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...
day 07
arrive in Irkutsk
Full-On:
Take your choice of
program from the two options. No Frills: Car to family homestay for 3 nts in Irkutsk -Car trf to station on
departure.
Baikal Programme
The half-way point - two
different ways to enjoy your stay!
Listvyanka is a lakeside
village with one foot in the present - Bolshoe Goloustnoye is a more remote and
timeless choice.
(1) SIBERIAn village (option one)
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) Snowmobile Trip (2 hrs)
with a local guide - through the forest, or even out over the deep-frozen
lake!(Dec-Apr only).
(b) Softies Trek through the
Taiga Forest - and a Forester Guide to explain the wildlife, ecosystem and lore
of the Taiga (May-Oct).
(c) Siberian Scuba a freshwater
dive in the world's Greatest Lake, with top CMAS-qualified instructors and
pro-level gear (requires PADI-1). (May-Oct). 2 dives included (Feb-Mar). Ice
Diving. 1 dive included.
(d) 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. Sauna and Supper after your exertions - & maybe try the local bar?
Overnight with host family.
IF YOU'VE CHOSEN THE 16-DAY
VERSION OF THE ITINERARY, THIS IS YOUR
EXTRA DAY!
(day 09)
Entirely free at
Listyvanka (Breakfast & Supper included) Overnight with host family.
IF YOU'VE CHOSEN THE 15-DAY
VERSION OF THE ITINERARY, YOUR ITINERARY CONTINUES LIKE THIS:
DAY 09 (10)
Car to Irkutsk
(1hr) and stay in a city apartment with a local family, in soviet-modern city
style. Day free to explore, 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 10 (11)
Early morning car
transfer to the station – you're heading out of Russia tonight! Late
night border crossing (2+ hours halt for formalities).
(2) FISHERMAN'S CAPE OF LAKE BAIKAL (Option Two)
DAY 07
Car directly from
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 08
Leisurely lakeside walk
(8km) to Ushkani Cape, and visit our friends the fishermen for lunch at their
cabin. A gentle return walk (see a dried-up Lake on the way) for sauna and
supper in the hushed silence away from the tourist throng.
IF YOU'VE CHOSEN THE 16-DAY
VERSION OF THE ITINERARY, THIS IS YOUR
EXTRA DAY!
(day 09)
Breakfast. Walk back
to Bolshoe Goloustnoye. Lunch. Sauna. Free time. Dinner. Overnight.
IF YOU'VE CHOSEN THE 15-DAY
VERSION OF THE ITINERARY, YOUR
ITINERARY CONTINUES LIKE THIS:
DAY 09 (10)
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 10 (11)
Early car to the
station – you're heading out of Russia tonight! Late night border
crossing (2+ hours halt for formalities).
day 11 (12)
Mid-morning arrival
in Outer Mongolia! Shower,
breakfast, then by car* 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. Lunch and Supper are
included (yes, there are vegetarian options too). [No Frills: – car
transfer to 1* Hotel in Ulaanbaatar for a 3-night independent stay].
day 12 (13)
Horse-riding is
available (for a small local charge) with local herdsmen leaders – or
walk, relax, or sometimes play traditional Mongolian sports? (FB incl).
day 13 (14)
Back to
Ulaanbaatar. Your local Mongolian Buddy will help you find the very best
of ÒUBÓ. Overnight at the three
star hotel giving you time to sample Mongolian cuisine for supper.
day 14 (15)
Car transfer* to
your departing Beijing-bound train this morning. Midnight border crossing. and
onwards into China!
day 15 (16)
Thunder on across
China – past the Great Wall. Mid-afternoon arrival into Beijing Central
Station. Your trans-siberian journey comes to an end. For services in China and
beyond.
† not included on the no-frills
version of the trip
* 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
