Moscow to Beijing (contact us for itinerary in reverse)
Trip price starts from $3045
Operational season: May-September
Visas required: Russia, Mongolia, China
You don’t need previous experience or special gear for either the Kungur Ice Caves, or a softies rafting trip through the Urals Mountains. At the heart of the trip is a visit to Russia’s only remaining Gulag Camp (now a Museum of Soviet Repression) like all the Gulags, hidden at a distance from civilisation. No other travel company offers this route.
“S Priezdom! Welcome to Moscow!” Our driver will be there to meet you from whichever flight, train or boat you arrive. You’ll then be transferred to the Irbis 3H Hotel. The facilities available at this hotel include a Restaurant, Lobby Bar, Lobby Wi-Fi access, Luggage Room, Safety deposit boxes and an ATM machine. At check-in, (after 2pm) the hotel reception will advise you they will need your passport for
visa registration. This process takes 1–2 hours. Your complimentary InfoPack is full of ideas for getting the most out of your free time.
Please check out our " St. Petersburg Add On" if you wish to commence your trip in St. Petersburg No Meals.
Day 2 - Around Moscow
After breakfast one of our local expert staff will meet you at the hotel to take you on a three hour walking tour round the highlights – you’ll use public transport around the centre to avoid the traffic jams and get the hang of the system for when you come to use it independently. Our staffers are full of ideas for this walk but are flexible about other ideas if you have your own. Your walk ends in the city centre around lunchtime. If you haven’t prebooked any of our range of city excursions the rest of the day is your own to explore further. Some of our top suggestions (please check opening times/days before setting off) would include visiting the Moscow Kremlin, the Tretyakov Gallery, the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum, or a boat trip along the Mosvka River… perhaps locate some tickets for ballet, opera, circus or a concert this evening? As well as famous classical music traditions Moscow
features on the touring schedules of world names in jazz, rock, pop and world music.
Breakfast.
Day 3 - Depart Moscow
You’ll need to check out of your room by 12 noon today but the hotel offers a Left
Luggage service for a small fee. Your day is free until 9pm, when a driver is scheduled to take you to the station. This morning you can continue sightseeing – the Lenin Mausoleum is only open in the mornings, and getting there early (it’s in Red Square) helps beat the queues. Although there’s a restaurant car service on board your train you may want to supplement this with some snacks, treats,
and fresh fruit that you could buy today. Your transfer from the hotel to Yaroslavsky station is scheduled for 4 pm, so please be at the hotel reception where your driver will meet you and will assist your boarding of the Perm bound train.
Breakfast.
Day 4 - Arrive Perm
Your first full day on board the Trans-Sib... There will be plenty of time to meet fellow
travellers and hang out in the dining car which serves a variety of meals and snacks
reasonably priced. Evening arrive in Perm where our driver will meet you at the end of the platform and will be holding a meeting-board with your name on. Transfer to the Hotel Ural, which is located in the cultural and historical centre of Perm. This property is close to Perm State Art Gallery, Regional History museum, Perm State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, and the Kama River embankment. No Meals.
Day 5 - Kungar Ice Caves
After breakfast you depart by car with a guide
for a two day side trip. A rucksack or similar is
recommended for your things, and you can
leave heavier luggage at the hotel to collect in
two days time.
The first visit is to the Kungur Ice
Caves (approx 1.5 hrs from Perm) – but there is
no scrambling involved, the entire complex is
equipped with underground walkways and
requires no caving abilities at all – but you’ll
want your fleece (and some robust shoes) as
they’re not called the Ice Caves for nothing!
During the day you’ll also pass a hilltop
cathedral with magnificent views and a former
political prison. Lunch is included en-route
(there’s a café at the Caves). Three more hours
brings you to the Usva River – you can change
your clothes whilst local staffers set up the raft. Only light paddling to steer is needed, the
current carries you along, and you’ll set up
camp opposite the Rocky Cliffs tonight. Camp
supper (singing is optional) and overnight in
tents in the middle of the Ural Mountains. Breakfast, Lunch, Supper
Day 6 - Rafting on Usva River
After breakfast we continue rafting along the
Usva there are liberal opportunities for stops
to see natural beauty-spots, wildlife, flowers
and plants, along with a picnic lunch stop
along the way. This section of the trip is
through forest gorges where the river is the
only access – there are no roads or villages.
This evening you’ll make a new camp (local
staffers will set things up you can help if you
want to) and enjoy a hot supper prepared by
our rafting instructors. Breakfast, Lunch, Supper
Day 7 - Perm Gulag Camp
After breakfast the staff will strike camp and
load the gear aboard the raft for the final short
section to Mys – there’s time to change into the
dry clothes you wisely packed in a plastic bag
two days ago while the staff pack-down the
raft. Rendezvous with our driver, and you now
continue by road to the Perm-22 Gulag Camp –
the only surviving such camp it’s possible to
visit in Russia (there might be remains of others
in the Arctic, but you would need to charter a
helicopter for several days to reach them).
The Perm-22 Camp is now independently
maintained by a charity concerned with the
welfare and history of political prisoners jailed
by the USSR – the interiors of the former
barracks have been converted to include
displays about the Gulag system, and there
is a short film in English they will show.
You shouldn’t expect a concrete prison – the
reality of the Gulags is horribly banal, and
consists of wooden huts the prisoners were
forced to build themselves. There’s a picnic
lunch on the drive back to Perm, where you’ll
be reunited with your left luggage and
accommodated at the Hotel Ural once again. Breakfast.
Included in the trip: TRAIN: 2-Class 4-berth rail for complete journey. MOSCOW: Transfer on arrival/departure. Two nights 3* Hotel, breakfast included. 3 hour personalised walking tour with local expert. PERM: All transfers are provided. Two nights 3* hotel, breakfast included. 4 hour personalised walking tour. Visit to Gulag Museum. Rafting (no skill required). Two nights camping. evening meal provided. ULAANBAATAR: All Transfers included. Two Nights Mongolian Ger Camp accommodation, full board. One night 3* hotel in Ulaanbaatar, breakfast included. Walking tour of Ulaanbaatar.
Trip Price Guide (per person):
1 person
2 people
3-9 people
Full On
$4090
$3209
$3045
Spicing it up
Extra night Moscow
$166
$111
$111
Upgrade to 2 berth
$790
$790
$790
Due to the nature of these destinations all prices are subject to change. Contact us to confirm exact price.
these are the dates when this itinerary works:
2012 - 16 days
May 10, 17, 24, 31
June 07, 14, 21, 28
July 05, 12, 19, 26
August 02, 09, 16, 23, 30
Please contact us on 1300 654 861 if you would like to take this trip starting in Beijing or e-mail us
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