2013 Go Guide - Red Express - 9 Days

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Red Express - 9 daysgo guidedon't leave home without it

A World Of Discovery

Red Express - 9 days updated on 14-10-2013

www.onthegotours.com

UK020 7371 1113 [email protected]

AUS1300 855 684 [email protected]

NZ0800 44 77 69 CAN1 866 890 7038

USA1 866 377 6147 SA0800 982 686

This Go Guide has been compiled with care and good faith. It gives an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday. Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other

reasons could force us to make changes to this itinerary. This document does not form part of a contract between the traveller and on the go and their affiliates. Any costs shown are subject to change though are an accurate reflection of

costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirements are subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of on the go

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Spend a few days in Russia's capital city,

then jump on board the Trans Siberianrailway, from Moscow to Beijing - a classictrain ride across a third of the globe fromone red city to another in one fell swoop.

HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS

Trip Highlights Moscow, the lively and historic capital of

Russia Trans-Siberian, Mongolian & Manchurian

route Views of Siberian forest, Gobi Desert and

Lake Baikal en route Beijing - extend your stay to explore

Chinas capital

What's Included

2 breakfasts 2 nights 3 star hotel in Moscow 6 nights on board train (2nd class, 4 berth

sleeper cabin) Train journey: Moscow - Beijing Transfer to Moscow rail station (not

platform) on day 3 Moscow Airport arrival transfer on day 1

What's Not Included

Flights and visas No meals aboard the train Laundry, drinks and items of a personal

nature This journey is semi-independent and is

unescorted. It is not a group departureand you will not have a tour guide.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 : MoscowWelcome to Moscow! Arrival transfer from MoscowSheremetyevo or Domodedovo airport to hotel.Overnight - Moscow

Day 2 : Red SquareMoscow. Moscow is home to legendary RedSquare, whimsical St Basils Cathedral and LeninsMausoleum, not to mention the gold-domedKremlin, Russias bastion of power. The MoscowMetro (a gift from Stalin to the people), with itsfamous chandelier and mosaic be-decked tickethalls and platforms, is an efficient and cheap way

to get around the city. Bursting at the seamswith world class galleries, museums, cafes, barsand restaurants, there's plenty to entertain you inMoscow.

Day 2 is yours to spend at leisure, independentlyexploring the capital, alternatively join our optionalcity tour and visit legendary Red Square by Metro,for a guided walk around the city centre withan English speaking guide. See the beautifullycoloured St Basils Cathedral in all its glory, thehistoric GUM department store and if LeninsMausoleum is open today, you can pay yourrespects to the grandfather of Communism himself!

If Lenins Mausoleum is open, you can payyour respects for free! The fascinating granite

mausoleum located in Red Square is a Mecca forthe curious. Lenin's wax-like cadaver lies peacefullyin a dimly lit, almost macabre setting. Humourlessguards ensure that visitors remain at all timesrespectful. Without stopping, you walk round threesides of his glass coffin. Behind the mausoleumis a memorial garden housing the remains ofmany more Soviet luminaries including KonstantinChernenko, Yuri Andropov and Leonid Brezhnev.

NOTE: If you plan to visit Lenins Mausoleum or theKremlin, please dont carry a large bag/rucksackbecause you'll have to store it (for a fee) beforeentry. Overnight - Moscow(B)

Day 3 : Moscow

Moscow. Another free day to enjoy the sights.Moscow has a staggering array of art galleries,

museums and shops as well as unique attractionssuch as famous Gorky Park. Tonight there is anincluded transfer to Yaroslavl rail station for train#004 express to Beijing. Overnight - train(B)

Days 4-8 : On board train

Settle into life on board the Trans-Siberian Expressas it plies its way across the Urals and large tractsof Siberia, following well-worn ancient tea caravanroutes. Travelling via Irkutsk and skirting along theshores of breathtaking Lake Baikal, enjoy the viewsas your journey continues via far Eastern Siberia.The train branches off the main Trans-Siberian lineat a place called Zaudinsky, which lies just beyondUlan Ude.

