Trans Mongolian with Naadam Festival

24 days - from $5810

Itinerary:

Days 1-3. 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 lie the incomparable summer palaces of the Tsars at Petrodvorets. Yet for all this, St.Petersburg remains one of Europe's best kept secrets. We join the overnight express to Moscow - our epic journey is underway!
Days 4-6. 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. 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.
Days 7-9. Aboard the Trans Siberian Railway 
 We join the Trans Siberian Railway booming over the steel bridges spanning Siberia's nerve system of 5,000 rivers. We pass over the Ural Mountains which divide Europe and Asia, and we cross the Irtysh and Ob rivers.& We travel through Ekaterinburg, well known for the execution of the Romanov family in 1918 and the industrial cities of Omsk and Novosibirsk.
Days 10-12. 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 also enjoy a full day at Lake Baikal and time to visit the village of Listvyanka with its traditional houses and beautiful wooden church and nearby Limnological Museum. To gain an insight into the traditional lives of Siberian people we also visit the Museum of Wooden Architecture.
Day 13. Aboard the Trans Mongolian Railway 
 We settle into life on board, enjoying the company of our fellow passengers and a picnic in our cabin. The train arrives at Naushki, the Russian border town where formalities are completed and then continue across no-man's land to Sukhbaatar where Mongolian officials board the train for visa formalities before we continue on to Ulaanbaatar.
Days 14-15. Ulaanbaatar & the Mongolian Steppe 
 After breakfast we 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. In the afternoon we travel out across the grasslands through the countryside where we spend a night in a traditional Mongolian nomad tent or ger set amongst spectacular rock formations and wild rolling hills. Among nomadic families and their grazing livestock we can explore nearby valleys or just relax and enjoy the area. We return to Ulaanbaatar for the final night in this unusual capital. On Day 15 we return to the capital and visit Sukhbaatar Square and the National History Museum which reveals the remarkable and unique history of Mongolia.
Days 16-17. Naadam Festival 10th 12th July
 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 18-20. Kharkhorin & Erdene Zuu Hiid 
 The site of Kharkhorin 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 21. Arrive Beijing 
 We catch a morning flight to Beijing and begin to let ourselves to be drawn to the sights and sounds of China’s capital.
Days 20-23.& Beijing 
 Leaving the steppe of Mongolia behind, we travel through the Gobi Desert from Ulaanbaatar to Beijing.& This amazing city will prove unforgettable, all senses assailed - colour and sound, smell and taste - leaving indelible memories of continual contrast, history and tradition alongside 20th century technology. Over our three days here the 'Scheduled Sightseeing' will begin with some of the city’s greatest highlights, the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square and of course 'The Wall' stretching 10,000 Li across the distant hills.
 &
Day 24 Depart Beijing 
 The last day has arrived too soon. The adventure is complete and we have witnessed one of the great cultural celebrations of the region.
 

Details:

• Group Size 24 maximum, plus Tour Leader
• Accommodation Hotels - 12 nights (twin share) Mongolian Ger - 2 nights (shared) Siberian Guesthouse - 1 nights (twin share) Trains - 8 nights (4 berth) Meals 19 in total
• Breakfast (16), Lunch (2), Dinner (1)
• 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 (4 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.