Beijing to Moscow by Private Rail
June 10 - 25, 2012
Birds Nest, Beijing National Stadium
Tiananmen Square Beijing
Imperial-Palace, Beijing
Trans-Siberian-Railway
View of the Moscow River
• Discover the grandeur of Imperial Beijing on a privately led tour of the Forbidden City
• Witness timeless traditions in Mongolia, stay in an authentic ger camp, and watch herdsmen compete in traditional wresting and archery matches
• Learn about the Slavic peoples of Irkutsk and view the “wooden lace” architecture of traditional homes
• Cruise on Lake Baikal, the largest freshwater lake in the world, and picnic along its shores
• Visit historic Yekaterinburg, site of the execution of the last tsar and his family
• Spend a full day in Moscow, exploring Red Square, the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and viewing several of the city’s fabulously decorated metro stations
• See five UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, Lake Baikal, the Kazan Kremlin, and the Moscow Kremlin
Study Leader Information
Ron Wixman is a specialist in world cultural geography and is well-versed in both the ancient and modern societies of the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.
Tour Itinerary
June 10 – 11
Depart your home city for Beijing. Upon arrival, transfer to the Regent Hotel
June 12
Visit the Temple of Heaven and Tiananmen Square, Continue northward into the Forbidden City; enjoy a festive dinner of Imperial cuisine overlooking Beihai Lake
June 13
Discover the hidden alleyways of Beijing’s hutong neighborhoods; Explore the Yonghegong Lama Temple, the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Beijing; board an overnight train to the Mongolian border
June 14
Arrive at Erlian and explore this bustling border town before crossing into Mongolia; Board the Tsar’s Gold Private Train and continue the journey north through the Gobi Desert
June 15
Arrive in Mongolia’s capital city; visit Gandan Temple and the Fine Arts Museum; Continue to Terelj National Park and check into a traditional ger tented camp
June 16
Explore the Terelj National Park, Return to the train this evening
June 17
The train rolls on through the valley of the Selenga; In Ulan Ude the train joins the main route of the Trans-Siberian Railroad
June 18
Arrive at Lake Baikal, travel along the shoreline by ever-more-dramatic scenery; Board a ferry for a cruise across the lake to Port Baikal
June 19
Arrive in Irkutsk, Spend the day exploring elaborately decorated 19th-century izbas (log houses); Stop by at the Volkonsky House Museum; Enjoy a concert in the former reception room, followed by a champagne reception; Tonight, have dinner in a local dacha as guests of the owners
June 20
Reboard the train this morning and travel through the landscapes of Eastern Siberia; enjoy lectures about Siberia; A social get-together complete with caviar and vodka tasting
June 21
In Novosibirsk (“New Siberia”), explore the lively Central Market
June 22
Yekaterinburg is the historic and economic center of the Urals; It was here that Imperial Russia ended in 1918 with the execution of the last tsar and his family, noted by a spot marked with a simple marble cross. At kilometer marker 1777, the train slows down as it passes a small white obelisk, which figuratively marks the end of Siberia and Asia, and the beginning of European Russia
June 23
Arrive in Kazan this morning, the capital of Tartarstan, on the banks of the Volga River; guided tour of the Kremlin and the newly built Kul Sharif Mosque; Also see the Peter and Paul Cathedral, and attend a special musical performance at a school for musically gifted children
June 24
Arrive in Moscow late in the morning; take a guided tour of the Kremlin and its beautiful cathedrals; enjoy a farewell dinner before riding on Moscow’s famous subway, full of beautiful art in each station, and stopping by Red Square and the colorful St. Basil’s Cathedral lit up at night
June 25
Transfer to the airport this morning for your return flight home
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Please email National Trust Tours for questions about this program. Be sure to include your mailing address if you are requesting a paper copy of the brochure for this program.