In the evening of day 7 the train crosses theborder into Mongolia reaching Ulaan Baatar, the


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laid-back capital of Mongolia the following morning.Continuing your journey, the train winds its waythrough the rolling foothills of the Bogd mountainrange and landscapes of uninterrupted steppebefore crossing the border into China in the evening

of day 8 and edging closer to the nations capital -Beijing. Overnight - Train

Day 9 : Beijing

Beijing - This afternoon the train reaches Beijingwhere your momentous journey ends. Considerextending your stay to explore China's bustlingcapital with our 3 day Beijing Stopover whichincludes guiding sightseeing taking in the highlightssuch as The Forbidden City and the legendaryGreat Wall of China.

Optional Excursion: City ToursEnhance your stay by booking a guided sightseeingtour in the following cities.All tours are escorted by a local guide and includerelevant transfers and transportation.

Moscow Walking Tour - A guided walking tourthrough Moscows city centre, taking in the sightsof Red Square - the brightly coloured St BasilsCathedral, the ritzy GUM department store and, ifopen, Lenins Mausoleum. Meet your guide in thehotel lobby at 9am.

Beijing Sightseeing Tour - An excursion toBadaling to walk a section of The Great Walland a guided tour of Tiananmen Square and theForbidden City. Including lunch. Meet your guide inthe hotel lobby at 08:30amFor prices please visit www.onthegotours.com orcontact us for further details. These city tours mustbe booked prior to departure.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Style of TravelOur Trans-Siberian Railway journeys run as anindependent package, combining the train journeyand stopovers, booked specifically and exclusivelyfor you.

You will not be travelling in a group and willnot have a group tour leader with you. Youcould be sharing your train carriage with Russians,Mongolians or Chinese and may find you are theonly Westerner. Half the fun of the train journey istrying to communicate with your fellow travellers,

learning new card games, taking time out to read orjust sit back and watch the world go by.

If stopping at intermediate points en route, you willbe met on arrival by one of our local drivers (who

sometimes can speak English) and transferred toyour accommodation. We offer a range of optionalexcursions that you can book before you travel oryou can choose to independently explore each portof call.

Are You A Trans-SiberianTraveller?If you like everything to happen like clockwork,for everyone you encounter to speak Englishon command and cannot cope without 24 hourassistance from a travel representative, then aTrans-Siberian adventure is probably not the typeof holiday for you!

Our Trans-Siberian railway journeys are suitable foradventurous, independent travellers, in search ofnew and sometimes intrepid experiences.

Please be aware that hotels and homestays enroute are simple.

Though the cabins are cosy, the trains themselvesare basic and whilst on-board you'll need to behappy to go without standard creature comfortssuch as a shower. On arrival, though friendly ourtransfer drivers are hired for their driving skills anddo not always speak English.

Finally, do as much preliminary reading as possible.Both Russian and Mongolian cities and peopleare quite different to anything you will have

encountered before. You may find that some thelocals in Russia can be quite abrupt and curt attimes and that the customer service offered athotels en route, is not up to the high standard thatwe've come to expect in the West. You need to takethis with a pinch of salt, it's just the Russian way,expect your service without a smile!

As long as you're aware of all these facts, you'll bementally prepared for this epic journey!

HotelsWe provide simple 3 star hotel accommodation onall of our Trans-Siberian journeys, with en suiterooms and breakfast included. However pleasenote that in Siberia and Mongolia officially rated 3

star accommodation cannot be compared to hotelsof a similar standard in Western Europe or, and inparticular, the United States.

Train SchedulesTrans-Siberian Railways do change their schedulesfrom time to time, which could alter the itinerary.Please check with us at time of booking.

