Along the waySt PetersburgMoscowPermUlaanbaatarBeijing

Leaving from St. Petersburg to Beijing

ExperienceClassic Gobi & Gulag

What’s includedFULL ONTrain> 4-berth rail for complete journey (pre-assigned berths)> option to upgrade to 2-berthSt. Petersburg > transfer on arrival to your hotel> 2 nights 3★ hotel, breakfast > 3 hour personalised walking tour with local expertMoscow > transfer on arrival to your hotel> 2 nights 3★ hotel, breakfast > 3 hour personalised walking tour with local expert> transfer to the station on departure

Perm> all transportation > two nights camping, equipment provided, all meals> 2 nights 3★ hotel, breakfast> excusionUlaanbaatar> all transportation > 2 nights Elstei Ger Lodge, all meals > 1 night 3★ hotel, breakfast > City tour of Ulaanbaatar

Grim it may be, but for nearly half the world “Siberia” issynonymous with the Soviet Era system of prisoncamps (which in fact had begun a century earlier underthe Tsars). This trip visits the only remaining Sovietgulag, near Perm… but it’s not all about barbed wireand watchtowers! There’s a relaxing “soft” rafting tripon the Usva River, the amazing beautiful Kungur IceCaves (this is just an underground stroll, no scramblinginvolved), with the second half of the trip set inMongolia as a complete contrast! This trip offers theopportunity to start your journey in St. Petersburg,where you will see the contrast between the imperialsplendour and the soviet simplicity that existed boththen and now.

In the know�Most Russian cities have fixed route minibustaxis, which you can hail or get out ofanywhere along their route for a fixed fare.The word Gulag makes you think of aconcrete prison – the reality is horribly banal.The Mongolian Empire established byGenghis Khan was the largest in recordedhistory – stretching from Budapest to Java.But the Mongols had no interested in ruling,only receiving taxes, and usually appointedlocals to run things for them and collect thetribute.China has had multiple capitals in itsturbulent history, including Nanjing and Xi'an.Beijing became capital in coup staged by theManchu, who lived in the North of thecountry (Manchu-ria).

At The Russia Experience we like to ditch theclichés, discard the puff and concentrate onwhat we do best – bringing to life the world’slongest train route: the places visited, theencounters made and the realisation of ajourney that is both engaging and rewarding.

We continually look at ways of enhancing theTrans Siberian experience, incorporatingseasonal considerations (such as the HarbinIce Festival), providing the historical context(pay a visit to the only remaining Soviet Gulag)or inviting you to savour the diverse culturalinfluences of indigenous people (sit downwith a shaman, or enjoy the Siberian art ofthroat singing!).

We have no group departures, our advertiseddates always operate (barring anythingcompletely out of our control) and, above all,we will tell you it like it is – allowing you tomake the right choice from a portfolio ofjourneys rich in variety and full of memorableexperiences. Sorry! We couldn’t resist at leastone cliché!

No ordinary trip

Visa RequirementsMost visitors to Russia, Mongolia andChina require visas. These must beobtained prior to departure. Please checkyour nationalities visa requirements inadvance of your planned travel dates. Visaprocessing times for these countries canbe up to;Russia 10 Working DaysMongolia 06 Working DaysChina 07 Working DaysHowever fast track processing is possible. Due to the support documents required bythe Embassy of Russia (which we obtain),you will need to book your trip beforestarting to obtain visas.For full information regarding visas, pleaserefer to our web site.

Hints and TipsTOP TIP! – You must be able to swimproficiently to take this trip due to the raftingcontent.Inform us of your size before departure sowe can have the correct waterproof clothesand boots ready for your arrival. Photocopy your passport including thevisas issued pages, airline tickets andinsurance policies.Your passport must be valid for at least sixmonths past the end of your travel dates.

Travellers ChecklistDay pack, back pack, money belt, first aidkit, heat proof mug, instant coffee, teabags, sun hat, mosquito repellent,lightweight jacket, flip flops, swim wear,sun cream, warm waterproof, walkingboots, universal sink plug, bottle opener,photographs of home to show theNomads. Mongolian children love bubbles!

