 |
|
 |
Best of Trans-Siberian: Moscow - Yekaterinburg - Irkutsk - Baikal - Vladivostok (TS-04)
 |
|
When the longest railway in the world was first opened at the end of the nineteenth century, it was considered a miracle. The railway connected up the enormous Russian Empire from East to West , giving travellers the chance to reach the Pacific by crossing 8 time zones and the vast spaces of the world’s largest country. Today it is still the longest and most amazing rail journey; you feel as if you’re travelling back in time. From mighty, cosmopolitan Moscow we go to the city of Yekaterinburg where the family of the last Tzar was murdered by the Bolsheviks; and then deep into the heart of the vast, mysterious land of Siberia, where the deepest lake on Earth, Baikal is located. You’ll see how enormous Russia is, what different people live there, how varied nature, wildlife and climate can be within one country. This exciting and challenging voyage is the perfect treat for anyone looking for a discovery holiday; you’ll see different ways of life and experience the unforgettable feeling that the Earth is truly endless. The memories of this journey will stay with you forever!
|
|
PRICES
LAND-ONLY PRICE: £1595
PACKAGE PRICE: £2095
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Travel style: discovery journey
ITINERARY:
MOSCOW - VLADIVOSTOK
Day 1. Arrival in Moscow. Transfer to the hotel. Your first night in Moscow.
Day 2. Start your discovery of Russia with a city tour of Moscow. Enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the Sparrow Hills observation platform, visit Poklonnaya Hills a monument in honour of a Russian victory in the Great War (or World War 1), see the famous Red Square and the Bolshoi (Big) theatre or explore modern Moscow’s busy streets and discover the rich history of this magnificent city.
Free time to explore the city by yourself. Please let us know about your wishes for entertainment or dining out.
Day 3. After breakfast we check-out from the hotel as it is our last day in Moscow. In the morning your guide will take you to the Red Square. You will see St. Basil's cathedral, the world - renowned Lenin Mausoleum and the Kremlin. Kremlin is a self-contained city with many palaces, armories, and churches, a medieval fortress that bridges the modern nation to its legendary past. You will discover the interior of the Kremlin - the former residence of the Tsars and now the residence of the Russian president. You will also visit Kremlin’s beautiful orthodox cathedrals. The Cathedral Square still retains the aura of early Tsarist Russia, where the spirits of Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov, and the early Romanovs loom large. You can also visit the Armoury to see a unique collection of ancient state regalia: the ceremonial vestments and coronation dress of the Tsars, gold and silverware by Russian craftsmen, and ceremonial weapons and arms (optional excursion at your request).
Lunch in the centre of Moscow – try delicious Russian cuisine in a traditional local restaurant.
Guided tour of the Moscow Underground – explore one of the masterpieces of the Soviet era created in the style Socialist Realism. . Your guide will also take you to the Old Arbat street, famous for its architectural masterpieces and souvenirs. After the guided tour you will have some free time to browse among the shops selling merchandise and enjoy various Arbat cafes or restaurants. Optional transfer to the hotel at your request.
In the late evening transfer to Yaroslavsky railway station to catch your train to Siberia.
Day 4. You settle into the compartments and start observing from the window as the towns, villages and the scenes of local life of Russia pass you by. The Trans-Siberian railway takes you through many large and interesting Russian cities. In the evening you arrive in Ekaterinburg, the capital of the Ural region, and then board our transfer to the hotel.
Day 5. Today we will explore Yekaterinburg. During our city tour you will see many architectural and historical monuments from the 18-20th centuries, including the splendid Church of Spilled Blood at the Romanov’s Death Site and the beautiful Merchant Palace on the top of the Voznesenskiy Hill. Lunch in a traditional Russian restaurant – enjoy the Russian cuisine! After lunch we will explore the suburbs of the city during two very special excursions. First we will visit the Monastery founded on Romanov’s secret grave site. You will see the place where the last Russian tsar and his family were buried. Now, it’s a well-known Russian Orthodox pilgrimage place where seen wooden Orthodox churches have been built. Then we will head to the border-line “Europe-Asia” which literally splits our continent into European and Asian parts. On the way to the Border-line we will see the Memorial which is devoted to the victims of the labour camp ‘GULAG’. Eventually you will cross the border-line between Europe and Asia… and receive a Special Certificate! Transfer back to Ekaterinburg. Dinner in a traditional Russian restaurant. Transfer to the railway station to board the train to Irkutsk.
