Essentially classy, Saint Petersburg is recognized as Russia's second capital. It seems almost unbelievable for any other Russain city to match the grandeur of Moscow, but St. Petersburg somehow managed to achieve the impossible.
Welcome to the legendary Venice of the North and the brilliant Northern capital of Russia - St. Petersburg! Your driver meets you at the airport and transfers you to your centrally located hotel for check-in.
The rest of the day is free to relax in your cozy room, dine in one of the nearby restaurants or start exploring the amazing city center on your own.
No meals included.
Following breakfast you meet your guide and driver in the hotel lobby and proceed to the legendary Hermitage Museum along the Nevsky Prospect and admire the Kazan Cathedral and the Admiralty building along the way.
The Hermitage Museum houses its unique collection of world art, including the masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, El Greco, Francisco Goya and Thomas Gainsborough in the halls of the Winter Palace.
You then visit the magnificent St. Isaac's Cathedral, which is known to be the second tallest Orthodox church in the world.
After a break for lunch you go on an amazing panoramic city tour around the most cherished gems of St. Petersburg. You drive to the Arts Square and explore its beautiful ensemble including the Mikhailovsky Palace and the Mikhailovsky Theater.
You then drive along the Summer Garden and cross the Neva River before you have a chance to see the legendary Cruiser Aurora. Afterwards you visit the Peter and Paul Fortress - a burial place of almost all the Russian emperors and empresses from Peter the Great to Nicholas II and his family.
Before returning to your hotel you see the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, which stands where Russia's great emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded.
Breakfast is included.
After breakfast, you meet your guide at the hotel lobby and head with your private driver to one of the gems of Russian grand architecture - the brilliant Catherine's Palace which is located in Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo) about an hour south from the center of St. Petersburg. This striking example of baroque architecture was once gifted by Peter the Great to his wife Catherine I. Later on it serviсed as summer residences to many Russian Emperors and empresses who contributed a lot into its development and further beautification.
During the tour, we walk through the lavish parks and gardens of this outstanding palace and enjoy its gorgeous interiors, including the replica of the world-renowned Amber Room.
After the tour, you return to your hotel in St. Petersburg and have the rest of the day free.
Breakfast is included.
It is impossible to imagine a trip to St. Petersburg without a visit to the famous Russian Versailles - the glorious Peterhof! Today following breakfast you check out and travel with your private guide and driver to the outskirts of St. Petersburg to explore the former summer residence of Russian Tsars. Your tour starts with an exciting hydrofoil ride from the city center to Peterhof.
Upon arrival to Peterhof, you visit the famous Bath Cottage, which offers a fascinating insight into everyday life of Russian court. Take a walk in the beautiful Lower Park, lavishly adorned with 176 fountains of various forms and styles and numerous gilded statues of ancient gods and heroes, and explore the Grand Palace (from the outside).
After the tour, you return to the city and are transferred to the train station where you board a modern high-speed "Sapsan" train that takes you to Moscow in comfort and safety in just 4 hours.
Upon arrival, your driver meets you at the train station platform and takes you to your centrally located hotel for overnight.
Breakfast is included.
We carefully select hotels to ensure amazing stay and experience for you.
You have to agree, it's impossible to think of a perfect vacation without a top-notch hotel where you can relax after a long day of exploring the city. And there is no better place to unwind than a high-end 5-star hotel, providing flawless service, a wide choice of in-house facilities to take advantage of, and ample bedrooms, fitted with everything you might need for a great stay.
Saint Petersburg - Moscow is one of the most popular trains in Russia. Thanks to the modern Sapsan bullet train the trip turns to a 3.5-hour high-comfort and time-saving travel with all needful conveniences. Relax and enjoy a fast journey between two Russian capitals.
You can't say you've been in Russia if you haven't stopped in legendary Moscow, and even if you have just one day to spend there, there are a lot of things you can cross from your Russia travel bucket list.
This day is dedicated to the exploration of one of the most outstanding Moscow icons - the Kremlin and the heart of Moscow - the Red Square.
Following breakfast, you meet your guide at the hotel lobby and walk to the Kremlin territory where you have a chance to explore the gems hidden behind the Kremlin walls such as the Cathedral Square and the Assumption and Annunciation cathedrals.
Then you visit the famous Armoury Chamber that houses a unique collection of crown jewels, stunning coronation finery, hand-forged armor and weapons, royal carriages and sleighs, and world-famous Fabergé eggs.
