Trans Siberian Express

Activity Description

• 01 DAY

ARRIVAL MOSCOW

You will be welcomed by transfer assistant at Moscow airport and transferred to your hotel. First evening  you are free to explore Russia’s beautifully illuminated capital, Moscow. This vibrant and alive city will make you forget old stories of Russia being grey and dark. Moscow thrills visitors with its artistry, history and majesty, comparable to Paris or Rome. Dinner and overnight at the hotel (D). 

• 02 DAY

MOSCOW

A full day city sightseeing tour shows you the magnificent Red Square and Kremlin grounds, Bolshoi Theatre, Sparrow Hills and other highlights of Moscow. Visit to the Kremlin and its magnificent cathedral from tsarist time. In the evening transfer to the railway station where your journey to Irkutsk begins. The warm hearted Russian crew welcomes you on board of your private rail car, which will be from now on be your “home on wheels” up to Irkutsk. Welcome dinner on the train.

Overnight at your private rail car (B.L.D).

• 03 DAY

KAZAN

Upon arrival in the morning to Kazan, the capital of Tataristan, we take a tour to the Kazan´s Kremlin (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage) with its wonderful panoramic view over the Volga, where you will learn about the turbulent history of the relationship between the Tatars, the Cossacks, and the Russians. City tour and We will then have a lunch tasting the delicious Tatar kitchen. We will learn about Tatar kitchen and recipes. After free time for shopping in well-known Bauman street we have our dinner and transfer back to Train. Your train resumes its journey in the evening. Overnight at your private rail car (B.L.D).         

• 04 DAY

YEKATERINBURG

Your train arrives around noon in Yekaterinburg, the historical capital of the Urals.  Transfer to the hotel. After check-in and lunch we start our city tour. The city is known as the place where the Russian tsar Nicholas II and his family were murdered in 1918. During a brief tour you see the Cathedral of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood (Church on Blood in Honour of All Saints) which was built in 2003 in commemoration of that tragic historic event.  Today you will be visiting the Ganina Yama Monastery, then the  memorial and the borderline between Europe and Asia. Dinner in a restaurant and overnight at the Hotel (B.L.D).   

• 05 DAY

YEKATERINBURG 

Breakfast at the hotel. After checking out from the hotel, we visit the geology museum where we learn about the Precious stones around Urals and then go to gold deposit of Berezovsk town, which is the center of golden industry of Russia.  Berezovsk was the first place where gold was discovered in Russia. “You will have the chance to find your own gold”. Dinner in the city centre and Overnight at your private rail car (B.L.D).

• 06 DAY

NOVOSIBIRSK 

After passing through the plains of Western Siberia we will arrive to Novosibirsk. Novosibirsk, with its 1,5 million inhabitants,  is regarded as the centre of Siberia being Russia’s third largest city and the largest of Siberia.  It was founded in 1893 as the future site of the Trans Siberian railway bridge crossing the Siberian River Ob. You will be transferred to the centraly located hotel. Overnight at the Hotel (B.L.D).          

• 07 DAY

NOVOSIBIRSK  

After breakfast we start our Tour to the scientific city Akademgorodok (30km outside the city) – the only scientific city in the world, where all the branches of sciences are presented. We visit the famous archaeology Museum at Archaeology Research Institute. Following  our lunch we visit the Open-Air Train Museum (a collection of the old Trans-Siberian trains). Then We drive to the city to see the main attractions of the city: Novosibirsk Railway Station – the biggest station of the Trans-Siberian Railroad, Ascension Cathedral, Krasny Prospect street, Lenin Square – city centre with the world’s biggest Opera House, old wooden houses on Gorkogo Str. – the oldest part of the city, St.Nicolas Chapel, the Ob reservoir and colourful Siberian farm-market. A visit to the local market gives a deep insight into the daily life of Siberian people. We return to our train in the evening. Overnight at your private rail car (B.L.D).

• 08 DAY

KRASNOYARSK 

Today we reach Krasnoyarsk after breakfast. The city used to be a “closed city” during Soviet times. It is located along Yenissei River, the greatest river system flowing to the Arctic Ocean. We will have a city tour and Lunch in Krasnoyarsk, then return to our train for dinner. Overnight at your private rail car (B.L.D).

