|
DAY 01
Arrival in Beijing. Make your own way to hotel. Free
time to explore one of the worlds fastest growing
capital cities.Your train tickets will be delivered
to your hotel after check in, with instructions to
the station in English and Chinese.
DAY 02
Own transport to Beijing Central Station for early
morning departure to Ulaanbaatar. Thunder on across
China – past the Great Wall. Overnight on
board.
DAY 03
Full-On Mid-afternoon arrival in Outer
Mongolia! Chance to freshen up, then transfer
to a Mongolian Ger Camp – with accommodation in
traditional Mongolian wood-framed felt tents
(gers). The huge area of the Mongolian steppes
around the camp is yours to explore. Supper is
included (yes, there are vegetarian options too). [No
Frills – car transfer to 1* Hotel in
Ulaanbaatar for a 3-night independent stay]
DAY 04
Horse-riding is available (for a small local charge)
with local herdsmen leaders – or walk, relax,
or sometimes play traditional Mongolian sports?
(Full Board included.)
DAY 05
Back to Ulaanbaatar. Your local Mongolian Buddy will
help you find the very best of “UB”
– don’t miss the Gandan Buddhist
Lamasery. Then free to explore – find a
net-café and croissants, or authentic
Mongolian pot-stickers?.
DAY 06
Breakfast. Time to stock up on provisions for
your overnight journey. Car trf to the station
for an evening departure to Irkutsk. Overnight
on board (this is a local train and there is often
not restaurant car).
DAY 07
Arrival late evening in Ulan-Uday, car to Family
Stay. Supper and overnight.
DAY 08
Breakfast. Car/guide trip to Atsagatsky
Buddhist Lamasery. After the monastery, try cuisine
of Buryatia for lunch with a village family. Return
to Ulan-Uday. Supper and overnight. (Option to
upgrade to 3* hotel, at extra charge. Meal basis
B&B).
DAY 09
Breakfast. Visit to the Ivolginsky Datsan (a much
larger monastery). Lunch.Visit to Centre of Eastern
Medicine (optional consultation). Supper and car
transfer to the station for late evening departure to
Irkutsk.
DAY 10
Arrival in Irkutsk
No Frills: Car to family homestay for 3
nts in Irkutsk - Car transfer to the station on
departure.
Full On: (Choose one of the 2 options
below)
(1)
SIBERIAN VILLAGE(Option One)
Car (1hr) to Listvyanka Village (shore of Lake
Baikal). Lunch, walking tour of the village including
Lake Wildlife Museum. Then get it all off your chest
the Siberian way - in the banya! (sauna).You'll be
ready for your home-cooked supper after all that
– then sleep like a log in a log cabin.
DAY 11
Choose one activity from the list, its all included
in the trip price!
(A)
TAKING A SHORT SOFT TREK with a local
guide in the Baikal-side forests. - (May-Oct)
(B) TAKE
A FRESHWATER SCUBA DIVE in Lake Baikal
(they say you gain a year of life if you dive in!)
with highly-qualified CMAS-instructors (requires
PADI-1), 2 dives included. (May-Oct.) 2 dives
included (Feb-Mar.) Ice Dive. 1 dive included.
(C) TAKE
YOURSELF FOR A WALK out of the village
with a packed lunch and a book, and contemplate the
vastness of the world's hugest lake.Then get it all
off your chest the Siberian way – in the banya!
(sauna).You'll be ready for your home-cooked supper
after all that – then sleep like a log in a log
cabin.
(D)
SNOWMOBILE TRIP (2 hrs) with a local guide
- through the forest, or even out over the
deep-frozen lake! (Dec-Apr only).
IF YOU'VE CHOSEN THE 21-DAY VERSION OF THE ITINERARY,
THIS IS YOUR EXTRA DAY!
(DAY 12)
Day entirely free at Lake Baikal – breakfast
and supper with your host family – overnight.
IF YOU'VE CHOSEN THE 20-DAY VERSION OF THE ITINERARY,
YOUR ITINERARY CONTINUES LIKE THIS:
DAY 12 (13)
By car to Irkutsk (110km) and stay in a city
apartment with a local family, in soviet-modern city
style. Day free to explore the city, dinner with host
family. (Or upgrade to tourist-class hotel if you
rate comfort over authenticity, and prefer to dine
out this evening instead?).
DAY 13 (14)
Breakfast. Free-time. Car transfer to the
station for afternoon departure to Ekaterinburg.
