Along the wayMoscowIrkutskUlaanbaatarBeijing

Leaving from Moscow to Beijing

ExperienceClassic Naadam Train

NAADAM is Mongolia's biggest and most uproariousfestival of the calendar year. Mongolia's extremeclimate (hot summers, freezing Siberian winters) meanthat rural communities (who make up 75% of thepopulation) are cut off in winter, when deep snowmakes all but major roads impassable. To make-up fora lack of New Year festivities (in any case Mongoliansmark the Lunar New Year), Mongolians go berserk atNaadam instead.What’s included

FULL ON

Train> 4-berth rail for complete journey (pre-assigned berths)> option to upgrade to 2-berthMoscow > 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

Irkutsk > all transportation > 3 nights 3★ hotel, Listvyanka Village, breakfast > excursion optionUlaanbaatar> all transportation > 2 nights 3★ hotel ,breakfast, 2 boxed lunches> 2 nights Elstei Ger Lodge all meals> 1 night Hustai Ger Camp all meals> 1 night Molit Valley Ger Camp all meals> City tour of Ulaanbaatar> Naadam tickets

In the know�The word “Kremlin” isn’t Russian – it’s froma medieval Tartar word meaning “fortress”.There used to be kremlins all over Russia inthe days when the Mongols were a threat.There’s even one in Siberia, at Tobolsk.“Siberia” means “the sleeping land” andisn’t a Russian word – it comes from theTartar name for the area, “Sibir”.Lake Baikal is the world’s largest, and hasmore statistics than any other lake.Genghis Khan’s name is correctly spelt“Chinghiskhan”, although his name at birthwas Temujin. Despite his reputation forferocity, the oldest annals of Mongolianhistory reveal he was frightened of dogs.

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 RequirementsVisitors to Russia, Mongolia and Chinarequire visas. These must be obtainedprior to departure. Visa processing timesfor these countries can be 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! – Popular time of year to travel sobook early!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, warmjacket (Sep-Apr departures), ski clothing.(For those participating), warm waterproofwalking boots, photographs of home toshow the Nomads, Mongolian children lovebubbles!, universal sink plug, bottleopener.

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

Moscow +15/+22 +15/+30Irkutsk +8/+22 +26/+38Ulaanbaatar +15/+24 +26/+42Beijing +15/+22 +24/+30

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 daily 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 Moscow to Beijing

ExperienceClassic Naadam Train

Naadam is the traditional three-day festivalof “manly sports” - the biggest event on theMongolian calendar. In fact it is celebratedacross Central Asia in different ways.Before the Socialist revolution in 1924,Naadam included many aspects of bothBuddhism and Shamanism, includingelaborate mask-dancing and processions.These elements were stamped-out by theCommunist authorities and eradicated.After communism collapsed in Mongolia,the mask-dancers were allowed toparticipate in the Opening Parade, but nomask ceremonies or Buddhist rituals areincluded. The main thing is the sports –wrestling, archery, flicking dried sheep'sankle-bones at a target (harder than itsounds!), and the biggest spectacle of all –the horse-racing. All the events go on inparallel, and aficionados go to see whatinterests them most. Foreign visitors tendto dip-in and watch a bit of everything, andalso take a wander round the manysouvenir-stands and food-stalls that pop-uparound the arenas. Mongolia's population isspread thinly over huge areas of land (threetimes the size of Germany, but with thepopulation of just one small German city),and the harsh winters make travelimpossible for many small communities inwintertime – the summer festival ofNaadam has always been not only aceremonial and sporting event, but achance to visit distant friends and relations,enjoy a chitchat, something of an annualfair, and also a chance for young people inisolated communities to perhaps find aspouse? The organisation of the events(mostly by the sports fans who participatein them) can sometimes be rather chaotic –so be prepared for schedule changes, and alot of traffic jams!

DAY 01 “S Priezdom! Welcome to Moscow!” Ourdriver will be there to meet you fromwhichever flight, train or boat you arrive.You’ll then be transferred to the Panorama3★ Hotel. The facilities available at this hotelinclude a Restaurant, Lobby Bar, Lobby Wi-Fi

