Trans Mongolian with Naadam Festival

24 days - from $5755

Itinerary:

  Days 1-3. Beijing
 Over our three days here the 'Scheduled Sightseeing' will begin with some of the cities greatest highlights, the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square and of course 'The Wall' stretching 5,000 kilometres across the distant hills. Day 4. Trans Mongolian Express
 We're off! Passing through the mountains surrounding Beijing, we settle in to our comfortable compartments and watch from the window as the towns and villages and the scenes of local life of Inner Mongolia province go by. Day 5. Ulaanbaatar
At daybreak, classic scenes of traditional nomadic life greet us as the train winds impressively across the Mongolian steppe and into the capital. The capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, is a contradiction a metropolis amid endless grass steppes, with horses and motorbikes, concrete apartment blocks and traditional gers. Days 6 - 7. Terelj National Park and return to Ulaanbaatar
Today we travel out across the grasslands through the countryside where we spend one more night in a ger set amongst spectacular rock formations and wild rolling hills in Terelj National Park. Among nomadic families and their grazing livestock we explore nearby valleys or just relax and enjoy the area. We return to Ulaanbaatar and visit the Zaisan Memorial from which the entire city is visible. Also to the country’s largest remaining monastery, Gandan Hiid where you can mingle with Buddhist monks. Days 8 9. Ulaanbaatar – Naadam Festival
We make our way with the crowds to the Naadam stadium for the spectacular event and demonstrations of the 'three manly sports' wrestling, archery and horseracing. Taking our place in the stadium, we see not only the athletes, but monks, officials and local celebrities. The first rounds of wrestling and archery begin shortly afterwards, with horseracing the focus on the second day. These races are the domain of younger children, who compete for the title ' tumnii ekh' ('Leader of Ten Thousand'). Traditions abound, and we join the crowds in cheering the winners, and singing songs to the losers. We mingle with the locals - often taking as much pleasure from watching the audience as observing the competitors! Days 10 - 11. Kharkhorin and Erdene Zuu
 The site of Kharkhorin, where we spend 2 nights in traditional Mongolian gers, was the capital of Mongolia in the 13th century during the rule of Genghis Khan. The main attraction is Erdene Zuu Hiid Monastery, built in 1586, once the largest monastery and first Buddhist centre in Mongolia. Day 12. Return to Ulaanbaatar via Khustai National Park and depart to Irkutsk
 Today we depart for Ulaanbaatar where we’ll join the evening train North to Russia. En route we visit the spectacular Khustai National Park, home to the unique Przewalski's horse. Day 13. Trans Mongolian Railway
Continuing towards Russia, leaving Mongolia at Sukh Bator and travelling beyond the Russian border town to Ulan Ude, then west along the southern shore of the world's deepest freshwater lake Baikal. Days 14-15. Irkutsk and Lake Baikal (Siberia)
Almost in the centre of Asia, Irkutsk 18th century churches, bright painted shutters and log houses decorated with wooden lacework. Modern administrative blocks and soaring bridges reach out across the Angara River in this beautiful town known as the "Paris of Siberia". On our walking tour you will discover the city’s wonderful historic sights.& We spend two nights at Lake Baikal and have ample time to visit the village of Listvyanka with its traditional houses and beautiful wooden church and nearby Limnological Museum. On returning to Irkutsk we also visit the Museum of Wooden Architecture to gain an insight into the traditional lives of Siberian people. Days 16-19. Aboard the Trans Siberian Railway
 We join the Trans Siberian Railway and travel via Novosibirsk, Omsk and Ekaterinburg booming over the steel bridges spanning Siberia's nerve system of 5,000 rivers. Through the Ural Mountains and, on the far side of the Volga, the flickering silvers and greens of birch forests speed past. On past the suburbs and into the heart of Moscow the train arrives almost casually on time for evening arrival. Days 20-21. Moscow
Moscow will amaze you, its palaces and public buildings restored to their former glory. The echoing vastness of Red Square, the splendid twirled cupolas of St. Basil’s across the cobblestones, and the Kremlin itself that fabled palace-fort of gilded domes where we marvel at the exquisite collection of royal treasures in the stunning Armoury Chamber. We ride the palatial underground rail system, adorned with chandeliers, mosaics and baroque bas-relief and perhaps a river cruise or a magical evening at one of Moscow's great theatres or State Circus. Our last rail journey is aboard the overnight express to St. Petersburg. Days 22-23. St. Petersburg
 It is the city on the water, the "Venice of the North", standing resplendent on the delta of the Neva River. St Isaac's Cathedral, richly filled palaces and museums, wide boulevards and canals. The gilded halls of the Hermitage Museum hung with the works of Da Vinci, Rembrandt and many other great masters, and beyond the city lies the incomparable summer palaces of the tsars at Petrodvorets. Yet for all this, St. Petersburg remains one of Europe's best kept secrets. Day 24. Depart St. Petersburg
 The last day has arrived too soon. The adventure is complete, the legendary rail journey that started many days ago has taken you across Asia, through lands and cultures literally worlds apart.

• Group Size 24 maximum, plus Tour Leader
• Accommodation Hotels - 11 nights (twin share) Mongolian Ger - 3 nights (shared) Siberian Guesthouse - 2 nights (twin share) Trains - 7 nights (4 berth) Meals 20 in total
• Breakfast (17), Lunch (1), Dinner (2)
• Travel by Train: Comfortable 4 berth sleepers
• There are 4 rail sectors on this journey - Beijing to Ulaanbaatar (1 night) - Ulaanbaatar to Irkutsk (2 nights) - Irkutsk to Moscow (3 nights) - Moscow to St.Petersburg (1 night). 2 Berth Rail (optional) Available for a supplementary price only when two people book and travel together
• Available on all rail sectors
• Sightseeing Scheduled Sightseeing is part of the itinerary and includes all transport, entrance fees and English speaking local guide
• Beijing: Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall
• Ulaanbaatar: Kharkhorin, Erdene Zuu, Zaisan Memorial, National History Museum, Gandan Hiid Monastery
• Naadam Festival: Additional sightseeing for this journey will be the spectacular Naadam Festival
• Irkutsk (Siberia): Walking tour of city, Museum of Wooden Architecture, Limnological Museum, Lake Baikal
• Moscow: City tour, St.Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, Kremlin and Armoury Chamber
• St.Petersburg: City tour, Palace Square, Hermitage Museum
• City Exploring is further sightseeing outside the itinerary guideline with the Tour Leader
• Visas Required for China, Mongolia & Russia
• Adventure Center will provide a full visa support system including visa guidelines.