Along the wayMoscowEkaterinburgHarbinBeijing

Leaving from Moscow to Beijing via Ekaterinburg

ExperienceClassic Snow Train via Ekaterinburg

What’s included

This is our Classic Snow Train but with the added bonus ofa stop in Ekaterinburg on the Europe-Asia border and thegateway to the Urals. With husky dog sledding, skiing andone of the world’s most iconic events at its heart, if it’s areal "Russian Experience" you’re after nothing beats thistrip. Travelling in the depths of winter you’ll journey acrossRussia, taking the Manchurian route, to China via Harbinand the world famous Ice Festival, held annually betweenwestern and Chinese new years. With a grand openingceremony, fireworks, a series of theatrical performancesand, as its centerpiece, a stunning collection of exhibitscrafted from gigantic slaps of frozen water, Harbin is awinter wonderland the likes of which you won’t findanywhere else. Wrap-up well and marvel at the spectaclesurrounding you before travelling on to Beijing.

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 departureEkaterinburg> transfer on arrival to your hotel> 2 nights 3★ hotel, breakfast > walking tour with local expert> day trip option > transfer to the station on departureHarbin> 2 nights 4★ hotel

Train > 4-berth rail for complete journey (pre-assigned berths)> option to upgrade to 2-berthMoscow > transfer on arrival to your hotel> 2 nights 1★ hotel, breakfast Ekaterinburg> transfer on arrival to your hostel> 2 nights hostel > transfer to the station on departureHarbin> 2 nights 1★ hotel

FULL ON NO FRILLS

In the know…Harbin is the capital city of HeilongjiangProvince and this is China’s original andgreatest ice artwork festival.Due to Harbin’s arctic climate it is known as‘Ice City’ recognized as the ice and snowcentre in China, and is famous for itsexquisite and artistic ice and snowsculptures and festival.Despite what Fox Motion Pictures might tellyou (in “Anastasia”) the real-life Anastasiadidn’t escape the order for the Royal Familyto be killed. The final missing bodies werelocated and DNA-verified in September2007.

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 Harbin IceFestival), providing the historical context (pay avisit to the only remaining Soviet Gulag) orinviting you to savour the diverse culturalinfluences of indigenous people (sit down with ashaman, or enjoy the Siberian art of throatsinging!).

We have no group departures, our advertiseddates always operate (barring anythingcompletely out of our control) and, above all, wewill tell you it like it is – allowing you to make theright choice from a portfolio of journeys rich invariety and full of memorable experiences. Sorry! We couldn’t resist at least one cliché!

No ordinary trip

Visa RequirementsVisitors to Russia and China require visas.These must be obtained prior to departure. Visa processing times for these countriescan be up to;Russia 20 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! – Don’t miss visiting the IceLantern Garden Party which starts at dusk!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, thermals, warm jacket, warmwaterproof walking boots, universal sinkplug, bottle opener.

Climate and time – Minimum/maximum Temperatures ºCDec/Jan

Moscow/Ekaterinburg -6/+10Harbin -20/-2Beijing -20/+6

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 – 14 days Leaving from Moscow toBeijing via Ekaterinburg

ExperienceClassic Snow Train via Ekaterinburg

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. (We can obtain rates for superiorhotels ask a member of the reservationsteam for details.) The facilities available atthis hotel include a Restaurant, Lobby Bar,Lobby Wi-Fi access, Luggage Room, Safetydeposit boxes and an ATM machine. Atcheck-in, (after 2pm) the hotel receptionwill advise you they will need yourpassport for visa registration. Yourcomplimentary InfoPack is full of ideas forgetting the most out of your free time.(Please note your Trans-Siberian traintickets will be delivered to the hotel duringyour two night stay.)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. Some of our top suggestions(please check opening times/days beforesetting off) would include visiting theMoscow Kremlin, the Tretyakov Gallery,the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum, or a boattrip along the Mosvka River ... perhapslocate some tickets for ballet, opera, circusor a concert this evening? As well asfamous classical music traditions Moscowfeatures on the touring schedules of worldnames in jazz, rock, pop and world music.Breakfast

DAY 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 3.30pm when a driver isscheduled to take you to the station. Thismorning you can continue sightseeing –the Lenin Mausoleum is only open in themornings, and getting there early (it’s inRed Square) helps beat the queues.Although there’s a restaurant car serviceon 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 Kazanskystation is scheduled for 3.30pm, so pleasebe at the hotel reception where your driverwill meet you and will assist your boardingof the Ekaterinburg bound train. BreakfastDAY 04 Your first full day on board the Trans-Sib...There will be plenty of time to meet fellowtravellers and hang out in the dining car –which serves a variety of meals, drinks andsnacks at reasonable prices. Evening arrivein Ekaterinburg where our driver will meetyou at the end of the platform and will beholding a meeting-board with your nameon. Transfer to Chekhov 3★ Hotel which iscentrally located.No mealsDAY 05 After breakfast there’s a walking touraround the well known and less obviousattractions of Ekaterinburg, with a localexpert guide. You’ll visit the historicalcentre of the city, including the scene ofthe assassination of the Romanov RoyalFamily, on which a Cathedral now stands tomark the event. You’ll also see somethingof Ekaterinburg’s involvement in Russia’smilitary history. The last half-hour will bespent at The Museum of Gems. The tourends in the downtown area (we make sureyou know the way back!), where you arepoised for multiple lunch choices and afree afternoon to explore independently.Breakfast

