Through picturesque Guilin and Kunming and the Terracotta Army at Xian to the palaces and gardens of Beijing and across the Gobi by train to the very heart of Asia - Mongolia! Yaks and camels roam in a pristine wilderness of vast desert, steppe and mountain and the paradox of Ulaanbaatar where car and horse, high-rise apartment and traditional 'ger' co-exist in the world's most remote capital city.

Itinerary:

Days 1-2 Arrive Hong Kong This brilliant and unique rail adventure begins in colourful and bustling Hong Kong. Join your Group Leader and fellow travellers this evening as final preparations are made for your departure. Beyond Kowloon and the New Territories lies the rest of China. From Hong Kong our great journey across the vast Eurasian landmass begins. With nearly 12,000 kilometres and the anticipation of the world's greatest rail journey ahead of us we travel across Guandong Province to Guangzhou (Canton) southern gateway to the mainland and overnight to Guilin. Days 3-4 Guilin A land of delicate beauty, exquisite brushstrokes painting silvery waterways through the statuesque landscape of the Li River. Aboard our river boat we enjoy spectacular views of the limestone hills that make Guilin famous. Explore Reed Flute cave before we prepare for our overnight journey to Kunming. Days 5-7 To Kunming Departing by morning train we journey first across Guangxi province south via Liuzhou then west to Kunming. Capital of Yunnan Province and with China's most diverse population of minority peoples. Enjoy Kunming's wonderful gardens and parks and travel to the Stone Forest where spectacular limestone pinnacles have been eroded by centuries of wind and rain. Day 8.Arrive Xian Rice paddies give way to the wheat fields of central China, thundering over the Yangtze we continue north to Xian, old Chang'an, the great capital of ancient Cathay. Days 9-11 Xian Morning arrival into this incredible city which still captures the romance of its rich imperial past and the glories of the Silk Road. Beyond the city the highlight of our stay is the entombed Terracotta Warriors - over 6,000 life-sized figures. Days 12-14 Beijing Tiananmen Square and Mao's Mausoleum, the history and significance of the astonishing Forbidden City with its moated complex of superb awe-inspiring Halls, Palaces and Gates, and beyond to the serene Temple of Heaven set in beautiful parklands. Our sightseeing continues with an excursion to the Great Wall. Built to defend the civilised world from the fierce and capable Mongol horsemen, the Wall stretches 10,000 Li across China's mountainous northern frontier. Day 15 Aboard the Trans Mongolian Railway Excitement and anticipation as we leave to board the Ulaanbaatar Express. On board we quickly settle in and enjoy unexpected views of the Great Wall as the train tackles the mountains before descending to the arid lands of Inner Mongolia and onwards to the very heart of Asia. Day 16 Arrive Ulaanbaatar You awake to the stunning visual silence of the south Gobi, the horse and ger dotted steppe stretches from horizon to horizon, the occasional nomad encampment appears mirage-like through the carriage window. Shortly after midday we arrive in the world's most remote capital - Ulaanbaatar. Day 17 To Terelj This morning we visit the Gandan Hiid Monastery, which gives an insight into the lives of Buddhist Mongolians. The Mongolia of Genghis Khan lies beyond the city, in the land of the nomad. In the afternoon we travel to the countryside retreat of Terelj for a two night stay in a ger - the traditional home of the Mongolian people. Our ger camp is set amid stunning alpine scenery. We visit a local family and experience the true nomadic lifestyle. Day 18 Mongolian Steppe Early morning on the Mongolian Steppe where the lives of the Mongolian people have changed little in 500 years. The remainder of the day is spent wandering this beautiful area or riding the horses or yaks of a nearby local family. Day 19 Ulaanbaatar and depart Back in Ulaanbaatar and we have time to visit Sukhbaatar Square and the National History Museum which reveals the remarkable and unique history of Mongolia. We will also make time to visit the Zaisan memorial from which the entire city is visible or explore the markets and museums of this remote capital before departure this evening aboard the Trans Mongolian Railway to Siberia. Days 20-21 Ulan Ude Welcome to Buryatiya, centre of Russia's Buddhist community. Reminiscent of old Siberia Ulan Ude is located in the middle of vast Siberian steppes, on the 5640th kilometer of the Trans-Siberian railway. It is a very unusual and charming city. The local open air ethnographic museum tells an interesting story about the life and traditions of native Siberians (Buryats and Evenks), as well as colonizers (Cossacks and Old-believers). Ivolginsky Datsan is a center of Buddhism in Russia. Day 22 Arrive Irkutsk and to Lake Baikal Almost in the centre of Asia, Irkutsk - 18th century churches, bright painted shutters and log houses decorated with wooden lacework. Modern administrative blocks and soaring bridges reach out across the Angara River in this beautiful town known as the Paris of Siberia. To the shores of Lake Baikal, where you will marvel at the vastness of this inland 'sea'. Over 600 kilometres long and up to 80 kilometres wide, Baikal contains one-fifth of the earth's fresh water and is home to many unique species. We enjoy the lakeside village of Listvyanka and a chance to walk along the lakeshore and for the adventurous - a swim! Day 23.Depart Irkutsk Returning from the lake we stop at the Museum of Wooden Architecture to gain an insight into the traditional lives of Siberian people. In the late afternoon we bid farewell to Siberia as we board the train for Ekaterinburg. Days 24-25.Aboard the Trans Siberian Railway Life on board is a great social occasion for our Russian hosts and we have the opportunity to share our experiences with them.Day 26 Ekaterinburg Ekaterinburg, a city founded by Peter the Great in 1723, situated just 40 kilometres inside Asia. Its main attractions are its associations with historical events and on our city tour we will take in the history and intrigue surrounding the murder of the Romanov family, an event which ushered in the Communist era in 1918. Day 27 Aboard the Trans Siberian Railway Beyond the Ural Mountains and, on the far side of the Volga, the flickering silvers and greens of the birch forests speed past. Days 28-30 Moscow Beneath the city lies the palatial metro rail system draped in chandeliers, mosaics and baroque bas- reliefs while the vast Cathedral of Christ the Saviour again dominates Moscow's skyline. The echoing vastness of Red Square, the splendid twirled cupolas of St.Basil's. The Kremlin itself - the fabled palace-fort of gilded domes where we marvel at the exquisite collection of royal treasures in the stunning Armoury Chamber; the Cathedral of the Assumption where Tsars were crowned, the Bell Tower and the Faberge jewels and icons. Day 31 To Vladimir and Suzdal After a final day exploring Moscow, we take a late evening train to Vladimir and upon arrival we travel to the Golden Ring city of Suzdal. Day 32 Vladimir and Suzdal We have a full day to see the sights of Suzdal and Vladimir. Visit the Cathedral of the Assumption and the Cathedral of St Demitrius. We see Suzdal's Kremlin and Archbishop's Chambers, visit the Spaso-Transfiguration Cathedral in St Euthymius Monastery where you may be lucky enough to attend a concert of church songs and bell ringing. Day 33 Arrive St.Petersburg St.Petersburg is a unique treasure-house of 18th century architecture and the city that best displays the Russian genius for museums. The Peter and Paul Fortress, the Summer Palace of Petrodvorets, Palace Square and the unequalled collections of the Hermitage. Day 34 St.Petersburg Beyond the city lie the fabulous summer palaces and residences of the tsars and the Imperial Court, the most magnificent located in the spectacular garden of Petrodvorets. The gilded rooms of the former Winter Palace, now the Hermitage Museum, are hung with the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Picasso and a hundred other great masters. Day 35 Depart St.Petersburg The journey is complete; a brilliant and unforgettable experience along one of the world's greatest rail journeys.
Note: This trip also operates in reverse (see tripcode TMGS).

