Big Ticket - 19 days

Bolshoi (Russian for BIG). Go large on our sensational big ticket from Moscow all the way to Beijing. It's the journey that offers a stunning smorgasbord of all our en route destinations including Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk (for Lake Baikal), Ulan Ude and Ulaan Baatar!

Day 1: Moscow
Monday. Welcome to Moscow! Arrival transfer from Moscow Sheremetyevo or Domodedovo airport to our hotel. Overnight - Moscow
Day 2: Red Square
Head to legendary Red Square by Metro, for a guided walk of Moscow's highlights - the brightly coloured St Basil's, the ritzy GUM department store and if open, Lenin's Mausoleum. The rest of day free for you to explore independently. Overnight - Moscow (B)
Big Ticket - 19 days Go Guide : :Check out the go guide for details of the tour, info on visas, climate, money, what to bring and more!
The Chapel of Saint Great Martyr in Yekaterinburg
Day 3: Moscow
Moscow - Yekaterinburg. Free time for you to explore the capital. Perhaps jump aboard the Stalinist era metro and see the beautifully decorated stations. This afternoon included transfer to rail station for train departure. Overnight - train (B)
Days 4 - 5: Yekaterinburg
On the evening of day 4 the train pulls in to Yekaterinburg. Transfer to accommodation. On day 5 after breakfast enjoy a city tour which takes in the new monastery which marks the site of the Romanov family’s execution in 1918 and Ganina Yama - a beautiful monastic complex built on the site where their bodies were discarded and later found. The tour also takes you to the Europe/Asia border where you can stand with a foot in each continent! Overnight - Yekaterinburg homestay (B:1, D:2)
Day 6: Optional activity
Today you can choose one of the optional activities available or spend the day at leisure. This evening enjoy dinner and relaxation at the homestay before transferring to the train station shortly after midnight. Overnight - train (B, D)
People on the banks of Lake Baikal in Siberia
Days 7 - 8: Train to Irkutsk
The train departs in the very early hours of the morning on day 7 for your onward journey to Irkutsk. Relax on board and enjoy the views! Overnight - train (B:1)
Days 9 - 10: Listvyanka & Lake Baikal
Irkutsk - Listvyanka - Morning arrival into Irkutsk and transfer to Listvyanka village. On the shores of Lake Baikal, spend the next two days at leisure in Listvyanka, or perhaps choose one of the optional activities available. Overnight - Listvyanka homestay (B:1, L:1, D:2)
Day 11: Irkutsk
Listvyanka - Irkutsk. Departing Listvyanka at shortly after midday, stop for lunch and transfer back Irkutsk. The remains of the day is free to explore Irkutsk. Overnight - Irkutsk homestay (B, L, D)
Girls kayaking on a lake in Mongolia
Day 12: Train to Ulan Ude
Irkutsk - Ulan Ude. Evening departure to Ulan Ude, with partial overnight aboard train. Overnight - train (B)
Days 13 - 14: Ulan Ude
Very early morning arrival and transfer to homestay. Later, take a city tour. Thanks to its proximity to Mongolia and China, the indigenous people of the region - called Buryats, clung on to their Tibetan-Buddhist faith through the Communist era. Visit Ivolginsky Datsan - a Buddhist temple and a museum dedicated to the lives of local people. In the evening sample a traditional Buryat dinner on Day 13. On Day 14, breakfast, then free time until mid afternoon transfer to rail station for the train to Ulaan Baatar. Overnight - Ulan Ude homestay (1) train (1) (B:2, D:1)
Ladies drinking tea with a Mongolian man inside his Ger
Days 15 - 16: Ger camp
Ulaan Baatar (Outer Mongolia) - Morning arrival (subject to border formalities and inevitable delays) in Outer Mongolia. A country of unspoilt natural beauty, with endless steppe, nomadic tribe’s people, stunning Terelj National Park, double-humped (Bactrian) camels, wild Przewalski horses and the vast expanse of the Gobi Desert. Upon arrival, transfer to the rustic city centre, before a drive to nearby Terelj National Park for a 2 night stay in a Mongolian ger (a sturdy wood and felt type tent).

