Grand Trans-Siberian Express
You just cannot miss...
Journey of a Lifetime!
One of the world’s greatest travel experiences.
6300 km Transcontinental Rail journey between Asia and Europe by private train
Introduction
Experience the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway and the Trans-Mongolian Railway on board a private charter train. Forget about any hassle of packing and unpacking every day. Your cabin is your “home on wheels” during the entire rail cruise journey.
Our train offers a choice of 4 accommodation categories from Economy to Deluxe as well as a restaurant, a lounge and conference area for lectures. Stops for land excursions at the most exciting places along the route are included every day. In selected cities like Ekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk near Lake Baikal and Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, hotel nights in international managed ****/***** hotels are included. They allow you more time to explore these places and enjoy a relaxed journey. The journey may be booked either eastbound, starting in Moscow, or westbound, beginning in Ulaanbaatar. Hotel nights in Moscow and Ulaanbaatar are included as well.
Our rail cruises offer you the possibility to experience remote areas of the world like Siberia, Lake Baikal and Mongolia. At the same time, you enjoy the comfort, which is possible only onboard a private charter train.
Grand Trans-Siberian Journey Highlights
- Moscow, most vibrant and fast developing metropolitan city of Europe
- Kremlin, the centre of power in Russia
- Ekaterinburg, capital of Ural Mountains
- Siberia, a huge land of extreme dimensions
- Boat cruise on Siberia’s mighty River Yenissei or Ob
- Private classical concert in the wooden residence of a former duke in Irkutsk
- Lake Baikal, deepest lake, and biggest freshwater reserve of the world
- Amazing Mongolian steppes, yurts, and horses
- Cultural show of Mongolian artists.
- Special Naadam show of Mongolian horse racing, wrestling, archery
Grand Trans-Siberian Private Train Advantages
- A choice of 4 different categories of sleeping accommodation from Economy to Deluxe ✓ Possibility of guaranteed double and single accommodation throughout the tour
- All sleeping cars are newly built or reconstructed after 2008, equipped with modern vacuum toilets ✓ Modern Deluxe Silver and Deluxe Gold sleeping cars with private lavatory, toilet, and shower en suite
- Beautifully decorated restaurant cars
- A cozy lounge with live evening piano music ✓ Conference area for lectures and on-board entertainment
- Daily shower guaranteed for travellers of all categories
- Daily stopovers for sightseeing
- European management
- Travel in style, safety, and comfort.
Sight-seeing Places
MONGOLIA
- Ulaanbaatar
RUSSIA
- Moscow
- Ekaterinburg
- Novosibirsk
- Krasnoyarsk
- Irkutsk
- Lake Baikal
- Ulan-Ude
Sightseeing Excursions
Sightseeing tours with English speaking guides (other languages on request).
Your Tour Guides – A 3-level tour management system with a multilingual team:
- Eurasia Tour Director
- Eurasia Tour Escorts Moscow-Ulaanbaatar or v.v.
- Local Tour Guides in each city.
Hotels & Meals
| Standard | Silver & Gold | |
| Moscow | 5* | 5* |
| Ekaterinburg | 4* | 5* |
| Novosibirsk | 4* | 5* |
| Irkutsk | 4* | 4* |
| Ulaanbaatar | 4* | 5* |
Hotels brands (examples)
- St Petersburg (Russia) : Hilton, Marriott, Novotel, Radisson Blu, Doubletree by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn
Meals
Daily change of local specialties of China and Russia…
- In specially selected local restaurants or
- In the restaurants onboard the private train.
Pre & Post-Tours
4 day/3 night pre and post-tours are available, on request, in St Petersburg (Russia)
Train Description:
Between Moscow and Ulaanbaatar or vice versa, you travel onboard the private train Grand Trans-Siberian Express.
There are 4 categories of accommodation on the Grand Trans-Siberian Express:
- Standard Economy : 4 persons per cabin.
- Standard Plus : 1 or 2 persons per cabin
- Deluxe Silver : 1 or 2 persons per cabin, private shower, and toilet en suite
- Deluxe Gold : 1 or 2 persons per cabin, private shower, and toilet en suite Our private train on some sections will be attached to regular scheduled trains, on some other parts will be hauled by its own locomotive.