access, Luggage Room, Safety deposit boxesand an ATM machine. At check-in, (after2pm) the hotel reception will advise you theywill need 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. (Pleasenote your Trans-Siberian train tickets will bedelivered to the hotel during your two nightstay.)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 the highlightsyou’ll use public transport around the centreto avoid the traffic jams and get the hang ofthe system for when you come to use itindependently. Our staffers are full of ideasfor this walk but are flexible about otherideas if you have your own. Your walk ends inthe city centre around lunchtime. If youhaven’t pre-booked any of our range of cityexcursions the rest of the day is your own toexplore further. Some of our top suggestions(please check opening times/days beforesetting off) would include visiting the MoscowKremlin, the Tretyakov Gallery, the PushkinFine Arts Museum, or a boat trip along theMosvka River ... perhaps locate some ticketsfor ballet, 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 03 Your morning is free until 11.30am when adriver is scheduled to take you to the station. Although there’s a restaurant car service onboard your train you may want to supplementthis with some snacks, treats, and fresh fruitthat you could buy today.Your transfer from the hotel to Yaroslavskystation is scheduled for 11:30am, so please beat the hotel reception where your driver willmeet you and will assist your boarding of theIrkutsk bound train. BreakfastDAY 04–06 On board The Trans-Sib ....Travelling towardsIrkutsk. The dining car is the heart of sociallife on the train. It functions as bar, lounge,and take-out snack store, as well as a caféserving reasonably priced meals. It is a greatplace to meet fellow travellers and localsalike, sharing your experiences of yourjourney so far with a few drinks, which nodoubt will include some Vodka – and maybesmoked salmon and caviar too! Along the wayyou’ll see astonishing Siberian scenery as thedeciduous forests of the Ural Mountainsslowly give way to Siberian pine forests. Themajor landmarks are the great rivers youcross, including the River Ob at Novosibirsk (one of the most famousbridges on the route), and the gigantic EniseiRiver (at Krasnoyarsk).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 daily 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 Moscow to Beijing

ExperienceClassic Naadam Train

DAY 07 Early morning arrival in Irkutsk. Our driverwill meet you at the end of the platform,holding a meeting-board displaying “RussiaExperience”. Transfer to “Krestovaya Pad 3★Hotel” situated in Listvyanka Village (70km)travelling by road through the forest. TheKrestovaya Pad Hotel is set just 50 metresfrom the shores of Lake Baikal. Hotelfacilities include; sun terrace, sauna (localcharge) Laundry and Ironing service,restaurant and bar. All rooms have privatebathrooms, tea and coffee facilities and aminibar. Wi-Fi is free of charge in publicareas. The nearest ATM-machine in theBaikal Hotel (Listvyanka remains a village,and doesn't have the range of bankingservices you could expect in a city). Theofficial check-in time is 13:00, the hotelreception will advise you they will need yourpassport for visa registration formalities. Ifyour room is available this will - of course -be allocated to you on arrival. (If your roomis not available you will be able to leave yourluggage with the hotel reception). You willhave a chance to have breakfast beforesetting off on your walking tour aroundListvyanka Village. This will include a visit tothe Limnological Museum (this is anexhibition about the Lake, its formation,wildlife etc. - it includes multimediapresentations, information about thecreatures which live in the darkest depths,and also an aquarium with living aquaticspecies, including the unique freshwaterBaikal seals) and also a small wooden villageRussian Orthodox Church dating back to theC18th. You return to your hotel at the endof the walk, with time to relax and enjoyyour lakeside surroundings, maybeexperience real Siberian "banya" (sauna –local charge). Breakfast

DAY 08 Choose one activity from the list, it’s allincluded in the trip price! You’ll need toinform us of your choice beforecommencing your journey, so that we canhave the right staff on hand for when youarrive (please note the Siberian weatherputs seasonal limits on some activities –details below). A. SIBERIAN TREK through the Taiga Forestwith a local guide who will explain thewildlife, with a local guide who will explianthe eco system and lore of the Taiga. Thetrek is 4-5 hours long, includes a picnic stylelunch and a good level of fitness is required.(May-Oct)B. CIRCUM BAIKAL PICNIC Take the Ferryfrom Listvyanka to Port Baikal which takesaround 15 minutes. Walk around PortBaikal, where you will see the train stationof the old Circumbaikal rail line. Then youwill walk along the rail line to the nearesttunnel (2-3 km). Stopping for a picnic lunchon the shore of Lake Baikal. Return to PortBaikal, ferry back to Listvyanka. Theexcursion is around 5 hours duration. (Jun-Sep) C.TALTSY WOODEN MUSEUM A two hourtrip which includes a return transfer by car,and entrance fees to the Taltsy open airwooden museum which is situated on theshore of the Angara river. On arrival you arefree to explore independently and there is atea house here where afterwards you canhave a cup of tea and traditional Russiansnack (pencakes, pirodzki, etc) Thispicturesque area shows how life was andhas been sympathetically restored as atourist attraction where you can buy authentic souvenirs. (Year round)D. PORT BAIKAL A day trip to Port Baikalwith a local guide taking a ferry fromListvyanka. On arrival visit the CircumbaikalRailway Museum located at the train stationthen an uphill hike to the White stoneviewpoint and to see the old lighthouse.Followed by a visit to a Russian OrthodoxChurch, lunch and free time walking back tothe village. Return by ferry. Duration 5hours. (May–August)Breakfast