*Please note: Due to extreme weather, clients undertaking a classic adventure during the winter can decide upon arrival, whether to stay in permanent accommodation or a Mongolian ger. Overnight - Terelj NP ger camp (B:1, L:2, D:2)
Day 17: Ulaan Baatar
This morning return to Ulaan Baatar, stopping en route to visit a nomadic family. Although largely built with Russian help, the city is home to a number of Buddhist temples and palaces of Mongolian rulers. Due to its high elevation, located 1350 metres above sea level Ulaan Baatar is the coldest national capital in the world, so make sure you wrap up warm! Enjoy free time exploring the National History Museum, Bogd Khan’s winter palace, the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet and Sukhbataar Square. Overnight - Ulaan Baatar hotel (B, D)
A Trans-Siberian train and its driver
Day 18: Train
Ulaan Baatar - Beijing. Morning transfer to rail station for train to Beijing. Overnight - train (B)
Day 19: Beijing
Friday. Beijing. On the final leg of our momentous journey we pass through Shaanxi province as we head to the nations capital. Arrival scheduled for mid-afternoon into Beijing.

See the 'Costsaver' tab above, for the content of our Costsaver journey

Hotels: In Russia on the go use 3 star accommodation as classified by the Russian Ministry of Tourism. However, please be aware that the 3 star standards throughout Russia vary greatly and cannot be compared to hotels of a similar standard in Western Europe or, and in particular, the United States.

Homestays: Our homestays vary, you may be staying with a local family, couple or single person. In some cases the home owner may actually move out so that you have the home to yourself. The local homes we use are generally very simple and basic with shared bathroom facilities. Please note that if you are travelling in a larger group it may be necessary for you to stay in separate houses because most homes are small and only have room for one or two guests.

Train schedules: Chinese and Mongolian Railways do change their schedules from time to time, which could alter the itinerary. Please check with us at time of booking.

Choose your Adventure
Make the most of your time in Yekaterinburg and Irkutsk by choosing one of our optional activities that most appeals to you. Please specify your preference at time of booking.

Please note that optional activities are only available on Classic Adventures not Costsaver.

Accommodation Upgrades

We understand that some travellers may prefer their own privacy. Therefore we offer accommodation upgrades. Classic adventure travellers have the opportunity to upgrade from homestays to hotel accommodation (at an additional cost) in Yekaterinburg, Listvyanka, Irkutsk and Ulan Ude.


On our costsaver adventure we offer travellers the option to switch from homestay

accommodation to a hostel in Yekaterinburg and upgrade to budget hotels in Irkutsk and Ulan Ude (at an additional cost). Perhaps consider a combination of homestays and hotels - the choice is yours! Please contact us for prices.


Please note - if choosing to upgrade, hotels and hostels are on a bed and breakfast basis and dinner is not provided. If choosing to upgrade to a hotel in Listvyanka, the banya will not be included.


Upgrades are subject to availability.



Tour Details
  • Starts in: Moscow / Ends in: Beijing
  • Departs: Mondays - year round
  • No local payment required
  • Breakfast:13, Lunch: 4, Dinner: 10
  • Hotel Rating: 3 star (+ Mongolian Ger camp and homestay)
  • Tour Guide: Yes - for stopover arrangements
The on the go Theatre
Introducing our flexible group tours & tailor-made holidays
The Inside Track
Alternative luxury – my top 5 spots to sleep out Having a simple piece of canvas between you and the night sky makes for an unusual – but often ..
The ultimate rail adventure: the Trans-Siberian railway The Trans-Siberian rail stretches right across Asia, from Moscow, across the steppes of Mongolia, to ..
Katie & Evan in Mongolia Katie’s tummy hurts from giggling so much, and we’ve giggled along at this latest blog too. like ..
Team Kevan on the Trans-Siberian train Katie and Evan leave Moscow to cross a third of the globe on the legendary Trans-Siberian railway. ..