Suggested itinerariesHistoric RussiaThis itinerary is perfect for those looking to delve alittle deeper into Russia's history. Starting inMoscow, you'll then move on to the Golden Ringtowns that surround the capital - historic, prettyplaces, many of which predate Moscow. Day 1Fly from the UK to Moscow.Day 2Take a walking tour of the Kremlinand Novodevichy Convent.Day 3Day at leisure to continue exploringMoscow, perhaps taking in some ofMoscow's world-class museums. Day 4Leave Moscow and head to Suzdal,stopping at the historic city ofVladimir enroute.Day 5A half day tour of Suzdal, with theafternoon at leisure.Day 6Drive on to Yaroslavl, passingthrough Kostroma on the way.Day 7See the highlights of Yaroslavl,including the Church of Elijah theProphet with its beautifully preserved frescoes.Day 8Return to Moscow via the town ofRostov and the monastery of SergievPosad. In the evening fly back to the UK.Stay longerAn additional night in Moscow at the end wouldmake for a more relaxing itinerary. St Petersburgcould easily be added at the end of the trip as well. Moscow, St Petersburg andthe Golden RingAs well as taking in the main highlights of Moscowand St Petersburg, this itinerary also includes timespent in the historic Golden Ring towns of Vladimirand Suzdal. These towns offer a glimpse of aslower pace of life and affords the opportunity toview some of the world's most sumptuous andornate Orthodox churches and cathedrals, many of which have been awarded UNESCO status.Day 1Fly to Moscow.Day 2Take a walking tour of the Kremlincomplex.Day 3Explore Moscow under your ownsteam, perhaps visiting the Tretyakovgallery, the country's most importantgallery for Russian art. Day 4Travel out of the city to the prettytown of Suzdal via Vladimir. Day 5Half day guided tour of Suzdal and itspretty wooden buildings.Day 6Return to Moscow in time for anovernight sleeper train to St Petersburg. Day 7Arrive in St Petersburg in themorning, with the rest of the day at leisure.Day 8Travel out to the spectacular Palaceof Peter the Great by hydrofoil.Day 9Morning tour of the Hermitage.Day 10Visit the Summer Palace of Catherine the Great before flyingback to London.Stay longerYou can easily spend a day or two more in St Petersburg. There are also many other historicGolden Ring towns that could be visited as part of this trip, such as Yaroslavl. The Three CapitalsA great introduction to the culture and history ofthe Ukraine and Russia, this10 day itinerary coversthe three major cities -Kiev, Moscow and St.Petersburg. You start in Kiev -the ancient capitalof the Kievan Rus and mother of all Russian cities,and continue to explore the historical sites ofMoscow - the communist powerhouse, finishingyour journey in St Petersburg -Russia's 'windowto the west'. Day 1Fly from the UK to Kiev. Day 2Take an introductory tour of the city,including St Sophia's Cathedral andthe Caves Monastery.Day 3A further day to explore Kiev. In theevening take an overnight train toMoscow.Day 4Enjoy a walking tour of Red Square,the Kremlin and the Armoury. Theafternoon is at leisure to explore. Day 5See the Novodevichy convent andcemetery -burial place of manyfamous Russians.Day 6A day at leisure to explore Moscowunder your own steam.Day 7Take an afternoon train to St Petersburg.Day 8Have an introductory tour of St Petersburg, including a visit to thePeter and Paul fortress, where thecity was founded.Day 9See the treasures of the Hermitage. Day 10Visit the Summer Palace of Catherine the Great before flyingback to London.Stay longerYou can easily spend a day or two more in St Petersburg. Alternatively, the Baltic capitals ofTallinn, Riga and Vilnius can be visited as part of a trip to the region. www.audleytravel.com/russia ?01993 838 230 ?Russia79MoscowRUSSIASt PetersburgBELARUSUKRAINEKievMonk and church goer, MoscowSt PetersburgKostromaYaroslavlSergiev PosadMoscowSuzdalRUSSIASt PetersburgSergiev PosadMoscowSuzdalRUSSIAESTONIALITHUANIALATVIABELARUSBELARUS

The lesser known Trans-Manchurian routebypasses Mongolia, cutting down throughManchuria, a part of China. When to GoMay to September is the best time of year totackle the Trans-Siberian, when the weatherin all countries along the way isn't too cold.The optimum time to travel is mid-August tomid-September, when the weather in Beijingis especially clear. The Public TrainsThese are working trains that criss-cross Russia,Mongolia and China. On board, there are twoor four berth sleeping compartments, with atoilet and washbasin at each end of the carriage.There are no shower facilities available. All trainshave a restaurant car which serves breakfast,lunch and dinner - quality is not bad, thoughdon't expect gourmet cuisine!Private TrainsThere are several private trains which coverthe routes. While these are perhaps a less'authentic' and adventurous way of doing thetrip, they are generally more comfortable -there are showers on board, and some cabinsare en suite. Food is all served on board andis generally of a high quality. Departures areavailable from Moscow through to Beijing orthrough to Vladivostok and vice versa.Tsar's Gold The private Tsar's Gold train is one of themore comfortable ways to travel along theTrans-Siberian. There are a range of cabins,some of which have en suite facilities. Cabinswhich are not en suite have access to ashower and washing facilities, unlike thepublic trains, and the food served in theconvivial restaurant car is of a high standard.Days on board can be spent taking in thescenery or enjoying a variety of lectures andtalks from learned speakers as you cross thegreat expanses of Siberia. The train operatesa number of set itineraries from Moscow toBeijing (or vice versa), via Mongolia, stoppingat many of the fascinating and beautifuldestinations along the way. The wide choiceof cabins means this is an option to suit arange of budgets.The Trans-Siberian is one of the world's trulygreat journeys. Crossing eight time zones andstretching for 9,340 kilometres, the railway iswhat stitches the largest country in the worldtogether - for some stretches in Siberia thereare no roads between settlements, just therailway line. The routesIt's important to stress that the Trans-Siberianrefers not to a particular train, but to a series ofroutes. There are three routes that can be taken,all of which can be done in either direction.The classic Trans-Siberian route stretches fromMoscow to Vladivostok, on Russia's Pacific coast.This is the purist's choice since this is the onlyroute that truly does cross Siberia completely.On the downside, it is scenically and culturallyless varied, though taking this route opens up the possibility of continuing by ferry (or plane) to Japan.The most popular route is the Trans-Mongolian.Cutting south from Siberia, the line runs throughMongolia and the Gobi desert, before finishingup in Beijing. Following this route really gives you the experience of crossing continents and of travelling from west to east (or vice versa). It is also scenically more varied, crossing theMongolian steppe, the Gobi desert and even the Great Wall at one point. The Trans-Siberian Railway80Trans-Siberian train, Lake BaikalTsar's Gold dining car