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Beijing Express Westbound


Your 9-day journey starts in Beijing and takes you through the rural landscapes of northern China, past Lake Baikal and into the heart of Siberia, and through to Moscow, the Russian capital.
Overview
Enjoy the spectacular landscapes of Russia and China with the Beijing Express. Travelling westbound from Beijing to Moscow via the elusive Trans-Manchurian Railway, this rail tour offers one of the quickest and most scenic routes between these two legendary capitals. If you enjoy travelling by train and have always wanted to see the real Russia and China from country to capital, then this is the perfect choice for you. Your 9-day journey starts in Beijing and takes you through the rural landscapes of northern China, past Lake Baikal and into the heart of Siberia, and through to Moscow, the Russian capital.
A transfer with a personal guide to accompany you to the train on the start of your journey
Breakfast at all hotels, homestays and other accommodation
Transfers for all departures and arrivals at each city
All relevant Trans-Siberian, Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Manchurian rail tickets
Russian letter of invitation and visa support documents for China
Itinerary


Beijing
The capital of China, Beijing, has a long history stretching back over 3000 years. The city is known for its unrivalled culture and architecture and is home to no less than 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the world-famous Forbidden City complex and the Badaling Great Wall of China. Beijing is one of the ‘Four Great Ancient Capitals of China’ and has been the political centre of the country for 800 years.
Day 1
Arrival in Beijing
Welcome to Beijing! Your driver will meet you at your arrival point and take you to your hotel ready for check-in.
You will have the rest of the day to explore the city for yourself or relax in your hotel.
Arrival Transfer
Free Time
Prominent Landscape
Scenic Surrounds
Souvenir Shopping
Day 2
Sightseeing tour of Beijing
After breakfast, you will meet your guide at the hotel where you will begin your half day city tour introducing you to the main sites of Beijing, including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, as well as the Pearl and Silk markets. You will stop for lunch along the way, before having the rest of the day free to explore the city for yourself or relax at the hotel.
Breakfast & Lunch
City Tour
Expert Guide
Tiananmen Square
Forbidden City
Cultural Immersive Experience
Food & Drink Experience
Souvenir Shopping
Day 3
Free time in Beijing
Today, you will leave Beijing behind and embark on the spectacular Trans-Manchurian train route.
In the morning, you will have some free time to do any last-minute exploring, before packing and checking out of your hotel. In the afternoon, your driver will meet you at the hotel and take you to the train station.
Breakfast
Free Time
Prominent Landscape
Scenic Surrounds
Transfer to Train
Expert Guide
Travel to


Trans-Manchurian
A variant of the traditional Trans-Siberian Railway, the Trans-Manchurian travels through Russia, Siberia and rural China starting from either Moscow or Beijing. The route visits many major cities along the way including Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude and Chita. The Trans-Manchurian is known for varied and beautiful scenery, particularly in Northern China.
Day 4
Depart Beijing and travel the Trans-Manchurian Railway
You will spend the next six days travelling along the Trans-Manchurian Railway route.
The first part of your journey takes you past the industrial cities, vast factories and tiny rural villages, with ancient paddy fields, of Northern China. After a brief stop at the Chinese border, you will continue on to Zabaykalsk, before heading off for Siberia and, eventually, Moscow.
Travelling past the amazing Lake Baikal and through the cities of Ulan-Ude and Irkutsk, you will head deep into Siberia. Passing through Novosibirsk, the largest city in Siberia, the train will head for Yekaterinburg and the Ural Mountains, crossing the border between Asia and Europe. Finally, you will head past the ex-military city of Perm, the great industrial city of Kirov, and the beautiful cities of the Golden Ring onto Moscow.
Day on the Train
Night on the Train
Prominent Landscape
Scenic Surrounds
Travel to


