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1. THURSDAY |
Arrival in Moscow (*flights not included). Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner not included, at your own expense. Overnight at the Holiday Inn Moscow Sokolniki hotel 4* or similar. |
Holiday Inn Moscow Sokolniki 4* or similar
Standard room. |
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MOSCOW |
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2. FRIDAY |
Breakfast at the hotel. Panoramic city tour: Red Square, the Mausoleum, the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Moskva River, and Moscow State University — the most iconic and beautiful landmarks of the Russian capital. Free time for lunch. Visit to the Moscow Metro: 300 km of metro lines and 182 stations, 44 of which are recognized as part of the country’s cultural heritage. Dinner not included, at your own expense. Overnight at the Holiday Inn Moscow Sokolniki hotel 4* or similar. |
Holiday Inn Moscow Sokolniki 4* or similar.
Standard room. |
Breakfast at the hotel. |
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MOSCOW – KAZAN |
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3. SATURDAY |
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the Kremlin: The Assumption Cathedral, the Archangel Cathedral, the Annunciation Cathedral, the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, and other major monuments of national importance located within the Kremlin complex. Free time for lunch. Visit to the renovated VDNH Park, where we will see the exhibition pavilions of the former Soviet republics from the Soviet period. Photo stop at the impressive Friendship of Peoples Fountain, along with other remarkable highlights of the park. Transfer to the railway station at 20:40. Overnight on board the train. Train journey: approx. 12 hours – 793 km. |
Overnight on board the train. |
Breakfast at the hotel. |
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KAZAN |
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4. SUNDAY |
Morning arrival in Kazan at 08:00AM. Free time for breakfast. Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, with a population of over one million inhabitants, located on the banks of the Volga River. Visit to the Kazan Metro. Panoramic city tour and visit to the Kazan Kremlin. The historical and architectural complex of the Kazan Kremlin is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit to the Qul Sharif Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Europe. Visit to the Regional Museum. Free time for lunch. Hotel accommodation. Walking tour along Bauman Street and St. Petersburg Street (pedestrian streets). Overnight at the Cosmos Kazan hotel 4* or similar. Dinner not included, at your own expense. |
Cosmos Kazan Hotel 4* or similar.
Standard room. |
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KAZAN |
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5. MONDAY |
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the island of Sviyazhsk, located at the confluence of the Volga and Sviyaga rivers. The island is home to two monasteries dating back to the 16th century, from the time of Ivan the Terrible. Free time for lunch.
Free time in the city. Overnight at the Cosmos Kazan hotel 4* or similar in Kazan. Dinner not included, at your own expense. |
Cosmos Kazan Hotel 4* or similar.
Standard room. |
Breakfast at
the hotel |
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KAZAN-EKATERINBURG |
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6. TUESDAY |
Train journey: approx. 12 hours 49 minutes – 721 km.
Breakfast in the form of a lunch box. Early morning transfer to the railway station. Departure by train to Ekaterinburg at 05:20AM. Day spent on board the train. Arrival in Yekaterinburg at 20:20. Free time for dinner. Overnight at the Novotel Ekaterinburg Centre hotel 4* or similar. Dinner not included, at your own expense. |
Novotel Ekaterinburg Centre 4* or similar.
Standard room. |
Breakfast in the form of a lunch box. |
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EKATERINBURG |
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7.
WEDNESDAY |
Breakfast at the hotel. Panoramic city tour: palaces, historic mansions, and Ascension Hill. Visit to the Europe–Asia border monument — the only place where you can take a photo standing between two continents, with one foot in Europe and the other in Asia. Free time for lunch. Visit to Ganina Yama, the site where the remains of the last Russian Emperor and his family were discovered in 1979 and later transferred and reburied in Saint Petersburg. Overnight at the Novotel Ekaterinburg Centre 4* or similar. Dinner not included, at your own expense. |
Novotel Ekaterinburg Centre 4* or similar
Standard room. |
Breakfast at the hotel. |
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EKATERINBURG – NOVOSIBIRSK |
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8.
FRIDAY |
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the railway station. Departure by train to Novosibirsk at 12:10. Day and night on board the train. Train journey to Novosibirsk: approx. 22 hours – 1,525 km Overnight on board the train. |
Overnight on board the train. |
Breakfast at the hotel. |
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NOVOSIBIRSK |
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9.