DAY 09 No specific itinerary is planned today. Thisis a free day at your leisure. Why not take awalk down to the harbour and enjoy thefreshly caught omlu, the indigenous fish ofLake Baikal.BreakfastDAY 10 After breakfast transfer back to Irkutsk city.Where you will have the option to leaveyour bags at our local office. You will begiven a map and recommendations ofinteresting places to visit, balance of dayfree to explore. We suggest you take thisopportunity to purchase provisions for thenext leg of your journey, as often thisservice has no dining car. This eveningtransfer to the station for the Ulaanbaatarbound train. BreakfastDAY 11 On board heading down towards Mongolia. At midnight you will make the bordercrossing into Mongolia with the usual halt forformalities. No mealsDAY 12 Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, and straight to theNaadam Opening Ceremonies. Naadamkicks off with an opening parade around thetrack of the Sports Stadium, vaguely similarto the Olympics Parade but with a specialMongolian twist. In addition to all thecompetitors, the Parade includes all thepast & present Miss Mongolias, famoussingers, actors and musicians, rock bands, amotorbike enthusiasts group, variouscarnival floats, masked shamanic dancers,and various celebrities and politicians. OnceNaadam has been officially opened, thewrestling bouts began right there at theStadium – the rounds will take three days tocomplete! In the adjacent stadiums thereare archery contests to watch, and allaround the stadium area an impromptu fairof souvenir-stands, fast food and attractionstakes place. Afternoon transfer out ofUlaanbaatar to the horse-track, to see therounds in the horse-riding championships.Return to Ulaanbaatar, and overnight at theBayangol Hotel, right in the centre of town.Breakfast, Boxed Lunch, 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 daily 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 Moscow to Beijing

ExperienceClassic Naadam Train

DAY 13 After breakfast return to the stadium to thewrestling and archery tournaments. Thisafternoon transfer to Elstei Ger Lodge(70km). With a scheduled stop at theenormous monument to Genghis Khanalong the way. It may not be quitetraditional in style (since it's made ofstainless steel) but it's an astounding edificeand a testament to Genghis's place inMongolian culture (astonishingly theCommunists tried to writehim out of official history text-books).Taking the elevator to the top of this 10metre high monument you visit theexhibition hall from where you will have anexcellent panoramic view over the complexarea and the scenery beyond. On arrival toElstei Ger Lodge you will be allocated a fourperson share Ger. (2 -person upgradeavailable.)Breakfast, Boxed Lunch, SupperDAY 14 Today you will visit a local nomad family.See how a nomadic family milks theirlivestock and learn how they produce dairyproducts using the traditional Mongolianmethod. You can go horse-riding yourselfwith local trainers, take a walk in thebeautiful surrounding area, wander over tosee the giant Genghis Khan statue, practiceMongolian archery – or just stretch out for aread or a nap in the glorious summerweather. A relaxed evening in the bar aftersupper – there are occasional impromptuperformances of live Mongolian music,where you might hear the Morin Khuur(horse-head lyre), the cimbalom, or nativeMongolian khoomei throat-singing.Breakfast, Lunch, Supper

DAY 15 This afternoon travel by road to HustaiNational Park. The park is home to a someamazing wildlife including Wolves , Lynx andthe Golden Eagle and of course thePrezevalsky Horses (known locally as"Takhi"). The park lies in the foothills of thesouthern Khentii Mountain Range about100km south west of Ulaanbaatar. Youraccommodation is located at the maincamp, which has similar facilities as theElstei Ger Lodge. On arrival to the campafter settling in you will visit thePrezevalsky Horses that live wild in the Park- one of the few places in the world this ispossible after being considered extinct formany years. Overnight at the camp.Breakfast, Lunch, SupperDAY 16 You will breakfast at the camp then set offto the picturesque Moilt Valley - this is notfar, around 25-30 kms away. This area isfamous for wildflowers as well as wildlife.On route you will visit old sculptures andDeer stones (or Reindeer stones ) these areancient megaliths carved with symbols thatcan be found all over the world but areconcentrated largely in Siberia andMongolia. The name comes from theircarved depictions of flying deer. Lunchalong the way and then overnight withsupper at the camp.Breakfast, Lunch, Supper

DAY 17 After breakfast you will travel back toUlaanbaatar which is around 3-4 hoursaway. The day will also include, once back inthe capital, some sightseeing. While outwith your guide you will enjoy seeing theGandan monastery - home to 150 monksand housing the 26.5-meter-high statue ofMigjid Janraisig and also the main squarewhere you will see the huge monument ofSükhbaatar ,leader of the army thatliberated Mongolia in the 1921 revolution.This evening you will enjoy a concert oftraditional Mongolian folk dancing. BreakfastDAY 18 Early morning transfer to the station for theBeijing bound train. Time to leave the CapitalOn The Steppes – today’s train journeymeanders through amazing sun parchedscenery of the Southern Gobi. Later thatevening there comes the Chinese borderformalities, after which you are free to getsome sleep.BreakfastDAY 19 Don’t oversleep today, as it’s possibly someof the most spectacular scenery of theentire route, as you leave the desert scenerybehind and pass by mountains and ricepaddy fields. Afternoon arrival to BeijingCentral Station. For services in China andbeyond please refer to our web site.No meals