- The entire train is no-smoking.
Delux Gold Cabins
For those looking for the greatest comfort 1 or 2 persons per cabin.
Deluxe Gold sleeping cars offer the most spacious and comfortable type of accommodation on our private train. Deluxe Gold cabins have a private toilet, washbasin and a spacious shower cabin en suite. Each cabin offers 1 lower and 1 upper bed, a table at the window, a chair opposite the beds, a small wardrobe and storage space. Euro-Sockets for 220 V are in each cabin, capable of razors, loading mobile phones, cameras, and notebooks. The cars are air-conditioned (individual control).
The air condition operates only during the time the train is moving.
Deluxe Gold sleeping cars have only 5 cabins each and may be booked for double or single-use.
Deluxe Gold cabin dimensions:
Cabin 2,00 x 3,50 m = 7,0 sqm
Lower bed 120 x 185 cm
Upper bed 80 x 185 cm
Deluxe Silver Cabins
For those looking for great comfort : 1 or 2 persons per cabin
Deluxe Silver sleeping cars offer slightly smaller cabins than on Deluxe Gold cars. Deluxe Silver cabins have a private toilet, washbasin and “wet-room” style shower en suite. Each cabin offers 1 lower and 1 upper bed, a table at the window, a chair opposite the beds, a small wardrobe and storage space. Euro-Sockets for 220 V are in each cabin, capable of razors, loading mobile phones, cameras, and notebooks. The cars are air-conditioned (individual control). The air condition operates only during the time the train is moving.
Deluxe Silver sleeping cars have only 6 cabins each and may be booked for double or single-use.
Deluxe Silver cabin dimensions:
Cabin 2,00 x 2,70 m = 5,4 sqm
Lower bed 110 x 185 cm
Upper bed 80 x 185 cm
Standard Plus Cabins
The most popular category : 1 or 2 persons per cabin
Standard Plus, as well as Deluxe Silver, is the most popular type of accommodation on our private train. Standard Plus cabins are equipped with 2 lower beds and 2 upper beds. While only the two lower beds are used for sleeping, the two upper beds can be used as additional storage for luggage – or they can be folded away. 2 Toilets and washbasins for common use are situated either at each end of Standard Plus sleeping car, or they are both at one end. The sleeping cars are air conditioned (central control). The air condition operates only during the time the train is moving. Sockets for 220 V are available in each cabin, capable for razors, loading mobile phones, cameras and notebooks. Standard Plus cars offer 9 cabins each and may be booked for double or single-use.
Daily shower facilities are guaranteed.
If you travel eastbound Moscow – Ulaanbaatar: Shower facilities are available in Moscow, Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Ulaanbaatar and Ulaanbaatar in your hotel rooms where you stay overnight. In addition to that hotel day rooms for showers are at your disposal during stops in Krasnoyarsk and Ulan Ude (one day room per cabin).
If you travel westbound Ulaanbaatar – Moscow: Shower facilities are available in Ulaanbaatar, Ulaanbaatar, Irkutsk, Ekaterinburg and Moscow in your hotel rooms where you stay overnight. In addition to that hotel day rooms for showers are at your disposal during stops in Ulan Ude, Krasnoyarsk and Novosibirsk (one day room per cabin).
Therefore on both tours, you have guaranteed access to showers in your hotel room every day during the entire journey.
Standard Plus cabin dimensions:
Cabin 2,00 x 2,00 m = 4,0 sqm Beds 65 x 185 cm
Standard Economy Cabins
The budget way of traveling : 3 or 4 persons per cabin
This category is popular with those looking for the most economical way of traveling and is usually booked by families with children or friends traveling together. Standard Economy sleeping cars are equipped with 2 lower beds and 2 upper beds. 2 Toilets and washbasins for common use are situated either at each end of Standard Plus sleeping car, or they are both at one end. The sleeping cars are air-conditioned (central control). The air condition operates only during the time the train is moving. Sockets for 220 V are available in the cabins, capable of razors and loading mobile phones, cameras and notebooks. The Standard Economy sleeping cars offer 9 cabins each and may be booked only by 3 or 4 passengers traveling together. In the hotels the 4 passengers are staying in 2 double rooms, 3 passengers are staying in 1 double and 1 single room.