Climate and time – Minimum/maximum Temperatures ºCMay/Jun Jul/Aug Sep/Oct

Moscow/St. Petersburg +15/+22 +15/+30 + 8/+24Perm +5/+20 +13/+20 + 6/+14Ulaanbaatar +15/+24 +26/+42 +10/+25Beijing +15/+22 +24/+30 + 8/+22

These dossiers are designed to provide you with a guide to our trips, the places visited, accommodation used and to give you a flavour of yourdaily itinerary. You will be travelling in parts of the world where the unanticipated and the unusual are all part of the experience and, as a result,the unexpected can happen and we may on occasions need to vary your plans. These dossiers do not form part of any contract.

full on itinerary – 19 days Leaving from St. Petersburg to Beijing

ExperienceClassic Gobi & Gulag

DAY 01 “S Priezdom! Welcome to St. Petersburg!” Our driver will be there to meet you fromwhichever flight, train or boat you arrive. You’ll then be transferred to the Vesta 3★Hotel. (We can obtain rates for superiorhotels ask a member of the reservationsteam for details.) At check-in, (after 2pm)the hotel reception will advise you they willneed your passport for visa registration.This process takes 1–2 hours. Yourcomplimentary InfoPack is full of ideas forgetting the most out of your free time.(Please note your train tickets to Moscoware usually e-tickets and are sent with yourfinal travel documents.)No mealsDAY 02 After breakfast one of our local expert staffwill meet you at the hotel to take you on athree hour walking tour round thehighlights you'll use public transportaround the centre to avoid the traffic jamsand get the hang of the system for whenyou come to use it independently. Ourstaffers are full of ideas for this walk butare flexible about other ideas if you haveyour own. Your walk ends in the city centrearound lunchtime. If you haven't pre-booked any of our range of city excursionsthe rest of the day is your own to explorefurther.BreakfastDAY 03 You'll need to check out of your room by 12 noon today but the hotel offers a LeftLuggage service for a small fee. Your day isfree until your evening departure toMoscow. Reception can book you a taxi tothe station. Some of our top suggestions(please check opening times/days beforesetting off) The Hermitage Collection –Winter Palace. The canals and waterwaysof the “Northern Venice”. The RussianMuseum of Fine Art. The Peter & PaulFortress-and the Tombs of the Tsars insidethe Fortress Cathedral. The Church on theSpilt Blood, nearby the Souvenir Bazaar. Breakfast

DAY 04 Early morning arrival in Moscow. Ourdriver will meet you at the end of theplatform and will be holding a meeting-board with your name on. You’ll then betransferred to the Panorama 3★ Hotel.(We can obtain rates for superior hotelsask one of the reservations team fordetails). The facilities available at this hotelinclude a Restaurant, Lobby Bar, Lobby Wi-Fi access, Luggage Room, Safety depositboxes and an ATM machine. One of ourlocal expert staff will meet you at the hotelaround 10am to take you on a three hourwalking tour round the highlights – you’lluse public transport around the centre toavoid the traffic jams and get the hang ofthe system for when you come to use itindependently. Our staffers are full ofideas for this walk but are flexible aboutother ideas if you have your own. Yourwalk ends in the city centre aroundlunchtime. Check-in is after 2pm the hotelreception will advise you they will needyour passport for visa registration. Thisprocess takes 1–2 hours. Yourcomplimentary InfoPack is full of ideas forgetting the most out of your freetime. (Please note your Trans-Siberiantrain tickets will be delivered to the hotelduring your two night stay.)No mealsDAY 05 This morning you can continue sightseeingthe Lenin Mausoleum is only open in themornings, and getting there early (it’s inRed Square) helps beat the queues. If youhaven’t pre-booked any of our range of cityexcursions the rest of the day is your ownto explore further. Some of our topsuggestions (please check openingtimes/days before setting off) wouldinclude visiting the Moscow Kremlin, theTretyakov Gallery, the Pushkin Fine ArtsMuseum, or a boat trip along the MosvkaRiver ... perhaps locate some tickets forballet, opera, circus or a concert thisevening? As well as famous classical musictraditions Moscow features on the touringschedules of world names in jazz, rock, popand world music. Breakfast

