The Trans-Siberian: Moscow to Beijing

To Potsdam, Berlin and Warsaw

Our epic journey across almost half of the globe by rail begins at our dedicated St Pancras Departure Office in London. After meeting the rest of the group, we board the Eurostar to Brussels in Standard Premier Class, continuing to Potsdam for two nights at the NH Potsdam Hotel. On Day 2 we enjoy a combined coach tour exploring the fascinating sights and monuments of this imperial city and the once-divided city of Berlin. On Day 3 we continue to Warsaw for the night. Day 4 we have a guided tour of the city.  Later we board a sleeper train for the journey to Moscow.

Moscow

Today we arrive in the captivating Russian capital, where we stay at the 4-Star Hotel InterContinental. If you select the fly option for this tour, this is where you will meet the rest of your group.

On Day 6 we begin our exploration with a panoramic city tour. Some of the most famous sights in Russia can be found in Moscow, including the beautiful Saint Basil's Cathedral. Enjoy the beautiful and intricate brickwork of the structure, whilst marvelling at the awe-inspiring sight of the multicoloured 'onion' domes that characterise the building. The building itself stands on Red Square, where you can also find Lenin's Mausoleum, where rests the body of the communist leader.

We also see the Bolshoi Theatre and Tretyakov Gallery, before transferring by coach to the atmospheric Novodevitchy cemetery for an afternoon visit. This evening, we enjoy a magnificent 'City Lights' tour, where we see the beautifully illuminated sights of Moscow as darkness falls.

On Day 7, we visit the Kremlin, a potent symbol of two mighty Imperial cultures. This stunning building overlooks the Moskva River. After some free time, we join the Tsar's Gold Private Train to embark on our incredible journey to Beijing.

Kazan, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk

Our first stop is Kazan, the old Tartar capital on the banks of the Volga. The city was at the centre of the struggle for control of Russia - and we learn more of its past on a guided tour of Kazan's magnificent Kremlin - a UNESCO World Heritage site - has been used as the seat of Tsars and Grand Dukes, as well as the site of Stalin's residence in Moscow. Now, it is a museum, after having been restored to its former Imperial glory.

On Day 9 we cross the Europe-Asia divide, arriving in Yekaterinburg, which was founded by Peter the Great. During a tour of the city we visit the site where the Romanov family were murdered in 1918. On Day 10 we reach Novosibirsk in the heart of Siberia. We receive a traditional Russian welcome with bread and salt, and enjoy a guided tour.

To Irkutsk and Lake Baikal

We spend Day 11 travelling through the Sayan Mountains before an evening speciality 'Tsar's Feast', including vodka and caviar tastings. On Day 12 we arrive in Irkutsk which we explore on a guided tour. Later we enjoy an excursion to the local open-air museum to see the region as it would have been in the time of the Tsars. We spend tonight at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel in Irkutsk.

On Day 13, we travel by bus to a typical Siberian village. After learning about the local culture, we take a leisurely boat trip across Lake Baikal, the largest freshwater lake in the world. We rejoin our train in Port Baikal and continue alongside the sparkling water, with fantastic views of the surrounding hills and forests. Later we stop for a typical picnic dinner on the lake shore.

Ulan Ude and Mongolia

Today we continue through the Selenga Valley, arriving in Ulan Ude for a tour. The town is dominated by the world's largest Lenin sculpture, and is home to an old branch of the Russian Orthodox Church. Later we return to the train for the journey into Mongolia stopping in the capital, Ulaanbaatar on Day 15. A guided tour takes us past the city's impressive sights, before we spend tonight at the Kempinski Hotel Khan Palace.

Mongolian Switzerland and Gobi Desert

This morning we travel by coach into the rugged mountainous region known as Mongolian Switzerland. We experience a traditional-style lunch in a tent settlement populated by nomadic herdsmen and enjoy a horse-riding show before returning to the train.

On Day 17 we pause in the Gobi Desert, the vast arid landscape where several dinosaur remains have been found amongst the towering dunes. Arriving at the Chinese border, we change trains to a Chinese sleeper train for the final leg of our journey, taking in scenes of rural Chinese life as we travel through the countryside. Having travelled a colossal 7,000 miles from Moscow, we arrive in Beijing on Day 18. We disembark the train and transfer to the Hotel Capital for a three-night stay.

Beijing and the Great Wall of China

Today we enjoy a guided tour of one of China's ancient cities. We visit the incredible Tiananmen Square, one of the largest city squares in the world, which is surrounded by symbols of China's power and reminders of its glorious past. These treasures include the Great Hall of the People, Mao's Mausoleum, the Monument to the People and Tiananmen Tower. The square also serves as the entrance to the truly wonderful Forbidden City, the Chinese Imperial Palace complex which was the centre of Chinese power from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. We also visit the Temple of Heaven, a breathtaking example of Chinese architecture from the 15th century which symbolised the relationship between Heaven and Earth in Chinese culture.

On Day 20 we visit a beautiful section of the world-famous Great Wall of China, perhaps the most evocative symbol of Chinese skill and precision. Tonight we enjoy a dinner together featuring the celebrated dish of Peking duck.

Return to London

This morning we transfer to the airport for the flight back to London.

Outbound Flight Option

We are delighted to offer a version of the tour starting with a flight from London to Moscow. Although shorter in length (16 days), this version still includes all the splendour of Moscow.

Please note

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.

Departure Times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.