OR
(2)
FISHERMAN'S CAPE OF LAKE BAIKAL (Option
Two)
DAY 10
Car directly from Irkutsk Station to the remoter
village of Bolshoe Goloustnoye (110km on rural
roads).Your local guide shows you the village, the
Old Church, and lake shoreline. Get the 20th Century
out of your system in a real Russian banya (sauna)
which will sharpen your appetite for home-cooked food
for supper. Sleep soundly - the modern world is far,
far away.
DAY 11
Leisurely lakeside walk (8km) to Ushkani Cape, and
visit our friends the fishermen for lunch at their
cabin. A gentle return walk (on the way see a
dried-up Lake.) Sauna and supper in the hushed
silence away from the tourist throng.
IF YOU'VE CHOSEN THE 21-DAY VERSION OF THE ITINERARY,
THIS IS YOUR EXTRA DAY!
(DAY 12)
Breakfast Walk back to Bolshoe Goloustnoye. Lunch.
Sauna. Free time. Dinner. Overnight.
DAY 12 (13)
Breakfast with host family, transfer to Irkutsk City.
Return to family stay and reunited with your baggage.
Stay in a city apartment with a local family, in
soviet-modern city style. Day free to explore the
city, dinner with host family. (Or upgrade to
tourist-class hotel if you rate comfort over
authenticity, and prefer to dine out this evening
instead?
DAY 13 (14)
Free time to visit the city. foot (we watch your
bags) until mid afternoon departure to station and on
to Ekaterinburg
DAY 14 (15)
On board…across the River Yenisei, at
Krasnoyarsk
DAY 15 (16)
Arrive mid-afternoon in Ekaterinburg. Car to
Hotel. Walking Tour + of Ekaterinburg with
local guide. evening free to explore further.
DAY 16 (17)
Your choice of the following programs+ (one choice is
included in your trip - no surcharges!)
YEAR
ROUND CHOICES (check applicable
difficulty-level for each)
(A)
ROMANOV GRAVES (& Europe/Asia Border
Monument en-route). Car excursion to site where the
Romanov bodies were hidden. 5-6 hours. No physical
exertion involved.
(B) WALK
IN THE TAIGA FOREST The unique forest
ecosystem of the Steppes, with car to/from. 6 hour
walk.Good fitness req'd
(C)
SIBERIAN WILDERNESS ADVENTURE Combined
soft raft (6km) and Forest Hike (12km) -
optional cave visit. Good fitness req'd.
(D)
SIBERIAN COUNTRYSIDE & HISTORIC
VILLAGE Visit to an old village now under
a Preservation Order. Includes home-cooked lunch,
exhibitions of craftlore, horsecart riding. 8-9
hours. No physical exertion involved.
(E) URALS
MOUNTAIN BIKE ADVENTURE All gear provided,
for a 16km off-road course at Devil's Rock. Transport
to/from included (40km). Fitness and bike skills
req'd.
SPECIAL
WINTER ACTIVITIES (check applicable season
and difficulty-level for each)
(A)
WINTER WALK to the Druzhba Caves. 16km
distance, no climbing. 01.Dec-01.Mar. Good fitness
req'd. take warm clothes and boots.
(B)
SKIING At Ezhovaya Slopes Ski Resort -
even Putin skis here (sometimes).
Skis/Poles/Lift-Pass package purchasable locally
approx $25 payable in roubles. 01 Dec-15.Mar.
No instruction is included – this program is
for those who can already ski without instruction.
(C)
ICE-FISHING Yes, you saw the cartoons, now
you can try it yourself. Tackle, Angler's Hints &
Fur Coat provided. 15 Nov - 15 Dec & 01 Feb - 15
Mar.We don't guarantee you'll catch anything! Takes 8
hours but you can come back sooner if you get cold.
(D)
SIBERIAN HUSKY DOGSLEDDING Exactly what it
says! A whole day adventure to include 3-4 hours
sledding following a made track through the forest.
15 Nov - 01 Mar. (unavailable 31.Dec 10 Jan). No
special fitness required, but be ready to fall-off in
the soft snow a few times - they're pretty fast!
DAY 17 (18)
Breakfast. Car transfer to the station for
overnight train to Moscow.
DAY 18 (19)
Arrival in Moscow! We whisk you by car directly to
your hotel
Moscow Calling! Your Moscow Buddy+ is on hand to
smooth your path… at least until lunchtime!
Afternoon and evening - it's all in your hands!
DAY 19 (20)
A full free day – take your pick of the best of
Moscow! Overnight.
DAY 20 (21)
Breakfast. Your Trans-Siberian adventure comes to an
end.
+ not included on the no-frills version of the trip.
|