UpgradesIf you wish to upgrade to a 2 berth cabin ora party of 3 wishing to exclusively occupy a4 berth cabin, please contact us for rates andavailability. Please note availability is limited withsome trains only configured with one 2 berth

cabin wagon (containing 18 seats) and on servicesbetween Irkutsk and Ulan Ude, 2 berth cabinsare not available. From May - October, all routesare particularly busy, and an upgrade may provedifficult to obtain. On The Go Tours will advise on

an individual basis, whether an upgrade will bepossible.

Despite the myth, Cabins with shower or en-suitefacilities do not exist. However there is a WC/washbasin is located at the end of every wagon, with a220v AC 2-pin razor socket.

VisasVisas are required by all visitors to China, Mongolia& Russia. If booking at On the Go we willsupply your Russian Invitation, required for aRussia visa. If a UK resident, we can supply visaforms & arrange visa procurement. If you are aresident overseas, please contact a specialist visacompany. It is your responsibility to procure your

visa in a timely fashion and visa fees are at yourown expense. We recommend you apply for visasat least 6 weeks prior to departure. Further visa infois available online at onthegotours.com.

Time & voltageOne of the most disorienting aspects of the Trans-Siberian is working out what time it really is! OnChinese trains, everything works to Beijing Time sotrain and station clocks are set to this. The time willchange again to Ulaan Baatar time in Mongolia &Moscow Time in Russia. Pack a travel alarm clock!

Russia and Mongolia

Standard voltage is 220V, 50Hz AC. Socketsrequire a Continental or European plug with two

round pins.

ChinaStandard voltage is 220V, 50Hz AC. Chinese plugscome in at least 4 designs: 3-pronged angle pins asused in Australia; 3-pronged round pins as used inHong Kong; 2-pronged flat pins as used in the USA;or 2 round narrow pins as used in Europe.Pack a worldwide travel adaptor.

VaccinationsIt is suggested that you are vaccinated againstPolio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid and HepatitisA. If visiting Yekaterinburg between May-August,immunisations against Tick-borne Encephalitis isrecommended. Requirements change so please

check this information with your GP or TravelDoctor.

What to pack A Frameless rucksack/backpack. Small daypack or bag for your valuables. Summer - Russia, Mongolia and China can

be surprisingly warm during July & August,so its suggested you pack accordinglywith lightweight cottons (warmer clothes forevening).

Winter Russia, Mongolia and Chinaget very cold and can experience frigidconditions October - March. Pack a scarf,top quality gloves, hat, thermal leggings


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and a heavy longer length coat. Wear waterand slip-proof shoes or boots.

Personal first aid kit (see Healthprecautions), mosquito repellent &sunscreen (summer).

Sunglasses, umbrella, torch, pocket knife,money belt & universal adaptor plug.

Bathers/swimmers/trunks & towel forRussian banyas/sauna, lake swimming etc.

Headscarf (ladies only) for entry intochurches.

Aboard the train - mug, spoon, instantcoffee, tea bags, drinking chocolate, cuppasoups and pot noodles, chocolate bars, fruitsuch as oranges, snacks, slippers, plentyof reading material, pack of cards, puzzles,MP3 player, radio, Trans-Sib guide book,phrase books, small gifts from your country,flat-pack WC paper, wipes, pack-lock (foryour pack).

Two spare passport photos/passportphotocopy in case of loss/theft.

Your luggage should not exceed 20kg(44pounds). Pack light and leave room forsouvenirs!

What is it like aboard?Plan to dress casually in T-shirts, jeans or joggingpants and comfortable shoes. Temperatures areregulated regardless of the season, so short-sleeves may be all that is needed.

Generally, each train is around 15 wagons long.At the end of each wagon, is a WC/wash basin.Each wagon is manned by a provodnitsa (wagonattendant).

All routes longer than 24 hours have a buffet/diningcar service (operated by the railway company ofthe country you are in). Available to all passengers,you can sit down to caf style food, paid for in localcurrency. Occasionally there is a shower availablein the special services wagon for an additionalcost of approx: USD $5 and you will need to provideyour own toiletries, towel and shower shoes.

