DAY 7, 8, 9 & 10 - TIANJIN / BEIJING Arrive back to Tianjin and then spend 4 night in Beijing. Taking time to explore all that this bustling city has to offer. On the fourth night meet your tour group. Your CEO will review all of your land tour details. DAY 11 - BEIJING / ULAANBAATAR Ride the rails through China and into Mongolia. While on board, settle in and enjoy impressive views of the Great Wall as the train tackles the mountains before descending to the arid lands of Inner Mongolia and continuing into the heart of rural Asia. In the evening, reach the border post of Erlian. Here, the train's wheels will be changed to accommodate a different gauge rail. Opt to stay on board and watch it happen. DAY 12 - ULAANBAATAR Awake to the stunning landscapes of the south Gobi. The classic image of Mongolian horses and gers (yurts) dot the scenery from horizon to horizon. The occasional nomad encampment appears mirage-like through the carriage window. DAY 13 - ULAANBAATAR/GORKHI TERELJ NATIONAL PARK Enjoy an included city tour with a local guide to learn more about the rich history and culture of Mongolia. Discov- er one of the most important Mongo- lian temple complexes, the Gandan Monastery. Learn about the history of Buddhism in Mongolia and hope for the chance to see chanting monks. If lucky, a local fortune teller may be around to share some wisdom. After the Monas- tery, the tour will continue in the Winter Palace of the last Mongolian King (the only King's palace that survived the revolution). At the end of the tour, visit Zaisan Hill, a great viewpoint with a monument dedicated to Soviet soldiers. Enjoy a night in a traditional ger camp. DAY 14 - GORKHI TERELJ NATIONAL PARK Spend the night in a ger camp learning about traditional life. Walk through the valleys and live simply while overnight- ing in a traditional ger camp. DAY 15 - GORKHI TERELJ NATIONAL PARK / IRKUTSK Head back to Ulaanbaatar for a few hours before boarding the train to Siberia. Return back to Ulaanbaatar before boarding the next train. DAY 16 - IRKUTSK / LISTVYANKA Travel to Listvyanka on the shores of Lake Baikal. Opt to visit Baikal Limno- logical Museum, enjoy a 'banya' (Russian sauna) or take a boat ride on the lake. DAY 17 - LISTVYANKA Spend a full day exploring the surrounding countryside of Lake Baikal. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lake Baikal is the oldest and deepest lake in the world. With free time, catch a glimpse into why this is the "Galapagos of Russia". Opt to go for a boat ride or take a short hike. DAY 18 - LISTVYANKA / IRKUTSK Head back to Irkutsk for an included city tour of one of the most beautiful cities in Siberia. learn about the history of how this Siberian gem came to be. Soak in the beautiful architecture of the quaint wooden houses and visit the bustling central market. Experience overnight travel like a local. Sit back and get some well-earned (and likely much-needed) rest en route to your next stop. DAY19-IRKUTSK/YEKATERINBURG Continue on from Irkutsk to Yekaterin- burg. Drink with locals in the dining car, buy homemade food on the platform from "babushkas" (Russian grandmoth- ers), read, relax, play cards, meet your fellow passengers, watch the taiga forests go by — this is what the experi- ence is all about! DAY20-IRKUTSK/YEKATERINBURG Continue on and arrive to the soviet-style city in the Ural Mountain region. DAY 21 - YEKATERINBURG Enjoy a guided tour of Yekaterinburg, including the Church of All Saints on Spilled Blood and the Black Tulip monu- ment. With free time, opt to see a IS THIS TOUR FOR ME? TRAVEL STYLE: Rail Get closer to the big cities, isolated communities, and stunning landscapes of the world's greatest destinations via train-based adven- tures on iconic rail routes. SERVICE LEVEL: Standard Comfortable tourist-class accommo- dations with character; mix of public and private transport. PHYSICAL RATING: 2 - Light Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging. TRIP TYPE: Small Group Small group experience; Max 15, avg 12 AGE REQUIREMENT: 12+ All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. VISA REQUIREMENTS Countries visited during this trip may have special visa requirements applicable to many nationalities. T A I N J I N N A G A S A K I F U K U O K A TRANS-MONGOLIAN EXPRESS 66