Mountains of Heaven - Helsinki to Beijing

If life in an unpredictable economic climate is taking its toll, head for the certainty of adventure amongst the Mountains of Heaven. Overland across Russia, bound for the steppes of Kazakhstan and the Aral Sea before entering the wild ranges of the Tian Shan’s - the 'Mountains of Heaven'. Camp amidst the Siberian Altai, stay in a traditional ger and finally cross Mongolia’s forbidding Gobi Desert into China, during Dragoman’s 11-week journey from Helsinki to Beijing, departing Helsinki 19th April 2009.

Those happy few just made redundant, taking a sabbatical or simply reassessing the direction of their lives, should sign up now for this 11-week epic adventure! Commencing in the historic city of Helsinki, this is a journey with a flexible itinerary, as variable as the range of temperatures experienced – from chilly European Russia and Siberia, to the hot deserts of Central Asia.

From Russia, head south, bound for the steppes of Kazakhstan and the shrinking Aral Sea - once the world’s fourth largest inland sea until destructive irrigation practices largely transformed it into desert.

In Kazakhstan, enter the wild Tian Shan range - the 'Mountains of Heaven', then later wild camp in Siberia's spectacular Altai before continuing into Mongolia and experiencing the traditional ger (yurt) hospitality of nomadic reindeer herders, and further explore Ghenghis Khan country. From here it's a stunning overland crossing of the forbidding Gobi Desert to the People’s Republic of China, the Great Wall and Feng Shui-inspired Ming Tombs, before the journey ends in Beijing.

The tour costs £3,250 p/p plus kitty US$2,480 (~£1,735) including camp and hotel accommodation (50%/50%), all camp meals, transport aboard Dragoman’s customised Mercedes Benz expedition truck and guidance from an experienced two-person crew and local guide. Flights are not included.

For more information, log on to Dragoman.com.