Luggage - suitcase orbackpack?Most people find that a frameless backpack/rucksack is easier to manoeuvre and preferable toa suitcase. They are easier to carry and stow on-board, and do not have wheels which can get miredin snow and dirt.

Luggage StowageTrain cabins offer a surprising amount of luggagespace - beneath the bottom bunks and near theceiling. Its a good idea to keep your valuableson you, and luggage should be locked at alltimes. Trains are used by Chinese, Mongolian andRussian traders, who try to use all available spacefor their goods and may try to store goods in yourcabin - some sharp words may be needed - You areentitled enough space to store your luggage, whichthey may forget!

The cabinThere are usually 4 berths (2 up, 2 down) to acompartment, with plenty of luggage space. Thecabin door can be locked by turning the door catch,

and pulling a metal catch out to the left of the door.Each cabin has a small table (with bottle openerunderneath), a small fold-out ladder to help peopleto the upper berths and coat hangers and hooks forhanging.

The provodnitsaAn attendant, known in Russia as a provodnitsa,staffs each train wagon. Their duties includechecking your tickets, distributing pre-packagedlinen (at additional and nominal cost) and keepingthe public areas of the wagon clean. They alsokeep their eye on the WC, samovar and the cabins.Flashing your biggest grin upon boarding may keepyou in favour with them during the journey!

The routesThe term Trans-Siberian Railway is used todescribe the 3 main train routes which traversethe Eurasian continent. Starting in Moscow, allroutes run parallel through Yaroslavl on theVolga, Yekaterinburg in the Urals and traverseSiberia. Soon after Irkutsk near Baikals southernextremity, they diverge with the Trans-Siberianroute continuing to Vladivostok and the other twocontinuing on to Beijing:

The Trans-Mongolian route: Moscow - UlaanBaatar - Beijing: Just beyond Ulan Ude on Baikalseast shore, it heads south across the Mongoliansteppe to Ulaan Baatar and Beijing.

The Trans-Manchurian route:Moscow - Beijing.Just after Tarskaya, this route heads around theeastern border of Mongolia to Beijing.

Boarding the trainAll trains to Irkutsk, Ulaan Baatar andBeijing depart from Moscow Yaroslavl Station.Trains to Yekaterinburg depart from MoscowKazanskaya Station. The nearest Metro stop isKOMSOMOLSKAYA. Both stations offer kiosks forthe purchase of snacks and drinks. There are toiletfacilities and seated waiting areas.

Border crossingsBe prepared for long and tedious border delays,primarily due to passenger numbers and the

volume of contraband the traders are carrying. Mostof the time, youll be on-board, though if youreasked or decide to disembark, take your coat andvaluables. If you're not allowed off, remember thetoilets will be out of action whilst youre halted.Overall, expect delays of some 5-6 hours.

Russia-Mongolia borderBoth Russia and Mongolia use the same railwaygauge so a bogie-change is not required at thisborder. Officials, however, take their time searchingthe compartments of Russian and Mongolia traderslooking for goods that attract duty. Youll usuallybe subject to customs and immigration checks atboth Naushki on the Russian side and Sukhbaatar

in Mongolia and be required to complete theappropriate forms.

Mongolia-China borderMost trains cross this border at night, so expectlittle sleep. Youll be subjected to customs andimmigration checks at Zamyn-Uud in Mongolia andErlian in China and customs forms will need to becompleted. Once your passport is returned, youreusually free to disembark and look around.

The trains bogies are changed at Erlian. If wantingto watch, stay on the train until it reaches the bogiechanging sheds. Here, the carriages are raised andthe bogies are replaced with those used in China.You may be able to take photos. You can then walkor take a rick-shaw back to the station proper.

2013 Go Guide - Red Express - 9 Days

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