Daily shower facilities are guaranteed.
If you travel eastbound Moscow – Ulaanbaatar: Shower facilities are available in Moscow, Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Ulaanbaatar and Ulaanbaatar in your hotel rooms where you stay overnight. In addition to that hotel day rooms for showers are at your disposal during stops in Krasnoyarsk and Ulan Ude (one day room per cabin).
If you travel westbound Ulaanbaatar – Moscow: Shower facilities are available in Ulaanbaatar, Ulaanbaatar, Irkutsk, Ekaterinburg and Moscow in your hotel rooms where you stay overnight. In addition to that hotel day rooms for showers are at your disposal during stops in Ulan Ude, Krasnoyarsk and Novosibirsk (one day room per cabin).
Therefore on both tours, you have guaranteed access to showers in your hotel room every day during the entire journey.
Standard Economy cabin dimensions:
Cabin 2,00 x 2,00 m = 4,0 sqm
Lower beds 65 x 185 cm
Upper beds 65 x 185 cm
Restaurant Cars
There are restaurant cars on the train that serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner as part of the full board service to all passengers of the Grand Trans-Siberian Express. Local cuisine is part of the menu: Russian cuisine in Russia and Mongolia, Chinese cuisine in China. During sightseeing tours in the cities, local meals are served in the specially selected restaurants.
Lecture Area
In the lecture area, part of the lounge or a restaurant car, your tour escorts hold lectures about the history, geography, economy, and daily life of the regions visited. On some evenings we show films about Russia, Mongolia, and China. Also, your tour escorts offer a language course introducing the Russian language to you.
Eastbound Moscow – Ulaanbaatar 13D/12N
Westbound Ulaanbaatar–Moscow 13D/12N
Itinerary : Moscow, Russia – Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (Eastbound) 13D/12N
B = Breakfast ; L = Lunch ; D = Dinner
Day 1 (Saturday) Moscow D
Arrival in Moscow. You will be met at the Moscow airport and transferred to your hotel.
Accommodation in Moscow.
Day 2 (Sunday) Moscow B, L, D
A full day sightseeing tour shows you the magnificent Red Square, the Kremlin grounds and other highlights of Moscow. You will forget old stories about Moscow being grey and dark. It has become a vibrant city, full of life, comparable to Paris or Rome. In the afternoon transfer to the railway station where your private train Grand TransSiberian Express is ready for you to board for the first leg of the almost 8000 km long journey to Ulaanbaatar. Welcome dinner and accommodation on board the Grand Trans-Siberian Express.
Day 3 (Monday) Full day on the train B, L, D
Today you enjoy a typical day on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Your private train passes through endless scenery of forests, lakes and small settlements, followed by the Ural Mountains. A day to relax, watch the landscape, and listen to lectures about Russia and its people. In the evening you arrive in Ekaterinburg, the “Capital of the Ural Mountains”.
Accommodation in Ekaterinburg.
Day 4 (Tuesday) Ekaterinburg B, L, D
Ekaterinburg – “Capital of the Ural Mountains”. The city was founded in 1723 by Czar Peter I as the center of the metallurgical industry. By the 20th century, it had become one of the largest and the most important financial, industrial, and cultural centers of Russia. Ekaterinburg is located at the geographical border defined by scientists between Europe and Asia.
In the morning a sightseeing tour shows you the city center, and you visit a place of remarkable importance for Russian history: the “Cathedral on The Blood” which was built at the site where the Bolsheviks executed Czar Nicholas II and his family in 1918.
In the afternoon an excursion into the Ural forests takes you to Ganina Yama, which today is considered by Russians as a “holy place.” It is an assembly of small wooden chapels which were erected in the 1990s to honor the last Czar’s family of the Romanov dynasty who were buried in Ganina Yama.
Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans-Siberian Express.
