Everyone’s heard of “Outer Mongolia”, without actually knowing anything about it. But “Inner Mongolia”? The names come from Imperial China. When they conquered Mongolia they realised that ruling it would be impossible. So the grassland part nearest to Beijing (the “Inner” part) they ruled like the rest of China, but they gave up once the Gobi was in the way, and the “Outer” part was ruled by martial law. “Outer Mongolia” is now the independent country of Mongolia, one of the world’s least-visited countries. “Inner Mongolia” is still a part of China, and you can imagine how few go to it? But it was once the richest part of Mongolia – this trip is for the inquisitive and adventurous!
“S Priezdom” Welcome to St. Petersburg. Your driver meets you on arrival and transfers you by private car to the hotel.
A full day for you to pack in the best of the rest. Own transfer this evening to Moskovsky Station where you will board the Moscow bound train.
We transfer you by private car directly to your hotel. This morning there’s a three hour walking and familiarisation tour, to introduce the city (and its public transport system) and to get your sightseeing off to a flying start. The rest of the day’s your own.
Transfer to Yaroslavsky Station where you will board the Ulaanbaatar bound train.
Travelling through Kazan and Ekaterinburg.
Onwards into Siberia itself, via Novosibirsk.
Across the River Enisei, at Krasnoyarsk.
Circumnavigating Lake Baikal and on to Mongolia.
Transfer from the station, shower and breakfast. Depart for city tour to include the Gandan Monastery ceremony. Depart Ulaanbaatar for the Bayangobi region. Evening arrival at a herdsman encampment. Tonight you are the guests of the herdsmen, and you’ll stay in a nomadic ger tent.
Depart after breakfast for a day trip through the countryside of Övörkhangai Province in the direction of Harhorin. Our route takes us into the Orkhon Valley, a World Heritage Site. This afternoon we arrive at modern Harhorin – the settlement Genghis Khan would have known as Karakorum. Nothing is left of the ancient settlement, but on its site is the (rather later) monastery of Erdene Zuu, one of the most important Buddhist centres in Mongolia. Returning back to our nomad host family.
Free time explore the Bayangobi area. This evening you stay with your nomad host family, and learn traditional Mongolian games.
Evening arrival at Elstei Ger Lodge. This is a different experience from staying with nomads, as Elstei is purposely set up for foreign visitors. This evening, chill out and relax after the long journey.
Free time at Elstei Ger Lodge. Throughout the day you will have the opportunity to partake in optional activities.
After breakfast transfer back to Ulaanbaatar and check into the Bayangol Hotel. The balance of the day is your own to explore this city of contrasts. Culture, shopping, food? This capital city won’t disappoint.
Free time before evening transfer to the station, where you will board the Huhehot bound train.
Transfer to your hotel.
The capital of Inner Mongolia.
Own transfer to the station this evening for the Beijing bound train.
Arriving into Beijing West Station at the end of your Trans-Siberian journey.
The journey you have chosen has some “extras” that are necessary and then “extras” that will enhance your trip. We cannot re-iterate too much that at Russia Experience we pride ourselves on making the trip you have chosen the best it can be – so if we don’t mention something you want, ask us and we’ll try our best to make it happen! In return, we try to inform you about any great “extras” along the way, so that you have the chance to try them if you want! Visas are a necessary extra and needed for all the countries you travel through and the current costs and what is needed can be found under Visas.
Upgrading to 2- berth compartment on the train is also an option, you will see under Prices. This service is becoming more popular every year and not helped by the train operators only confirming this request 30 days or less prior to your departure. We have however devised a workaround for this that’s proving very reliable. We request a 2-berth at the time of booking but if this comes back not possible we block out a 4-berth compartment for 2 person occupancy. The standard of these cabins remains the same, and you get the extra space and privacy one way or the other.
We have a range of services for passengers wanting to stay or continue their journey into China at the start or end of their journey.
What’s includedTrain
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2016 – 21 DaysMay 07, 14, 21, 28 |
All services – transits, hotels, on-train facilities and guides
were punctual and efficient.
We had no problems in meeting/being met by taxi drivers.
Hotels were expecting us as paid-for guests.
Guides were pleasant, knowledgeable and had good English.
On-train we were surprised at being offered all we wanted.
Indeed, the whole package was sound and recommendable.
We were pleasantly surprised with unexpected on-train facilities.
Apparently, the1st class, two-berth, on-train service includes
one cooked meal daily and complementary daily supply of
tea, coffee and chocolate. Boiling water for beverages is
available all day and night in each car.
Bedding – linen sleeping bag and two pillows – is free.
