Call Us 800.528.9300
Zarengold: Beijing to Moscow
Tour Description:
A JOURNEY ON THE LEGENDARY TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY IS ONE OF THE LAST GREAT TRAVEL ADVENTURES IN OUR WORLD.
Board your private train, the Zarengold, and embark on a 15-day journey from Beijing to Moscow via Ulan Bator on the world's most famous railroad. An unforgettable adventure awaits. Set this dream of a lifetime on the tracks with our private train and experience Russia, Mongolia and China in the safest, most comfortable and fascinating manner. The historic route between Beijing, Lake Baikal and Moscow is the heart of all travel variants: The exciting days of your journey are delivering three of the world's largest countries directly to your compartment. Lean back to enjoy the dramatic changes of scenery and savor a choice of Europe's and Asia's most superb and splendid landscapes!
Highlights:
* Overnight private train accommodations for 9 nights
* Hotel accommodations for 5 nights
* All meals
* Visit to the Great Wall of China and Ming Tombs
* Traditional Mini-Naadam celebration, including Mongolian horse-riding show
* Ride on the panoramic railway tracks along Lake Baikal with photo stops
* Traditional Russian welcome ceremony
* Moscow city tour including guided visit of the Kremlin
* Professional tour guides offering insight into Russian, Mongolian and Chinese culture
* Luggage service at train stations
* Transfers in Moscow and Beijing
Click for larger view.
Destination & Sightseeing
ITINERARY
ITINERARYDay 1 - Beijing / Temple of Heaven & Tiananmen Square
You arrive in China, home to one of the world’s oldest and most fascinating civilizations. Before setting out to explore the city, you receive a warm welcome at your first-class hotel and have the chance to relax and freshen up. Later your friendly, knowledgeable guides show you the stunning sights of the city, from the Temple of Heaven to the infamous Tiananmen Square. The day concludes in a relaxed manner with dinner. Overnight Beijing. (D)
Day 2 - Great Wall & Ming Tombs
The Great Wall of China is the 8th Wonder of the World; this is your chance to experience it up close. On your way there you stop at the famous Ming Tombs (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the Sacred Way, a boulevard lined with carved stone animals. Wrapping up the day is a feast featuring what is surely the world's best-known Chinese delicacy, Peking Duck, at one of China's most famous theme restaurants. Overnight Beijing. (B, L, D)
Day 3 - Forbidden City & Departure for Mongolia
For centuries the doors to the former Emperor's Palaces have been closed to the public. Today the glorious halls and mysterious temples of the Forbidden City are open for you. In the evening, the rail part of the journey begins. A modern Chinese private train will pull out from Beijing's station en route to Mongolia, a 16-hour trip (Nostalgic Comfort and Bolshoi cars are not available for this one night). Meanwhile, China's busy rural life unfolds outside your window: people working in the fields, donkey-drawn carts on dusty roads, and the great steppes of the Gobi desert. Overnight train. (B, L, D)
Day 4 - Through the Gobi Desert
At noon you arrive at the Chinese-Mongolian border and change to your Tsar's Gold private train. Formalities are easily dispatched in your compartment. In Erlian you can explore the colorful border market. Afterwards, your private train takes you through the vast expanse of the Gobi Desert, then through the great green steppes of Mongolia. Overnight train. (B, L, D)
Day 5 - Ulan Bator
In the morning you arrive in the Mongolian capital, Ulan Bator. Major luggage can be left on the train while you check into the centrally-located standard hotel and then enjoy a tour of the city. You will see the Choijin Lama Temple; at night you will have the unique opportunity to watch traditional Mongolian music performances. On request we can organize for you instead of your hotel stay an overnight stay in a yurt in the beautiful Mongolian Alps. Please contact us for details and price. Overnight Ulan Bator. (B, L, D)
Day 6 - Gandan Monastery & the Mongolian Alps
After breakfast you will visit the Buddhist Gandan Monastery and undertake an excursion to a mountainous area with stunning rock formations, known as the Mongolian Alps (about 90 minutes east of Ulan Bator). Along the way, an open-air railroad museum to learn about the origins of the classic Trans-Siberian Railroad. A picnic lunch in a yurt is followed by a demonstration of Mongolian horsemanship and the traditional wrestling match and archery display. Try some lamb in milk, a culinary specialty of Mongolia. Or, for the brave of heart, there's always kumis (fermented mare's milk), the beer of the nomads. Overnight train. (B, L, D)
Day 7 - Ulan Ude
Bid farewell to the Mongolian steppes as the train rolls on through the valley of Selenga, the largest river of Mongolia. In Ulan Ude your train joins the main route of the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Here you can stroll through the city streets or join the guided tour of the city. Overnight train. (B, L, D)
Day 8 - Lake Baikal
The entire day is dedicated to Lake Baikal. Before noon you will arrive at the old station of Port Baikal, located directly on the shore. During two long photo stops on the ancient panoramic tracks running parallel to the shore you will have the chance to capture the beauty of the lake on film and explore the wonderful scenery. Take a moment to have a dip in the lake or visit a picturesque Baikal village. You will also enjoy a short boat ride on the lake. If the night is warm, your dinner will be served as a picnic on the shores of the spectacular lake before re-boarding the train. Overnight train. (B, L, D)
Day 9 - Irkutsk
In the morning you will check into a centrally-located standard hotel in Irkutsk. You can safely leave your bags on the train. A tour of the city includes the lively market, the drama theatre and an open-air museum displaying daily life in historical Siberia. Overnight Irkutsk. (B, L, D)
Day 10 - Across Siberia
After breakfast the train takes you through the landscapes of Eastern Siberia with its mountains, crystal-clear rivers and verdant slopes. On board of the train you enjoy entertaining lectures about Siberia. A social get-together complete with caviar and vodka tasting makes you familiar with Russian hospitality. Overnight train. (B, L, D)
Day 11 - Novosibirsk
At noon you pull into Novosibirsk, Siberia's biggest city, and are greeted in the traditional Russian way: with bread and salt. Your city tour includes views of the mighty Ob River. After dinner, the train continues its ride westwards. Overnight train. (B, L, D)
Day 12 - Yekaterinburg
In the afternoon the train stops in Yekaterinburg, the capital of the Ural Mountains and the border between Asia and Europe, where you enjoy a short tour of the city center, which was just restored in 2009. In the course of the city tour you will see the newly erected Church on the Blood, which commemorates the site where the Romanovs were killed by revolutionists. Overnight train. (B, L, D)
Day 13 - Kazan
After breakfast you arrive in Kazan, the old Tartar capital on the banks of the Volga. Plenty of history here: on a guided tour of the Kremlin you will learn about the wild and often bloody relations of the Tartars, Cossacks, and Russians. The evening offers you one last chance to be pampered in the onboard restaurant. Overnight train. (B, L, D)
Day 14 - Moscow
Before noon you arrive in Moscow, Russia's capital and one of the world's most dynamic and richly historic cities. Visit the world-famous Kremlin with its glorious cathedrals. You can also check out the interiors of some of the buildings. After dinner, embark on a magical evening trip through the city. This special tour includes a stop at Red Square as well as a subway ride with a visit of two beautiful old stations. Overnight Moscow. (B, L, D)
Day 15 - Tour of Moscow & Return Home
After a savory breakfast at your hotel you go on a guided tour of Moscow to see the reconstructed Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Lomonossov University, the Novodevichy Convent, and Red Square with its colorful St. Basil's Cathedral, but also the notorious former KGB headquarters and the White House. Bid your fantastic journey farewell before your departure to the airport. (B)
