Itinerary - 9 Night Holiday by Rail

Day 1

Moscow

On arrival in Moscow transfer to your hotel Cosmos Hotel Moscow for a 2 night stay.

Moscow is the capital of the world's biggest country, situated in the centre of the European part of Russia.

Why not take a visit to the famous Red Square? Dominated by the legendary onion shaped domes of St. Basil's Cathedral, the Red Square epitomizes the mystique and beauty of the Russian capital, with buildings and monuments that reflect every aspect of Moscow's long and turbulent history.

It is also a city of entertainment, with theatres and the renowned Moscow Circus, museums and art galleries. Moscow boasts the world's largest and most efficient metro system, with some beautifully ornate stations that are worth a visit in their own right!

Day 2

Moscow

After breakfast you will meet with your expert guide at the hotel. Your train tickets will then be issued, an overview of the tour will be provided, and any questions you may have will be answered.

Enjoy a city walking tour at around 10:30, taking in some of Moscow's must see sights including Red Square, the Kremlin, St Basil's Cathedral and the famous Old Arbat street.

You will have some more free time in the afternoon to explore independently.

Day 3

Moscow

Another free day to explore Moscow or take an optional tour before preparing to check out of the hotel by 19:00.

Transfer to the train station where your guide will accompany you to the platform and answer any last minute questions before you board the high quality intercontinental Chinese train, bound for Beijing nearly 5000 miles away!

Day 4

European Russia

Spend the day on the train as you head past the cities of the Golden Ring, the great industrial city of Kirov and finally the ex-military city of Perm at the western most edge of European Russia before crossing through the Ural Mountains and into Asia.

Day 5

Heading into Siberia

After passing through Yekaterinburg, where the last Tsar of Russia and his family were murdered by the Bolsheviks, the train leaves the eastern foothills of the Ural Mountains and heads for Novosibirsk, an oasis of civilization deep in Siberia and also its largest city.

Day 6

Heading into Eurasia

Relax on-board whilst you spend the day travelling through the seemingly limitless tracks and endless forests of Siberia, passing the mighty Altai region, crossing the River Yenisei at Krasnoyarsk and heading deep into Asia.

Head to the restaurant car to socialise with your fellow passengers, try some local food and even perhaps share a flask of vodka!

Day 7

Lake Baikal and Crossing the Mongolian Border

Travel through Irkutsk and around Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world, before continuing past the mountains that border Mongolia. As well as being the deepest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Baikal is also one of the oldest and clearest with an ecosystem sustaining over 1700 species of flora and fauna, two thirds of which can be found nowhere else on the planet.

After a midnight border crossing into Mongolia the train heads onwards to the Mongolian capital of Ulan-Bator which is isolated on the edge of the Gobi desert.

Day 8

Through the Gobi Desert and crossing into China

After a brief stop at Ulan-Bator, pass through the majestic Gobi desert and on towards the Chinese border in the south. Later in the evening the train will reach the Chinese border where again the bogeys (wheels) are changed and your passport and visa will be checked.

Day 9

Beijing

Get up early this morning to enjoy the stunning scenery from the train as you pass through rural China with its mountainous river valleys and walled villages. Catch glimpses of the amazing Great Wall of China and arrive at your destination in the Chinese capital Beijing in the afternoon.

On arrival in Beijing check in to your hotel, Red Wall Hotel Beijing for an overnight stay.

Spend an evening wandering around one of the city's many parks and formal imperial gardens, such as Jingshan Park which has great views of the Forbidden City from its hill summit. Then enjoy some delicious Peking Duck in one of the city's many restaurants or why not try something more exotic at a local street market?

Day 10

Beijing

You say goodbye to the buzzing city of Beijing before making your journey home.