Christmas Trans Mongolian

24 days - from $5810

Itinerary:

Days 1-3. Beijing  
 Beijing will prove unforgettable, all senses assailed – sight, sound, smell and taste - leaving indelible memories of continual contrast, history and tradition alongside 20th century technology.
Days 4-5. Trans Mongolian Railway to Ulaanbaatar  
 To Beijing Station and aboard the first of the trains that will carry us across Asia. At daybreak, classic scenes of traditional nomadic life greet us as the train winds impressively across the snowy Mongolian Steppe and into Ulaanbaatar.
Days 6-11. Ulaanbaatar & the Mongolian Steppe&  
 We travel through the countryside to spend our Christmas in traditional Mongolian nomad gers set amongst spectacular rock formations and wild rolling hills. Among the nomadic families of this stunning snowscape we can walk into nearby valleys or just relax in our snug, wood-fire heated gers. We return to the capital for a festive dinner, before departing aboard the two night Trans Mongolian Railway to Siberia.
Day 12. Arrive Irkutsk (Siberia)  
 Old buildings and timeworn mansions lend a beauty to this remote but flourishing city, sometimes called "The Paris of Siberia".
Days. 13-14. Lake Baikal  
 We transfer to Lake Baikal and the village of Listvyanka. Our guesthouse host is waiting to greet us and we enjoy a special lunch - traditional dishes and perhaps a toast of vodka. We visit a picturesque spot for a sleigh ride - a classic Siberian winter experience!&
Day 15. Irkutsk & aboard the Trans Siberian Railway 
 We return to Irkutsk and a chance to explore the city before we board the train for the journey to Moscow. Life on board is a great social occasion for our Russian hosts and we have the opportunity to celebrate the holiday season with them - what better place to be than on this famous train in the heart of a snowy wonderland!
Days 16-18. Trans Siberian Railway  
 Travelling via Novosibirsk, Omsk and Ekaterinburg and through the Ural Mountains and, on the far side of the Volga to Moscow.
Days 19-21. Moscow  
 Welcome to Moscow, with the echoing vastness of Red Square, the splendid twirled cupolas of St.Basil's and the Kremlin itself. On our final evening we join the overnight express to St.Petersburg.
Day 22. Arrive St.Petersburg  
Arriving early on Russian Orthodox Christmas Day, the city is quiet, providing the perfect opportunity for a city orientation tour the pastel palaces and frozen canals lend a special charm by their white frosting.
Days 23-24. St.Petersburg&  
 St.Petersburg is an unique treasure-house of 18th century architecture and the city that best displays the Russian genius for museums. The gilded rooms of the former Winter Palace, now the Hermitage Museum, are hung with the works of a hundred great masters. Our fabulous journey concludes with a gala dinner.
 

Details:

• Group Size 24 maximum, plus Tour Leader
• Accommodation Hotels & Guesthouses - 13 nights (twin share) Trains - 7 nights (4 berth) Mongolian Ger - 3 nights (shared) Meals 18 in total
• Breakfast (16), Lunch (1), 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 (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 between Beijing and St.Petersburg
• 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:  Zaisan Memorial, National History Museum, Gandan Hiid Monastery, Terelj National Park
• Irkutsk (Siberia): Walking tour of city, Museum of Wooden Architecture, Lake Baikal, Limnological Museum, Sleigh Ride
• Moscow: City tour, St.Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, Kremlin and Armoury Chamber.  St.Petersburg: City tour, Palace Square, Hermitage Museum, Gala Dinner
• Visas Required for China, Mongolia & Russia
• Adventure Center will provide a full visa support system including visa guidelines.