Moscow
Russia’s official capital, Moscow, is the political and religious heart of the country. The city has the highest density of billionaires, is the world’s most populated inland city and boasts six out of Europe’s ten tallest buildings. It continues to be a major tourist destination in Europe growing year on year with famous attractions including Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral, and the Kremlin.
Day 9
Arrival in Moscow
You will reach the Russian Capital of Moscow around 2 pm.
Your driver will be waiting to pick you up at the train station and will take you to your hotel if you are spending a few extra days in Moscow, or your point of departure from Russia.
Day on the Train
Prominent Landscape
Scenic Surrounds
Departure Transfer
Where you can stay
A hotel can be the make or break of any experience, and we understand that choosing the right hotel is important to our travellers. Check out our range of hotels ahead of time, and learn more about our standard 3-star options and the luxury 5-star upgrades that are available in the destinations you will be visiting.
Please note that the selection of hotels included here are examples of where you may stay on your tour, we will pick the best option for you based on your travel requirements.
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Dates & Rates
Please select the amount of travellers in your group and language requirement of your guide.
Please select a date
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*This tour’s total cost is an estimate, based on travel costs prior to tickets being released. The price is subject to fluctation of up to 10%.† Based on 2 people sharing a twin room.
More information
What’s included
A transfer with a personal guide to accompany you to the train on the start of your journey
Accommodation as part of the tour
All relevant Trans-Siberian, Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Manchurian rail tickets
All tours are COVID-19 secure and offer flexible booking options. Visit our Covid-19 information page to find out more
Breakfast at all hotels, homestays and other accommodation
Half day guided tour with excursions: Beijing
Russian letter of invitation and visa support documents for China
Transfers for all departures and arrivals at each city
What’s not included
Flights or other travel arrangements prior to tour joining point
Masks or hand sanitizers
Meals, unless specified in the itinerary
Personal expenses such as souvenir shopping, or extra food and drink not included in the itinerary
Visa processing and service costs
Travel Tips
All travellers are asked to check the vaccination requirements before travel. Visit our Vaccines and Health page to find out more
Any dietary or allergy requirements will need to be disclosed before the start of the tour
Carrying a water bottle with you is recommended
Medication should always be taken with you and kept on your person
Please ensure that you keep any personal documents and valuables on your person at all times
WIFI will be available at most of the hotels, although mobile coverage may vary in rural areas
Your local guides will recommend stops where you can go souvenir shopping during your tour
Special notes
There are no special notes for this tour
Suggested reading
Enrich your travel experience with our list of top recommended books from specialist travel guides to compelling novels. Whether you are looking for something to pass the time on the train, or want to get to grips with the local history, reading is essential to turning your trip into a fully-fledged experience.
Beijing
The ultimate guidebook to Beijing that no tourist can go without! Lonely Planet’s Beijing is packed full of almost everything you need when travelling to any destination from how to get around the city, the best places to eat, what you need to see while you are there, cultural highlights and more. In addition to its noteworthy insider tips, this guide includes detailed maps that are invaluable to even the most seasoned traveller.
China
The ultimate guidebook to China that no tourist can go without! Lonely Planet’s China is packed full of almost everything you need when travelling to any destination from how to get around the country, the best places to eat in its most popular cities, what you need to see while you are there, cultural highlights and more. In addition to its noteworthy insider tips about key attractions such as the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City, this guide includes detailed maps that are invaluable to even the most seasoned traveller.
Moscow
The ultimate guidebook to Moscow that no tourist can go without! Lonely Planet’s Moscow is packed full of almost everything you need when travelling to any destination from how to get around the city, the best places to eat, what you need to see while you are there, cultural highlights and more. In addition to its noteworthy insider tips, this guide includes detailed maps that are invaluable to even the most seasoned traveller.
Russia: Lonely Planet
The ultimate guidebook to Russia that no tourist can go without! Lonely Planet’s Russia is packed full of almost everything you need when travelling to this vast country from how to get around, the best places to eat in its most popular cities, what you need to see while you are there, cultural highlights, currency and more. In addition to its noteworthy insider tips about key attractions such as the Moscow Kremlin, Lake Baikal and the Romanov sites, this guide includes detailed maps that are invaluable to even the most seasoned traveller.
Extras & Upgrades
Extras
Customise your experience with our spectacular range of tailor-made tour extras. If you have some free time during your tour and are unsure how to spend it, then our extras may be just what you are looking for, with various activities ranging from an hour long to a full day. Simply, let us know when booking your tour and we can arrange this for you.
Upgrades
Enhance your travel experience with one of our available tour upgrades. Whether you are looking to go first class on the train or swap your standard hotel for a luxury 5-star option, our Sales team are on-hand to help. Simply, let us know when booking your tour and we can arrange this for you.
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Visa Information

Single Entry Tourist Visa
