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
Ulan-Uday. Overnight on board (this is
a local train and there is often not restaurant car).
DAY 09
Arrival late evening in Ulan-Uday, car to Family Stay.
Supper and overnight.
DAY 10
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 11
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 12
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 home cooked supper after all that – then sleep like a log in
a log cabin.
DAY 13
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 23-DAY VERSION OF
THE ITINERARY, THIS IS YOUR EXTRA DAY!
(DAY 14)
Day entirely
free at Lake Baikal – breakfast and supper with your host family – overnight.
IF YOU'VE CHOSEN THE 22-DAY VERSION OF THE ITINERARY,
YOUR ITINERARY CONTINUES LIKE THIS:
DAY 14 (15)
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 15 (16)
Breakfast. Free-time. Car transfer to the station for afternoon
departure to Ekaterinburg.
OR
(2) BIG CATS
ADVENTURE TREK (Option Two)
Available 15th June to 1st September. Only available
for two or more passengers travelling together.
DAY 12
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 13
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 23-DAY VERSION OF
THE ITINERARY, THIS IS YOUR EXTRA DAY.
DAY 14
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 22-DAY VERSION OF THE ITINERARY,
YOUR ITINERARY CONTINUES LIKE THIS
DAY 14 (15)
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 15 (16)
Free time to
visit the city. foot (we watch your bags) until mid afternoon departure to
station and on to Ekaterinburg.
DAY 16 (17)
On board…across the River Yenisei, at Krasnoyarsk…
DAY 17 (18)
Arrive mid-afternoon in Ekaterinburg. Car to Hotel. Walking Tour of Ekaterinburg with local guide. evening free to
explore further.
DAY 18 (19)
Your choice of
the following programs (one choice is included in your trip - no
surcharges!)
(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.
DAY 19 (20)
Breakfast. Car transfer to the station for overnight
train to Moscow.
DAY 20 (21)
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 21 (22)
A full free day
– take your pick of the best of Moscow!
Overnight.
DAY 22 (23)
Breakfast. Your Trans-Siberian adventure comes to an
end. |