Day 5 (Wednesday) Novosibirsk B, L, D
In the morning a one-hour bus drive takes you from the hotel to Lake Baikal. A walk through the village of Listvyanka shows you to St Nicholas church, a typical orthodox wooden build church beautifully renovated in the 1990’s. On a typical Siberian lunch, you can taste fresh fish from Lake Baikal. In the afternoon a boat takes you on a short cruise on Lake Baikal to the small village of Port Baikal where the private train is waiting for you.
Today the private train is running at low speed along the scenic Circum Baikal Railway line between Port Baikal and Sludyanka, which for many years has been used only by a few of local trains and tourist trains. A photo stop will be arranged at a small village where you can get off the train, put your feet into the clear and cold water of Lake Baikal and – with some luck – also visit the typical wooden houses of local people. A Baikal barbecue is also a part of the program.
Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans-Siberian Express.
Day 6 (Thursday) Novosibirsk B, L, D
In the morning a city sightseeing tour shows you some remarkable orthodox churches which have survived the Soviet period, and you see the famous Opera House which is the largest in Russia, situated in the center of the city at Lenin Square. In the afternoon, an excursion takes you out of the town into the Taiga. About 30 km out of the city you have the opportunity of visiting the largest open-air railway museum of Russia, a collection of more than 60 showpieces of steam, diesel and electric locomotives as well as several historical passenger cars – a perfect insight into the development of the trains on the Trans-Siberian Railway. A boat tour on the River Ob shows you one of the mightiest rivers which are crossed by the Trans-Siberian Railway. Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans-Siberian Express.
Day 7 (Friday) Krasnoyarsk B, L, D
Krasnoyarsk, like Ekaterinburg and Ulan-Ude, used to be a “closed city” during Soviet times – closed to foreigners and also to most Soviet citizens at that time. It is located along the Yenissei River, which is the greatest river system flowing to the Arctic Ocean.
Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans-Siberian Express.
Day 8 (Saturday) Irkutsk B, L, D
Irkutsk is famous for its trade with Mongolia and China and used to be called “Paris of Siberia” because of its colorful lifestyle during the time of the Tsars. You visit the old town with its large quarters still consisting of wooden houses. One of the of the cultural highlights of the tour will be a private classical concert in a Mansion of historical background. Accommodation in Irkutsk.
Day 9 (Sunday) Lake Baikal B, L, D
Today one of the top highlights of the tour with the Grand Trans-Siberian Express will amaze you for the rest of the day. Lake Baikal holds the biggest freshwater reserves in the world. It stretches up to 26 miles from east to west and more than 370 miles from north to south. Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world, reaching 1.620 meters at its deepest part. The mountain ranges around Lake Baikal and the deep blue water of the lake, you will never forget.
In the morning a one-hour bus drive takes you from the hotel to Lake Baikal. A walk through the village of Listvyanka shows you to St Nicholas church, a typical orthodox wooden build church beautifully renovated in the 1990’s. On a typical Siberian lunch, you can taste fresh fish from Lake Baikal. In the afternoon a boat takes you on a short cruise on Lake Baikal to the small village of Port Baikal where the private train is waiting for you.
Today the private train is running at low speed along the scenic Circum Baikal Railway line between Port Baikal and Sludyanka, which for many years has been used only by a few of local trains and tourist trains. A photo stop will be arranged at a small village where you can get off the train, put your feet into the clear and cold water of Lake Baikal and – with some luck – also visit the typical wooden houses of local people. A Baikal barbecue is also a part of the program.
Accommodation on board the Grand Trans-Siberian Express.
Day 10 (Monday) Ulan-Ude B, L, D
Ulan-Ude is the capital of the so-called “Buryat Autonomous Republic” of the Russian Federation. Buryats are an ethnic group close to Mongolians with an amazing mix of cultures and religions. Ulan-Ude is a meeting place between East and West. Like Irkutsk, the city still has large areas with typical Siberian wooden houses. Your sightseeing excursion goes to one of the villages of Orthodox “Old Believers” still practising their live like people did it centuries ago.
When leaving Ulan-Ude, the Grand Trans-Siberian Express switches from the Trans-Siberian mainline to the Trans Mongolian mainline on its way to Ulaanbaatar. In the evening the train reaches the Russian border station Naushki and the Mongolian border station Sukhbaatar. Russian and Mongolian immigration formalities will take place in the train. You may stay in your compartment and don’t have to leave the train.
