Own transport to Beijing Central Station, where you will you will board the Ulaanbaatar bound train.

Afternoon arrival in Ulaanbaatar.   Transfer from the station, to a hotel with a chance to freshen up and have light snack, before departing for your city tour.  Then depart for Elstei Ger Lodge (70km) which includes a scheduled stop at the enormous monument to Genghis Khan along the way. It may not be quite traditional in style (since it’s made of stainless steel) but it’s an astounding edifice and a testament to Genghis’s place in Mongolian culture. Taking the elevator to the top of this 10 metre high monument you visit the exhibition hall from where you will have an excellent panoramic view over the complex area and the scenery beyond. On arrival to Elstei Ger Lodge you will be allocated a 4-person share Ger. (2- person upgrade available).

With no specific activities planned you can choose to chill out, read, or go walking, or  (for a small payment made directly to them locally) you can go horse riding with local nomad horsemen.

After breakfast depart for the Bayangobi region. Picnic lunch en-route. Arriving at herdsmen encampment late afternoon. Tonight you are the guests of the herdsmen, and you’ll stay in a nomadic ger tent.

A SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT NOMAD STAYS: When we say “nomad stay” it means exactly that – you are sharing the lives of herdsmen who live on the Mongolian Steppe. There’s often no electricity, they don’t speak English, and there isn’t any plumbing!

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.

After breakfast you make the return trip to Ulaanbaatar, named the coldest capital in the world during the winter months. Check into the Bayangol 3★ Hotel. This is a great centrally located property. The balance of today is free to explore more of the city. A worthwhile trip would be to visit the Naraan Tull Market where you can buy not only everyday items but great traditional Mongolian costumes, boots even saddles. It`s easy to pick up your email`s in one of the numerous internet cafes on Peace Avenue or pick-up some snack food for the train in one of the many supermarkets…. in the evening a wide range of traditional and new style Mongolian eateries are vying with European style places or maybe go to see a Folklore concert?

If you are interested in Mongolian Buddhism you may be interested in making a visit to the Gandan Monastery this morning, to see the morning prayer ceremonies in progress.  This evening we will transfer you to the station where you will board the Ulan-Uday bound train.

Arrival late evening in Ulan-Ude, transfer to your host family.

After breakfast a guided trip to Atsagatsky Buddhist Lamasery, and the strange history of its Abbot Dorjiev and his role in the life of Russia’s last Tsar. After the monastery, try the cuisine of Buryatia for lunch with a village family. Return to host(s) for traditional supper. If you rate comfort over authenticity hotel upgrades are available.

Visit to the Ivolginsky Datsan. Excursion to Tarbagatay, a village with traditional brightly painted house, home to the “Old Believers”, whose simple life of hard work and avoidance of luxuries have led some to call them “Russia’s Amish” – they claim to be the true branch of Russian Orthodox Christianity, and refused to accept religious reforms of the C17th when they fled to Siberia. Late evening transfer to the station where you will board the Irkutsk bound train.

Arrival in Irkutsk, transfer to U Ozera 3★ Hotel situated in Listvyanka Village (70km) travelling by road through the forest. The Hotel is set just 50 metres from the shores of Lake Baikal.

It’s all included in the trip price! You’ll need to inform us of your choice before commencing your journey, so that we can have the right staff on hand for when you arrive.

• (A) Siberian trek
• (B) Circum Baikal picnic
• (C) Taltsy wooden museum
• (D) Port Baikal excursion

After breakfast transfer back to Irkutsk city. Our local staff will provide a map and some recommendations of interesting places to visit. Some of our top suggestions (please check opening times/days before setting off) Decembrist Museum, Volkonsky House and The Epiphany Cathedral. Early evening transfer to the station, where you will board the Ekaterinburg bound train.

On Board Trans-Siberian.

Evening arrive in Ekaterinburg where our driver will meet you at the end of the platform, and will be holding a meeting-board with your name on. Transfer to the Chekhov 3★ Hotel, which is centrally located.

After breakfast there’s a walking tour around the well known and less obvious attractions of Ekaterinburg, with a local expert guide. You’ll visit the historical centre of the city, including the scene of the assassination of the Romanov Royal Family, on which a Cathedral now stands to mark the event. You’ll also see something of Ekaterinburg’s involvement in Russia’s military history. The last half-hour will be spent at The Museum of Gems. The tour ends in the downtown area (we make sure you know the way back!), where you are poised for multiple lunch choices and a free afternoon to explore independently.

Please make a choice of one of the day trip options, it is all include in the price.

• (A) Romanov Graves & Europe Asia Border
• (B) Siberian countryside and historic village
• (C) Hiking in the Urals
• (D) Walk in the Urals Forest

Early morning transfer to the station where you will board the Moscow bound train.

Arrival in Moscow. Your driver will meet you at the end of the platform and you will travel by private car to the Panorama 3★ Hotel. (We can obtain rates for superior hotels ask a member of the reservations team for details.) One of our local expert staff will meet you at the hotel around noon to take you on a three hour walking tour round the highlights – you’ll use public transport around the centre to avoid the traffic jams and get the hang of the system for when you come to use it independently. Our staffers are full of ideas for this walk but are flexible about other ideas if you have your own. Your walk ends in the city centre mid afternoon. The rest of the day’s your own.Your complimentary InfoPack is full of ideas for getting the most out of your free time.

This morning you can continue sightseeing the Lenin Mausoleum is only open in the mornings, and getting there early (it’s in Red Square) helps beat the queues. If you haven’t pre-booked any of our range of city excursions the rest of the day is your own to explore further. Some of our top suggestions (please check opening times/days before setting off) would include visiting the Moscow Kremlin, the Tretyakov Gallery, the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum, or a boat trip along the Mosvka River?

You will need to check out of your room by 12 noon. Own transport to the airport or station on departure.