Highlights of Trans-Siberian Railway

There's no particular reason to make a stop at the industrial city of Perm, but it is the base for exploring the nearby Kungur ice caves - 6km of passages that connect 100 grottoes and 60 lakes and filled with ice stalagmites and stalactites and frozen waterfalls.

Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal in southeast Siberia has a list of superlatives and statistics that prove how vast and unique it is. Most importantly for travellers on the Trans-Mongolian Railway, it is a perfect stopover that allows you to escape the cramped conditions on the train and stretch, breathe the pure air and enjoy the stunning scenery of the lake. Stopping at nearby Irkutsk, transfer to a lakeside village - Listvyanka is popular and one of the best. The traditional wooden cottages in town offer simple but very comfortable accommodation. Depending on the time of year, you can enjoy a freezing and very quick dip in the lake (and that's in summer!) or walk on its frozen surface in winter. Hike up to a viewpoint for stunning vistas of the lake, enjoy a banya or Russian sauna to remove the grime from the train and take a boat ride on the lake. A couple of days here and you'll be more than ready for the onward journey. As for the statistics - Baikal is the oldest (25 million years) and deepest (1,700 metres) lake in the world, it contains 20% of the world's unfrozen freshwater and is home to over 2,000 species (75% endemic) including the Baikal freshwater seal and the two metre Baikal sturgeon, earning the lake the title 'The Galapagos of Russia'.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Lake Baikal

Ger Camp in the Mongolian steppe

The highlight of any trip to Mongolia, or stopover on the Trans-Mongolian Express, is to spend a few days in the Mongolian countryside living in the traditional felt Ger tents. Three-quarters of the Mongolian population still live in gers, many of them moving nomadically several times a year. Despite this, they are very comfortable, usually housing four people and with a location that's unbeatable. Whether in the drier landscapes of the Gobi in the south or the more lush green hills and valleys of the steppes in the north, the scenery is pristine, untouched and spectacular. Mongolia is the least densely populated country on earth and the isolation is very evident - you will feel completely removed from every aspect of the modern world. The surrounding countryside is perfect for exploring on foot or on horseback. There is also the chance to meet the local herdsmen, learn about their nomadic lifestyles and perhaps have a go at their traditional sports like archery and wrestling. Mongolia offers one of the most unique, relaxing and memorable travel experiences in the world.

The Summer Palace just outside the centre of Beijing was built as a garden retreat for China's imperial elite. It was first built in 1750 and was restored in 1886 after being destroyed during the Second Opium War of 1860. The Summer Palace is three km² in size, most of which is covered by the water of Kunming Lake, and comprises pavilions, palaces, temples and bridges which complement the natural landscape. The Palace had three main areas - political and administrative, residential and recreational and has been open to the public since 1924.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing