Compare Moscow Ulan-Bator and Beijing Trans-Siberian Railway Tour by Bravo Asia Tours vs Russia in Depth - Small Group, 2023 Small Group by Insight Vacations

Day 1: Moscow
Zdrastvutye! Welcome to Russia. Meet your tour guide at Moscow International Airport then transfer to hotel. Take a good rest after long flight. If you are still energetic, you may take a self-guided walk in this capital city. Overnight in Moscow

Day 2: Moscow
After breakfast, your tour guide will meet you at your hotel. You will start the tour of Moscow on foot and try the underground metro stations in Moscow, known as the ‘Palaces of the People’ when they were first built. You will be amazed at the beautiful sculptures, bronzes, mosaics and crystal chandeliers. Later, by your private transfer, you will see some of the famous landmarks and places to which you may return at your leisure. The tour sights include Red Square, the Kremlin, Sparrow Hills, Bolshoi Theatre, Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Victory Park, Novodevichy Convent, the White House and the famous Moscow streets. Overnight in Moscow

Day 3: Moscow
Today, you will go inside the most famous landmark of the city, the magnificent Kremlin. Within the territory is the fascinating Armoury Museum which you will visit, to see the spectacular collection of costumes, silver and arms amongst a vast treasure trove of exhibits. Return to the hotel at around 13.00 hrs or you may stay in the city for further exploration and make your own way back to the hotel. Overnight in Moscow

Day 4: Moscow - Yekaterinburg
You will be free at your leisure until your driver and guide come to pick you up to the railway station in the afternoon. Take your Trans-Siberian train towards Yekaterinburg. Overnight onboard

Day 5:Yekaterinburg
You will arrival in Yekaterinburg in the evening. Meet your guide and then transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Yekaterinburg

Day 6: Yekaterinburg
Today you'll have a sightseeing tour around Yekaterinburg and to the Romanov's monastery. Visit through central streets and city center to understand the old machinery on the Historical Square. Then continue on to visit splendid Church of Spilled Blood at the Romanovs’ Death Site and the Chapel of St. Elizabeth. You will observe beautiful views of Yekaterinburg and the City Pond from an embankment and from the Hill of Ascension. The Afghanistan memorial at the Square of Red Army, gorgeous villas of Urals “gold merchants” of 19th century and monumental buildings in “Stalin’s neoclassicism” style are to survey, too. The tour also includes a visit to one of the local museums. Excursion out of the city (15 km.) to The Monastery dedicated to the Romanov’s Tsar Family. On the way to the border-line you will see “The Memorial of Victims of GULAG”. Keep driving to The Main Obelisk “Between Europe & Asia”. You cross the borderline and get a Special Certificate. Overnight in Yekaterinburg

Day 7: Yekaterinburg - Irkutsk
Free at leisure until your guide come to escort you to the railway station at 3 o'clock in the morning to catch the train and head towards Irkutsk. Overnight onboard

Day 8: Irkutsk
You will spend a whole day on the train. Overnight onboard

Day 9: Irkutsk - Listvyanka
The train will arrival in Irkutsk in the morning. Meet your tour guide and drive at the railway station. You will be transferred to the village situated only 60km away from Irkutsk - Listvyanka. Check-in to the hotel. After your breakfast and freshen-up, you will be guided to visit to a local biological museum that has a set of aquariums. There is one with the only mammal representative, the Baikal Seal, in it. Walk up to a nearby view point. There you’ll get a chance to take panoramic pictures of Baikal from above. Enjoy your visit to a local 19th century wooden St.Nicolas church and a local fish market where you’ll see a great variety of fish and different ways of cooking it. Free time. Overnight in Listvyanka

Day 10: Listvyanka
Today, you will have a trip to an open-air wooden architecture museum “Taltsy” passing one of the highlights of Listvyanka, Shaman Rock. In the museum you’ll see the settlements of indigenous Siberian people. Most of the buildings presented in the museum were built in the 17th-20th centuries and were brought there from the villages that were flooded after building hydro-electric dams in Irkutsk region. Lunch at the local Siberian restaurant. Enjoy your banya (Russian sauna) in the evening. Overnight in Listvyanka

Day 11: Listvyanka - Irkutsk
You will travel back to Irkutsk this morning. Have a short city tour of Irkutsk, visit Epiphany Cathedral, the oldest stone-structure Church of our Saviour and the only Catholic Cathedral in Irkutsk, Polish Roman Catholic Church. The tour leads you through the Kirov Square and circus, taking you to the main street of Irkutsk, the Karl Marks Street. You’ll walk along the street to get to the Angara river embankment. Right there, where the monument to Alexander III is, all young people gather, so you’ll have a chance to see “the youth culture” of Irkutsk. Check-in to the hotel. You will take the train to Ulaan Baator in mid-night so early bed time is advised. Overnight in Irkutsk

Day 12: Irkutsk - Ulaanbaatar
Your guide will meet you at hotel at around 3:30 AM. Then transfer to the train station at about 4 o'clock in the morning. The following time of the day is on the train. Have a good sleep and enjoy the scenery along the railroad to Ulaan Baatord. Overnight onboard

Day 13: Ulaanbaatar
Arrival at Ulan-Bator in the morning. Transfer to hotel for the short refreshment break, shower and breakfast. Start the Ulaan Baator city tour at the Gandan monastery - the center of Mongolian Buddhism, and join the monks for the morning prayer. Visit the National History Museum, which holds a permanent exhibition on the different civilizations that have inhabited the territory of Mongolia from prehistoric times to the present. You will walk a little in the center of the city to get to know the life of this capital city of Mongolia. Explore the Black Market, a huge market containing everything in Mongolian daily life, for both nomads and urban apartment dwellers. Goods brought from all corners of Mongolia are here for sale. In the evening you will enjoy dinner, followed by a night visit to the Zaisan hill, where you will enjoy the view of the entire city at night. Overnight in Ulaan Baator

Day 14: Ulaanbaatar - Gorki-Terelj National Park
Breakfast. Free time until check-out. Departure to Gorki-Terelj National Park. The park features unique rock formations, scenic valleys, a winding river, and restful groves of trees. Many nomads live in the park where they find good grazing for their animals. We will have a little tour in the park and visit such rocks as “The Turtle rock" and “Monk reading a book“. We will visit the “Aryabal” meditation center located in the mountains to learn about Mongolian Buddhism. Overnight at the ger(a portable felt dwelling in Mongolian)

Day 15: Ulaanbaatar
Free time relaxing in the morning. After breakfast we will visit nomadic families and take the opportunity to learn about their unique way of life. Return to the ger camp. After lunch at the ger you'll be transferred back to Ulan-Bator. Overnight in Ulaan Baator

Day 16: Ulaanbaatar
In the afternoon we will see the 40 meters Chinggis Khan statue that has been completed in 2008 on the bank of the Tuul River. We will climb to the top of the statue, and will enjoy the marvelous landscape of the wide steppes surrounding it. Evening arrival to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to the hotel. Farewell dinner. Overnight in Ulaan Baator

Day 17: Ulaanbaatar - Beijing
In the morning, your guide and driver will escort you to the railway station of Ulaan Baator for your train to Beijing. Overnight onboard

Day 18: Beijing
Arrive in Beijing in the afternoon, your Beijing guide and driver will meet you at the railway station then transfer to hotel. Have a good rest after long train journey. Overnight in Beijing

Day 19: Beijing
Today, you will start your journey in Beijing. Visit the Tian’anmen Square. If you are interested in the daily flag-raising ceremony at sunrise, you can ask your guide to escort you. But you need prepare for early rising and possible crowded camera-toting tourists. Then visit the Forbidden City. You will have your lunch at a restaurant restored from a traditional quadrangle courtyard. In the afternoon, you will hop on a rickshaw to ride through the hutongs, the narrow alleys between rows of quadrangle dwellings. There you might come across children playing football or seniors playing Chinese chess by the sides. It is a nice way to get a snapshot of traditional Beijing people’s life. Pay a visit to a local family who is living in a traditional and original quadrangle welling. There you also can try your hand on painting operatic masks in a pattern of your choosing and learn the meaning of deferent masks. Have dinner before head back to hotel. Overnight in Beijing

Day 20: Beijing
In the morning you will visit the Temple of Heaven, the royal altar where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped heaven. Before you enter the Temple of Heaven, you will come across lots of local people doing their morning exercises, including playing tai chi, singing cage birds, writing calligraphies on the ground, and kicking shuttlecocks. You can join them to share the happiness with the local people. After that you will move on to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, which is about a 2-hour drive from the Temple of Heaven. The Great Wall at Mutianyu is a restored Great Wall section with fewer crowds, the most impressive scenery, and convenient cable car service. This section is about 2.2 kilometers long, with the steepest section part (at nearly 70 degrees) close to the end. Overnight in Beijing

Day 21: Beijing
In the morning after breakfast, your tour guide and driver will escort you to visit the exterior Bird Nest and Water Cube, the amazing architectures that built for Beijing Olympic Games. After that you will visit CCTV Headquarter (outside), outstanding for its brand-new appearance. After lunch, you will be taken to the wholesale market of Beijing Silk Street Market. This market is a five-storey building with an area of 30,000 square meters targeting the shopping groups including foreign visitors and local white-collar people. Overnight in Beijing

Day 22: Beijing
Today, you will fully explore Beijing by visiting the famous imperial garden — the Summer Palace. After having a Beijing-style lunch, you will have a bird’s-eye view of Beijing and the Forbidden City when you visit Jingshan Park. Later on you'll be transfer back to hotel. The rest time of today will be free at leisure. Overnight in Beijing

Day 23: Beijing
This is the last day of your Trans-Siberian Railway Tour. You will be escorted to Beijing international airport, from where you will take your flight onward. The whole team of Bravo Asia Tours welcomes your next trip to Asia with us again.