After a short break for coffee, you take a walk through the beautiful Red Square, go inside the colorful St. Basil's Cathedral and explore the famous GUM department store.
After the tour, you walk back to your hotel and have the rest of the day free.
Breakfast is included.
This morning is free for you to continue exploring the magnificent Moscow city center on your own. In the afternoon you check out from your hotel, meet your guide and enjoy a guided tour of the world-famous treasure trove of the Russian fine art, the Tretyakov Gallery, where you have amazing time viewing the gems of its collection, including the famous masterpieces of Ivan Aivazovsky, Mikhail Vrubel, and Viktor Vasnetsov.
After the tour of the Tretyakov gallery, you have a quick subway ride to explore the most beautiful stations of Moscow Subway, which is known to be one of the most beautiful and efficient metro systems in the world. Then you see the spectacular Cathedral of Christ the Savior and learn the story of its destruction and reconstruction.
Today you also have a chance to enjoy one of the best city views at Sparrow Hills and see the grand building of Moscow State University, the highest of seven Stalinist skyscrapers of Moscow.
After the tour, you are transferred to the train station where you board your train and start your amazing journey across Eurasia!
Breakfast and one meal onboard are included.
We carefully select hotels to ensure amazing stay and experience for you.
Experience the authentic Russian train ride with Trans-Siberian Railway from the capital of Russia, Moscow, to the crown jewel of Tatarstan. There are 1st or 2nd coach classes for you to choose, as well as picturesque panoramas along the road to gaze at.
Kazan, Russia
Known as the third capital of Russia, every year scenic Kazan draws thousands of people from all over the world, attracted to its cultural and historical significance and striking sights, including the majestic Kazan Kremlin.
In the morning your train arrives in Kazan - the beautiful capital of the Republic of Tatarstan and the center of Tatar culture in Russia.
Upon arrival, your guide meets you at the train station, and together you walk to your centrally located hotel for check-in and breakfast.
After some time for rest, you explore the historical ensemble of the Kazan Kremlin. During the tour, you see the main treasures of the complex, including one of the largest mosques in Russia - the Qol Sharif Mosque, the leaning Soyembika Tower, the Annunciation Cathedral and the Governor's Palace.
You are then in for a little surprise. Your lunch program includes a cooking master class where you learn how to make a traditional Tatar dish.
Later you continue your tour to the Kazan Family Center located on the bank of the Kazanka River. The unique form of the building reminds the Tatar from Cauldron and beautifully reflects local culture.
After the tour, you return to your hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure.
Breakfast and lunch are included.
Following breakfast, you meet your guide and driver who take you to the island of Sviyazhsk to enjoy its amazing architectural heritage. Along the way, you have a stop at the famous Temple of All Religions - the unique complex that consists of several cupolas, minarets, and spires representing the architecture of 12 major religions of the world.
Upon arrival at Sviyazhsk, a former fortress that once helped Ivan IV to conquer Kazan Khanate, you enjoy a walking tour around its most treasured attractions, including the Dormition Monastery, the Monastery of John the Baptist and the Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius.
Later, you visit a very unique for Russia museum - the Museum of Wood, built on a 500-year-old archaeological site. At the excavation zone of 900 square meters (9688 square feet), you can see an original layout of the wooden buildings in an XVII-century city.
After a break for lunch (which is not included), you proceed to the chak-chak museum. Here you learn the secrets of making the traditional Tatar sweet. You are also invited for tea drinking with chak-chak, baursak, and Tatar pastila.
After the tour, you return back to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Breakfast and tasting are included.
We carefully select hotels to ensure amazing stay and experience for you.
Traveling from Russia's Tatarstan region to the city of Ekaterinburg is a perfect opportunity to experience Russian' way of life as you travel on a regular train. In addition, the outstanding changing landscapes await you in your Kazan - Ekaterinburg travel.
Ekaterinburg, Russia
A bridge between Europe and Asia, lovely Ekaterinburg is one of the most significant Russian cities, boasting a rich cultural heritage and plenty of amazing sights to explore, including the world-famous Church of All Saints!
Early in the morning you walk to the train station to continue your journey to the capital of Ural - Ekaterinburg. You spend this day on board your train enjoying fantastic scenery passing by your window and a company of your fellow travelers from all over the world.
In the evening you arrive in Ekaterinburg. Your driver meets you at the train station and transfers you to your centrally located hotel for overnight.
Breakfast box is included.
