Day 1: Arrival
Welcome to Saint Petersburg - the Venice of the North! Upon arrival, you are met by your driver, who transfers you to the hotel for the check-in.

The rest of the day is at your own leisure to relax after the trip.

Day 2: Visiting the Hermitage Museum & Sightseeing Tour
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 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.

Day 3: Trip to Pushkin
After breakfast you meet your guide in the hotel lobby and head with your driver to one of the gems of Russian palatial 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 you 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.

Day 4: Trip to Peterhof & Train to Moscow
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 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.

Day 4: Arrival
Welcome to the gorgeous capital of Russia - Moscow! Your driver meets you at the train station and transfers you to your centrally located hotel for check-in.

The rest of the evening is free so you can relax in your cozy room, dine in one of the nearby restaurants or start exploring the charming city center on your own.

Day 5: Exploring the Kremlin, Armoury Chamber & the Heart of Moscow 
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 in 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.

Day 6: Tretyakov Gallery, Subway Ride & Panoramic Tour
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.

Day 7: Kazan Sightseeing Tour & Tatar Cooking Master Class
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 historic 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 of the cauldron that beautifully reflects local culture.

After the tour, you return to your hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure.

Additional meals: lunch

Day 8: Trip to Sviyazhsk and Chak-Chak Museum
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, which 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.

Later you also visit a very unique for Russia museum - museum of wood, built right on a 500 years old archaeological site. At the excavation zone of 900 square meters, you will see the real location of the wooden city buildings from the XVI - XVIII centuries.

After a break for lunch (not included) you proceed to 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.

Day 9: Departure
Early in the morning, you walk to the train station to continue your journey.

Day 9: Arrival
Upon arrival in Yekaterinburg, your driver meets you at the train station and transfers you to your centrally located hotel for overnight. 

Day 10: Exploring the Highlights of Yekaterinburg
After breakfast you meet your guide and enjoy a 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 House, admire Sevastyanov's House - the symbol of the city, 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.
Your guide also takes you to 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 famous observation platform of Vysotsky hotel - one of the tallest buildings in Yekaterinburg, where you enjoy the bird's-eye panoramic views of the city.

Note: you may choose to visit Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center instead of Vysotsky observation platform and explore the museum dedicated to the first Russian president and contemporary history of Russia (please confirm with your destination specialist at the time of booking). The museum is closed on Monday.

After the tour you return to your hotel and have the rest of the evening free.

Day 11: Departure
Early in the morning (about 3 am) you check out from the hotel and depart from Yekaterinburg.

Day 13: Arrival
In the morning you arrive in Irkutsk. Upon arrival, you are transferred right to the Lake Baikal shore.

Day 13: Listvyanka Village Tour & Baikal Museum
Upon arrival, you check in to your hotel. After some rest you enjoy a guided 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.

Then you 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.

After the tour, you return to your hotel and have the rest of the day free.

Please, note: chair-lift is not available on Monday

Day 14: Trip to Taltsy Village
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 many 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.

Day 15: Departure
After breakfast, you check out from your hotel and say "Good-bye" to Lake Baikal! Your driver takes you to Irkutsk.

Day 15: Irkutsk City Tour
Upon arrival, you have 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 centrally located hotel, and the rest of the day is free for you to explore the city on your own.

Day 16: Departure
Following breakfast, you check out from your hotel and your driver transfers you to the station.

Day 17: Visiting the Gandan Monastery
In the morning you arrive in the capital of Mongolia - Ulan Bator. Your driver meets you at the train station and takes you to your hotel to freshen up and have breakfast.

Later you meet your guide and explore the legendary Mongolian Buddhist Gandan Monastery in Ulan Bator.

Day 17: Gorkhi-Terelji National Park Tour
In the afternoon you arrive to the camp and enjoy traditional lunch.

You then take a 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 evening you enjoy dinner at the camp. You spend this night in a traditional Mongolian yurt.

Additional meals: lunch, dinner

Day 18: Meeting a Nomadic Family
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. 

Later you depart from the park.

Day 18: Arrival
In the evening you arrive in Ulan Bator and have the rest of the day free.

Day 19: City Tour & Folk Show in Ulan Bator
After breakfast you meet your guide in 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 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 National Academic Drama Theatre (transfers are included). After the show the rest of the evening is free.

Note: Folk show in Ulan Bator is available from the middle of May to the beginning of October.

Day 20: Departure
Following breakfast, you check out from the hotel and your driver transfers you to the airport.

Day 20: Arrival
Upon arrival, your driver meets you at the airport or train station and takes you to your centrally located hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Day 21: Exploring Tiananmen Square & the Forbidden City
After breakfast you meet your guide and go on an amazing 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.

Additional meals: lunch

Day 22: Visit to the Great Wall of China & Ming Tombs
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 man-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.

Additional meals: lunch

Day 23: Departure
This is the final day of your fabulous 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!