DAY 06 Your morning is free until 3:30pm when adriver is scheduled to take you to thestation. Although there’s a restaurant carservice on board your train you may want tosupplement this with some snacks, treats,and fresh fruit that you could buy today.Your transfer from the hotel to Yaroslavskystation is scheduled for 3:30pm, so pleasebe at the hotel reception where your driverwill meet you and will assist your boardingof the Perm bound train. BreakfastDAY 07 Your first full day on board the Trans-Sib...There will be plenty of time to meet fellowtravellers and hang out in the dining carwhich serves a variety of meals and snacksreasonably priced. Early afternoon arrive inPerm where our driver will meet you at theend of the platform and will be holding ameeting-board with your name on.Transfer to the Ural 3★ Hotel, which islocated in the cultural and historical centreof Perm. This property is close to PermState Art Gallery, Regional History museum,Perm State Academic Opera and BalletTheatre, and the Kama River embankment.No meals

DAY 08 After breakfast you depart by car with aguide for a two day side trip. A rucksack orsimilar is recommended for your things,and you can leave heavier luggage at thehotel to collect in two days time. (Pleasecheck Hints & Tips above). The first visit isto the Kungur Ice Caves (approx 1.5 hrsfrom Perm) – but there is no scramblinginvolved, the entire complex is equippedwith underground walkways and requiresno caving abilities at all – but you'll wantyour fleece (and some robust shoes) asthey're not called the Ice Caves fornothing! During the day you'll also pass ahilltop cathedral with magnificent viewsand a former political prison. Lunch isincluded en-route (there's a café at theCaves). Three more hours brings you to theUsva River – you can change your clotheswhilst local staffers set up the raft. Onlylight paddling to steer is needed, thecurrent carries you along, and you'll set upcamp opposite the Rocky Cliffs tonight.Camp supper (singing is optional) andovernight in tents in the middle of the UralMountains.Breakfast, Lunch, SupperDAY 09 After breakfast we continue rafting alongthe Usva there are liberal opportunities forstops to see natural beauty-spots, wildlife,flowers and plants, along with a picniclunch stop along the way. This section ofthe trip is through forest gorges where theriver is the only access – there are no roadsor villages. This evening you'll make a newcamp (local staffers will set things up youcan help if you want to) and enjoy a hotsupper prepared by our rafting instructors.Breakfast, Lunch, Supper

DAY 10 After breakfast the staff will strike campand load the gear aboard the raft for thefinal short section to Mys – there's time tochange into the dry clothes you wiselypacked in a plastic bag two days ago whilethe staff pack-down the raft. Rendezvouswith our driver, and you now continue byroad to the Perm-22 Gulag Camp – the onlysurviving such camp it's possible to visit inRussia (there might be remains of others inthe Arctic, but you would need to charter ahelicopter for several days to reach them).The Perm-22 Camp is now independentlymaintained by a charity concerned withthe welfare and history of politicalprisoners jailed by the USSR – the interiorsof the former barracks have beenconverted to include displays about theGulag system, and there is a short film inEnglish they will show. You shouldn'texpect a concrete prison – the reality of theGulags is horribly banal, and consists ofwooden huts the prisoners were forced tobuild themselves. There's a picnic lunch onthe drive back to Perm, where you'll bereunited with your left luggage andaccommodated at the Hotel Ural onceagain.BreakfastDAY 11 Today is free for you to relax and explorePerm the city where the Great SiberianTrakt (the Post Road which preceded therailway) began. Visit the River Embankmentto see where convict boats from Moscowwould arrive at night – so locals wouldn'tsee the fettered convicts being marchedonwards on foot to Siberia. On SibirskayaStreet there's a plaque marking the spotwhere the last Tsar's brother, Grand-PrinceMichael, was arrested on the day after theTsar himself had been executed – Britsmay note the loyalty of Michael's Englishsecretary, who was offered his freedombut opted to follow the Grand-Prince to hisdeath in front of a firing-squad. Thisevening transfer to the station where youwill board the Ulaanbaatar bound train.Breakfast

