The Cossack Experience Russia, Mongolia and China at ground level, travelling with the locals, experiencing the cities with a local Honcho, eating out and getting around at local prices.
Vodkatrain takes the traditional ideas of group travel (regimented meal times, enforced sightseeing and following strange people holding umbrellas aloft) and gives them a hearty kick up the backside. We prefer to think of it as a collection of young (we run with the classic 18-35 age bracket), like-minded individuals who happen to be following the same itinerary. We hope you’ll enjoy the company of your fellow travellers, but we make no guarantees!

Moscow to Beijing 23 days trip code (HE)

• Low season (16 Sep - 14 Apr) GBP £1525 EUR €2245
• High Season (15 Apr - 15 Sep) GBP £1595 EUR €2365

Beijing to Moscow 23 days trip code (HW)

• Low season (16 Sep - 14 Apr) GBP £1525 EUR €2245
• High Season (15 Apr - 15 Sep) GBP £1595 EUR €2365

Why buy this?

Honchos! A friend in a distant city

Vodkatrain is different, there’s no ‘Tour Leader’ or ‘Road Crew’ to lead the way, but a local Honcho in each city stop. With no set activities you can choose to do your own thing, or hang out with your Honcho and do the group thing. They don’t take you to their cousin’s brother’s uncle’s carpet shop, just the places you ask to see or the ones they’d love to show you. What better way to get to the heart of a city than being shown around by a local?

En-route you simply travel on trains between cities as any local or foreign traveller would, and meet a new Honcho at each city stop. You have the benefit of being with a small group (max 15) but none of the restrictions that a tour, with it’s fixed daytime schedule, might bring. It’s a nifty combination of backpacking and small group travel at budget do-it-yourself prices, Whatever your destination it’s an unforgettable hassle free journey, with company (and a company) you can have fun with.

Intinerary

Moscow to Beijing

• Day 01: Arrival Moscow
• Day 02: Moscow
• Day 03: Moscow & afternoon departure to Ekaterinburg
• Day 04: Evening arrival Ekaterinburg
• Day 05: Ekaterinburg
• Day 06: Ekaterinburg & early morning departure to Irkutsk
• Day 07: Train
• Day 08: Morning arrival Irkutsk and to Lake Baikal
• Day 09: Lake Baikal
• Day 10: Return to Irkutsk & evening departure to Ulan Ude
• Day 11: Early morning arrival Ulan Ude
• Day 12: Early morning depature to Ulaanbaater
• Day 13: Morning arrival in Ulaanbaater
• Day 14: To Bayangobi & Ger camp
• Day 15: To Kharkhorin & Ger camp
• Day 16: Kharkhorin & Ger camp
• Day 17: Ger camp & return to Ulaanbaater
• Day 18: Evening departure to Hohhot
• Day 19: Evening arrival in Hohhot
• Day 20: Evening departure to Beijing
• Day 21: Early morning arrival in Beijing
• Day 22: Beijing
• Day 23: Beijing and end of itinerary

Beijing to Moscow

• Day 01: Arrival Beijing
• Day 02: Beijing
• Day 03: Beijing and evening departure to Hohhot
• Day 04: Morning arrival Hohhot
• Day 05: Hohhot and evening departure to Ulaanbaater
• Day 06: Train
• Day 07: Morning arrival Ulaanbaater
• Day 08: To Bayangobi & Ger camp
• Day 09: To Kharkhorin & Ger camp
• Day 10: Kharkhoring & Ger camp
• Day 11: Ger camp and return to Ulaanbaater
• Day 12: Ulaanbaater & departure to Ulan Ude
• Day 13: Ulan Ude & evening departure to Irkutsk
• Day 14: Morning arrival Irkutsk & to Lake Baikal
• Day 15: Lake Baikal
• Day 16: Return to Irkutsk & departure to Ekaterinburg
• Day 17: Train
• Day 18: Afternoon arrival Ekaterinburg
• Day 19: Ekaterinburg
• Day 20: Morning departure to Moscow
• Day 21: Morning arrival Moscow
• Day 22: Moscow
• Day 23: Moscow and end of itinerary

What you get:

• Overland journey with other young like-minded travellers from across the globe
• Small groups of no more than 15 people commencing on a pre-set date following the same itinerary
• Honchos - a friendly face in each city there to share their city and their life with you for a couple of days. Included in Moscow, Ekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Ulan Ude, Mongolia, Hohot and Beijing Honchos are available from 9am to 9pm each day and some choose to stay out later for a drink
• Freedom and flexibility to do what you want in each city
• Pay local prices for your choice of food, sightseeing and entertainment
• Accommodation included every night of the itinerary (share basis twin, triple or dorm rooms)
• Accommodation in traditional gers in Mongolia
• Comfortable 4 berth rail compartments. Train tickets Moscow-Ekaterinburg-Irkutsk-Ulan Ude-Ulaanbaatar-Hohot-Beijing or Beijing-Hohot-Ulaanbaatar-Ulan Ude-Irkutsk-Ekaterinburg-Moscow
• Transfers are included to and from the train station while your journey is underway! Your Honcho there to greet you and transport you to the accommodation
• Full visa support
• Assistance getting your Russian visa registered
• No single supplements

What you don’t get:

• Regimented meal times - Not our style
• Enforced sightseeing - Not our style
• Big groups, on and off buses following flags, umbrellas and all sorts of paraphernalia! - Not our style
• Travelling alone paying double the price (single supplements) - Not our style
• Getting ripped off by the local taxi mafia - Not our style
• Foreign 'Tour Leaders' who know as much as you about each city! - Not our style
• National leaders - you don’t want someone from Melbourne showing you around Sydney - Not our style
• Getting your Russian invitation over the internet only to find they can’ help with any other information and to get your visa registered you must go to your friendly Russian police station and explain that you don’t have a tour voucher and can’t check in to your hotel - that or pay astronomical fees for registration - Not our style
• Guides working for commission and kick backs - Not our style
• Restaurant recommendations based on whether or not the Tour leader gets a free meal - 'my mate owns this great restaurant and if I take you all there I get $20!' - Not our style
• The souvenir shop city tour - Not our style
• You book your own travel to and from the start and end points, you might want to fly / this might be part of a larger overland journey / perhaps you are on a Round the World trip?
• You will need fully comprehensive travel insurance for this trip.
• You get to pay the cheaper local price for meals, sightseeing etc
• Visas are required for Russia, Mongolia, China and Vietnam. Fees for visas vary according to consulate, nationality and service time selected. Please contact your preferred consulate to check prices and requirements.

How it works:

Vodkatrain offers departures throughout the year, to find the departure most suitable for you just contact our friendly reservations team using the link below. We can answer any questions you might have and guide you through the booking process.
We recommend you book at least six weeks in advance of your planned departure.
A completed booking form and deposit payment of GBP100 / EUR 150 will secure your place on any available trip. (Final balance is due 60 days before departure, if you are booking within 60 days of departure full payment will be required).
Visas must be obtained prior to commencing your journey with us. Check with your preferred consulate about cost and requirements before you apply. Vodkatrain offers visa support for all pre-booked services.
There is no ‘hop on hop off’ travel pass in this part of the world. All itineraries are pre-booked against valid passport details. If you don’t see an itinerary here that suits you then do contact us, Vodkatrain is operated by Sundowners Overland a company with over 40 years of experience who also offer tailor-made arrangements.

Vodkatrain. Go on, give it a shot!

Cancellations and refunds:

Vodkatrain booking conditions and ‘frequently asked questions’ can be provided at any time. You will need to read and sign to agree to these when you make a booking.