SATURDAY |
Arrival in Novosibirsk at 11:54AM
Transfer to the hotel. Time to rest. Free time for lunch. Panoramic city tour of this modern Soviet-era city (approx. 4 hours). Novosibirsk is the only settlement along the Trans-Siberian Railway that has grown into a city with a population of over one million inhabitants. The excursion covers the main attractions of the city, including: the railway station, the largest on the Trans-Siberian Railway; Krasny Prospekt, one of the longest straight streets in the world (7 km); Lenin Square, the city center, featuring the Opera and Ballet Theatre, the largest in the world after the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires; historic wooden houses on Gorky Street, the oldest part of the city; St. Nicholas Chapel, marking the geographical center of the former Russian Empire; the embankment of the Ob River, the seventh-longest river in the world; the picturesque Siberian agricultural market. Overnight at the Cosmos Novosibirsk hotel 4* or similar. Dinner not included, at your own expense. |
Cosmos Novosibirsk Hotel 4* or similar
Standard room |
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NOVOSIBIRSK-KRASNOYARSK |
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10.
SUNDAY |
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the Academic Town, including the ethnographic and archaeological museum. Excursion to the scientific city of Akademgorodok (30 km from the center of Novosibirsk). It is a unique scientific town where all branches of science are represented. Akademgorodok is sometimes referred to by European media as the “Scientific
Vatican.” In 1957, during the Cold War, Nikita Khrushchev and the Soviet mathematician Mikhail Lavrentiev founded a special city for scientific research called Akademgorodok, meaning “academic town.” It was built near Novosibirsk, in a forested area, and leading Soviet scientists were invited to relocate there. Today, Akademgorodok is a beautiful town that is home to Novosibirsk State University, several academies, and 35 scientific research institutes. The community is far from factories and industrial plants and enjoys proximity to the Ob Sea, the reservoir created by the Ob River dam. You will enter Akademgorodok via Lavrentiev Avenue, listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the “most scientific street in the world.” You will also see the Ob River reservoir (the artificial Ob Sea). Free time for lunch. Free time in Novosibirsk. Transfer to the railway station. Departure by train to Krasnoyarsk at 19:34. Train journey to Krasnoyarsk: approx. 12 hours – 762 km. Overnight on board the train. |
Overnight on board the train. |
Breakfast at the hotel. |
| Arrival in Krasnoyarsk at 07:21AM.
Free time for breakfast. Panoramic city tour (approx. 3 hours). During the excursion, we will show you the most interesting sights of the city: Mira Square (Peace Square) with an exceptional view of the Yenisei River, the monument to Andrey Dubensky, and Karaulnaya Hill, from where you can see the entire city. You will also visit the Paraskeva Pyatnitsa Chapel and walk along the historic streets, learning the origins of their names and how the city has changed and grown over time. Free time for lunch. Visit to the “Stolby” Nature Reserve — the heart, lungs, and soul of the city. For those who enjoy a peaceful or active holiday, exploring new spaces and observing panoramic views seeking harmony with nature, we offer this excursion to the Stolby Reserve. It is the perfect place to create unforgettable memories while visiting Krasnoyarsk. Overnight at the hotel in Krasnoyarsk. Dinner not included, at your own expense. |
Hilton Garden Inn Krasnoyarsk 4* or similar
Standard room |
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| KRASNOYARSK-IRKUTSK |
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| Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to the Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Power Station in Divnogorsk and the observation point “Tsar Ryba” (approx. 3 hours). The tour bus follows a forest road to the observation point called “Tsar Ryba.” The group will then stop at the pier in Divnogorsk and near the Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Power Station, the second largest in Russia.
Free time for lunch. Transfer to the railway station. Departure by train to Irkutsk at 13:36. Overnight on board the train. Train journey to Irkutsk: approx. 20 hours – 1,088 km. |
Overnight on board the train. |
Breakfast at the hotel. |
| IRKUTSK- KHUZHIR |
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| Arrival in Irkutsk at 08:14AM.
