St Petersburg to Beijing - Russia and Mongolia Overland

From high western culture to staying with Mongolian horsemen!

Exploratory with flexible itinerary which will vary, visiting Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China. Travels through a range of temperatures from European Russia, Siberia and hot deserts of Central Asia. Crosses very remote regions including Gobi Desert, Kazak steppe and southern Siberia. Trip for adventurous travellers with hiking, camels and horse riding.

This is an adventurous trip and we will not run it to a fixed itinerary. If you are looking for a trip where every thing goes to plan, this is NOT the trip for you. You should be aware that conditions will bevery varied, ranging from good tourist hotels to camping in the Altai Shan Mountain, where it can get cold. You must be fully prepared for climatic variations and to live a nomadic life through this lands of nomads. Ensure you bring plenty of warm clothes and the best sleeping bag you can afford as well as good light-weight clothing for the hot deserts. Road conditions may be poor, routes may change, you will camp at high altitude, but the adventure may well be the greatest one you have ever tried. If you have a love of adventure and a desire of discovery, we would welcome you to join us this incredible journey, but please be prepared for itinerary changes. This style of discover trip often have changes to itinerary, it is not your everyday journey.


China: Visa required
Kazakhstan: Visa required

+44 (0) 1728 862 233

Itinerary / Highlights

Week 1: The European Capitals:
2 or 3 night stay in St. Petersburg incl. city tour
2 nights in the ancient Russian city of Novgorod
3 nights in the capital Moscow incl. city tour

Week 2: The Golden Ring & Volga:
Visit to the majestic town of Vladimar, capital of the Rus kingdom
2 nights in and around fairytale town of Suzdal, time for hikes
2 nights in Russia's third capital Nizhmy Novgorod

Week 3: Russian & Kazakh Steppe:
Visit to Kazan, the capital of Tartarstan
2 nights on the banks of the Volga in Samara
Overland journey across the Russian and Kazakh steppe

Week 4: Kazakhstan's Kazakh Steppe
Journey to Aral on the old shoreline of the Aral Sea to see the surreal ship graveyard
If permission is granted visit to the Russian Cosmodrome at Baikonur
Overland into Southern Kazakhstan

Week 5: Southern Kazakhstan
Visits to ancient 10th Century ruined city of Sauren
2 nights to explore the Islamic blue domed Khanate of Turkestan
Hiking in the stunning Tian Shan of the Aksu-Dzhabagly NP

Week 6: Tian Shan & Altai Shan Mnts.
3 nights for culture, clubs and R&R in the big smoke of Almaty
Exploration and hiking in the Tian Shan and Altai Shan Mountains

Week 7: Southern Siberia & Western Mongolia
Overland through the stunning Siberian Altai Mountains
Wildcamping in remote mountain scenery
Cross a remote border into the even more remote lands of Mongolia Altai Mountains

Week 8: Northern Mongolian Lakes
Journey hopping from lake to lake through northern Mongolia,
Wildcamping at Uureg Lake, Uus Nuur Lake, Hyargaz Lake, Telman Lake
3 nights at stunning Huvsgul Lake
2 night Ger homestay with the Tsaatan Nomads and their reindeer herds

Week 9: Ghenghis Khan Country
Journey through Mongolia's most stunning wild lands
Visit to the Khorgo-Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake and Volcano NP
Mongolian Ger homestay and hiking at the Tsenher hot spring
Exploration of the Erdene Zuu Monastery and 13th Century Mongul Capital of Harhorin

Week 10: Gobi Desert
Overland across the vast Gobi Desert
Journey along the Orhon River
Visit the remote Ongin Monastery
Mongolian Ger homestay and camel trekking at Khongorin Els
Mongolian Ger homestay and explore the Yolin Am Iced Valley

Week 11: Gobi Desert & Inner Mongolian Grasslands
Overland across the grasslands and plains of the southern Gobi
Enter China in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia
Time to visit the Great Wall at Mutianyu
Guided tour of the hugely impressive Eastern Qing Tombs

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Good quality 3 star through to small guesthouses and Yurt/Ger tent homestays with locals. Plenty of wildcamping - 50% camping, 50% hotels