After breakfast, you meet your guide and driver and enjoy a guided sightseeing tour around the most remarkable city landmarks.
During the tour, you take a walk through the historical city center, visit Ural Craftsman Lane where you can buy some traditional hand-made souvenirs, see the magnificent architectural ensemble of the Rastorguev - Haritonov’s House and take a trip to the famous Europe-Asia monument where you can happily experience being at two places at once putting one foot in Europe and the other in Asia.
The second part of your tour is dedicated to the last days of the Russian Imperial Family. You visit the Church on Blood built on the site of the notorious Ipatiev House, where the last Russian Emperor, Nicolas II, and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918.
The last stop for today is the first burial place of the tsar’s family - the Monastery Complex “Ganina Yama” that now consists of seven chapels - one for each member of the royal family.
The day is crowned with a visit to the Boris Yeltsin Center, a modern high tech complex where you explore the life of the first Russian president and learn about the contemporary history of Russia, starting with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the time known as “the wild 90s”.
After the tour, you return to your hotel to take some rest before you are transferred to the station and board your train to Irkutsk.
- Please, note: the 2020 tour program features a visit to the Vygotsky viewpoint instead.
Breakfast is included.
You spend this day on board your luxurious Golden Eagle train. Enjoy fantastic sceneries passing by your window, a diverse entertainment program, gourmet dining and a company of your fellow travelers from all over the world.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.
You spend this day on board your luxurious Golden Eagle train. Enjoy fantastic sceneries passing by your window, a diverse entertainment program, gourmet dining and a company of your fellow travelers from all over the world.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.
We carefully select hotels to ensure amazing stay and experience for you.
Enjoy the sights of the Siberia region in your Trans-Siberian journey as you ride on the regular Russian train. The road takes about 2 days, so you will have plenty of time to relax and examine the Russian lands. The train goes to Irkutsk, from where you'll be transferred right to Listvyanka Village, which is situated on the Lake Baikal shore.
If the magnificent Lake Baikal is on your travel bucket list, there is no better place to visit than lovely Listvyanka Village. Nestled right on the shores of the unique lake, it boasts numerous wooden churches and breathtaking landscapes.
Following breakfast you check out, meet your guide and driver and enjoy a tour around Listvyanka Village. During the tour you visit the Baikal Limnological Museum and Aquarium that houses an interesting display of the unique flora and fauna of the lake.
You also take a chair-lift to the nearby viewpoint to take some magnificent panoramic pictures of Baikal, view the Chersky Rock and visit the 19th century wooden St. Nicolas church and spend some time at a local fish market where you see a great variety of fish and different ways of cooking it.
Then you say "Good-bye" to Lake Baikal and take a trip to the open-air museum of wooden architecture located in Taltsy Village.
This reconstructed Siberian village consists of a number of buildings that were threatened with flooding when the Irkutsk Dam was constructed on the Angara River. All the buildings at the Taltsy museum were rescued from the rising waters and brought here to serve as models of Irkutsk regional architecture.
After the tour you are transferred to Irkutsk.
Breakfast is included.
After breakfast you take a day trip to the open-air museum of wooden architecture located in Taltsy Village.
This reconstructed Siberian village consists of a number of buildings that were threatened with flooding when the Irkutsk Dam was constructed on the Angara River. All the buildings at the Taltsy museum were rescued from the rising waters and brought here to serve as models of Irkutsk regional architecture.
After the tour you return to your hotel and have the rest of the day free.
- Optional tour: Lake Baikal Cruise
Breakfast is included.
We carefully select hotels to ensure amazing stay and experience for you.
In a short car trip, a reliable driver will take you from the shores of Lake Baikal to Siberia's heart, Irkutsk. On your way to the city, you will enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Russian countryside, as well as multiple alluring views and riverain areas.
Irkutsk, Russia
Irkutsk boasts an amazing location close to China and Mongolia, making it an interesting blend of cultures. The city played a major part in the country's history and is a "must-visit" place for those who want to experience genuine Russia.
After breakfast, you check out from your hotel and say "Good-bye" to Lake Baikal! Your driver takes you to Irkutsk for a guided tour around the most remarkable city's attractions.
You first walk along Angara River embankment - the most popular meeting place among the locals - to an eternal flame and the monument to explorer Yakov Pohabov, the founder of the city. You proceed to the only Catholic Cathedral in Irkutsk, the beautiful Polish Roman Church, located in the historical part of Irkutsk.