Free time for breakfast. Journey through the steppe region near Lake Baikal. Lunch is included in a traditional yurt, including a master class on preparing a local dish, buuz (a type of dumpling). Transfer to the village of Khuzhir (approx. 5 hours). Overnight in Hotel Accommodation Khuzhir at the tourist recreation center. Dinner not included, at your own expense. |
Overnight in Khuzhir – Point of Baikal 3* or similar
Junior Suite |
Lunch in a traditional yurt. |
| OLKHON ISLAND – KHUZHIR |
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| Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to Cape Khoboi. Travel by Russian UAZ vehicle along local roads to reach the cape, where you can see the widest part of Lake Baikal. Lunch is included. Return to the hotel. Overnight in Khuzhir. Dinner not included, at your own expense. |
Overnight in Khuzhir – Point of Baikal 3* or similar
Junior Suite |
Breakfast at the hotel
Lunch |
| KHUZHIR – LISTVYANKA |
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| Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Listvyanka, enjoying incredible views, pristine nature, and breathtaking landscapes, with stops for photos along the way. Free time for lunch. Overnight in Hotel accommodation in Listvyanka. Dinner not included, at your own expense. |
Listvyanka – Hotel Baikal 4* or similar
Deluxe twin/King. |
Breakfast at the hotel. |
| LISTVYANKA – IRKUTSK |
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| Breakfast at the hotel. Today we immerse ourselves in the world of Lake Baikal, full of hidden and fascinating details. At the Baikal Museum, you will learn about the origin of the lake, its unique flora and fauna. The experience is complemented by a model of a bathyscaphe diving to the lake’s depths and an artistic display of the Baikal seal’s movements. The final panoramic photo stop will be at the source of the Angara River, the only river flowing from Lake Baikal. Rising 728 meters above sea level, the guide will explain the difference between Chersky Stone and Chersky Mountain and share the story of the explorer Chersky. The culmination of the day is a visit to the Russian village from the 17th– 19th centuries at the Taltsy Architectural and Ethnographic Museum. You will see village churches, peasant homesteads, a rural school, and local administration buildings. It feels as if time has stopped here, and the villagers are about to resume their daily activities. You will also learn about the culture of the Evenks, Tofs, and Buryats, the indigenous peoples of Siberia. Free time for lunch. In the evening, arrival in Irkutsk and accommodation at a comfortable hotel in the city center. Dinner not included, at your own expense. |
Irkutsk Hotel 3* or similar
Standard room |
Breakfast at
the hotel |
| IRKUTSK-ULAANBAATAR |
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| Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the railway station. Departure by train to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia at 6:58 AM. Train journey to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: approx. 23 hours and 40 min, 517-1113km distance depending on the specific route. You will arrive at the Russian border at around 19:57. The process at each border take approximately 1h,40m. Just stay in your cabin. Immigration and custom officers will come and handle the border crossing process. Toilets will be locked during these border crossings. Then train will move into Mongolian side, and arrive at Mongolian border after 40 minutes. Same thing in Mongolian side (Sukhbaatar). Stay in the cabin, they will come and do the checking. Another 1h 50mins). You will get an arrival card for the Mongolian custom in advance. Overnight on board the train. |
Overnight on board for a sleeper compartment the train. |
Breakfast at the hotel. |
| ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA |
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| The train from Irkustk, Russia will arrive in Ulaanbaatar train station early in the morning at 6:38 AM. Meet with the Samar Magic Tours team at Ulaanbaatar Railway Station. Change some money on the way. Transfer to the hotel from Ulaanbaatar Railway Station (approx.+ 1 hour depending on traffic). Clients must pay for early check-in (early entry to hotel rooms with breakfast). Rooms are only available from 2:00 PM (14:00) on the day of arrival. Panoramic city tour of Ulaanbaatar: visit the most important Buddhist Monastery in Mongolia, Gandan, which houses a 25-meter-tall Buddha. The Gandan Monastery was founded in 1809 under the name “Yellow Temple.” It also holds a library containing the Buddhist scriptures of Gandjuur (8 volumes), their commentaries (225 volumes), and other texts inscribed with the 9 precious stones. It was declared a State Heritage site in 1994. Continue with visits to the National History Museum, with its rich collection of historical and cultural artifacts from the Stone Age to the present day; Sukhbaatar Central Square; and the “Genghis Khan” Monument Complex, built in 2006 to commemorate the 800th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Mongol State or Mongol Empire by Genghis Khan (1206–2006), located in front of the Mongolian Parliament and Government House. Welcome Lunch included in a traditional local restaurant. 06:00 PM – Enjoy a folklore performance of Mongolian singing and dance. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight at Holiday Inn hotel 5* or similar. Dinner not included, at your own expense. |
Overnight at Holiday Inn hotel 5* or Premium Palace hotel 4* or similar. |
Welcome Lunch included in a traditional local restaurant. |
| ULAANBAATAR-THE GENGHIS KHAN GREAT EQUESTRIAN STATUE-TERELJ NATIONAL PARK-ULAANBAATAR |
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| Breakfast at hotel. 08:00 AM – Meeting with the Samar Magic Tours team at the hotel reception. Departure northeast to the 40-meter / 133.3-foot Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue (55 km / 34.2 miles, approx. +2 hours, depending on traffic). The statue symbolically faces east towards his birthplace. It stands on top of the Genghis Khan Statue Complex, a visitor center 10 meters (32 ft 10 in) high, with 36 columns representing the 36 khans from Genghis Khan to Ligdan Khan. Visitors walk up to the horse’s head through its chest and neck to enjoy a panoramic view. Nearby, travellers may take beautiful photos with Kazakhs and their Golden Eagles, ride Bactrian camels or Mongolian horses across the steppe, or try archery (*extra payment on-site). A traditional Mongolian lunch is included in route. Continue to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park (50 km / 31.1 miles, approx. 1hr). Located northeast at 1600 m above sea level, the park features towering Mesozoic granite formations, mountains, steppes, alpine forests, and iconic rock formations such as Turtle Rock. The Park lies at the foothills of the Khentii Mountains, the birthplace of Genghis Khan. Declared a National Park in 1993, it covers 300,000 hectares. Stop for photos, souvenir shopping, and a short walk to the Great Turtle Rock, symbol of the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. Gentle hike to the Arryabal Meditation Temple, located on a hillside. Afterwards, return to Ulaanbaatar (70 km / 44 miles, approx. +2 hours, depending on traffic). Last chance for Mongolian souvenir shopping at the main State Department Store. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the selected and confirmed hotel. Dinner not included, on your own. |
Overnight at Holiday Inn hotel 5* or Premium Palace hotel 4* or similar. |
Breakfast at hotel.
