This Trans Siberian takes you to the very heart of Eurasia, the beautiful Lake Baikal, which is one of the most pristine places on the face of our planet and the deepest lake in the world, in fact. Baikal has a truly habitat offering one-of-a-kind travel experiences. This tour is designed in a way so you spend four unforgettable days exploring Siberia's most famous lake and the city of Irkutsk that stands right next to it.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival to Moscow
Arrival to Moscow. We will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. This day is reserved for rest as you will be tired after the flight. However, if you prefer to see something on the first day, we recommend you our driving tour of Moscow.
Day 2: Tour of Moscow
This day is reserved for an in-depth exploration of Russia's capital. There will be a quick orientation meeting in the morning and after it, we will take you to famous Red Square and the Kremlin. You will have lunch on a picturesque Old Arbat Street and in the afternoon we will visit Moscow Exhibition Center.
Day 3: Departing Moscow
This is a free day and you are free to choose what parts of Moscow to explore. Please ask your tour manager about available options. In the evening, at 19:00 we will proceed to the train station and board the train for Beijing (departs at 21:35).
Day 4: The Ural Mountains
This day our train will cross the Ural Mountains, which divide Europe and Asia. The Urals have been the backbone of Russia's industrial production for over 300 years.
Day 5: Into Siberia
Having left the Urals behind, our train will be crossing the Great Eurasian Plateau towards Siberia. Siberia is distant, but not desolate. In fact, we will visit Novosibirsk, the capital of Siberia, which has almost as many inhabitants as Atlanta. Novosibirsk is an important scientific center and even Microsoft maintains offices here.
Day 6: The Mountains of Altai
Altai is a gorgeous mountain range in the southern part of Siberia. It features breathtaking landscapes, rich wildlife and untouched nature. Day on the train, through the seemingly limitless track Yenisei, at Krasnoyarsk and heading towards Eurasia.
Day 7: Irkutsk
09:07 Arrive in Irkutsk, met by guide and driver and visit a local eatery for a hot breakfast.
10:30 One and half hour “Round up” city tour of Irkutsk by car taking in the most interesting sights and peculiar features of Irkutsk including its beautiful Russian Orthodox churches, the Polish Cathedral (the only Siberian Gothic-style building), it wooden houses decorated with "wooden laces" (hand-made carvings) as well as modern constructions of the 20 century and the Decembrists' House.
12:00 Transfer to Listvyanka village on lake Baikal.
13:00 Check-in to Chalet and free time.
18:00 Evening barbecue at the Chalet.
Day 8: Listvyanka
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10:00 Visit to the Museum of Wooden Architecture containing unique wooden structures donated from all over Russia and historic houses and buildings of the indigenous people saved from a valley flooded during the construction of a Soviet dam.
13:30 Lunch at a local Siberian restaurant (Sibirskaya Zaimka) to try local Siberian food and visit its private zoo of
native animals.
15:00 Transfer back to Listvyanka village stopping at Shaman rock on-route.
17:30 Optional sauna in a village “Banya” – included in price but must be pre-booked.
19:30 Evening meal at the Chalet.
Day 9: Lake Baikal
10:00 Visit to a Buryat (original people indigenous to Siberia) settlement 70 km from Irkutsk on the remote Siberian plane, including; visiting the local lore museum, experience the local greeting ceremony, local arts, crafts and music, meet the Shaman and be “cleansed” and visit a Yurt to sample local teas and join in a traditional meal.
19:00 Tour ends back at a hotel in Irkutsk.
OR
10:00 Starting with a ferry trip to Port Bikal this is a full day trip around Lake Baikal by the famous Circum Baikal Railroad on one of the most complicated stretches of railways in the world that includes 39 tunnels totaling 7 km in its 86 km length. The tour stops at some the most picturesque places on-route to experience the nature of this unique area and at the marble mining city of Sludyanka before rejoining the Trans-Siberian to
arrive at Irkutsk.
21:40 Transfer to hotel in Irkutsk.
Day 10: Free day – Explore Irkutsk
A free day to explore Irkutsk,
relax or book an optional
short tour.
Day 11: Depart Irkutsk
07:15 Early morning transfer to the railway station where the guide will accompany to the platform and answer any last minute questions.
08:39 Train departs for Beijing capital of China!
Day 12: The Chinese border
Day on the train, after a brief stop at the Zabaykalsk, the last Russian city the train will reach, where the impressive procedure of bogie-changing takes place before heading off for Beijing.
Day 13: Northern China
Day on the train, the mystery of China, past the industrial cities, vast factories and tiny rural villages with ancient paddy fields.
Day 14: Arrive to Beijing
Throughout the early morning passing through the mountainous river valleys, past the unbelievable great Wall of
China to finally arrive in the stunning Beijing at 05:31 where this part of the journey ends – and the next begins!
CHINA EXTENSIONS * BOOK TOGETHER AND SAVE
Travel All Russia is a member of "Red Square Tours" Family, which enables us to offer tours beyond Russia. We offer a great selection of tours in China, which you can find at our special website: www.travelallchina.com. Or, you can just ask one of out tour managers about available options for Beijing.
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