Russian Winter Fairytale
Tsar's Gold (Zarengold) Trans-Siberian Express
13 days, 12 nights from 3432.8 £
Bucket list rail journey from Moscow to Ulan Bator

Welcome to Moscow, one of the most vivid, dynamic and richly-historic cities on Earth. After dinner, experience the opulence and color of Moscow at night on a guided walk that includes the almost dream-like Red Square with its stunning illuminations. Relax after your urban adventure in your central and comfortable hotel. Overnight: Hotel Azimut Olympiski (or similar). Meals included: dinner.

Explore Europe's most dynamic city on a panorama city tour with its contrast of traditional onion-shaped golden domes decorating small churches and cathedrals and the power centres of the new mega-rich companies such as Gazprom. Afterwards, relax over lunch in a restaurant themed on Russian history before joining your special carriage to depart from the impressive backdrop of one of Moscow's major stations. On board, enjoy a delicious welcome dinner. Overnight on board. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

After breakfast you drive by bus to the impressive cities Vladimir and Suzdal, which are one of the most impressive cities on the Golden Ring. In the afternoon, take in the landscape of rolling steppes in old Russia's heartlands and cross the impressive bridges over the rivers Volga and Kama before starting the climb to the Ural Mountains – usually a magical snowy landscape at this time of year. Enjoy insights into Russian life with entertaining on-board talks on the Cossacks and winter life in Siberia, as well as a film on Russia's last tsar. Overnight on board. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Stop in Yekaterinburg, the historical capital of the Ural region. Yekaterinburg has gone down in history as the place where Tsar Nicolas II, the last tsar of Russia, was murdered with his family in 1918. A short city tour includes the attractive city centre, restored in 2009, as well as the commemorative Cathedral on the Blood, built in 2003 on the site of the tsar's execution. Back on board, your train continues across the rolling steppes of western Siberia. Overnight on board. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Your train, by now a home from home, continues across Siberia. Relax and enjoy the magical winter views of snowy birch and larch woods in the sunshine! A vodka tasting with classic Russian snacks in the restaurant car explores some of the less familiar aspects of Russian customs associated with food and drink. Overnight on board. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Morning arrival in Krasnoyarsk — according to writer Anton Chekhov, the most beautiful city in Siberia. The short city tour focuses on an overview of Krasnoyarsk's captivating history. The mix of old and new streets vividly illustrates how the city has grown and changed down the years. Enjoy a view of Peace Square, the city's oldest square, and the stunning vistas across the Yenisei River. Naturally, there is also a stop at the beautiful Paraskeva Pyatnitsa Chapel, the symbol of Krasnoyarsk. Back on board your train continues on to Irkutsk. Overnight on board. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The train pulls into Irkutsk station. Leaving your main luggage safely on board, a transfer takes you to your hotel at the Baikal village of Listvyanka. After time to settle in, a visit to the local open-air museum offers a vivid insight into the history of the region, and traditional life and lifestyles in old Siberia. The traditional lifestyle theme continues in the evening with a chance to visit a banja, the original Russian sauna. Overnight: Hotel Mayak (or similar). Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

What could be more romantic than a horse-drawn troika sleigh ride — the next highlight on your programme! From February, this is followed by an exhilarating motorised sledge ride on the frozen Lake Baikal. Afterwards, it is onwards and upwards by cable car (if already in operation) to a special vantage point with stunning views out across Lake Baikal. This vantage point is also renowned for its cold temperatures – so this may be the place to experience the lowest temperatures you have ever known! Subsequently, a visit to a local family includes a tasty traditional Russian meal. The final stop around the lake is the Baikal Museum, which showcases this area's special ecosystem and the lake itself, the world's largest fresh water reservoir. Back on board in the evening, your train pulls out of Irkutsk station. Overnight on board. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Today is spent exploring the remarkable natural phenomenon of Lake Baikal, the largest reservoir of freshwater in the world. Your train travels several hours directly alongside Lake Baikal, on the old route of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Take a walk on the frozen Lake Baikal and enjoy a relaxing day on board. Overnight on board. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The journey continues through the snow covered Selenga Valley and the wild solitude of eastern Siberia’s mountainous steppes. You take a tour of Ulan Ude during an intermediate stop there. Border formalities at the Russian-Mongolian border are an easy matter carried out on board. Overnight on board. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Over breakfast, watch the taiga mountain landscape of northern Mongolia slide by with its scattered nomad settlements. As your train pulls into the Mongolian capital city of Ulan Bator in the morning, porters are already waiting to help with your luggage. Your mid-class hotel is conveniently located in the centre of the city. This first night in Ulan Bator also offers the chance to stay in a (preheated) nomad felt tent in unspoilt — and probably very frosty! — surroundings (advance booking required). Sleeping in a traditional felt tent under the stars in the majestic quiet of nature – a truly unique experience! The afternoon is dedicated to a visit to the National Museum of Mongolia. Those taking hotel accommodation can enjoy an evening programme of Mongolian folklore with throat singing, music performed on the traditional bowed string instrument, the morin khuur, national costumes, myths and dance. The nomad felt tent option includes traditional Mongolian tales around an open fire. Overnight: Hotel Bayangol (or similar). Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Today's programme offers such impressive sights as the Buddhist Gandan monastery and the quirky architectural masterpiece of Choijin Lama Temple. The temple architecture is unique worldwide for its dramatic depictions of the torments of hell for those leaving the path of righteousness. The afternoon excursion visits a family of cattle breeders just outside the city. Overnight: Hotel Bayangol (or similar). Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Enjoy a final breakfast with your fellow winter travelers before transferring to the airport for your flight home. What a magical journey through snow and ice it’s been! . Breakfast.