Day 01 Arrival into Moscow! We will transfer you directly to your hotel for your first night’s stay.
Day 02 After breakfast your local expert will meet you at the hotel before whisking you off to experience the city’s highlights. You will travel around by public transport in order to familiarise you with the city centre and help your time run smoothly…at least until lunchtime! The afternoon and evening will be free for you to do your own exploring.
Day 03 A full free day for you to pack in the rest of Moscow’s highlights! As the evening falls we will take you to board your train to Siberia!
Day 04 The Trans-Sib line leads you past Kazan and Ekaterinburg…
Day 05 Then onwards into Siberia itself, via Novosibirsk…
Day 06 Across the River Yenisei, at Krasnoyarsk…
Baikal programmes
Choose either the Siberian Village or Fishermans Cape of Lake Baikal.
Siberian Village
Day 07 Arrival into Irkutsk and an hour long transfer to Listvyanka Village on the shore of Lake Baikal, where you will be staying in an authentic Siberian log-cabin (izba). After lunch you will be able to explore the village, the old Church, and the Lake Wildlife Museum with your friendly local expert. After your busy afternoon, why not relax and unwind the Siberian way, in the sauna! By the evening you will be ready for your home-cooked supper before bedding down in your log cabin for the night.
Day 08 Choose one activity from the list below – it is all included in the cost of the programme.
- Take a short trek through the Taiga Forest with a Forester Guide who will explain the wildlife, ecosystem and folklore of the Taiga (May-Oct)
- Take a freshwater scuba dive in Lake Baikal (they say you gain a year of life if you dive in!) with qualified CMAS-instructors (requires that the participant has completed 50 warm water dives with the last dive being no longer than 6 months before). This runs May-October and 2 dives are included.
- Snowmobile trip (2 hrs) with a local guide through the forest, or even out over the deep-frozen lake! (Dec-Apr).
- Do your own thing – why not take a little time off and go for a Cliffside walk, mosey around the village, or take a dip in Lake Baikal! After supper you could hit the local bar before staying ith a host family for the night.
Day 09 Today you will be transferred to Irkutsk (1hr) where you will stay in a soviet style city apartment with a local family. The day will be free for you to explore, and your family will provide you with your evening meal. If you prefer you could upgrade to a tourist-class hotel if you rate comfort over authenticity, and prefer to dine out in the evening.
Fisherman’s Cape of Baikal
Day 07 Today you will be transferred directly from the Station to the remote village of Bolshoe Goloustnoye (110km on rural roads). Your local guide will show you around the village, which includes the old church and lake shoreline. This is a time to totally rid the necessities of 20th century living from your system as you relax in a real Russian banya (sauna), a perfect way to sharpen your appetite for the home-cooked evening food. You will sleep soundly tonight, far removed from the stresses of the modern world.
Day 08 Partake in a leisurely lakeside walk (9km) to Ushkani Cape today, to visit the fishermen who will serve you lunch in their cabin. Follow this up with a relaxing stroll back to the village of Bolshoe Goloustnoye Village. After supper, enjoy the peace and quiet of your remote surroundings.
Day 09 Today you will be transferred to Irkutsk (1hr) where you will stay in a soviet style city apartment with a local family. The day will be free for you to explore, and your family will provide you with your evening meal. If you prefer you could upgrade to a tourist-class hotel if you rate comfort over authenticity, and prefer to dine out in the evening.
(1) Siberian Village (2) Fisherman’s Cape Lake
Day 10 It’s an early car journey to the station this morning ready to head out of Russia tonight!
Day 11 A mid-morning arrival into Outer Mongolia! After your shower and breakfast, you will be transferred to a Mongolian Ger Camp where you will be living in traditional wood-framed felt tents (gers). The Mongolian steppes are outside your new home - so go and explore! Lunch and Supper are included, and there will be vegetarian options available.
Day 12 Local activities are on offer weather permitting. The Mongolian Winter (November-March) is particularly harsh so many activities may not be on offer during this period. Why not give horseriding a go (for a small local charge) with local herdsmen, go walking, or maybe play traditional Mongolian sports? As the nearest bar or restaurant is 50km away, breakfast, lunch and supper will be provided for your at the Ger Camp.
Day 13 Back to Ulaanbaatar today. Internet cafés, bars, restaurants and nightclubs will be waiting for you, ready for you to let your hair down Mongolian style. You will be staying overnight tonight in a 3* hotel.
Day 14 You will be transferred today ready to catch your departing Beijing-bound train. After a midnight border crossing, you will push forward into China!
Day 15 Thunder on across China, past the Great Wall, followed by a mid-afternoon arrival into Beijing Central Station. Here your trans-Siberian journey will come to an end.
Please note: There are other optional itineraries available for the Trans Siberian Railway at various prices, to find out about these options please just ask a travel advisor.
