Best of Trans-Siberian: Moscow - Yekaterinburg - Irkutsk - Baikal - Vladivostok - 14 days

INTRODUCTION

 

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Moscow
Arrival in Moscow. Transfer to the Hotel
Our driver will meet you at the airport in Moscow and transfer you to your hotel. There’ll be time for you to explore on your own this afternoon and evening if you wish.

Meals: NA
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 2 - Moscow
Moscow City Tour. Novodevichiy Convent. Red Square, St. Basil's, Lenin Mausoleum. Arbat Street
Moscow’s a vast city with a compact core. To give you an overview of the Russian capital we’ve arranged a bus tour to orientate you with its major sights, including the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Tverskaya Street, Bulvarnoye Koltso (Boulevard Ring) and several other attractions. One of the highlights of this tour is to be taken up to the Sparrow Hills observation platform from which there’s a superb panoramic view across the city. A visit to the Novodevichiy Convent with its legendary cemetery follows.

No visit to Moscow could be complete without a look at Red Square. We’ll admire the colourful St. Basil’s Cathedral and peer at Lenin’s body in the Mausoleum. After lunch there’ll be time to explore Arbat Street. This is one of Moscow’s premier shopping areas, and a great place to pick up souvenirs and gifts for those back home. If you like, you could buy a typical Russian fur hat known as a shapka.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 3 - Moscow
Kremlin & Armoury. Moscow Metro Tour. Departure to Yekaterinburg
Having ticked off some of the major sights, we delve a little into Moscow’s history today. Our focus is the Kremlin, once the former residence of the Tsars and the centre for the Russian Orthodox Church. These days, it is home to the President. One of the highlights of a visit to the Kremlin is the chance to see its magnificent cathedrals with their glittering domes. There’ll also be the opportunity to take a look at the Tsar Cannon. Though it is one of the largest cannons ever to be made, it has never seen warfare. The Tsar Bell has no equal anywhere on the planet; if you thought Big Ben was impressive, this one is a massive fifteen times its weight.

Even the public transport systems in the Russian capital are impressive, particularly the famous Moscow Metro and so we’ve included a guided tour this afternoon. Plans date back to the time of the Russian Empire but construction didn’t begin until the 20th century and the first station opened in 1935. It’s now the second busiest metro system in the world. This is Soviet Era architecture at its very best: colourful frescoes, ornate mouldings, intricate mosaics and of course plenty of bling make this a jaw-dropping visit.

You will travel on a comfortable fast train to Yekaterinburg. Both 1st (2 berth) and 2nd (4 berth) class compartments are available. Clean linen, including sheets, towels, blankets and pillows are provided for each berth. The train also has a dining car that serves good meals. Arrival in Yekaterinburg late in the evening next day.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach, train

Day 4 - Yekaterinburg
Arrival in Yekaterinburg. Transfer from the railway station to the hotel
After your late evening arrival in Yekaterinburg, our driver will meet you at the train with a sign bearing your names and transfer you to the hotel.

Transport: minibus / coach

Day 5 - Yekaterinburg
Ganina Yama & Cathedral on the Blood Guided Tour.  Visit to the Europe - Asia Border. Departure to Irkutsk
Our guided sightseeing programme in Yekaterinburg includes a moving visit to the Memorial Cathedral on the Blood in the name of all Saints, which was built on the site of the execution of the last Russian Tsar Nikolay II and his family. From there, we'll take you to Ganina Pit, an orthodox monastery where the imperial remains were initially interred and to seven wooden churches in the heart of a centuries-old pine forest. Finally we make an excursion to an obelisk marking the boundary between Europe and Asia where traditionally tourists drink champagne. En route, we pause at the memorial honouring the victims of Stalin’s repressions of the 1930s to 1950s. Our driver will meet you at the hotel lobby to take you to the station for your late evening train. Three days later we will arrive at Irkutsk, the jumping off point for Lake Baikal.

We board our train late in the evening. The train to Irkutsk takes three days, but it’s a good opportunity to experience the Trans-Siberian as it should be enjoyed. Rest in your comfortable compartment as you travel sedately through the Russian steppe. Converse with your companions and others taking this popular long distance service.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach, train 

Day 8 - Irkutsk - Listvyanka
Arrival in Irkutsk. Transfer by minibus: Irkutsk - Listvyanka. At leisure at Baikal
Following our early morning arrival in Irkutsk our guide will meet you at the train for your transfer to Listvyanka village on the shores of Lake Baikal (appr. 70 km). There you will have free time, during which you can visit the Baikal Lake Museum, see the St Nicolas Russian Orthodox Church, visit the market or take a boat trip on the lake itself.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 9 - Listvyanka - Irkutsk
Open-air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy. Irkutsk City Tour. Departure to Vladivostok
Our guide will meet you at your Listvyanka accommodation and return to Irkutsk where we shall take a city tour. Irkutsk is often referred to as the Paris of Siberia on account of its elegant boulevards, but Paris can’t compete with its quirky wooden log cottages with their fretwork designs which you’ll also see in the city. Before we arrive, we make a stop to visit the open air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy, situated in a picturesque forest on the bank of the river Angara. This museum has a large collection of original wooden houses equipped with old-style furniture and domestic utensils, and “wooden tents” belonging to the various ethnic groups which inhabited this region.

Later in the evening our driver will meet you at your accommodation with a sign board with your names and take you to the railway station to pick up your comfortable train to Vladivostok. It’s a four day trip, so settle back and enjoy the ride.

Comfortable train to Vladivostok. Departure from Irkutsk late in the evening, arrival in Vladivostok four days later.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach, train

Day 13 - Vladivostok
Arrival in  Vladivostok. Vladivostok City Tour & Visit to the Submarine Museum
Our driver will meet you at the carriage with a sign board with your names and transfer you to your accommodation. Later, when we’ve freshened up, we’ll take a city tour of this interesting city, encompassing the City Fortress, the Intercession Church and the Catholic church. In the Korabelnaya Naberezhnaya (the Warship Embankment) visitors can get acquainted with the history of the Russian Fleet, including the period of the Second World War and visit a Soviet C-56 submarine.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 14 - Vladivostok
Departure to the Airport
All good things must come to an end. Our driver will meet you with a sign board at the hotel lobby and deliver you to the airport for your flight home.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach
 

PRICES

Prices
Tour start date	10 pax 1 free	15 pax 1 free	20 pax 1 free	single supplement	1st class train upgrade
01/01 - 31/12	€1395	€1295	€1195	€195	€495

Note on pricing:

• All prices are in EURO per person based on the number of participants in the group
• 1 free - one free of charge participant
• Single supplement goes towards single room accommodation at hotels

INCLUDED

• Accommodation
• Excursions according to the programme
• Entrance fees
• Airport & railway transfers
• Overnight train 2nd class (4 berth compartments)
• Meals according to the programme
• Visa support letter

NOT INCLUDED

• Flights
• Optional excursions & services
• Travel insurance
• Tips
• Visa fees. We can assist with visas in the UK, USA, Germany, France, Spain