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
Mid-afternoon
arrival in Outer Mongolia! Arrival in Ulaanbaatar. Chance for a quick shower,
then a guided Walking Tour of the old part of the city. Depart by jeep to Bayan
Gobi – on arrival supper and accommodation with local nomads (in ger tents).
(NB. This is not a tourist camp – you are the guests of the nomads).
DAY 04
Jeep trip onwards to ancient Karakorum (modern
Harhorin) – 8 hours off-road driving, picnic lunch en-route. Supper and
overnight in gers with local herdsmen.
DAY 05
Sightseeing by jeep in Bayan Gobi. Picnic lunch during
6-hr drive towards Ulaanbaatar, accommodation at Elstei Ger Camp (this is
tourist-type accom – unlike with nomads). Supper and overnight
DAY 06
Free day at Elstei Ger Camp - for walking,
horse-riding (arrange/pay locally) or
relaxing.
DAY 07
Return to Ulaanbaatar and check-in at 3* centrally located Hotel Bayangol. Free time to explore the city, own
lunch and supper arrangements. Overnight
DAY 08
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 09
On
board
DAY 10
Arrival in Irkutsk (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 homecooked 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.
(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.
(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.
IF YOU'VE CHOSEN
THE 19-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
18-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 Moscow.
OR
(2) BIG CATS
ADVENTURE TREK (Option Two)
Available 15th June to 1st September.
Only available for two or more passengers travelling together.
DAY 10
Shower and breakfast, prepare for trekking (you can
leave heavy baggage in Irkutsk). Departure by public bus to Goloustnoye Village
at 18.hrs. Short trekking (3km),mid-evening campfire supper and overnight
camping (tents) on shore of Lake Baikal. (Your trek guide will carry the tent –
you carry only your own pack).
DAY 11
Trekking along the Baikal shore (25 km). Picnic lunch
en-route. Make camp at Sennaya Bay, supper and overnight (tents).
IF YOU'VE CHOSEN
THE 19DAY VERSION OF THE ITINERARY, THIS IS YOUR EXTRA DAY.
(DAY 12)
Trek onwards to Bol'shie Koty (“Big Cats”) Village (9km). Ride the city hydrofoil service to Listvyanka Free
time to explore the village. Supper, overnight with family host.
IF YOU'VE CHOSEN THE 19-DAY VERSION OF THE ITINERARY,
YOUR ITINERARY CONTINUES LIKE THIS
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 14 (15)
..across the River
Yenisei, at Krasnoyarsk…
DAY 15 (16)
the Trans-Sib line
leads you past Kazan and Ekaterinburg… Moscow bound!
DAY 16 (17)
Arrival in
Moscow! We whisk you by car directly to your hotel.
DAY 17 (18)
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 – take your pick of the best of
Moscow. Overnight
DAY 18 (19)
Breakfast. Your
Trans-Siberian adventure comes to an end.
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