On the older railway stock, on train 8, don’t expect to wash
anything except hands and your plastic crockery and cutlery.
Toilet paper is always availably, though not always paper towels,
and the waste bins are emptied regularly.
At Irtkusk the local office manager is like no other manager.
His appearance is that of a 1960s hippy – long hair tied into
a pony-tail, short trousers, back-pack – but he is delightfully
lucid, speaks excellent English, is clearly well-connected, is
light hearted and very effective. The world needs more of
his equal.
The fresh water and very clear Lake Baikal is a treasure:
It’s 636 km long, about 1650 m deep and has many species
found nowhere else. No wonder it has internationally
recognised status for scientific interest. The Baikal
museum and aquarium is truly worth a visit.
Thanks for organising a most enjoyable and interesting
tour.
Yours aye,
Ian Fraser
Our home stay hostess, Olga, was a delight. Loved the visits to villages.
Now to read and reread Russian novels! Mongolia nomad stay was more challenging than we expected but in retrospect was a good experience. Family and guide were great.
Marilyn Thomas
Kind regards
Paul Pennington
Dermot Carlin
We have had an amazing time. Everything was so well organised, we always felt looked after without feeling stifled or rushed about as you might on a fully managed/guided tour. We had plenty of time to do our own thing and the trips were always in very small groups (if not only the three of us!). The local guides at each location were fantastic. All really helpful and knowledgeable and ready to do that little bit extra (special thanks to the amazing Ulziimaa in Ulaanbataar!). As you may have guessed at an early stage I can be a bit of a nervous traveller but you reassured us at every step and everything was so well planned and organised, we really had nothing to worry about at all. I appreciate hugely the fact that every email and question I had was responded to and answered within minutes/hours, even when we were in China. I will (and already have done) unreservedly recommend you and your company to anyone considering travelling through Russia, Mongolia and China.
A truly amazing experience…thank you.
Alanna, Ralph and Nathan
Karen & Jacques Grivel
Thanks for all your troubles and for a wonderful experience.
Best regards,
Carlos Ossenbach Sauter
Carols Ossenbach Sauter
Bernadette & Joseph Skinner
All excellent and situated conveniently close to the city centres and the main attractions. Staff very helpful even to the extent of supplying breakfast boxes on those mornings we left early.
City Walks.
These added a whole new dimension to the tours as the guides were first rate and very well informed. We also found that they were happy to talk of present and past regimes which served to add colour to the situation and they were also well versed in the local customs. Without the guides the experience would not have been quite so rewarding.
Options.
Not to be missed. Picnic at Lake Baikal and the trip to the Great Wall. Excellent guides and very well organised .
As promised we were always met as arranged . The drivers went out of their way to ensure that we were on time for our trains and they also made sure that we were safely on board before leaving. We were also lucky in meeting three others on the “experience” in Moscow who we were with until Beijing and so we had others to turn to when we were confused. ( Often at my age )
All in all it was a fantastic experience and one that I would not have wanted to miss at any cost. You have made two old men very happy.
My one and only complaint about the trip is that I have absolutely nothing about which to complain.
My thanks to you and all involved.
Brian Marchant & Brian Quance
We thoroughly enjoyed the hike round Lake Baikal (although the distances were a lot further than in the itinerary!!!!), and the walking guide Anton was both knowledgeable and chilled out, a great balance!
Mongolia was also an excellent experience, with the family stay being the highlight! Our guide Naki had endless information and was forever cheerful! A big thank you to him too!
The whole experience for us both was a very positive one and we will be sure to recommend your company to family and friends!!
Once again, thank you to all the drivers, guides and yourself for an excellent service!
Amanda and Duncan
Amanda Moran & Duncan Balderson
Extra Night
St. Petersburg: +£65
Moscow midweek: +£60
Moscow weekend: +£45
2-Berth UpgradesSt. Petersburg - Moscow +£75
Moscow - Beijing +£430
Seasonal supplementMay - Sept +£60
Extra Night
St. Petersburg: +£35
Moscow midweek: +£40
Moscow weekend: +£35
2-Berth UpgradesSt. Petersburg - Moscow +£75
Moscow - Beijing +£430
Seasonal supplementMay - Sept +£60
Extra Night
St. Petersburg: +£35
Moscow midweek: +£40
Moscow weekend: +£35
2-Berth UpgradesSt. Petersburg - Moscow +£75
Moscow - Beijing +£430
Seasonal supplementMay - Sept +£60
Your money is held in a trust account until you've completed your trip.
Take a bottle of Tobasco to help lift a dull meal.
