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| Day |
City |
Hotel |
Events |
| 1 |
Pekin
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Jianguo
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Arrival in Beijing, the capital of China, a city of ancient history and culture, unique architectural monuments and modern dynamic life. INTOURIST representative meets you at the airport.
Transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.
Accommodation in Beijing at a 4 star hotel. |
| 2 |
Pekin
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Jianguo
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In the morning excursion to the Great Wall and after lunch to the Ming Tombs.
Welcome dinner at a Beijing Duck Restaurant.
Accommodation in Beijing at a 4-star hotel.
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| 3 |
Pekin
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Jianguo
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Full day guided city tour: Forbidden City ruled by Emperors and khans and unreachable for ordinary people, the Imperial Palace. Transfer to the rail terminal to board the Chinese private train in destination to Mongolia. On the way the train goes via the Gobi Desert famous for its spacious territory, most severe environment and unique fauna.
Accommodation on board the private Chinese train. |
| 4 |
Erlyan
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In the morning arrival at the Chinese border town of Erlian, where the China railway gauge system (“standard gauge” 1435 mm wide) meets the Russian railway gauge system (“broad gauge” 1520 mm wide). The passengers will change the Chinese train for the connecting INTOURIST EXPRESS waiting on the same platform. While the service staff transfer passengers’ luggage to the INTOURIST EXPRESS, passengers enjoy a sumptuous Chinese lunch. In the afternoon the train crosses the Chinese-Mongolian border. All passport and customs control formalities take place on board the train. |
| 5 |
Ulan-Bator
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Ger Camp
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In the morning arrival in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia. Transfer to Terelj National Park 70 km away. At the Terelj Tourist Camp time is given to set up the gers and freshen up before lunch.
After lunch excursion to the beautiful Turtle Rock to be followed by a short hiking tour to the top of the Overlooking Hill to have a panoramic view on Terelj National Park. Horse riding. Disassembling and setting up of a smaller Mongolian ger. Admire the sunset and bright shining night stars in the wide steppe.
Accommodation in Gers. |
| 6 |
Ulan-Bator
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Ger Camp
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In the morning a visit to a nomadic family to learn the authentic lifestyle of Mongolian nomads and to try traditional dairy food. After lunch transfer to Ulan Bator. Visits to Sukhbaatar Square, Gandan Monastery, National History Museum, the Bogd Khaan Palace Museum. Climb to the Zaisan Hill to admire the Ulan Bator panorama. Small shopping tour to buy Mongolian souvenirs.
In the evening Mongolian traditional music and dance performance.
Board the INTOURIST EXPRESS to continue the voyage in destination to Russia. Enjoy wonderful Mongolian sceneries with gers, nomads and horses passing by. Upon leaving Ulan Bator on the way to Ulan Ude INTOURIST EXPRESS switches from the Trans-Mongolian line to the Trans-Siberian Line. The train reaches the Mongolian border station of Sukhe Bator and the Russian border station of Naushki. All passport and customs control formalities are done on board the train.
Accommodation on board the INTOURIST EXPRESS. |
| 7 |
Ulan-Ude
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Arrival in Ulan Ude, the capital of the Buryatia, a former outpost of Russian Cossacks set up in the 17th century at the junction of the Selenga and the Uda Rivers. The settlement became a busy crossroad of trade routes between China, Mongolia, Russia and Europe. Nowadays Ulan Ude is the major regional city in Russia and prominent center of the Buddhist culture.
The program includes a visit to local Datsan, prominent Buddhist Monastery and centre of Buddhism in Russia.
Accommodation on board the INTOURIST EXPRESS. |
| 8 |
Listvyanka
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Arrival at Listvyanka Village to board the train for a ride on the Circum Baikal Line.
