We have a free day to explore Russia’s capital and its array of cultural relics from the czars, the Soviet period and today’s Russia. In the evening we board the Siberian Express.

Hang out with fellow passengers and sample the Russian culture of ‘tea-ing’ and toasting, pirogis and providnitzas, as we venture deep into the Russian hinterland into Siberia.

(There is an option to join the tour on this day) A free day to explore the wooden buildings and onion-domed cathedrals in this former Cossack outpost on the Angara River. (B)

On the way to Baikal we stop at an open-air museum before embarking from the port of Lisvyanka on a small ship.  Our destination: a serene beach where we camp next to the world’s most pristine waters and eat omul, the lake’s indigenous fresh fish. (B,D)

The ship takes us to the tiny village of Port Baikal where we will stay in a small cottage homestay. This is authentic Russian hospitality where we will have the opportunity to go out in the yard and take a Russian banya (sauna). (B,L,D)

We board the CircumBaikal railroad for great views and several stops along the shores of Lake Baikal.  This evening we board the Trans-Mongolian Express at Slyudyanka. (B,L,D)

Cross the Russian border into Mongolia and see the transition from taiga forest to the steppe and grasslands of central Mongolia

We drive by 4WD from Ulan Bator to a region where we will stay with nomads in traditional gers. We will help them make a traditional Horhog Barbeque, and can ride horses and learn fishing from the locals. (L,D)

We will drive to serene Lake Ogii amid the grassland plains where we can observe the abundant animal and bird-life. (Note: during April instead we visit Khustain National Park where we observe the recently endangered Takhi wild horses, among other abundant wildlife) (B,L,D)

Driving from Lake Ogii, we will stop at ancient pre-Mongol citadel and stupa ruins. This is before we arrive at Karakorum, the center of Mongolian Buddhism built from the ruins of Genghis Khan's capital city. We will stay next to the Mt. Khogno Khan Nature Reserve among Buddhist monastery ruins and sand dunes. (B,L,D)

Today we drive back to Ulan Bator. (B,L)

The rest of the day is free to explore this fascinating city.  In the evening we have the opportunity to have a Beijing duck dinner and see the acrobats.

We take an excursion from Beijing out to a less frequented portion of the wall and take a 10km (6 mile) hike between two of the most picturesque regions (optional).

We visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.  There is a little more free time before those of us continuing on board the train for Xian.

The tour ends for those only doing the Moscow to Beijing segment.