A traditional Mongolian lunch is included in route. |
| ULAANBAATAR-AUTHENTIC MONGOLIAN NOMADIC SHOW- ULAANBAATAR |
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| Breakfast at a hotel. 7:00 AM – Meet with the Samar Magic Tours team at the hotel reception. Then, depart west for an Authentic Mongolian Nomadic Show (35 km/22 miles, +2.00 hours travel time, depending on traffic at departure), from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The Authentic Mongolian Nomadic Show demonstrates the traditional lifestyle of Mongolian nomads, raising and using five types of livestock while moving from one place to another using oxcarts, yaks, camels, and horses. We can also observe what a Ger looks like. The Mongolian Ger, one of the symbols of Mongolia, is traditionally made. All furniture, pots, and clothing are antiques, reflecting the characteristics and manners of the central Khalks. Mongolian traditional lunch is included on-site. Return to Ulaanbaatar (35 km/22 miles, +2 hours travel time, depending on traffic at the entrance). Transfer to the hotel. Overnight at your selected hotel. Dinner not included, at your own expense. |
Overnight at Holiday Inn hotel 5* or Premium Palace hotel 4* or similar. |
Breakfast at a hotel.
Mongolian traditional lunch is included on-site |
| DEPARTURE MONGOLIA TO CHINA |
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| Breakfast at a hotel. Rooms must be vacated by 12 noon on the day of departure. Meet with the Samar Magic Tours team at the hotel reception. Transfer to Ulaanbaatar train station. Departure by train at 07:30AM. Overnight on the train. A train journey from Ulaanbaatar to Beijing typically takes around 31 hours, with the direct K24 service departing weekly (Thursdays from Ulaanbaatar) and covering the ~1500 km route by crossing the Mongolian/Chinese border at Zamyn-Uud/Erlian, offering a classic Trans-Mongolian experience. |
Overnight on the train. |
Breakfast at a hotel. |
| ARRIVAL IN BEIJING |
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| Arrival at Beijing train station at 12:15. Meet and transfer to the hotel. Rest. Accommodation at the Beijing Grand Metropark Hotel, 5* or similar. |
Beijing Grand Metropark Hotel, 5* or similar. |
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| GRAND TOUR OF BEIJING |
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| Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, we will visit the Summer Palace, which was a summer garden for the imperial family of the Qing Dynasty, and a Pearl Workshop. Afterward, we will stop at the Olympic Park to see the main stadiums of the 2008 Olympics (*exterior view only, without entering the stadiums): such as the Bird’s Nest (main stadium of the Olympic Games) and the Water Cube (swimming stadium). Lunch included. In the afternoon, we will visit the Great Wall of China (*Juyongguan Pass), one of the oldest and most magnificent human-made structures in the world, located 70 km from Beijing. Return to the hotel. Overnight at the Beijing Grand Metropark Hotel, 5* or similar. Dinner not included, on your own. |
Beijing Grand Metropark Hotel, 5* or similar. |
Breakfast at the hotel.
Lunch included. |
| GRAND TOUR OF BEIJING |
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| Breakfast at the hotel. Today, we will visit: Tiananmen Square, one of the largest squares in the world; the Imperial Palace, known as the “Forbidden City”; the Temple of Heaven, built in 1420 and covering 267 hectares; and a Chinese Tea House. Lunch included. Before returning to the hotel, we will enjoy a foot massage to relieve travel fatigue. Return to the hotel. Overnight at the Beijing Grand Metropark Hotel, 5* or similar. Dinner not included, at your own expense. |
Beijing Grand Metropark Hotel, 5* or similar. |
Breakfast at the hotel.
Lunch included. |
| DEPARTURE CHINA |
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| Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport. End of services. |
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Breakfast at the hotel. |