You are then driven to one of the main monasteries in Siberia - Sign Monastery is also known as the Znamensky Monastery. You also explore the Kazan Church, which with its Byzantine-style decorations looks like a fairy tower, and Block 130, the historical zone with many colorful wooden houses and buildings constructed in the 17th century.
After the tour, you are transferred to the centrally located hotel, and the rest of the day is free for you to explore the city on your own.
Breakfast is included.
You spend this day on board the train enjoying fantastic scenery passing by your window and a company of your fellow travelers from all over the world.
Breakfast box is included.
We carefully select hotels to ensure amazing stay and experience for you.
The next part of your journey is a train trip to Mongolia capital, Ulan Bator, where you will transfer to the Trans-Mongolian Railway. Marvelous panoramas of Lake Baikal and the Russian Buryatia Region sceneries will accompany you, smoothly changing to Mongolian steppes.
Ulan Bator is an off-the-beaten-path city full of treasures waiting to be discovered, and anyone who is looking for a travel destination with a unique culture and unparalleled atmosphere should put the city on a travel bucket list.
Following breakfast you check out from your hotel, meet your guide and explore the legendary Mongolian Buddhist Gandan Monastery in Ulan Bator.
In the afternoon you arrive to the camp and enjoy traditional lunch.
Later you take the tour of the picturesque Gorkhi-Terelji National Park and visit its most popular attractions, including the famous Turtle Rock and the Aryabal Temple located on a steep hill. At the entrance to the temple’s grounds there is a long walking path leading to the set of 108 steep stairs that symbolize the elephant’s elongated trunk. You can rise up to the temple and enjoy the magnificent view of surrounding valleys.
In the afternoon you visit a nomadic family to learn more about their culture, authentic lifestyle and traditions. Later you enjoy dinner at the camp. You spend this night in a traditional Mongolian yurt.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.
Following breakfast at the ger camp, you meet your guide and start the day with a visit to a nomadic family to learn more about their culture, authentic lifestyle and traditions.
You continue to the banks of the Tuul River where an iconic 40-meters tall equestrian statue of Genghis Khan is located. During the tour, you explore the interiors of the statue, see a replica of Genghis Khan’s legendary golden whip and walk through the chest and neck of the statue's horse up to its head. At the top, you enjoy an excellent view of the complex area and the surrounding scenery.
After a break for lunch, you make your way to the famous Zaisan Hill which offers the best panorama of Ulan Bator and then to the cashmere factory where you learn how raw materials are being transformed into a thread and then into clothing.
Later you are transferred to your hotel in Ulan Bator and have the rest of the day free.
Breakfast is included.
After breakfast, you meet your guide at the hotel lobby and go on a walking city tour around the most interesting attractions of Ulan Bator.
During the tour, you visit the National Museum of Mongolia, one of the leading museums in the whole country and the one which is responsible for preserving Mongolian cultural heritage. You also stroll along the main streets of the city, see the Parlament house and walk through the central Sukhbaatar Square formerly known as Genghis Khan Square.
After the tour, you return to the hotel to take some rest or continue exploring the city center on your own. In the evening you attend an amazing Mongolian folk show at the State National Song and Dance Academic Ensemble of Mongolia (transfers are included). After the show the rest of the evening is free.
Breakfast is included.
We carefully select hotels to ensure amazing stay and experience for you.
You have to agree, it's impossible to think of a perfect vacation without a top-notch hotel where you can relax after a long day of exploring the city. And there is no better place to unwind than a high-end 5-star hotel, providing flawless service, a wide choice of in-house facilities to take advantage of, and ample bedrooms, fitted with everything you might need for a great stay.
The fastest way to get from majestic China's Beijing to Mongolia's Ulan Bator is by plane. The road takes only 3 hours in a high-comfort and well-equipped plane, so relax and revel in the astonishing views in your window.
Boasting a 3000-year history and one-of-a-kind culture, breathtaking Beijing is one of the most remarkable places in the world, bursting with incredible sights, amazing landscapes, and various things to spice up your trip with.
After breakfast, you check out from your hotel, and your driver transfers you to the airport for your flight to the legendary capital of China - Beijing.
Upon arrival, your driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your centrally located hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Breakfast is included.
After breakfast, you meet your guide and go on a fantastic sightseeing tour around the most renowned Beijing landmarks.
You start with a visit to the legendary Tiananmen Square, where the mausoleum of Mao Zedong, the National Museum of China, the House of People's Meetings and the monument to the National Heroes are located.