Day 6-7. Onboard. You will pass through further Russian cities like Omsk, Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk. The train travels across endless valleys, beautiful mountain ranges and rivers, pristine taiga forests and the Siberian steppes.
Day 8. Arrival in Irkutsk in the morning. Our English-speaking guide will meet you at the station. Travel by bus to Listvyanka village, situated on the shore of Lake Baikal (70 km from Irkutsk). On our way to Listvyanka, we will stop to visit the open air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy, which is located in a picturesque forest on the bank of the river Angara. It presents settlements of the local Evenks, Russians, and Buryats and gives an overview of the traditional life style in Siberia from the 17th to 19th centuries. In Listvyanka, we will have a guided tour of the Baikal Lake Museum followed by a sightseeing tour of the village, including a visit to the St. Nicolas Russian Orthodox Church. Enjoy a boat tour on Lake Baikal (upon request). In the evening we will have an opportunity to experience a real Siberian banya (sauna) - optional. Overnight in a traditional wooden house.
Day 9. Transfer back to Irkutsk. We will have a bus city tour around Irkutsk, a beautiful town known as the "Paris of Siberia". During the tour, you will see the 18th century churches, brightly painted shutters and log houses decorated with wooden lacework, as well as examples of modern Russian architecture and soaring bridges that reach out across the river Angara. In the afternoon we will visit the Regional Museum, which depicts the history of the city, Lake Baikal and the exploration of Siberia. Evening transfer to the train station. Overnight in the train.
Day 10. In the early morning you arrive at the city Ulan Ude, the capital of the Buryat Republic. Our guide will show you around the city and recount its history and major monuments, including the surreal Lenin’s head – the biggest one in the world. This monument has remained unchanged since Communist times. We will have a guided trip to the Buddhist Monastery, Ivolgin Datsan - which is the main active Buddhist religion centre in Russia. During our trip we will enjoy a traditional Buryat-style lunch. In the late afternoon we will board our train to continue our journey. Relax and enjoy an overnight stay on board the train.
Day 11. During our travels on board, we will enjoy the unforgettable views of Siberian taiga and its severe wilderness towns on route.
Day 12. In the evening we arrive in Khabarovsk, the second largest city in the Far East after Vladivostok. Khabarovsk is lying at the broad confluence of two big rivers and welcomes you with the freshness of an almost coastal resort. Enjoy an overnight stay in a hotel.
Day 13. Today we will embark on a walking city tour and visit the local Ethnographical museum, which includes displays on the natural history of the Far East, fascinating artefacts and costumes of the indigenous people as well as an interesting recent history section. We will also go by bus to the Khekhtsirsky Reserve and visit the unique Forest museum. Sample a picnic lunch with fresh air in abundance and in the evening you will be transferred to a railway station to continue your Trans-Siberian adventure. Spend a overnight stay on board the train.
Day 14. In the morning you will reach the furthest Eastern point of Russia and of your journey – the city of Vladivostok situated along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the beautiful bay of the Golden Horn. You will be picked up at the station by our English-speaking guide. Transfer to the hotel. City-tour of Vladivistok. The tour will give you the possibility to visit the most spectacular sights of the area - the City Fortress, the Intercession Church, the Catholic church. In the Korabelnaya Naberezhnaya (the Warship Embankment) the visitors can get acquainted with the history of the Russian Fleet, including the period of the Second World War. You will have a unique chance to visit a submarine museum on a real Soviet C-56 submarine. Optional visit to the Oceanarium presenting a rare and rich collection of flora and fauna of the Pacific Ocean. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 15. Check-out from the hotel. The longest rail trip in the world is over, it is time to come back home! You will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Moscow. In Moscow transfer to the international airport for your flight back home.
Major Highlights of this Tour:
Optional: At your request we can organise for you one of the following activities:
- You could begin (or end) this journey with an optional St. Petersburg extension;
- On your Trans-Siberian route you could make a stop in one of the major cities of Russia and explore life of the Russian province. To find out more information about cities on the route go here;
- Guided excursion in the Tretyakov Gallery and in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow;
- Another option in Moscow would be a visit to the large and interesting Izmailovo Park, where you will find traditional wooden houses and churches as well as authentic Russian souvenirs;
- In Moscow we can also organise tickets to the Circus or the City Music Hall for you or you could see a famous Russian ballet performance.
 Some places you visit in this journey are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Please click here to view the UNESCO review page:
go to the top
|
|
)