DAY 12–14 On board The Trans-Sib ... the dining car isthe heart of the train and great place tomeet fellow travellers and locals alike,sharing your experiences of the journey sofar with a few drinks, which no doubt willinclude some Vodka or RussianChampagne – and maybe smoked salmonand caviar too!No mealsDAY 15 Early morning arrival in Ulaanbaatar. Ourdriver and guide will meet you at the endof the platform and will be holding ameeting- board with your name on.Transfer from the station, to a hotel with achance to freshen up and have light snack,before departing for your city tour. Thentransfer to Elstei Ger Lodge (70km). With ascheduled stop at the enormousmonument to Genghis Khan along the way.It may not be quite traditional in style(since it's made of stainless steel) but it'san astounding edifice and a testament toGenghis's place in Mongolian culture(astonishingly the Communists tried towrite him out of official history text-books).Taking the elevator to top of this 10 metrehigh monument you visit the exhibitionhall from where you will have an excellentpanoramic view over the complex area andthe scenery beyond. A relaxed evening inthe bar after supper there are occasionalimpromptu performances of liveMongolian music, where you might hearthe Morin Khuur (horse-head lyre), thecimbalom, or native Mongolian throat-singing. On arrival to Elstei Ger Lodge youwill be allocated a 4-person share Ger.(2-person upgrade available.) Breakfast & Supper

These dossiers are designed to provide you with a guide to our trips, the places visited, accommodation used and to give you a flavour of your dailyitinerary. You will be travelling in parts of the world where the unanticipated and the unusual are all part of the experience and, as a result, theunexpected can happen and we may on occasions need to vary your plans. These dossiers do not form part of any contract.

full on itinerary – 19 days Leaving from St. Petersburg to Beijing

ExperienceClassic Gobi & Gulag

DAY 16 With no specific activities planned you canchoose to chill out, read, sunbathe, gowalking, or (for a small payment madedirectly to them locally) you can go horseriding with local nomad horsemen. Arelaxed evening in the bar after supperwhere you can chat with the local guidesand other travellers. It’s also worthwatching the sunset, as its not called theland of the endless skies for nothing.Breakfast, Lunch, Supper

DAY 17 Our driver and guide will meet you at theend of the platform and will be holding ameeting- board with your name on.Transfer from the station, to a hotel with achance to freshen up and have light snack,before departing for your city tour. Thentransfer to Elstei Ger Lodge (70km). With ascheduled stop at the enormous monumentto Genghis Khan along the way. It may notbe quite traditional in style (since it's madeof stainless steel) but it's an astoundingedifice and a testament to Genghis's placein Mongolian culture (astonishingly theCommunists tried to write him out of officialhistory text-books). Taking the elevator totop of this 10 metre high monument youvisit the exhibition hall from where you willhave an excellent panoramic view over thecomplex area and the scenery beyond. Arelaxed evening in the bar after supperthere are occasional impromptuperformances of live Mongolian music,where you might hear the Morin Khuur(horse-head lyre), the cimbalom, or nativeMongolian throat-singing. On arrival toElstei Ger Lodge you will be allocated a 4-person share Ger. (2-person upgradeavailable.) Breakfast

DAY 18 Early morning transfer to the station forthe Beijing bound train. Time to leave theCapital On The Steppes – today's trainjourney meanders through amazing sunparched scenery of the Southern Gobi.Later that evening there comes theChinese border formalities, after whichyou are free to get some sleep.BreakfastDAY 19 Don't oversleep today, as it's possiblysome of the most spectacular scenery ofthe entire route, as you leave the desertscenery behind and pass by mountainsand rice paddy fields. Afternoon arrival atBeijing Central Station. For services inChina and beyond please refer to our website.No meals.

These dossiers are designed to provide you with a guide to our trips, the places visited, accommodation used and to give you a flavour of your dailyitinerary. You will be travelling in parts of the world where the unanticipated and the unusual are all part of the experience and, as a result, theunexpected can happen and we may on occasions need to vary your plans. These dossiers do not form part of any contract.

full on itinerary - 19 days Leaving from St. Petersburg to Beijing

ExperienceClassic Gobi & Gulag