175.00 |
€2,465.00 |
$2,905.00 |
| 4 |
£1,615.00 |
€1,835.00 |
$2,160.00 |
|
£1,990.00 |
€2,260.00 |
$2,660.00 |
| 5 |
£1,675.00 |
€1,900.00 |
$2,040.00 |
|
£2,050.00 |
€2,325.00 |
$2,740.00 |
| 6+ |
£1,585.00 |
€1,800.00 |
$2,120.00 |
|
£1,960.00 |
€2,225.00 |
$2,620.00 |
The 2018 World Cup will be held in Russia during June and July, and as such all travel dates and tour prices during this period are subject to availability. While we ordinarily guarantee our tour prices, during this period prices can only be confirmed upon booking. We would recommend booking as early as possible for this period, as prices are likely to rise as the date of the World Cup approaches.
It’s all about you …
Below is a selection of recent testimonials received from Real Russia customers …
"The whole tour was absolutely amazing ..."
Ben
"Everything was perfect, the guides, the hotels, the tours and the trains. The trip was beyond our expectations. I will happily recommend you to anyone. Thank you!!!"
Cynthia and Craig
"I just wanted to say that your thoughtfulness and attention to detail made for just a wonderful holiday. We have sung your praises so many times ..."
Barbara & Jan-Erik
"I don't see how you could do better. I couldn't recommend you more highly."
Jane
"I just wanted to thank you for your excellent services! Everything went brilliant and we enjoyed the Transiberian/Mongolian railway a lot. We will recommend you everywhere."
Michal
"Now that our Russian adventure has come to an end we want to let you know how much we enjoyed the tour. Your excellent planning and arrangements really resulted in a trip that more than met our expectations. It was truly the trip of a lifetime."
Alan and Gail
"The trip has been wonderful It has exceeded our expectations! You have done a wonderful job, congratulations to you and Real Russia!"
Cinthia and Craig
"We had a fantastic trip through Russia, Mongolia and China. It simply can't be described in words :-) It's one of those life changing experiences."
Guro and Thomas
"We had an amazing journey and loved every minute of it. Your organization of the tour was excellent and everything went to plan. The trip was made very interesting by the informative and very pleasant guides we had in the major cities – they looked after us very well, were always on the platform to meet us and ensured we got the next train. That certainly took the worry out of the trip. The way the tour was organized allowed us plenty of free time after we had the introduction to the city. All the hotels were good, the Imperia Park in St Petersburg was excellent for friendliness and location (away from the main tourist area but near the underground). The hotel in Moscow was also in an interesting location and suited us very well (although quite a walk to the underground) and gave us a flavour of soviet style hotels.
Our time in Yekaterinburg was most enjoyable, the hotel was excellent and our tour guide an amazing and informative man who ensured we got the best from his city. Lake Baikal and Irkutsk were cold, sunny but again very interesting – the Circum-Baikal railway was a definite highlight of the trip – it was a lovely day and the al fresco lunch with pine nut vodka will stay with us for a long time. Ulan Bator was a very different experience, despite the dreadful driving conditions we had an excellent guide and most importantly a very careful driver. The Ger camp was set in an amazing valley away from the main camps and was quite delightful – and the visit to a local herdsman was memorable.
I could continue to write about our trip for several hours but I am sure you can see that we had a wonderful time. We would like to thank Real Russia for their excellent organization, from the original enquiries, the visa service, hotels, train tickets and the partner guides in the various cities. All of these things ensured that we had a trouble free experience and we would highly recommend Real Russia for anyone thinking about travel in Russia. If you require any more detailed feedback we would be happy to do so.
Once again, many many thanks for helping us to go on this trip."
Andrea and Maurice
"Nick and I have just got back to the UK after a fantastic two-week adventure on the Trans-Siberian and Trans-Mongolian routes, and I just wanted to write to you to register our big, big thanks!
You, and all the team at Real Russia, have done just the best job for us. You've been terrific from the start when we had lots of options and lots of changes of mind, and you were wonderfully patient and advised us very well. Once the itinerary was finalised you did briliantly with all the tickets and visas on time, everything clearly described, and all 100 per cent ready to go.
All the arrangements worked out perfectly. We've been delighted. You and Real Russia deserve all credit for a wonderful job and, again, many many thanks!
All best wishes"
John and Nick
For other testimonials – see our Testimonials page
Tours Overview Brochure
Trans-Siberian Rail Route Brochures
Trans-Russian
- Travelling the length of Russia
- Trans-Siberian Express:
10 days Moscow to Vladivostock direct
- Classic Trans-Siberian:
13 days Moscow to Vladivostok via Irkutsk and Lake Baikal
- Vladivostok Voyager:
16 days Moscow to Vladivostok via Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk and Lake Baikal
Trans-Manchurian
- Travelling through Russia and China
- Beijing Express:
10 days Moscow to Beijing through Manchuria
- Siberian Eye:
14 days Moscow to Beijing via Irkutsk, Lake Baikal and Manchuria
Trans-Mongolian
- Travelling through Russia, Mongolia and China
- Trans-Mongolian Express:
9 days Moscow to Beijing direct
- Three Capitals:
13 days Moscow to Beijing via Ulan-Bator
- Classic Trans-Mongolian:
17 days Moscow to Beijing via Irkutsk, Lake Baikal and Ulan-Bator
- Real Eurasian:
19 days Moscow to Beijing via Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal and Ulan-Bator