Then you enjoy a guided walking tour through the former residence of the Ming and Qing dynasties - the Forbidden City. You explore its numerous awe-inspiring halls and mysterious temples.
Following lunch, you visit the fantastic ensemble of lakes, gardens and imperial buildings - the Summer Palace, and take a walk at the famous Silk Store, where you can buy some traditional Chinese souvenirs and various silk products.
After the tour, you return to your hotel and have the rest of the day free.
Breakfast and lunch are included.
Following breakfast you enjoy a wonderful guided tour of the real icon of the country - the Great Wall of China, to see one of its best-preserved and unique sections that has less tourists - the Mutianyu Great Wall.
After spending some unforgettable time strolling at this majestic human-made miracle of world's architecture, you enjoy lunch in a local restaurant followed by a visit to the Jade Factory where you will learn more about the process of carving into the jade and creating amazing pieces of art.
Your tour finishes with a visit to the famous Ming Tombs - the burial site of 13 Ming Dynasty emperors. You are then transferred back to Beijing and have the rest of the day at leisure.
Breakfast and lunch are included.
This is the final day of your amazing Trans-Siberian train tour! Following breakfast, you check out from the hotel and your guide transfers you to the airport for your flight back home. We wish you a safe flight and hope to work on your future trips!
Breakfast is included.
We carefully select hotels to ensure amazing stay and experience for you.
What's included
- Accommodation at remarkable hotels in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan, Ekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Listvyanka Village, Ulan Bator and Beijing;
- Overnight at a traditional Mongolian ger camp;
- Economy class high-speed Sapsan train tickets from St. Petersburg to Moscow;
- 1st or 2nd class tickets for Moscow - Kazan, Kazan - Ekaterinburg, Ekaterinburg - Irkutsk and Irkutsk - Ulan Bator trains;
- Economy class flight tickets Ulan Bator - Beijing;
- Full Russian visa processing service for US, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand citizens. Full Mongolian visa processing service for Australian and New Zealand citizens (not required for US and Canadian citizens). Full Chinese* visa processing service for USA, Australian, and New Zealand citizens. Visa support service (invitation) for customers from all other countries;
- Airport transfers with private drivers and all transportation according to the itinerary;
- Breakfasts at the hotels;
- Other meals according to the itinerary;
- Rich sightseeing tours according to the itinerary with professional English-speaking guides;
- Entrance tickets to Hermitage, St. Isaacs Cathedral, Peter&Paul Fortress, Catherine's Palace, Bath Cottage, Kremlin territory & Amber Chamber, St. Basil's Cathedral, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow subway, Kazan Kremlin, Temple of all Religions, chack-chack museum with tasting, Ganina Yama, Baikal Limnological Museum and Aquarium, Aryabal Temple, National Museum of Mongolia, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Great Wall of China, Ming Tombs;
- Cooking master class in Kazan;
- Ride on a chair-lift to the Baikal viewpoint;
- Folk show in Ulan Bator;
- Support line during the trip.
Note: Due to specific travel arrangements and train departure times depending on the schedules of Russian and Mongolian Railways, the itinerary may be subject to change.
Note: We include 1 vehicle for your arrival and departure transfers. If multiple vehicles are required additional transfer costs will apply.
Not included: international flights, other meals not mentioned in the program, optional tours and services, gratuities, all personal expenses, Chinese visa processing service for Canadian passport holders.
Tour Highlights
- Fully tailor-made program according to your interest;
- Your own professional local guides and drivers;
- Private transfers throughout the program;
- Full flexibility of hotel options;
- Unique chance to stand on 2 continents at the same time during a trip to the famous Europe-Asia monument;
- A taste of the traditional Mongolian nomadic way of life at the ger camp;
- Visit to the best-preserved and the most completed section of the Great Wall of China;
- Grandeur and beauty of 'Sacred Sea of Siberia', the famous lake Baikal, that you have a chance to witness;
- Comprehensive sightseeing journey across 2 continents along the major part of the Trans-Mongolian railway from Saint Petersburg to Beijing.
What To Know
- You should bring a few hundred dollars with you on the trip to pay for food as trains do not have ATM machines
- Usual tip size in restaurants is 10% of the check. Recommended tips for guides and drivers is $8-12 per day for a great level of service
- Bringing a water-resistant jacket, umbrella, and some warm clothes is a must
- Russian climates are unpredictable and weather can be quite harsh even during summers
