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, hig-rise apartment and traditional 'ger' co-exist in the world's most remote capital city.

Itinerary:

Days 1-2 St.Petersburg The journey begins in St.Petersburg, 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. 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. Your guided morning tour of this remarkable collection can be extended to include further viewing in the afternoon before boarding the overnight train to Vladimir. Days 3-4 Vladimir and Suzdal. We explore these two jewels in the Golden Ring. The sights of Suzdal and Vladimir will astound. 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. Days 5-6 Moscow We catch a morning train to the capital. 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. Days 7-8 Moscow and aboard the Trans Siberian This morning is free for further exploration of this beautiful city. You may like to explore the exciting streets of Tverskaya ulitsa (street) or Arbat street, famous for cafes and souvenirs. A boat ride on the Moskva river is a pleasurable way to view the city skyline, with its modern buildings and gilded onion domes. This evening we board the Trans Siberian Railway for Ekaterinburg. Life on board is a great social occasion for our Russian hosts and we have the opportunity to share our experiences with them. An evening arrival in Ekaterinburg. Day 9 Ekaterinburg A city founded by Peter the Great in 1723 and situated just 40 kilometres inside Asia, Ekaterinburg's main attractions are its associations with historical events. 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. Days 10-11 Aboard the Trans Siberian Railway The days pass quickly as we settle into life on board the train, reading, relaxing, playing cards or just simply taking in the scenery as we pass the 'taiga' forest, the unusual forest of cedar, pine, larch, birch and spruce, estimated to cover over half of Russia. Days 12-15 Irkutsk and 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. On our walking tour you will discover the city's wonderful historic sights. We journey to Lake Baikal and time to visit the village of Listvyanka with its traditional houses and beautiful wooden church and nearby Limnological Museum. Returning from the lake we stop at the Museum of Wooden Architecture to gain an insight into the traditional lives of Siberian people. Day 16 Ulan Ude We join a day rail service to Ulan Ude and are rewarded with spectacular views across Lake Baikal as the train passes its southern shore. 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 17 On board the Trans Mongolian We settle into life on board, enjoying the company of our fellow passengers and a picnic in our cabin. The train arrives at Naushki, the Russian border town where formalities are completed, and then continue across no-man's land to Sukhbaatar where Mongolian officials board the train before we journey on to Ulaanbaatar. Day 18 Arrive Ulaanbaatar Bounded by Lake Baikal to the north and the Great Wall to the south is the Mongolian Plateau and Gobi Desert. This was the homeland of the brilliant, tough, well-drilled horsemen who, for over 500 years from the 13th century, plundered and occupied lands and cities from the Yellow River to the Danube. At daybreak, classic scenes of traditional nomadic life greet us as the train winds impressively across the Mongolian Steppe and into the capital. Ulaanbaatar is a contradiction - a metropolis amid endless grass steppes, with donkeys and motorbikes, concrete apartment blocks and traditional gers. Days 19-20 Ulaanbaatar & the Mongolian Steppe After breakfast we visit the Zaisan Memorial from which the entire city is visible. Also to the country's largest remaining monastery, Gandan Hiid where you can mingle with Buddhist monks. In the afternoon we travel out across the grasslands through the countryside where we spend a night in a traditional Mongolian nomad tent or ger set amongst spectacular rock formations and wild rolling hills. Among nomadic families and their grazing livestock we can explore nearby valleys or just relax and enjoy the area. We return to Ulaanbaatar for the final night in this unusual capital. On Day 20 we return to the capital and visit Sukhbaatar Square and the National History Museum which reveals the remarkable and unique history of Mongolia. Day 21 Trans Mongolian Railway to Beijing A morning departure, aboard the Beijing Express. We travel over the steppe-lands of northern Mongolia and to the south, the Gobi desert, which until the middle of this century was the only rough track across this desolate country. Day 22 Arrive Beijing As we approach the outskirts of Beijing we see our first glimpse of the Great Wall as it winds endlessly across the mountains. A mid afternoon arrival in China's capital, a thriving city which is the country's political, economic and culture centre. Days 23-24 Beijing A day of discovery; Tiananmen Square and Mao's Mausoleum and the history and significance of the Temple of Heaven set in beautiful parks. In the afternoon we have the option of visiting the astonishing Forbidden City with its moated complex of superb awe-inspiring Halls, Palaces and Gates. 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. Tour the hutongs and Lama Temple before joining our overnight train to Xian. Days 25-26 Xian A full day as we explore the old city walls, the Bell and Drum towers and Little Goose Pagoda. The city 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 27-28 Xian and overnight train A final day in this ancient capital, to visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum and Mosque before continuing our journey to Kunming. Day 29 Arrive Kunming We enter the capital of Yunnan Province, with China's most diverse population of minority people. Enjoy Kunming's wonderful gardens and travel to the Stone Forest where spectacular limestone pinnacles have been eroded by centuries of wind and rain. Days 30-31 To Guilin The train winds through picturesque rice plains, bringing us to Guilin in an area of delicate beauty, exquisite brushstrokes painting silver waterways through the statuesque landscape of the Li River. Aboard our river boat we emjoy spectacular views of the limestone hills that make Guilin famous. Days 32-33 Guilin and overnight train Explore Reed flute cave before preparing for our overnight train and final leg of our journey. Day 34 Arrive Hong Kong Our final destination is both colourful and bustling. We have journeyed nearly 12,000 kilometres and covered the Eurasian landmass. Our final night is full of stories and memories of our time together. Day 35 Depart Hong Kong The experience is complete, a brilliant and unforgettable experience along one of the world's greatest journeys.
Note: This trip also operates in reverse (see tripcode TMGH).

Accommodation: Hotels - 19 nights (twin share) Mongolian Ger - 2 nights (shared) Siberian Guesthouse - 1 (shared) Trains - 12 nights (4 berth)
Meals: 23 in total, 22 breakfasts, 1 lunch.
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: TMGS