The Circum Baikal Line was part of the Trans-Siberian Mainline that connected the Eastern and Western rail lines separated by the Baikal Lake. Nowadays the Circum Baikal Line, no longer on the Trans-Siberian main route, is an open-air museum. There is not much traffic on this railroad, only a few local and excursion trains. The road starts from the dead end at Port Baikal, a small settlement nearby Listvyanka Village and goes along the picturesque southern shore of Lake Baikal to join the Trans Siberian Mainline at Sludyanka Village.
A photo stop is arranged at a small village where the passengers can get off the train and put their feet into the clear and cold water of Lake Baikal. A barbeque by the lakeside is also part of the program.
Accommodation on board the INTOURIST EXPRESS. |
| 9 |
Irkutsk
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Arrival in Irkutsk, the oldest city in Eastern Siberia, a historical transit point on trade routes between Russia and China. Irkutsk is situated on the picturesque Angara River in close vicinity of Lake Baikal.
City tour: Kirov Square, Eternal Flame Memorial, Orthodox churches and cathedrals, Bell Tower to admire a magnificent panoramic view on a city, the old wooden town, Museum of Decembrists with a private classical concert. Also included is a visit to the Taltsy open-air museum of wooden architecture.
Accommodation on board the INTOURIST EXPRESS. |
| 10 |
Krasnoyarsk
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Arrival in Krasnoyarsk, the largest Siberian port on the Yenisei River. The history of the city, founded by the first Russian explorers of Siberia, dates back more than 300 years. Guided city tour of the key landmarks.
Accommodation on board the INTOURIST EXPRESS. |
| 11 |
Novosibirsk
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Arrival in Novosibirsk, the biggest city in Siberia and major scientific center, the seat of the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Guided city tour: Red Avenue, Lenin Square, Theatre of Opera and Ballet, the geographical centre of Russia – a chapel, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the railway station building, the Ob River embankment, the Trans Siberian Bridge.
Excursion to the open air Museum of railway machinery with an extensive exposition of the railroad history, locomotives and cars.
Accommodation on board the INTOURIST EXPRESS.
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| 12 |
Ekaterinburg
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Arrival in Ekaterinburg, the major historic, economic and administrative center of the Urals Region, which forms a natural border between Europe and Asia. Founded in the 18th century as a fortress the city grew to become a significant regional center, which gave a rise to Russia’s industry. Ekaterinburg is also known as a place of exile and execution of Russia’s last Tzar Nicholas II and his family in 1918.
Guided city tour visiting architectural monuments of Russian classicism of the 18-19th centuries, the Obelisk marking the virtual Europe-Asia border, the Temple-on-Blood Church erected in place of Ipatiev’s House where the Tsar’s family spent their last days.
Accommodation on board the INTOURIST EXPRESS.
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| 13 |
Kazan
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Arrival in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, a city of a 1,000 year-long history.
Guided city tour: Kazan Kremlin, major historical citadel in the 16th -18th centuries, historical Qol-Sarif Mosque and Minarets, the Square of Freedom, magnificent Orthodox Churches and Cathedrals, President’s Palace, a folk show.
Accommodation on board the INTOURIST EXPRESS. |
| 14 |
Moscow
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Novotel Moscow Centre
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Arrival in Moscow, the capital of the Russian Federation, a city of great historical and cultural traditions.
Guided city tour: Prospect Mira (Peace Avenue), Ostankino TV Tower, Garden and Boulevard Ring, the Moskva River , Novodevichiy (New Virgin) Convent, Vorobiovy Gory (Sparrow Hills), Moscow State University, Poklonnaya Gora (Bow Hill), Victory Park, Kutuzov Avenue, The Federal Government Building (White House), New Arbat Avenue and Tverskaya Street.
The afternoon tour: historical Red Square, the Kremlin territory including gold-domed Cathedrals with magnificent ancient mural icon paintings, Armory Chamber with the unique collection of treasure objects once in the possession of Russia’s Tzars.
Farewell dinner at a city restaurant
Accommodation at a 4 star hotel. |
| 15 |
Moscow
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Novotel Moscow Centre
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Morning at leisure. Transfer to the airport. |
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