Accommodation: Hotels - 19 nights (twin share) Mongolian Ger - 2 nights (shared) Siberian Guesthouse - 1 (shared) Trains - 12 nights (4 berth)
Meals: 23, 22 breakfasts, 1 lunch in total.
Group Size: Maximum 15, plus group leader.
Transport: Train: Comfortable 4 berth sleepers (day services are seat only). There are 11 rail sectors on this journey - Hong Kong to Guilin (1 night), Guilin to Kunming (1 night), Kunming to Xian (2 night), Xian to Beijing (1 night), Beijing to Ulaanbaatar (1 night), Ulaanbaatar to Ulan Ude (1 night), Ulan Ude to Irkutsk (1 night), Irkutsk to Ekaterinburg (2 nights), Ekaterinburg to Moscow (1 night), Moscow to Vladimir (day service), Vladimir to St.Petersburg (1 night). Other: For 'Scheduled Sightseeing' we generally use a small minibus, and for 'City Exploring' we use local taxis, public transport, underground metro and go on foot.
Sightseeing: Scheduled Sightseeing is part of the itinerary and includes all transport, entrance fees and English speaking local guide. Guilin: Reed Flute Cave, Li River Cruise and Yangshou Kunming: Stone Forest. Xian: Terracotta Warriors. Beijing: Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall. Ulaanbaatar: Zaisan Memorial, National History Museum, Gandan Hiid Monastery, Terelj National Park. Ulan Ude: Ivolginsk Monastery, Ethnographic Museum. Irkutsk (Siberia): Walking tour of city, Museum of Wooden Architecture, Lake Baikal, Limnological Museum. Ekaterinburg: City tour, Mineralogical Museum and Europe/Asia Obelisk. Moscow: City tour, St.Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, Kremlin and Armoury Chamber. Golden Ring: City tours of Suzdal and Vladimir. St.Petersburg: City tour, Palace Square, Hermitage Museum. City Exploring is further sightseeing outside the itinerary guideline with the Group Leader.
Trip Reference: TMGH