• 09 DAY

IRKUTSK - LAKE BAIKAL 

Irkutsk is famous for its trade with Mongolia and China and used to be called “Paris of Siberia” because of its colourful life. We first visit the old town with its large quarters still consisting of wooden houses only, then we enjoy a private classical concert in the wooden house of Duke Volkonsky. Late afternoon we drive by bus to Listvyanka, a Siberian village on the shores of Lake Baikal; the largest reservoir of non-frozen freshwater in the world. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel (B.L.D)        

• 10 DAY

LAKE BAIKAL - IRKUTSK 

Today one of the top highlights of the tour will amaze you. Lake Baikal holds the biggest fresh water reserves in the world. It stretches up to 26 miles from east to west and more than 370 miles from north to south. With 1,620 meter, it is the deepest lake of the world. Surrounded by mountains and with its deep blue water the legend say: after bathing in Baikal Lake your life will get longer. Put your feet into the clear and cold water of Lake Baikal and you will never forget it! A boat takes us on a cruise of Lake Baikal. After a great Siberian picnic lunch we drive to our train for dinner. Overnight at your private rail car (B.L.D).

• 11 DAY

ULAN UDE 

In the morning we arrive to Ulan Ude the capital of Buryatia republic. This is a land with unique wildlife and unspoiled nature, endless steppes and taiga. Ethnic and cultural diversity of this area offers a unique understanding of its heritage of the world's religions. After the breakfast, we drive to outskirt of the city to the main Buddhist temple in Russia – the Ivolginsky Datsan. We have our lunch, and then we start our Ulan Ude city tour. We will see the Soviet Square, the huge Lenin Head Monument (42 ton) as well as the main street Arbat. Reception in a traditional Buryat Yurt. The friendly Buryats will teach you how to cook the traditional Buryat dishes. Overnight at the hotel. (B.L.D).

• 12 DAY

ULAN UDE – CROSSING THE MONGOLIAN BORDER

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the railway station. In Ulan Ude the train switches from the Trans Siberian mainline to the Trans Mongolian mainline before its way to Ulaan Baatar. The train reaches the Russian border station Naushki and the Mongolian border station Suchebaatar. Russian and Mongolian immigration formalities will take place in your private rail car.

Overnight at your private rail car (B.L.D).

• 13 DAY

ULAAN BAATAR 

Upon arrival to Ulanbataar, the capital of Mongolia, we fill finish the check out process from our private rail car and and start our day by Visiting the Sükhbaatur square and Zaisan, a memorial that honours allied Mongolian and Soviet soldiers killed in World War II. Then we will visit the National museum of Mongolia. Following our lunch in a local cuisine restaurant, we will drive 2 hours to the Unesco World Heritage site, the Bain Tsokto inscriptions. We then proceed to Terelj National Park to visit the camping area of the Mongolian nomads. Upon arrival at the camp, free time will be given to settle in the yurt and freshen up. (Yurt or ger is a traditional round tent covered with skins or felt and used as a dwelling by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia ) Dinner and overnight at camp at yurt (B.L.D) 

• 14 DAY

ULAAN BAATAR

After breakfast at the camp, we drive to Turtle Rock and enjoy the beautiful scenery and valleys of the surrounding area. Then, we take a hiking tour to the best spot to have a general view of the Terelj National Park. Today we will get a chance to visit a nomadic family and will be introduced to the authentic lifestyle and culture of Mongolian nomads. Here we will get to see the nomadic herdsmen’s exotic settlements of traditional tents, horse herds, and scraggly yaks, a type of wild Tibetan cattle.  We will have a traditional Mongolian barbeque lunch. Transfer to the hotel in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel in Ulaan Baatar (B.L.D).

• 15 DAY

ULAAN BAATAR (End of Services)

After breakfast transfer to the airport. End of Services

7 nights accommodation on board Russian private rail car

 Moscow – Ulaan Baatar in the category booked

6 nights international 4 or 5 star hotels on the route.

1 night Mongolian Yurt

All meals throughout the tour, starting with dinner on first day and ending with breakfast on the last day

All transfers (arrival & departure day)

Porter service at train stations and hotels

All Sightseeing and excursions stated in the itinerary

Private classic concert in Irkutsk

English, German, French, Spanish or Italian speaking local guides (other languages on request)

Not Included:

- international flights

- Visa fees (Russia, Mongolia)

- Gratuities (we recommend you plan a budget of 180 Eur per person)

- Personal expenses

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