Learn a few words in Russian. We’ll start you off with a couple important ones:Спасибо (“spa-see-ba”) – Thank-You Пожалуйста (“pa-zhal-sta”) – Please (and You’re Welcome)
Please don’t think a fleece and a pair of mittens will be sufficient warmth between January and March. Pack appropriate clothing for the season.
Fun Fact: The time on board remains on Moscow time all the way across – Even when you go through one of the six time zones. You never know what time it is after a day or two.
Take some photos of your home, family and friends. People you meet love to see these.
Fun Fact: All of our Classic Trips are on working trains and travellers journey with “locals”
If you are planning to visit a Mongolian Ger Lodge; don’t forget to take some gifts for the Mongolian children. Stickers, Pencils, Pens and bubble blowers are ideal gifts.
Take a universal sink plug. They are always missing for whatever reason.
Keep your passport with you at all times. It’s the law.
In Russia, Mongolia and China shop prices are shop prices. There’s seldom room for discount. At markets you can haggle the prices right down.
I just wanted to thank everyone at the Russia Experience for organising a very enjoyable Trans-Siberian trip.. Got back from Moscow on Monday (Easyjet, £50 ticket!). Good hotels, great guides, interesting places and no travel problems. Everything went very smoothly.. Spasiba! Ingrid Morris
I think that you should know that I have reached that time in life where I am not happy unless I can complain about something. Being a miserable old git gives me great pleasure. So let us start with the trip you arranged for the two Brians. First – Hotels. All excellent and situated conveniently close to the city centres and the main attractions. Staff very helpful even to the extent of supplying breakfast boxes on those mornings we left early. City Walks. These added a whole new dimension to the tours as the guides were first rate and very well informed. We also found that they were happy to talk of present and past regimes which served to add colour to the situation and they were also well versed in the local customs. Without the guides the experience would not have been quite so rewarding. Options. Not to be missed. Picnic at Lake Baikal and the trip to the Great Wall. Excellent guides and very well organised . As promised we were always met as arranged . The drivers went out of their way to ensure that we were on time for our trains and they also made sure that we were safely on board before leaving. We were also lucky in meeting three others on the “experience” in Moscow who we were with until Beijing and so we had others to turn to when we were confused. ( Often at my age ) All in all it was a fantastic experience and one that I would not have wanted to miss at any cost. You have made two old men very happy. My one and only complaint about the trip is that I have absolutely nothing about which to complain. My thanks to you and all involved.
We have been back home for nearly a month and I have neglected in thanking your company for such a well organised, interesting journey(Super Trans Mongolian) Charming personal guides who gave us a real feeling for their homelands. The most memorable days were at Elstei Ger and a day in the country with Constantine at Ekaterinburg. Both sister companies in these parts of the trip were excellent and I would be grateful if you could extend our thanks.
We have arrived safely in Beijing and would just like to say a massive thank you for organising our Moscow to Beijing trip for us! Everything was on time and excellent! We were met at every station and the guides / helpers we had were fantastic! We thoroughly enjoyed the hike round Lake Baikal (although the distances were a lot further than in the itinerary!!!!), and the walking guide Anton was both knowledgeable and chilled out, a great balance! Mongolia was also an excellent experience, with the family stay being the highlight! Our guide Naki had endless information and was forever cheerful! A big thank you to him too! The whole experience for us both was a very positive one and we will be sure to recommend your company to family and friends!! Once again, thank you to all the drivers, guides and yourself for an excellent service! Amanda and Duncan
We are freshly returned from our fantastic Trans-Siberian adventure. We would very much like to say a massive ‘thank you’. We have had an amazing time. Everything was so well organised, we always felt looked after without feeling stifled or rushed about as you might on a fully managed/guided tour. We had plenty of time to do our own thing and the trips were always in very small groups (if not only the three of us!). The local guides at each location were fantastic. All really helpful and knowledgeable and ready to do that little bit extra (special thanks to the amazing Ulziimaa in Ulaanbataar!). As you may have guessed at an early stage I can be a bit of a nervous traveller but you reassured us at every step and everything was so well planned and organised, we really had nothing to worry about at all. I appreciate hugely the fact that every email and question I had was responded to and answered within minutes/hours, even when we were in China. I will (and already have done) unreservedly recommend you and your company to anyone considering travelling through Russia, Mongolia and China. A truly amazing experience…thank you.
Hello Jo, It suddenly dawned on me that i have not thanked for all the help you gave Jodie whilst I was in hospital, so thanks very much I heard you went above and beyond giving Jodie advice unlike our travel insurance who were useless and gave bad advice. We are now in Mcleod Ganj in India just down the road from the Dalai Lama !! All the best, Kind regards, Dermot Carlin