Day 1: Welcome to St. Petersburg

Airport transfers depart from St. Petersburg airport at 14:30 and 17:00. Meet your Travel Director and travel companions at 19:00 for a friendly Welcome Dinner served with wine.

Day 2: St.Petersburg Sightseeing

Morning sightseeing with your Local Expert includes views of St. Isaac's Cathedral, the fortress of St. Peter and Paul and Decembrists' Square. Travel along Nevsky Prospekt for views of the great Cathedral of Kazan and the iconic, onion-domed Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and visit a local ceramist workshop supporting vulnerable youth. The rest of the day is yours to explore. Perhaps join an Optional Experience and visit the beautiful Catherine Palace in the small town of Tsarskoe Selo, now called Pushkin? Or, if you prefer, relax at your hotel where you can make the most of its luxury facilities.

Day 3: Petrodvorets by Hydrofoil Relaxed Start

Cruise by hydrofoil along the Baltic shore to Peter the Great’s summer residence of Petrodvorets. For over 200 years it was used for official ceremonies, lavish feasts and formal receptions. Explore the perfectly manicured gardens and see the cascading fountains. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the world-famous Alexandrinsky Theatre with a member of the production team. Visit the royal box and see an exhibition of authentic costumes. Later you are at leisure, or perhaps visit the former residence of the Yusupov family and the scene of Rasputin's murder?

Day 4: The Hermitage Museum Relaxed Start

Located in the Winter Palace, the Hermitage is one of the world’s greatest museums. Marvel at this fabulous collection of paintings and ornaments, ranging from Egyptian carvings to Impressionist masterpieces.The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore, shop or relax.

Day 5: High Speed Sapsan Train to Moscow Relaxed Start

Enjoy a relaxed start in the morning, or perhaps visit the former residence of the Yusupov family and the scene of Rasputin's murder? Board your high speed Sapsan train and relax in modern luxury and comfort as you swoop to Moscow in just a few hours. On arrival in this fascinating city, you are transferred to your hotel for a leisurely three-night stay. Famous for its unique history and colourful architecture, explore Moscow’s enchanting city centre and get lost in its captivating Modern art scene. For those wanting to take a pretty stroll, why not head to Gorky Park? Designed in the 1920s by Konstantin Melnikov, the park is famous for its outdoor activities and art exhibitions.

Day 6: Moscow, a Russian Revelation Relaxed Start

Begin your exploration of the Russian capital with a Local Expert. Start in Red Square, lined by Moscow's landmark buildings. At one end rises the onion-shaped domes of St. Basil's Cathedral, in front of the Kremlin stands Lenin's Mausoleum, while on the opposite side, the grand GUM department store offers a variety of glamorous goods. Explore Moscow with Insight Choice. Choose to visit an ornate metro station with your Local Expert. Alternatively, take a stroll through the popular Zaryadye Park and enjoy great views of your surroundings.

Day 7: Moscow and The Kremlin Relaxed Start

In the morning you are at leisure to relax or explore the Russian capital as you wish. Perhaps visit the Borodino Panorama Exhibition or take an Optional Experience to the renowned centre of ancient Russian art and architecture, Zagorsk? In the afternoon, walk within the walls of the Kremlin Fortress to visit one of the cathedrals. Learn more about Russia’s famous Tsars, the history of the Fortress and how its role has changed over the years. Join your travelling companions at a local restaurant for a freshly prepared meal, rich with traditional flavours and accompanied with wine.

Day 8: To Sergiev Posad, Rostov-the-Great and to Yaroslavl

This morning, depart Moscow to Sergiev Posad. Visit some of the colourful churches of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra. Journey to Rostov-the-Great and explore its ivory towered Kremlin and the Museum of Enamel. Continue to Yaroslavl where a delicious dinner is served at a riverside restaurant.

Day 9: Kostroma and Suzdal Experience

During your sightseeing of Yaroslavl, see the domed Church of Elijah the Prophet and the Holy Transfiguration Monastery. Travel to Kostroma to see the fabulous Trinity Cathedral. Continue to charming Suzdal.

Day 10: Exploring Suzdal

Explore Suzdal with Insight Choice. Choose to meet an Orthodox priest and learn about the ancient art of icon painting. Alternatively, visit the Monastery of the Saviour St. Ethimius. Dine like a local as you enjoy an authentic Home-hosted lunch with a meal typical of the region.

Day 11: On to Vladimir and return to Moscow

Journey to Vladimir to see the carved stone walls of the Cathedral of St. Demetrius, and visit the Museum of Crystal and Varnished Miniatures. Visit a Matryoska doll-making workshop and try your hand to decorate your own. Return to Moscow where you are at leisure for the rest of the day.

Day 12: Farewell Moscow

Departure transfers will arrive at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport at 05:00, 08:00 and 11:00 and at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport at 05:00, 10:00 and 13:00.