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Welcome to the shrine of the Monkey!

We specialise in Trans-Siberian tours through Russia and Mongolia. Start your Trans-Siberian trip in Beijing or Moscow and join one of our excellent trips, including stops in Mongolia, Vladivostok, Lake Baikal and the Ural Mountains.

Highlights

Flick through some stunning photos and highlights of the tours we offer for an idea of trip you could soon be experiencing with us...

Our Tours
We offer a range of tours to suit different styles of travel and different tastes, from the basic no frills trips, our most popular deals with sightseeing tours along the way, escorted trips with our staff, as well as limited departures on The Grand Siberian, travelling in first class luxury.
Tours to Mongolia
Enjoy the widespread nature of Mongolia. Nearly all of our tours stop in Ulanbaatar with options to visit Hustai National Park, the open steppe at Elstei or the Gobi Desert. We have made the decision making process easy by giving you some set trips to choose from. Have a look at Basic B3
Crossing Continents
Visit some of the most inspiring Capitals. Start in Beijing or Moscow and stop off at carefully selected places along route. We have a selection of different style tours and our Small Group Deals are some of the most popular. Read more about the different trips we offer
Escorted Tours
For that extra insight, you can join one of four special tours this year and be escorted by your own experienced Monkey. A three week trip including seasonal side tours, you are sure to find something different on these unique trips. Read more about our Escorted trips.
Grand Trans-Siberian
Experience luxury on board the Grand Trans Siberian Train. Combine remote areas like the Gobi with the comfort of your first class cabin. Crammed with sidetrips, amazing lectures and first class service, read more about our two week getaways on the Grand Trans Siberian Train.
Beautiful Baikal
One of the highlights of any Trans Siberian trip is exploring Lake Baikal and one of the few ways to reach the region is on the Trans Siberian! Most of our tours visit Lake Baikal, for example Deal M4 includes 3 days on majestic Olkhon Island.
Capital Cities
Most people will start or end their trip in Moscow or Beijing, but you can also start in Ulanbaatar or Vladivostok. Whichever direction you travel you should add on a trip to St Petersburg, especially during the summer 'white nights'. Read more about St Petersburg.
Cultural Delights
One of the lasting memories of a Trans Siberian trip are the different cultures and customs you experience and learn about, from Buddhism in Mongolia, Semeiskie Shamanism in Ulan Ude to the Orthodox Tartar Monasteries of Kazan. You will visit all these places on our Tour D5, from Beijing, or Moscow.
Sauna and Solitude
Think of Siberia and you think of snow. Winter is a brave, but worthwhile time to travel! Fun winter options such as dog sledging in Ekaterinburg or Irkutsk, saunas and the solitude of white Mongolia, meanwhile the trains are kept warm and never breakdown!

Train Map

Hover over the interactive map to learn about places along the Trans Siberian

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LAST UPDATED
11th October 2011

Featured Trips

Quick Links to our most popular trips.

WINTER SPECIAL

Book and pay for a trip (on selected routes) before 8th November for travel before 22nd December and receive a discount of up to €200 from Russian Railways!

DB2 - Our most popular trip, including stops in Mongolia and Lake Baikal.

14 days trip from Beijing to Moscow, weekly departures
From € 1,570

VM3 - Vladivostok to Moscow (optional ferry from Japan/Korea) as well as tours in Ulan Ude, Lake Baikal, Ural Mountains and Moscow. Great Deal for 17 days.

19 days tour, regular departures each week.
From € 2,899

Just looking around?

We hope you find the answers and inspiration to plan your next adventure!

Explore the depths of the Monkeyshrine to find valuable information on many aspects of the Trans-Siberian route, most of it not available in guide books, which is the blood and sweat of 20 years of our expertise.

We welcome you to join us in our 23rd year on the Trans-Siberian train this summer.

Latest from the Shrine of the Monkey

CHINA - MONGOLIA - RUSSIA WINTER TIMETABLE filed 10th October 2011

During winter 2011 you can depart Beijing on Tuesday on train #23 to Ulaanbaatar or on Wednesday on train #3 to Moscow, via Ulaanbaatar. Train #5 from Ulaanbaatar to Moscow via Irkutsk departs every 4th/10th day. Train #363 Ulaanbaatar to Irkutsk still departs daily. Once in Russia there are various options as listed in our tour itineraries.

WINTER PRICES filed 30th September 2011

Russian Railways have announced discounts of up to 50% on advance bookings for some tickets within Russia until 22nd December. If we received your booking two months in advance we should be able to guarantee cheaper ticket prices and will adust the tour price accordingly. So what better time to book your winter trip to Russia.

MONGOLIAN CONSULATE IN HONG KONG filed 1st August 2011

The Mongolian Embassy has opened a visa issuing office (semi-consulate) in Hong Kong attached to the Mongolian Airlines office. However, visas are only issued to residents of Hong Kong with a HK ID Card. Read more under our visa section.

CHINA - MONGOLIA TRAIN TIMETABLE CHANGE filed 21st March 2011

We have an update to the summer train schedule from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar. Train #23M will depart Beijing each Saturday until 28th May 2011, operated by Mongolian Railways. Chinese Railways will then take over control of the route for one year, with train #23C departing Beijing on a Tuesday, commencing 7th June 2011. Train #24 from Ulaanbaatar to Beijing will depart as normal on a Thursday throughout the year.

Mongolian Railways may run an extra train service during the summer, perhaps on a Saturday, or a Monday from Beijing, probably starting from the middle of June - yet to be confirmed.

RUSSIAN CONSULATE IN HONG KONG filed 28th February 2011

As of February 2011, The Russian Embassy in Hong Kong has changed their visa processing requirements to match those in other Russian Embassies around the world - some nationalities now need to show an HK ID card, or to have been in Hong Kong for at least 30 days in order to apply for the visa. They have also withdrawn the express visa service. Read more under our visa section.