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day 01
Arrival in Moscow! We
whisk you by car directly to your hotel - your first night in Moscow.
day 02
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 03
A full free day take
your pick of the best of Moscow! Mid-evening we take you to your waiting train
- to Siberia!
day 04
The Trans-Sib line leads
you past Kazan and Ekaterinburg...
day 05
then onwards into
Siberia itself, via Novosibirsk...
day 06
across the River Yenisei
at Krasnoyarsk, Listvyanka is a lakeside village with one foot in the
present...
SIBERIA FOR SOFTIES
day 07
Car directly from
Station (1hr hour transfer) to Lake Baikal. Stay in an authentic Siberian
log-cabin izba as part of the extended family. Lunch. See the village, the old
Church, and the Lake Wildlife Museum - with your friendly local guide. 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 08
Choose one activity from
the list, its all included in the trip price!
(A) Softies Trek through the
Taiga Forest - and a Forester Guide to explain the wildlife, ecosystem and lore
of the Taiga.
(b) Siberian Scuba a freshwater
dive in the world's Greatest Lake, with top CMAS-qualified instructors and
pro-level gear (requires PADI-1). Includes two dives.
(c) Or Do Your Own Thing maybe
take off on a Cliffside walk, mosey around the village, ride the local
hydrofoil, or gain a year of life (so they say?) by taking a dip in Baikal.
Enjoy a sauna after your exertions - Supper. and maybe try the local bar?
Overnight with your host family.
day 09
Entirely free at
Listyvanka (Breakfast & Supper included) overnight with your host family.
day 10
Car transfer to Irkutsk
Free time to explore on foot (we watch your bags) until evening departure to
station and on by overnight train to Ulanbaatar.
day 11
On board train to
Mongolia midnight border crossing.
day 12
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar.
Car to hotel. Guided walk of the old city centre, evening free to explore
Ulaan-baatar's nightlife. Overnight 3* Hotel.
day 13
Leaving from Ulaanbaatar
we take a jeep trip into Bayan
Gobi. Stay in Gers with herdsmen (NB. this is not a tourist camp - you are the
guests of the nomads). Traditional supper, and overnight.
day 14
Jeep trip onwards to
ancient Karakorum (modern Harhorin) - 8 hours off-road driving,
picnic lunch en-route. Supper and overnight in gers with local hersmen.
day 15
Sightseeing in the Gobi
Picnic lunch. Return towards Ulaanbaatar, drive to Elstei Ger Camp. Supper and
overnight in ÒtouristÓ gers (there are wc and shower facilities at the camp -
unlike with herdsmen).
day 16
Free day at Elstei Ger
Camp for walking, horse-riding (arrange/pay locally) or relaxing. Supper and
overnight.
day 17
Free day at Ger Camp
Supper and overnight.
day 18
Return to Ulaanbaatar
Overnight at 3* hotel. Giving you an opportunity to sample some authentic
Mongolian cuisine.
day 19
Breakfast. Last chance
to explore the ancient capital city. Car trf to the station, for evening
departure to Huhehot. Overnight on board.
day 20
Late evening arrival
into Huhehot, car transfer to your Hotel.
day 21
Breakfast guided city
tour of Huhehot, Capital of Inner Mongolia Freetime overnight.
day 22
Breakfast. Free time.
Evening departure to Beijing. (n.b. 1st Cl/2-berth cabin is not available on
this journey)
day 23
Early morning arrival
into Beijing. For services in China and beyond please see pages 38 - 43.
* if you are travelling on the same day as other
passengers, we may substitute an air-conditioned minibus for this journey. This
can happen - because there's only one train per week for the final leg into
Beijing. |