DAY 06 Please make a choice of one of the day tripoptions. It’s included in the trip price!(Geographical note: Ekaterinburg has borderson both the Western and Eastern sides oftown ... to the West is the official borderbetween Europe & Asia, and to the East ofEkaterinburg is where Siberia officiallybegins. The Siberian border was more thansymbolic in the C19th – it delineated an areawhere a more rough and ready system ofjustice operated, where escaped serfs whohad run away from their masters couldlegally claim sanctuary. For oppressedreligious minorities, escaped serfs andothers, the one-way trip to Siberia was,ironically, the “highway of hope”.A. ROMANOV GRAVES (Europe/Asia BorderMonument en-route). Car excursion to sitewhere the Romanov bodies were hidden.Duration; 5 hours. No physical exertioninvolved. Light refreshments provided. YearroundB. SIBERIAN COUNTRYSIDE & HISTORIC VILLAGE Visit to an old village (130 km each way) now under a Preservation Order. Includes home-cooked lunch, exhibitions of local craft, horse cart riding. Duration; 8 hours. No physical exertion involved. Year round.C. SKIING At Ezhovaya Slopes Ski Resort.Skis/Poles/Lift-Pass package purchasablelocally approx £35 payable in roubles.No instruction is included – this programis for those who can already ski.Duration; 6 –7 hours. Lunch provided. 01December– 15 March. Weatherpermitting.D. ICE-FISHING Yes, you saw the cartoons, now you can try it yourself. Tackle, angler’s hints & fur coat provided. We don’t guarantee you’ll catch anything! Duration; 8 hours. Lunch provided. 15 November–15 December. 01 February–15 March. Weather permitting.E. SIBERIAN HUSKY DOG SLEDDING Exactlywhat it says! 3–4 hours sledding following amade track of approx 7km throughthe forest.No special fitness required, but be ready tofall off in the soft snow a few times they arepretty fast! Duration;6 hours.Lunch provided.15 November – 28 December. 11 January–28February. (min 2-persons) Weatherpermitting Breakfast, lunchCheck out of your room after midnight.Transfer to the station where you will boardthe Harbin bound train.

DAY 07–10 On board The Trans-Sib... travellingtowards Irkutsk. The dining car is the heartof social life on the train. It functions asbar, lounge, and take-out snack store, aswell as a café serving reasonably pricedmeals. It is a great place to meet fellowtravellers and locals alike sharing yourexperiences of your journey so far with afew drinks, which no doubt will includesome Vodka – and maybe smoked salmonand caviar too! Along the way you’ll seeastonishing Siberian scenery as thedeciduous forests of the Ural Mountainsslowly give way to Siberian pine forests.The major landmarks are the great riversyou cross, including the River Ob at Novosibirsk (one of the most famousbridges on the route), and the giganticEnisei River (at Krasnoyarsk).No meals

DAY 11After a night time border crossing (with alayover while the wheels are switched toChinese gauge), you’ve entered China andthe area known as Manchuria -once aseparate Chinese Kingdom, and home tothe Manchu (after whom the ManchuDynasty, the last in Imperial China, wasnamed). Early afternoon arrival in Harbin,the regional capital. We have not provided atransfer as the Hotel Kunlun 4★ Hotel isdirectly opposite the Rail Station on theother side of the square. The facilities at thishotel include 2 restaurants, indoorswimming pool, bowling centre and a discoon the premises. Harbin is sometimes called“The St Petersburg of China”, and itsextraordinary pedestrian main street builtentirely in European art nouveau style is amust-see in your free time this afternoon…if you can tear yourself away from thetemptation to buy “top-end clones” ofEuropean fashion in the city’s huge numberof high end clothing outlets, that is. Don’tmiss the hearty local Manchurian cuisinetonight either!No meals

DAY 12 The festival has three venues; Ice & SnowWorld - best seen after dark - this is wherethere are the huge 'buildings' which are litup with coloured lights, also some icesculptures. Snow Sculptures at Sun Island -good in the day and also when the sun isgoing down and when lit up after thatLantern Ice show - this is in Zhaolin Parkand is smaller. It's Chinese lanterns as in'ice versions of the stone carved ones' Bestseen at night as the sculptures are lit up..Remember to dress warmly, astemperatures will be well below zero!No mealsDAY 13 You’ll need to check out of your room by 12 noon today but the hotel offers a LeftLuggage service for a small fee. No specificitinerary is planned you have free time toexplore the Old Town of Harbin. Thisevening you will make your own way to thestation for the Beijing bound train.No mealsDAY 14 Morning arrival at Beijing Central Station. For additional services we offer in Beijingand beyond please refer to our web site. 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 – 14 days Leaving from Moscow toBeijing via Ekaterinburg

ExperienceClassic Snow Train via Ekaterinburg