Highlights of Trans-Siberian: Moscow - Kazan - Yekaterinburg - Novosibirsk - Irkutsk - 12 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 Kazan
On our second full day of sightseeing in Moscow, we begin with the Kremlin. Once the residence of the Tsars, it’s now the office of the Russian president. We’ll take a tour of its grounds in which stand beautiful orthodox cathedrals and also the Armoury Museum. It houses many treasures dating from the reigns of the Tsars. Once a storehouse, it’s held its current function since 1813 and inside, you’ll discover precious works of art, Faberge eggs and ancient suits of armour. We will also visit the Moscow Underground. One of the undisputed masterpieces of Soviet times, its ornate decoration of mosaics, murals and stained glass windows will leave you feeling that you’re in a museum rather than a working transit system. Later, you’ll return to the hotel and from there, make a transfer with our driver to the train station where you’ll pick up an overnight train that will take you to Kazan.

Overnight train to Kazan. Arrival in Kazan next day early in the morning.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach, train

Day 4 - Kazan
Kazan City Tour. Kazan Kremlin Guided Tour. Kazan Marjani and Kul Sharif Mosques. Departure to Yekaterinburg
Kazan lies in the heart of Tatarstan, equidistant from Moscow and Yekaterinburg. Its location has led to its development as a melting pot between Christian and Muslim populations and it’s a fascinating and vibrant city. Its Kremlin is the focal point for our first guided tour during our stay; a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, it was built on the orders of Ivan the Terrible and houses many different structures. Among them are the Annunciation Cathedral, built between 1554 and 1562, and the leaning Soyembika Tower dating from the reign of Peter the Great. The city is also home to the Kazan Marjani, the oldest acting mosque in Tatarstan, and the Kul Sharif Mosque, which was built inside the Kremlin in the 16th century. After we conclude our sightseeing programme, you’ll transfer to the train station where you’ll connect with overnight train which will take you to Yekaterinburg.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach, train

Day 5 - 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 6 - Yekaterinburg
Ganina Yama & Cathedral on the Blood Guided Tour.  Visit to the Europe - Asia Border. Departure to Novosibirsk
Our first port of call this morning will be to a memorial which honours the victims of Stalin’s repressions of the 1930s to 1950s. We’ll then visit the obelisk which marks the border of Europe and Asia. It’s traditional to toast this iconic location with a glass of champagne. Afterwards, we’ll return to the city to visit the Memorial Cathedral on the Blood in the Name of All Saints, constructed on the site of the execution of Tsar Nicholas and his family. We’ll continue to Ganina Pit, an orthodox monastery built where the imperial remains were initially discovered. We’ll visit seven wooden churches located deep in the pine forest that characterises this area. Following our excursion, we’ll return to the hotel where you’ll await our driver who will deliver you to the train station for your connection on an overnight train to Novosibirsk.

Overnight train to Novosibirsk. Departure from Yekaterinburg late in the evening, arrival in Novosibirsk the following evening.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach, train 

Day 7 - Novosibirsk
Arrival in Novosibirsk
Our driver will meet you at the carriage carrying a sign board and transfer you to your accommodation.

Meals: NA
Transport: minibus / coach 

Day 8 - Novosibirsk
Novosibirsk City Tour. Transsib Museum or Boat Ride on Ob River. Departure to Irkutsk
Novosibirsk has a population of over 1.5 million, making it the third most populous city in the country after Moscow and St Petersburg. Today we offer a choice of sightseeing. Train buffs will want to opt for a visit to the West Siberian Railway Museum, which is located close to the Ob River just outside the city. It houses a large collection of steam locomotives and is a popular location for wedding photographs. Alternatively, you might prefer to relax with a boat trip down the Ob River (in Summer) or take a walking tour through the historic city centre. Later, we’ll meet our driver at the hotel and then it’s over to the train station to pick up our train once more.

Sleeper train to Irkutsk. Departure from Novosibirsk late in the evening, arrival in Irkutsk early in the morning two days later.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach, train

Day 10 - 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 11 - Listvyanka - Irkutsk
Open-air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy. Irkutsk City Tour
Our guide will meet you at your accommodation for your transfer to Irkutsk. On the way, we make a stop at Taltsy to see the open air Wooden Architecture Museum located in the heart of the forest on the banks of the Angara River. There you'll learn about village life, see the interiors of a Russian fort, a Shaman yurt and a 15th century watchtower, as well as glimpse at the lifestyle of the Buryat and Evenk people. Back in Irkutsk, known as the Paris of Siberia, we enjoy a guided city tour which will reveal the rustic but beautiful timber cottages with their wooden fretwork.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 12 - Irkutsk
Departure to the Airport
Our driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer you to the train station.

We leave the warm hospitality of the Siberian Russians and start our trip to Mongolia by comfortable train. Arrival in Ulaanbaatar next day early in the morning.

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	€1295	€1195	€1095	€155	€295

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