Accommodation on board the Grand Trans-Siberian Express.
Day 11 (Tuesday) Ulaanbaatar B, L, D
In the morning the Grand Trans-Siberian Express arrives in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. During a sightseeing tour you will visit the famous Ghandan Monastery, the central Sukhabaatar Square, the Bogd Khan Museum which used to be formerly the winter and sometimes also the summer palace of the Khans’, as well as the Zaisan monument at a viewpoint high above the city. From there you will have an excellent view of the city which is surrounded by large areas of nomadic yurt settlements. An amazing cultural music and dance show will introduce Mongolian folk music and culture to you. In the evening you experience a traditional Mongolian Hot Pot dinner.
Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar.
Day 12 (Wednesday) Ulaanbaatar B, L, D
Today an unforgettable excursion will take you to the Terelj National Park which is famous for its nature. A stone formation called the “turtle” and the beautiful mountainous scenery will fascinate you. In the park area you will have the chance to meet a herder family inside their yurt. A Naadam show specially arranged for the participants of the Grand Trans-Siberian Express demonstrates 3 disciplines of the Mongolian National Naadam festival: Wrestling, Archery and Horseracing.
Accommodation in a **** hotel in Ulaanbaatar.
Day 13 (Thursday) Ulaanbaatar B End of the tour. Transfer to the airport and departure.
Itinerary : Mongolia - Russia (Westbound) 13D/12N
B = Breakfast ; L = Lunch ; D = Dinner
Day 1 (Sunday) Ulaanbaatar D
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar. You will be met at Ulaanbaatar airport and transferred to your hotel.
Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar.
Day 2 (Monday) Ulaanbaatar B, L, D
An unforgettable full day excursion will take you to the Terelj National Park which is famous for its nature. A stone formation called the “turtle” and the beautiful mountainous scenery will fascinate you. In the park area you will have the chance to meet a herder family inside their yurt. A Naadam show specially arranged for the participants of the Grand Trans-Siberian Express demonstrates 3 disciplines of the Mongolian National Naadam festival: Wrestling, Archery and Horseracing. In the evening you experience a traditional Mongolian Hot Pot dinner.
Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar
Day 3 (Tuesday) Ulaanbaatar B, L, D
During a sightseeing tour you will visit the famous Ghandan Monastery, the Bogd Khan Palace which used to be formerly the winter and sometimes also the summer palace of the Khan’s, as well as the Zaisan monument at a viewpoint high above the city. From there you will have an excellent view of the city which is surrounded by large areas of nomadic yurt settlements. In the afternoon you board your private train which will be your home for the trans-continental journey to Moscow.
Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans-Siberian Express.
Day 4 (Wednesday) Ulan Ude B, L, D
In the night you reach the Mongolian border station Sukhbaatar and the Russian border station Naushki. The Mongolian and Russian immigration formalities will take place in the train. You may stay in your cabin and don’t have to leave the train. In the afternoon the Grand Trans-Siberian Express arrives at Ulan Ude, the capital of the so-called “Buryat Autonomous Republic” of the Russian Federation. Buryats are an ethnic group close to Mongolians with an amazing mix of cultures. Ulan Ude is a meeting place between East and West. The city still has large areas with typical Siberian wooden houses. Your sightseeing excursion goes to one of the villages of Orthodox “Old Believers” still practising their live like people did it centuries ago. You will be hosted for a typical Russian homemade lunch. In Ulan Ude the Grand Trans-Siberian Express switches from the Trans Mongolian mainline to the traditional Trans-Siberian mainline on its way to Moscow.
Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans-Siberian Express.
