Trans-Siberian Tour on the Tsar's Gold Private Train Beijing to Moscow

Arrive into Beijing where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy some time to relax before heading out with your friendly tour-guide to explore China’s vibrant capital city. In the evening, enjoy a welcoming dinner. (D)

After breakfast, strike out for the Great Wall of China. This iconic sight is often called ‘The Eighth Wonder of the World’. On the way there, visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ming Tombs, where 13 Ming emperors were buried, and the Spirit Way. For dinner, you will have the chance to feast on authentic Peking Duck. (B,L,D)

Before you leave Beijing, you have the morning to explore the Forbidden City, closed to the public for centuries but now open for you to explore, and full of wonders. Later transfer to the train station ready for your evening departure for Mongolia aboard an overnight, chartered Chinese train. (B,L,D)

Around noon, disembark the Chinese train and enjoy some free time to explore the colourful local market in Erlian. Transfer to the Tsar’s Gold and set off towards Mongolia. Drink in the endless, sandy vistas of the Gobi Desert and marvel at the contrast as you pass into the lush, verdant Mongolian steppes. (B,L,D)

Arrive into Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, in the late morning. Enjoy a guided tour of the city, stopping at many of its most famous sights including several Choijin Lama Temples. In the evening, you have the option to attend a performance of traditional Mongolian arts including throat singing, national dances in traditional dress, and horse-headed fiddle-playing.

If you wish, alternative sleeping arrangements can be made for a small additional fee in a traditional ger camp in the beautiful Mongolian wilderness. (B,L,D)

Head to the Gandan Monastery after breakfast and then take a bus up into the Mongolian Alps, roughly a 90 minute journey from Ulaanbaatar. Drink in the dramatic scenery and bizarre rock formations, and enjoy a picnic lunch in a yurt camp. After eating, you will be treated to a Mongolian horse-riding demonstration and a traditional wrestling match before returning to the capital. (B,L,D)

Travel through the Selenga Valley en-route to Ulan Ude, where your train will join the main Trans-Siberian route. Revel in the scenery before alighting in Ulan Ude and enjoying an informative city tour. (B,L,D)

In the morning, experience the natural wonder of Lake Baikal from the comfort of your carriage, with two opportunities to stop and get out for photographs if you like. In Port Baikal, disembark and take a short boat excursion out onto the lake itself. You also have the option to go swimming and to visit a picturesque Baikal village. Dinner today is a picnic on the lakeshore in traditional Baikal style. (B,L,D)

Arrive into Irkutsk in the morning. Irkutsk is a vibrant city, boasting beautiful old architecture, museums, cathedrals, and thriving academic circles. See the sights on a guided city tour, including the Okhlopkov Drama Theatre, a new memorial to Tsar Alexander III, the open-air Siberian history museum and the photogenic market hall. Spend the night in a hotel in Irkutsk. (B,L,D)

It’s back aboard the Tsar’s Gold to continue through Eastern Siberia with its mountains, crystal-clear rivers and verdant slopes. On board, enjoy caviar and vodka tasting and experience first-hand the authentic Russian tradition of warm hospitality and clever, witty toasts. (B,L,D)

Pull into Siberia’s largest city, often described as the “most Soviet” along the whole route. You will be greeted in the traditional Russian manner with bread and salt and then taken on a tour. Highlights include the market and the opera house, and of course the mighty Ob river which runs through the city. (B,L,D)

Disembark in the capital of the Ural Federal District, the "frontier" between the European and Asian continents. The Cathedral of the Saviour of the Spilled Blood is a particular highlight on the city tour you will undertake. It was built in 2003 to commemorate the murder the murder of the Romanov family in 1918. Other stops include the attractive city centre, which was restored in 2009, and the obelisque monument.

Hop back aboard your train and enjoy stunning views of the Urals as you indulge in the dining car. (B,L,D)

Arrive in Kazan and enjoy a guided tour of the city. The city’s Kremlin is a highlight, with a colourful mishmash of architecture dating from the 16th to the 21st century. Learn about the turbulent history of the Tatars, Cossacks and Russians, who so often met each other in battle. Take lunch in a city restaurant before heading back to the train. (B,L,D)

Arrive into Russia’s thriving capital at around midday, the place where your journey will end. Tour the grounds of the famous Moscow Kremlin and then head inside to view some of its beautiful interiors. After dinner, take the “City of Lights” tour to really discover the city’s magic. The tour includes a stop at the Red Square and a ride on the underground, famous for its splendour and cleanliness. 

Head out into the city on a guided tour for your last day. Highlights include the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the New Maiden’s Convent, the Red Square with colourful St Basil’s Cathedral and the Moscow Kremlin, and the former KGB Headquarters.

Later, you will be transferred to the airport ready for your flight back to the UK. (B)