Day 5 (Thursday) Lake Baikal B, L, D
Today one of the top highlights of the tour with the Grand Trans-Siberian Express will amaze you for the rest of the day. Lake Baikal holds the biggest fresh water reserves in the world. It stretches up to 26 miles from east to west and more than 370 miles from north to south. Lake Baikal is the deepest lake of the world, reaching 1620 meters at its deepest part. The mountain ranges around Lake Baikal and the deep blue water of the lake, you will never forget. In the morning the private train is running at low speed along the scenic Circum Baikal Railway line between Port Baikal and Sludyanka, which for many years is used only by a few of local trains and tourist trains. A photo stop will be arranged at a small village where you can get off the train, put your feet into the clear and cold water of Lake Baikal and also – with some luck – visit the typical wooden houses of local people. A Baikal barbecue is also a part of the program. In the afternoon a boat takes you on a short cruise from Port Baikal to the small village of Listvyanka. A walk through the village shows you to St Nicholas church, a
typical orthodox wooden build church beautiful renovated in the 1990’s. On a great Siberian lunch in a restaurant on the shore of the lake you can taste fresh fish from Lake Baikal. In the evening a one hour bus drive takes you from the Lake Baikal to your hotel in Irkutsk city.
Accommodation in Irkutsk.
Day 6 (Friday) Irkutsk B, L, D
Irkutsk is famous for its trade with Mongolia and China and used to be called “Paris of Siberia” because of its colourful life style during the time of the Tsars. You visit the old town with its large quarters still consisting of wooden houses only, before invited to the cultural highlight of the tour, a private classical concert in a Mansion of historical background. In the evening you re-join the private train. Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans-Siberian Express.
Day 7 (Saturday) Krasnoyarsk B, L, D
Krasnoyarsk, like Ekaterinburg and Ulan-Ude used to be a “closed city” during Soviet times – closed to foreigners and also to most Soviet citizens at that time. It is located along the Yenissei River which is the greatest river system flowing to the Arctic Ocean. Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans-Siberian Express.
Day 8 (Sunday) Novosibirsk B, L, D
A city sightseeing tour shows you some remarkable orthodox churches which have survived the Soviet period and see the famous Opera House which is the largest of Russia, situated in the centre of the city at Lenin Square. Worth to see is also the local food market which is famous all over Siberia for its wide range of products. In the afternoon, an excursion takes you out of the city into the Taiga. About 30 km out of the city you have the opportunity of visiting the largest open air railway museum of Russia, a collection of more than 60 showpieces of steam, diesel and electric locomotives as well as several historical passenger cars – a perfect insight into the development of the trains on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans-Siberian Express.
Day 9 (Monday) Ekaterinburg B, L, D
Today the train arrives in Ekaterinburg, capital of the Ural Mountains. The city was founded in 1723 by Czar Peter I as the center of metallurgical industry. By the 20th century it had become one of the largest and the most important financial, industrial and cultural centers of Russia. Ekaterinburg is located at the geographical border defined by scientists between Europe and Asia. On your sightseeing tour you visit a place of remarkable importance for Russian history: the “Cathedral on The Blood” which was built at the place where Czar Nicholas II and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918. An excursion into the Ural forests takes you to Ganina Yama, which today is considered by Russians as a “holy place”. It is an assemble of small wooden chapels which were erected in the 1990’s to honor the last Czar’s family of the Romanov dynasty who were then buried in Ganina Yama. Accommodation in Ekaterinburg.
Day 10 (Tuesday) Full day on the train B, L, D
Today you leave Ekaterinburg in the morning and enjoy a typical day on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Your private train passes through the Ural Mountains and an endless scenery of forests, lakes and small settlements. A day to relax, watch the landscape and listen to lectures about the country and its people. Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans-Siberian Express.
Day 11 (Wednesday) Moscow B, L, D
Today the almost 6300 km long journey from Ulaanbaatar to Moscow terminates. In the afternoon you visit the Red Square and the Kremlin grounds. Accommodation in in Moscow.
Day 12 (Thursday) Moscow B, L, D
A full-day sightseeing tour shows you the all the many highlights of Moscow: the Bolshoi Theatre, the GUM department store, the Red Square, Moscow River, the Sparrow Hills, Novodevitchy Monastry (outside visit). You will forget old stories about Moscow being grey and dark. It has become a vibrant city, comparable to Paris or Rome and full of life. Accommodation in Moscow.
Day 13 (Friday) Moscow B
Airport transfers are provided by our service team to connect with your flight departing Moscow.